Business

Fort Walton Beach approves new headquarters for Beast Code at Freedom Tech Center

The homegrown technology company, which began with seven founders around a folding table, will bring over 200 high-tech jobs to its new facility after landing a $500 million Navy contract.

Jared Williams

The Fort Walton Beach City Council unanimously approved a major development order last Tuesday for Beast Code’s new headquarters at Freedom Tech Center, bringing a rapidly growing defense technology company’s operations into the city.

The two-story, 36,000-square-foot building will be constructed at 690 Liberty Lane NW as part of the Freedom Tech Center development on property leased from the Air Force.

Beast Code, which started with seven local founders collaborating around a folding table, has evolved into a significant defense contractor with more than 230 employees. The company specializes in digital transformation solutions and virtual reality environments that allow military personnel to train in simulated settings.

“Beast Code is a homegrown business. The young men that started it and operate it are from Fort Walton Beach,” said Jay Odom, the developer of Freedom Tech Center, during the council meeting. “They’ve got over 200 employees that currently are in the City of Mary Esther. They’ll be moving to their new world headquarters here.”

The company’s origin stems from a project with the U.S. Navy to visualize ship designs. Their software platform, Beast Core, enables engineers and analysts to understand designs before construction, allows operators to qualify for complex tasks through virtual training, and provides maintenance workers with necessary data.

Last year, Beast Code secured a $500 million contract with the Navy. Their technology creates “digital threads” across 3D models, documents and metadata, bringing together previously siloed data sources.

“They can take in cyberspace — if the Navy is building a new ship, they can develop, design the entire ship, every nut, bolt, screw, the engines, the kitchen, the bathrooms, the navigation, everything,” Odom explained to the council.

Growth Management Director Christopher Frassetti told council members that city staff reviewed the application and found it meets all requirements in the land development code and planned unit development agreement.

The project is part of the multi-phase Freedom Tech Center development, which also includes hotels and planned restaurant space. The property was voluntarily annexed into the city and is being developed on land leased from the Air Force.

Construction is expected to begin as soon as building permits are issued, with a target completion date of September 2026.

Several council members praised the development for bringing high-paying technology jobs to Fort Walton Beach.

“Creating standard operating procedures and mission readiness for our country’s national security,” said Councilman David Schmidt. “And then being from here, the developer being from here, these are things that you hope for in communities.”

Join the conversation...Cancel reply

Continue reading 👇

Politics

Fort Walton Beach names Jason Davis as new city manager

Politics

Fort Walton Beach narrows city manager search to three finalists, meet-and-greet April 17

Politics

Fort Walton Beach Council discusses proposed short-term rental regulations

Public Safety

City of Fort Walton Beach to begin all-day speed cameras in school zones starting April 1

Victoria Lee commented on Bill to repeal controversial customary use statute passes in Florida Senate

“This article is wrong. There was no privatization of the beaches. Much of the 30A shoreline to the MHWL has been private for decades.”

Respond

Michael Kaholokula commented on Destin High School to move to four-day school week in 2025-2026

“In my town the school day started and ended later. Crime rates went way down! Parents were home when their scholars were home. And scholars aren’t about getting up early!”

Debra Lee Willis commented on Eglin Air Force Base installing new fencing along Highway 98 on Okaloosa Island

“I wonder just how long the new fencing will last,how long before someone plows into it. I've lived here. For 50 yrs, and can remember the beaches before all the...”

Sherry Ross commented on Eglin Air Force Base installing new fencing along Highway 98 on Okaloosa Island

“The cement wall is ridiculous, just like the wall that use to line the bay side, it will dissappear too, traffic didn't destroy the bay side hurricanes did, to be...”

Cain commented on Eglin Air Force Base installing new fencing along Highway 98 on Okaloosa Island

“And who do you think trashed it.”

Pat Hupp commented on Bill to repeal controversial customary use statute passes in Florida Senate

“Yea Don Gaetz of all people, he should go!”

Basil Meecham commented on Bill to repeal controversial customary use statute passes in Florida Senate

“Why the H... does anyone vote for any politician who is in favor of having the horrible disgusting private beaches? Every resident, every visitor, every tax payer MUST have a...”

Tim commented on Eglin Air Force Base installing new fencing along Highway 98 on Okaloosa Island

“The air force doesn't own or need the land! It isn't theirs. It was mostly Choctawhatchee National Forest. The air force tried to sell that land in the 2000's but...”

James Huston commented on Eglin Air Force Base installing new fencing along Highway 98 on Okaloosa Island

“Those signs that you recommend have been there for years, just people annoyed them to the point that Eglin has now had to step the game up”

Harriet G. commented on Okaloosa installs bollards to protect new multi-use path from vehicles

“Now that Ms. Ketchel has torn down more dunes, plus paved over what was beautiful sand, golf carts can drive from one end to the other. No way to cross...”