When Justin McKennon, Principal Scientist of Electro Magnetic Applications (EMA), announced in 2020 that EMA would “make Pittsfield the space testing capital of the world,” many viewed it as a very ambitious goal. Five years later, that vision is being realized — and then some.
“We are not just doing space and consulting. Now we’re doing equipment manufacturing, lightning, and related field testing — all sorts of aerospace-relevant applications,” said Justin. “We’ve grown.”
With support from the City of Pittsfield and its Red Carpet Team, Pittsfield has become a hub for space testing and aerospace innovation, attracting clients and talent from around the world. All of it affirms the city’s commitment to advanced manufacturing and science-driven economic development. EMA expanded in Pittsfield from one person in 2019 to a three-site operation employing 17 people in 2025.
“We’re now fabricating test equipment right here in Pittsfield, which is so pivotal for custom work. And we’re exporting equipment all over the world from our big warehouse on Hawthorne Avenue,” said Justin.
EMA’s facility at the Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC) is home to the only commercial chamber of its kind in the world—a vacuum chamber built to mimic the extreme radiation, pressure, and electromagnetic conditions of space and the upper atmosphere. The chamber enables EMA to simulate decades of space exposure in just weeks. This innovation addresses what McKennon calls “the space problem”: the lengthy timelines and high costs involved in proving satellite reliability in orbit and for spacecraft over great distances.
“When you send something into space, nobody is going with it to do repairs. You get one shot, and it’s best to test it here, on the ground. Everybody that we’ve talked to says, ‘Wow, that’s exactly what the industry needs,’” said Justin.
EMA’s hands-on experience operating its space chamber also fueled the development of powerful simulation software (available through Synopsys as Ansys EMC Plus and Ansys Charge Plus). EMA’s simulation software has been in use globally for decades, but the capability to validate simulations in both software suites with its test capabilities has been a valuable addition to its capabilities. This combination of physical testing and software simulation helps clients solve complex design problems faster — and with greater confidence — before sending hardware into space.
To support its expanding workload, EMA now designs and builds much of its own testing equipment. By fabricating custom tools in-house, the company accelerates production, lowers costs, and responds more promptly to its clients’ needs. That opened the door to delivering custom test equipment designed to integrate with EMA’s software. Some of that equipment is being exported from its dedicated facility on Hawthorne Avenue to customers worldwide.
EMA’s growth is closely tied to Pittsfield’s support. The company worked with Michael Coakley, Pittsfield’s Economic Development Manager, and the City’s Red Carpet Team, which includes economic development officials from City and State organizations, workforce development experts and educational leaders. It develops economic incentive packages using local, regional and state resources.
“Pittsfield followed through on everything that they said they’d do. They backed every EMA application and provided funds directly to EMA,” said McKennon.
The company received two major incentive packages—one in 2019 to establish the space effects lab and another in 2022 to support its expansion into optics and materials testing. The first package provided $140,000 in grants and a five-year Tax Incentive Financing (TIF) agreement, contingent on EMA becoming a long-term BIC tenant and creating high-quality local jobs. It exceeded the job creation goal.
The second package added $250,000 from the Pittsfield Economic Development Fund to support a $3 million capital investment from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, including a new metalens characterization lab and an expanded office at 66 West Street. The Pittsfield Economic Development Fund is a unique resource not available in any other Massachusetts city.
“Being in Pittsfield really helped us grow. Mike Coakley, the city council and the mayor fought for economic development dollars on our behalf,” said McKennon. “If we were in a big city, we would be drowned out in the noise. For example, in Boston, the work we’re doing would be just as impressive. However, there are many other tech companies there that are much larger. We would never have been able to carve out a spotlight and become the global company we are today.”
The Red Carpet Team also facilitated access to the BIC, where EMA collaborates with firms like General Dynamics, LTI Smart Glass, and Lenco. These connections have proven vital to EMA’s growth.
“Take General Dynamics as an example,” McKennon said. “They are an active member in the BIC network, and they are located just down the road from here. Some of the software we develop and sell commercially has significant uses by GD for the sensors and things they build for submarines, spaceships and more. If GD has a component that goes into a submarine, they need to verify that it will function properly once installed. Our software can help. We can simulate that environment very accurately.”
As EMA has expanded, its ability to attract world-class talent has also grown. The 17 employees in Pittsfield include engineers, scientists, and technicians from across the U.S. and abroad. Pittsfield has proven to be more than just a good place to grow a business — it’s also a good place to live.
“We hired people from all over the world to just come to Pittsfield,” said McKennon. “They moved out here, found homes, hobbies, families, and places to live. And we’re giving them a cool place to work.”
Beyond its technical work, EMA is also helping to grow the region’s innovation ecosystem. The company participates in local workforce development panels, partners with nearby firms on joint projects, and supports early career pathways through initiatives like the Berkshire Innovation Center’s BETA program — a hands-on engineering and technology experience for local high school students.
“We’re all trying to build something lasting here,” said McKennon. “When the ecosystem grows, everybody benefits.”
The company also has a track record of drawing back Berkshire natives who left the region for school or early career opportunities.
“We have a very high success rate at grabbing young engineers who grew up locally and bringing them back,” McKennon added.
Part of what draws these professionals is the breadth of EMA’s work. In addition to its space lab, EMA supports a wide range of defense and aerospace programs, including testing for lightning effects, electromagnetic interference, and electronic warfare conditions. The company’s in-house software and modeling tools have become critical assets for clients working in high-stakes environments, such as aviation, satellite, and submarine operations.
“We’ve become a preeminent force in the aerospace and defense industry,” McKennon said.
That visibility has led to expanded collaboration with universities and research institutions. A $5 million partnership among UMass Amherst, Myrias Optics, and MassTech will bring together researchers and engineers working on next-generation optical technologies known as metalenses — ultra-thin lenses used in applications ranging from augmented reality to satellites.
“UMass is going to be having research done here in Pittsfield. This is the UMass footprint,” said McKennon. “I wanted to get a university and a startup to grow something together in Pittsfield — and this is how we do it.”
With its pioneering technology, strong support from the city, partnerships, and a growing national and global footprint, EMA is positioning Pittsfield as a center of excellence for space, defense, and advanced materials testing.
“We’re not as far from being the space testing capital of the world as people thought we would be,” McKennon said. “And, we’re not doing it by ourselves out here. We have an entire team of people rooting for EMA out here in Western Massachusetts — and that includes the City of Pittsfield.”
– by Roger Matus
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