Oct 04. Aurora Flight Sciences of Manassas, Va will locate at temporary facility at the Raspet Flight Research Laboratory. The company will build a 65,000-square-foot manufacturing plant at Golden Triangle Regional Airport. The company plans to hire 30 people initially to a high of 300. The first aircraft is expected to be flown by mid-2005, officials said. Officials said the UAVs manufactured by Aurora will be based on a design from Israel Aircraft Industries, a company recognized as a leader in UAV development. The formal announcement came Wednesday at a news conference at Mississippi State University. The Raspet Flight Research Laboratory is located at the Starkville Municipal Airport.

02 Nov 04. Allan Cameron has been appointed Managing Director of Thales UK’s naval business and Vice President Warship Prime for Thales’ global naval business. Allan Cameron joins Thales UK from Bath Iron Works (BIW), a General Dynamics company, where he was President. Allan was previously Chief Operating Officer at BIW and General Manager of Electric Boat, General Dynamics’ submarine division. Allan brings further expertise to Thales UK’s naval business and to the Carrier Alliance as the programme moves toward the next phase.

Peter Robertson, who previously headed up Thales UK’s naval business, is moving to an international role with Thales. Under Peter’s leadership Thales UK’s naval business went from strength to strength, culminating in winning a major role on the Future Carrier programme.

Mel Purvis, who previously ran Thales UK’s underwater naval business, moves to a broader naval role covering both above and under water systems. Mel will concentrate on securing Thales’ role on future naval programmes, supporting Allan in developing the naval business and global strategy, while continuing to ensure Thales UK leadership in the sonar market.

01 Nov 04. Northrop Grumman Corporation has appointed John Casko to be vice president, Engineering, Logistics and Technology for its Airborne Ground Surveillance and Battle Management Systems business area in Melbourne.

01 Nov 04. Rockwell Collins announced the appointment of Patrick E. Allen as senior vice president and chief financial officer, effective Jan. 1. Allen, 40 years old, will succeed Lawrence A. Erickson, 55, who plans to retire at the end of the year. Allen joined Rockwell Collins in 2001 as vice president of corporate finance and treasurer. Most recently, he was vice president and controller of Rockwell’s commercial business.

02 Nov 04. Northrop Grumman Corporation has named Carol Zierhoffer vice president and chief information officer for the company’s Information Technology (IT) sector. She will be responsible for establishing the IT sector’s strategic direction and will provide leadership for all information systems and information technology activities for the sector and its business units.

01 Nov 04. Rolls-Royce has appointed Christopher J. Cikanovich as Vice President, Marketing and Business Development, Rolls-Royce Naval Marine Inc. effective November 1. In this role, he will be responsible for positioning and growing the company’s naval marine business in North America. He will report directly to Patrick J. Marolda, President – Rolls-Royce Naval Marine Inc. and be based in Chantilly, Virginia. Mr. Cikanovich replaces Nicholas M. Baker, recently appointed Director International Sales for Naval Marine for the company.

05 Nov 04. Armor Holdings, Inc. has appointed Tony Russell to the newly formed executive role of Chief Technology Officer.