Kristen Smith 
- The 2,800-square-foot office in the University of Illinois Research Park supports 10 employees
- It replaces a nearby Champaign site the nonprofit had held since 2010
- The location backs existing contracts and independent R&D in areas like electromagnetics, modeling and radar systems
Riverside Research has opened an office in the University of Illinois Research Park in Champaign. The national security nonprofit announced the move Wednesday, two weeks after the site opened July 15.
The 2,800-square-foot office at 2021 S. 1st Street supports 10 employees. It replaces a Champaign location on Fox Drive that Riverside Research had occupied since 2010, putting staff on the university’s campus alongside other companies and researchers in the park.
What Work Will the Champaign Office Support?
The site backs existing contracts, with emphasis on what the company calls its “DC to Daylight full-wave computational electromagnetics competency.” Riverside Research also expects the office to feed independent research and development in software development, physics-based modeling and simulation, electromagnetics, and radar systems.
Mary Barefoot, senior vice president of business operations, said the move into the university’s research ecosystem gives the company access to talent and ideas.
Riverside Research is recruiting talent in physics, electrical engineering, computer science and computer engineering.
What Is Riverside Research Spending on the Site?
The company put $80,000 into renovating the office and expects to invest more than $250,000 over the three-year lease.
Riverside Research is headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, and holds several offices in Dayton, Ohio, near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
What Else Is Riverside Research Working On?
The nonprofit took a position in May on an $866 million Air Force advisory and assistance services contract supporting the National Air and Space Intelligence Center. It also partnered with Plexus that month on reusable modular hardware and software for defense and intelligence customers, building on their work together on the Aegis R52L Enhanced Retransmission Device.
Riverside Research acquired Cog Systems in March 2025 for an undisclosed sum, adding secure hardware and virtualization capabilities.
