LOCATIONS
LAND
23 Jul 24. GKN Aerospace expands composite and electrical wiring systems capabilities in Chihuahua.
- GKN Aerospace has inaugurated an 80,000-square-foot expansion in Chihuahua, Mexico, doubling the facility’s capacity
- Multi-m USD investment enhances assembly of composite aerostructures and introduces electrical wiring interconnection capability into Chihuahua
- Expansion expected to generate more than 200 new jobs, further strengthening local aerospace industry
GKN Aerospace has officially opened an expansion to its facility in Mexico, Chihuahua, representing a significant advancement in the company’s aerospace manufacturing capabilities for the North American market.
The upgraded site will now focus on both the assembly of composite aerostructures as well as manufacturing electrical wiring interconnection systems (EWIS). The enhanced production capacities will strengthen partnerships with customers in the region, including HondaJet and Gulfstream, and will position the site for future growth.
John Pritchard, President Civil Airframe of GKN Aerospace said: “The expansion of our Chihuahua facility is an important milestone for us. It will supplement our already established aerostructures footprint in the region, embedding our industry-leading EWIS capabilities into North America for the first time. Combined, lightweight structures and advanced EWIS systems are critical for both our customers’ platforms today, as well as to enable the future of sustainable flight. Having this multi-technology site in Chihuahua is an important step forward in enabling this.”
Maria Eugenia Campos, Governor of the State of Chihuahua, said: “We take immense pride in having GKN Aerospace as a cornerstone of Chihuahua’s aerospace industry. The company’s expansion in Chihuahua is a testament to the trust and confidence placed in our state. My administration is fully committed to supporting GKN Aerospace’s ongoing and future projects, providing the resources and infrastructure necessary for success and growth.”
By diversifying the site, with the addition of electrical wiring systems capability alongside its existing aerostructures capabilities, Chihuahua will be repositioned as a multi-technology aerospace manufacturing centre with the creation of more than 200 new jobs.
GKN Aerospace currently operates three facilities in Mexico, catering to both civil aircraft and the business aerospace markets in the United States and Europe. The Chihuahua facility specializes in providing the assembly of advanced composite and metal structures, specialized processes, and engineering services.
MARITIME
13 Jul 24. The launching ceremony of the PPA 7 Domenico Millelire: The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Chief of the Italian Navy, Vice Admiral Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto, by the Director of the Directorate of Naval Armament and Programme Committee Representative of the PPA Programme, Vice Admiral Giuseppe Abbamonte and by the OCCAR-EA Deputy Director Mr. Massimo Scialpi. The Temporary Consortium between Fincantieri and Leonardo companies, responsible for the development and production of the seven (7) PPA ships, was represented by Fincantieri Naval Vessels BU Director Dr. Dario DESTE, along with senior managers of the two companies. The Godmother of the launching ceremony was Gianfranca Millelirle, a direct descendant of Domenico. The ceremony involved the christening through the breaking of a bottle of champagne by the Godmother, as a symbolic gesture to bring good luck and safe travel to the vessel whilst at sea. Domenico Millelire (1761-1827), was an Italian patriot and Officer of the Royal Sardinian Navy. He was decorated with the Gold Medal of the Kingdom of Sardinia and is considered the first man awarded the first Gold Medal for Military Valour of the Italian Armed Forces. Under the supervision of OCCAR-EA PPA Programme Division and the Italian Naval Armament Directorate, the seventh PPA is now ready to continue its technical activities. PPA vessels share a common platform, although they are built in three different configurations: LIGHT (two ships), LIGHT PLUS (three ships) and FULL (two ships). Domenico Millelire is the second PPA in FULL configuration. PPA Domenico Millelire is planned to be delivered to the Italian Navy by the third quarter of 2026. (Source: www.joint-forces.com)
AIR
22 Jul 24. GCAP ‘proceeding at pace’ to full development and design phase. The trilateral Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) is “proceeding at pace” to the full development and design phase that is due to be launched in 2025, senior programme leaders said on 22 July. Speaking at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024, which runs from 22 to 26 July outside London in the United Kingdom, industrial leaders from the three national primes of Leonardo for Italy, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) for Japan, and BAE Systems for the UK said that with the current concepting and assessment phase due to be completed in the coming months, the programme is on track to commence the next phase that will run through to entry into service in 2035.
