Friday, May 16, 2014

Army Contracting Command - Rock Island



Arlington, VA (May 16, 2014) - Leonie is proud to support the ACC-RI’s (Army Contracting Command - Rock Island) requirement for CST (Combined Screening Team). The mission is to assist the Area Support Group-Kuwait (ASG-KU) in screening of non-U.S. citizens seeking employment or access to any U.S. installation within the AOR (Area of Operations). The overall goal is to identify, detect, deter, neutralize and exploit all Foreign Intelligence and Security Services and all International Terrorism Organizations.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Award Announcement: Military Information Support Task Force-Afghanistan



Arlington, VA (May 13, 2014) — The Department of Defense awarded Leonie Industries, LLC the re-compete of the Military Information Support Task Force-Afghanistan. Six highly qualified teams bid on the program. Work will continue to be performed in Afghanistan, with an estimated completion date, including option years, on May 21, 2019.

The award maintains Leonie as the primary provider of information support and analysis to the United States Army in Afghanistan. Leonie’s subject matter experts will provide full-spectrum support to Information Operations planning, execution, and assessments under the leadership and direction of U.S. Army decision-makers.

Since the company’s founding, Leonie has supported the United States Government with highly skilled and cleared planners, analysts, and subject matter experts throughout the world. Leonie’s professional team is proud and honored to continue providing the United States Army with the expertise it demands to ensure its effectiveness in an environment of rapidly changing mission priorities.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Leonie Cyclist Pedals for a World Free of MS in the 30th Annual BP MS150




Leonie is proud to sponsor a cyclist in the 30th Annual BP MS 150. 

The BP MS 150 is a fundraising cycling ride organized by the National MS Society: Lone Star. This ride is the largest event of its kind in North America. The ride is a 180-mile journey for MS from Houston to Austin.

What is multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, unpredictable disease of the central nervous system (the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord). It is thought to be an autoimmune disorder. This means the immune system incorrectly attacks the person's healthy tissue.
MS can cause blurred vision, loss of balance, poor coordination, slurred speech, tremors, numbness, extreme fatigue, problems with memory and concentration, paralysis, and blindness and more. These problems may be permanent or may come and go.
Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, although individuals as young as 2 and as old as 75 have developed it. MS is not considered a fatal disease as the vast majority of people with it live a normal life-span. But they may struggle to live as productively as they desire, often facing increasing limitations.

Who gets MS?

Anyone may develop MS but there are some patterns. More than twice as many women as men have MS. Studies suggest that genetic factors make certain individuals more susceptible than others, but there is no evidence that MS is directly inherited. MS occurs in most ethnic groups, including African-Americans, Asians and Hispanics/Latinos, but is more common in Caucasians of northern European ancestry.

How many people have MS?

Approximately 400,000 Americans have MS, and every week about 200 people are diagnosed. World-wide, MS affects about 2.5 million people. Because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not require U.S. physicians to report new cases, and because symptoms can be completely invisible, the numbers can only be estimated.

What are the typical symptoms of MS?

Symptoms of MS are unpredictable, vary from person to person, and from time to time in the same person. For example: One person may experience abnormal fatigue and episodes of numbness and tingling. Another could have loss of balance and muscle coordination making walking difficult. Still another could have slurred speech, tremors, stiffness, and bladder problems.
Sometimes major symptoms disappear completely, and the person regains lost functions. In severe MS, people have symptoms on a permanent basis including partial or complete paralysis, and difficulties with vision, cognition, speech, and elimination.

What causes the symptoms?

MS symptoms result when an immune-system attack affects myelin, the protective insulation surrounding nerve fibers of the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). Myelin is destroyed and replaced by scars of hardened "sclerotic" tissue. Some underlying nerve fibers are permanently severed. The damage appears in multiple places within the central nervous system.
Myelin is often compared to insulating material around an electrical wire; loss of myelin interferes with the transmission of nerve signals.

Is MS fatal?

In rare cases MS is so malignantly progressive it is terminal, but most people with MS have a normal or near-normal life expectancy. Severe MS can shorten life.

Does MS always cause paralysis?

No. Moreover, the majority of people with MS do not become severely disabled. Two-thirds of people who have MS remain able to walk, though many will need an aid, such as a cane or crutches, and some will use a scooter or wheelchair because of fatigue, weakness, balance problems, or to assist with conserving energy.

Is MS contagious or inherited?

No. MS is not contagious and is not directly inherited. Studies do indicate that genetic factors may make certain individuals susceptible to the disease.

Can MS be cured?

Not yet. There are now FDA-approved medications that have been shown to "modify" or slow down the underlying course of MS. In addition, many therapeutic and technological advances are helping people manage symptoms. Advances in treating and understanding MS are made every year, and progress in research to find a cure is very encouraging.