Leahy Helps Williston Firm Secure Contract
To Supply Specialty Eyewear To The Army

WILLISTON, Vt. (TUESDAY, August 15) – Sen. Patrick Leahy announced Tuesday that Revision Eyewear of Williston has signed a four million dollar contract with the U.S. Army to supply an additional 100,000 sets of special purpose-built eyewear for use by U.S. troops.  The new contract extends an original contract Revision signed with the Army in 2005.  Leahy visited the Revision Eyewear Tuesday, where he toured the Williston facility and viewed a demonstration of live firing on the ballistic eyewear.

Leahy has worked with Revision in recent years to secure contracts with the Army for the development and production of the Sawfly Spectacle System.  The eyewear has proven to be effective against 90 percent of preventable eye injuries sustained by soldiers in the field, ranging from threats in the battlefield from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and shrapnel, to harsh natural factors in harsh climates like Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Revision Eyewear’s specially designed protective glasses have proven invaluable to thousands of our troops serving overseas in severe and dangerous conditions,” said Leahy.  “Extending this contract means increased production for hardworking Vermonters in Williston, and more protection for our troops abroad.”

“Orders such as this for ballistic eyewear for the Army’s Eye Protection Program have generated significant staffing and facility growth of our Williston, Vermont, site over the past year,” said Jonathan Blanshay, President of Revision Eyewear.  “Assembly, warehousing, logistics, sales and customer service, as well as engineering, quality assurance and ballistic and optical testing are all handled for both domestic and international markets from this facility.  Continuing growth and expansion of our Vermont operations are anticipated.”

The ballistic eyewear is interchangeable and integrates with existing equipment, while providing soldiers with increased protection.  The eyewear meets or exceeds all required military and industrial eyewear standards, and it has been approved by the U.S. Army Forces Command.

Leahy is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and of its Defense Subcommittee, which oversees the Senate’s work in drafting the annual defense budget bill.  He secured the funds during the Senate’s consideration of the FY06 Defense Appropriations Bill.

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