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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

January 17, 2000

Mr. Alfred G. Hansen
4609 Chattahoochee Crossing
Marietta, GA 30067

Dear Al:

EMS Technologies, Inc. is pleased that you have accepted the position of
President and Chief Operating Officer, at an initial salary of $16,667.00 per
month. This letter sets out the compensation package for this position as
recommended by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of Directors
on January 7, 2000.

Initial Stock Option Grant: 200,000 shares of EMS Technologies, Inc. Common
Stock, first exercisable after 6 months, remaining exercisable for 6 years after
date of employment, at 11 7/8, which is the closing market price of the common
stock on January 7, 2000, and otherwise on the terms and conditions of options
granted to executive officers under the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan.

Future Option Grants: To be determined annually as the sum of: (1) options under
the Company's normal procedure for executive long-term incentive compensation,
(2) the number of options having a Black-Scholes value equal to the amount by
which base salary is less than that number determined under the Company's normal
procedures for executive compensation, and (3) the number of options having a
Black-Scholes value equal to the cash bonus that would otherwise be paid under
the Executive Annual Incentive Compensation Plan.

Executive Annual Incentive Compensation Plan: You will not participate in the
Executive Annual Incentive Plan except as described under 'Future Options
Grants' as outlined above.

Benefit Programs: Enclosed is a summary of our benefit plans (medical, dental,
life insurance, etc.). You will also be eligible for a supplemental medical
insurance plan provided to Company Officers, which will pay up to $5,000 per
year of expenses not covered by the standard company plan. In particular, items
relating to dental and vision are covered by the supplemental plan. This
information can be covered in more detail at your convenience.

Vacation:  You will be entitled to four weeks vacation per year.

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Automobiles: You are eligible to participate in the company's Automobile program
as generally available to executive officers, subject to your election to
participate.

Golf Club: You are eligible to participate in this program as generally
available to executive officers, subject to your election to participate.

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Mr. Alfred G. Hansen
January 17, 2000

Umbrella Liability Insurance: You are eligible to participate in this program as
generally available to executive officers, subject to your election to
participate.

As an employee, you should sign and return the enclosed employee agreement
dealing with inventions and non-disclosure, as well as the standard Terms of
Employment form, which is also enclosed. Our employment will be governed by and
determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia.

Please indicate your acceptance of these arrangements by signing, dating, and
returning one of the enclosed copies of this letter to my attention in the Human
Resources Department. The other copy is for your own records.

I look forward to working with you at EMS Technologies, Inc. If you have any
questions, please feel free to call me at (770) 263-9200, ext. 4306.

Sincerely,
EMS Technologies, Inc.

Michael R. Robertson
Director, Human Resources

Enclosures

Accepted by:________________________________  Date: _____________

Start Date:  January 4, 2000