“We are heading towards 2025 at pace,” Herman Claesen, managing director, Future Combat Air Systems, for lead UK company on the project BAE Systems, said. “In readiness for 2025 to take on the international design and development contract, we have been working at phenomenal pace, and the key message is that pace has continued absolutely since the last time we got together [at Farnborough 2022], whether it is from a government point of view or whether it’s from an industry point of view.”
Claesen, along with his Italian compatriot Guglielmo Maviglia, chief GCAP officer at Leonardo, and his Japanese compatriot Hitoshi Shiraishi, senior fellow, GCAP, MHI, noted the importance of the upcoming full development and design phase in the context of developing the next generation of air power for all three partner countries over the coming decades. (Source: Janes)
22 Jul 24. In 2018, De Havilland Aircraft of Canada (then Viking Air) announced a program to convert and upgrade previously used CL-215 aircraft into the CL-415 Enhanced Aerial Firefighter. To date, nine aircraft have been upgraded with the remaining two to be completed.
Building on the success of this program, and in keeping with our commitment to “keep the fleet flying,” De Havilland Canada (DHC) is pleased to announce a similar program for the Dash 8 fleet. DHC has actively been acquiring aircraft in the marketplace and has begun upgrading these aircraft for delivery to customers looking to expand their fleets or become Dash 8 customers for the first time.
The De Havilland Canada OEM Certified Refurbishment Program is a program whereby DHC acquires, upgrades and re-markets the aircraft for each specific customers’ needs. Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) work will take place at our facilities in Calgary, Alberta.
Refurbishments offered include:
- Aircraft configuration to match the customer’s existing fleet
- Completion of overdue maintenance, integration of Airworthiness Directives, and Service Bulletin upgrades
- Airframe life extensions through our ESP (Extended Service Plan) to extend the lives of Dash 8-100/200/300 to 120,000 cycles, or the ESP+ which can take the Dash 8-100 to 160,000 cycles
- Freighter conversions, including the introduction of the new Dash 8-400 Large Cargo Door and Quick Change between cargo and passenger missions
- Avionics upgrades
To date, De Havilland Canada have acquired 28 Dash 8-400 aircraft for the program.
De Havilland Canada’s Dash 8 aircraft are well-known for their ruggedness, long-service life, unique performance capabilities and market leading operating economics. The DHC OEM Certified Refurbishment Program will extend the operational life of these aircraft and meet the needs of current and future customers of DHC.
Following today’s announcement of De Havilland Canada’s roadmap of the future of the Dash 8, this new program supports our customer’s need to grow or renew their Dash 8 Fleets while we work on our production plans for the future through DHC’s Product Strategy Council.
As an industry-leading OEM, DHC is uniquely positioned to provide turnkey solutions to customers. Customers will benefit from access and integration of DHC’s Engineering/DAO support, local parts depot, program expertise and history and all the support and services we can offer during the delivery and entry into service phase.
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
24 Jul 24. UK First Sea Lord: Joint Crewing Of SSN-AUKUS Submarines Likely. The United Kingdom and Australia’s future SSN-AUKUS (SSN-A) submarines will probably be operated by an integrated crew made of Australian and British sailors, the UK’s First Sea Lord said at the Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference in Perth.
“I’m confident that the work is going on, the way that the choices are being rigorously examined and slowly downselected against the timeline that we need to meet will ensure that SSN AUKUS, will arrive on time, delivering just the capabilities that we require and crewed by either a UK crew or [an] Australian crew or, very probably, a mixture of both because we will be so integrated by then that it will almost be a natural [extension] of what we’re doing,” said the First Sea Lord, Admiral Ben Key.
