E. Ann Berman, 60; Tech Firm President, CEO

E. Ann Berman, 60, the president and chief executive of Tri-Space Inc., a high-tech engineering and consulting company in McLean, died Jan. 8 of breast cancer at Capital Hospice in Arlington County. She lived in McLean.

Dr. Berman founded her company in 1989 after serving as deputy assistant secretary of the Navy. A meteorologist and a specialist in remote sensing devices, she designed software and image-processing systems that are used in national security, communications, aviation and space technology and the maritime industry.

She had a specialty in hyperspectral imaging, a method of using infrared techniques to map and measure the Earth's surface with vivid clarity. The technology is widely used in developing weaponry and communications systems for the military.

Dr. Berman designed the software of the WinSat navigation system, which uses Global Positioning System technology and has become popular with recreational sailors and fishermen worldwide. She also developed a prototype infrared image-processing system to prevent aircraft collisions on airport runways. The technology has been tested at U.S. airports.

In 1992, she published "Exploring the Environment Through Satellite Imagery," a high school textbook that uses satellite imagery to teach environmental science.

Elizabeth Ann Berman was born in Grand Rapids, Mich., and was a graduate of Michigan State University. She received a master's degree in physics in 1970 and a PhD in meteorology in 1974, both from the University of Wisconsin.

After completing her education, she joined Environmental Research and Technology and worked for the company in California from 1974 to 1978. She was in Washington for two years before managing the company's Denver regional office from 1980 to 1984.

In 1984, Dr. Berman returned to Washington as deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for research and advanced technology. She supervised the naval laboratory system and, as the Navy's top civilian executive for electronics, communications and space systems, had a key role in developing designs for communications, space systems and oceanography, meteorology and engineering projects. She received a superior public service medal from the Navy Department in 1987.

She worked for United Technologies before forming her company.

With her background in meteorology, Dr. Berman served on the National Research Council's Board for Atmospheric Science and Climate from 1990 to 1993. She later served on a National Research Council steering committee on developing the infrastructure for GPS technology.

As a graduate student in the 1970s, she participated in the U.N. Global Atmospheric Research Program and helped develop some of the first interactive display systems for satellite weather information.

She was a member of the American Meteorological Society, the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing and other professional groups.

Dr. Berman was a longtime member of First Church of Christ, Scientist in McLean and served as a Sunday school teacher and committee member.

She enjoyed motorcycling with her husband and had ridden her Harley-Davidson, Fat Boy, in 49 of the 50 states (Alaska was the lone exception), as well as several foreign countries. She did her own mechanical work on her motorcycle and was a member of the Fairfax chapter of the Harley Owners Group.

Survivors include her husband of 34 years, James S. Berman, and their daughter, Jennifer A. Berman, both of McLean.