Many Baltimore-area companies, citing security concerns, declined to discuss how an impending war with Iraq might affect their business practices.
Those that did respond said that their primary consideration in the event of a military conflict is to protect their employees.
Our top priority is the security of our company and our community, said Linda Foy, a spokeswoman for Constellation Energy Corp. To ensure that, the company intends to work with community groups, and with the federal and regional law-enforcement offices to the extent necessary, she said.
Glen Japser, a spokesman for Ciena Corp., the Linthicum-based maker of fiber-optic equipment, put his companys stance this way: For companies that arent defense contractors, the fact that there may be a war is sort of like the weather. You just keep operating, and if a war comes, then you adjust.
As for the two largest military contractors with regional operations, Lockheed Martin Corp. and Northrop Grumman Corp., right now, it's business as usual.
Northrop Grumman hasnt taken any unusual steps in light of the current situation, said spokesman Randy Belote. The possibility that the country may find itself in war has had relatively little impact on our business structure.
Belote noted that Northrop Grumman, which is based in Los Angeles, takes up to seven years to build an aircraft carrier, three years to build a U.S. Navy destroyer and up to five years to construct a submarine. The company has operations in Sykesville and near Baltimore-Washington International Airport.
Day to day, our operations dont change much because of the various systems that we provide for our Defense Department customers, Belote said.
Jeff Adams, a spokesman for the Bethesda-based Lockheed, only would say, We will continue to support our customers in whatever their needs may be. The company's Marine Systems Division is based in Baltimore.
But besides rising fuel prices and slower economic activity, a possible war against Iraq would benefit both the state and region's economy, analysts say.
"Increased spending by Washington leads to money flowing in Maryland," said Richard P. Clinch, director of economic research at the University of Baltimore. "Thirty to forty cents on the dollar goes to Maryland, because most of the work forces live in Maryland or Virginia."
The additonal spending also would benefit Lockheed Martin, as well Middle River Aircraft Systems Inc., a subsidiary of General Electric Co. on Eastern Boulevard that makes engines, and "all of the Beltway bandits, 30 percent to 40 percent of which are located here," Clinch said. "Maryland might be awash, unless it's a long, drawn-out war."
Those that did respond said that their primary consideration in the event of a military conflict is to protect their employees.
Our top priority is the security of our company and our community, said Linda Foy, a spokeswoman for Constellation Energy Corp. To ensure that, the company intends to work with community groups, and with the federal and regional law-enforcement offices to the extent necessary, she said.
Glen Japser, a spokesman for Ciena Corp., the Linthicum-based maker of fiber-optic equipment, put his companys stance this way: For companies that arent defense contractors, the fact that there may be a war is sort of like the weather. You just keep operating, and if a war comes, then you adjust.
As for the two largest military contractors with regional operations, Lockheed Martin Corp. and Northrop Grumman Corp., right now, it's business as usual.
Northrop Grumman hasnt taken any unusual steps in light of the current situation, said spokesman Randy Belote. The possibility that the country may find itself in war has had relatively little impact on our business structure.
Belote noted that Northrop Grumman, which is based in Los Angeles, takes up to seven years to build an aircraft carrier, three years to build a U.S. Navy destroyer and up to five years to construct a submarine. The company has operations in Sykesville and near Baltimore-Washington International Airport.
Day to day, our operations dont change much because of the various systems that we provide for our Defense Department customers, Belote said.
Jeff Adams, a spokesman for the Bethesda-based Lockheed, only would say, We will continue to support our customers in whatever their needs may be. The company's Marine Systems Division is based in Baltimore.
But besides rising fuel prices and slower economic activity, a possible war against Iraq would benefit both the state and region's economy, analysts say.
"Increased spending by Washington leads to money flowing in Maryland," said Richard P. Clinch, director of economic research at the University of Baltimore. "Thirty to forty cents on the dollar goes to Maryland, because most of the work forces live in Maryland or Virginia."
The additonal spending also would benefit Lockheed Martin, as well Middle River Aircraft Systems Inc., a subsidiary of General Electric Co. on Eastern Boulevard that makes engines, and "all of the Beltway bandits, 30 percent to 40 percent of which are located here," Clinch said. "Maryland might be awash, unless it's a long, drawn-out war."