In conversation with Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, and Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the US Chief of Naval Operations, Key explained that while some decisions around the design of SSN-A had already been made, notably the choice of a Rolls Royce PWR reactor and AN/BYG-1 derived combat system, there are still a range of decisions that need to be made about the SSN-A platform.
Some of those decisions, he explained, will be left to the last possible decision point so that the best capabilities can be secured by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and Royal Navy (RN) whilst maintaining the planned schedule of the program.
“It’s not surprising that whilst a number of key decisions have been made around choices of combat system, choices of reactor and alike, there is still a lot of work going on in the design and maturing of the capability that we will build. Now, we can’t sit and wait years and years and years and sort of pontificate about that because there are a number of long-lead items that need to be procured, some of the reactor decisions have been absolutely confirmed and are in long-term production,” he told the audience in Perth.
His sentiment was echoed by Vice Admiral Hammond, who said that “We don’t want the best sonar in 2024 [for SSN-A],” noting the need to strike a balance between waiting for cutting edge capabilities to develop and actually maturing the core SSN-A capability.
The UK will start building the first of its SSN-A submarines later this decade, with delivery to commence in the late 2030s, while Australia will start work in the 2030s for delivery in the early 2040s.
Australia’s Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy, said previously that “one if not two” RN SSN-A boats will be in the water before Australia receives its first vessel. (Source: News Now/https://www.navalnews.com/)
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
25 Jul 24. Mr James Hooley OBE has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba in succession to Sir George Hollingbery KCMG. Mr Hooley will take up his appointment during March 2025.
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
24 Jul 24. Vice Adm. Alvin Holsey for appointment to the grade of admiral, with assignment as commander, U.S. Southern Command, Doral, Florida. Holsey is currently serving as military deputy commander, U.S. Southern Command, Doral, Florida.
24 Jul 24. Rear Adm. Peter A. Garvin for appointment to the grade of vice admiral, with assignment as president, National Defense University, Washington, D.C. Garvin is currently serving as president, Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island.
24 Jul 24. USAF LG John D. Lamontagne for appointment to the grade of general, with assignment as commander, Air Mobility Command, Scott USAF Base, Illinois. Lamontagne is currently serving as deputy commander, U.S. USAFs in Europe, and deputy commander, U.S. USAFs Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
24 Jul 24. USAF LG Steven S. Nordhaus for appointment to the grade of general, with assignment as chief of the National Guard Bureau, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Nordhaus is currently serving as the commander, Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, and commander, First USAF (USAFs Northern), Tyndall USAF Base, Florida.
24 Jul 24. USAF LG Randall Reed for appointment to the grade of general, with assignment as commander, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott USAF Base, Illinois. Reed is currently serving as deputy commander, Air Mobility Command, Scott USAF Base, Illinois.
24 Jul 24. USAF MG Michael L. Ahmann for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as commander, Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, and commander, First USAF (USAFs Northern), Tyndall USAF Base, Florida. MG Ahmann is currently serving as director, Programs and Resources, J-8, National Guard Bureau, Washington, D.C.
24 Jul 24. USAF MG Michael L. Downs for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as associate director of the Central Intelligence Agency for Military Affairs, Washington, D.C. Downs is currently serving as vice director for the Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
24 Jul 24. USAF MG Evan L. Pettus for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as military deputy commander, U.S. Southern Command, Doral, Florida. Pettus is currently serving as commander, Twelfth USAF, Air Combat Command, Davis-Monthan USAF Base, Arizona.
24 Jul 24. USAF MG Rebecca J. Sonkiss for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general with assignment as deputy commander, Air Mobility Command, Scott USAF Base, Illinois. Sonkiss is currently serving as deputy commander, USAF Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Florida.
24 Jul 24. Army MG Gregory J. Brady for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as the inspector general, Office of the Secretary of the Army, Washington, D. C. Brady currently serves as the chief of staff, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt USAF Base, Nebraska.
24 Jul 24. Army MG Edmond M. Brown for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Futures Command, Austin, Texas. Brown currently serves as the chief of staff, U.S. Army Futures Command, Austin, Texas.
24 Jul 24. Army MG Curtis A. Buzzard for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as commander, Security Assistance Group – Ukraine, Operation Atlantic Resolve, Germany. Buzzard most recently served as commanding general, U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Moore, Fort Moore, Georgia.
24 Jul 24. Army MG Gavin A. Lawrence for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as deputy commanding general/chief of staff, U.S. Army Materiel Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. Lawrence currently serves as the commanding general, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, Scott USAF Base, Illinois.
24 Jul 24. Army MG Joel B. Vowell for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Pacific, Fort Shafter, Hawaii. Vowell currently serves as the commander, Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, Operation Inherent Resolve, Iraq.
24 Jul 24. Space Force BG Devin R. Pepper for appointment to the grade of major general. Pepper is currently serving as the deputy chief of staff, Strategic Plans and Policy, Supreme Allied Command Transformation, NATO, Norfolk, Virginia.
INDUSTRY
INDUSTRY TEAMINGS
23 Jul 24. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), the global defense technology company, and Lufthansa Technik, a leading international provider of technical services for the aviation industry, have signed a collaboration memorandum of understanding (MoU) at Farnborough International Air Show. Speaking at the signing event, Michael Williamson, president Lockheed Martin International, said: “Today’s MoU brings together the expertise of two global aviation leaders. I’m excited about the potential this cooperation holds, enabling us to deliver a range of high-quality and affordable sustainment solutions to our international customers. This step reaffirms our commitment to partnering with European industry to enhance the resiliency of the defense industrial base.” Dr. William Willms, chief financial officer of Lufthansa Technik, said: “We are proud of our future closer cooperation with Lockheed Martin, a leading company in the defense sector. It is my firm conviction that we can achieve a lot together because our ways of thinking are very similar. Lufthansa Technik stands for aircraft availability worldwide, so our international network is an important success factor in this cooperation.”
23 Jul 24. Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) and the U.S. Department of Defense’s Operational Energy Office have announced the extension of their collaborative research contract into its second year. The extension underscores the success of the first year and the shared commitment to enhancing mobility resilience and flexibility in support of distributed maritime operations and expeditionary warfighting. The contract, as part of a three-year initiative, leverages the pioneering Airlander aircraft to explore new horizons in zero-emissions logistics support. The project, backed by the US Department of Defense Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund (OECIF), focuses on advancing energy-efficient solutions across defence platforms. Airlander is designed for efficiency. By leveraging powerful technologies, including light weight advanced composites and fabrics, lifting body aerodynamics and thrust vectoring, together with large payload spaces, it has the ability to land large and heavy payloads away from airfields and fixed infrastructure, transforming defence logistics operations.
Capitalising on this momentum, HAV will concentrate research in the second year on scaling the electric propulsion architecture for Airlander 50.
Stemming from a thesis by students at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), the collaboration has since evolved into a research and development contract. NPS has been instrumental in conducting simulations and modelling to showcase not only the feasibility of Airlander, but also the advantages it can bring to warfare.
In the first year of the project, Airlander 10 underwent rigorous analysis of forecast performance in roles such as maritime logistics support. These assessments, conducted in close coordination with operational end users, have been pivotal in defining mission profiles, use cases, and concepts of operations (CONOPS) for Airlander.
Similar assessment of the Airlander 50, with a 50+ tonne payload, will be applied in the next phase of the work. HAV will examine the benefits and use-cases of Airlander 50, focusing on logistics missions meeting US DoD requirements.
Tom Grundy, CEO of Hybrid Air Vehicles says: “The extension of this contract is a testament to our shared commitment to transforming defence logistics, as well as making them sustainable, and underscoring the US DoD’s dedication to optimising operational energy use.
Airlander is designed from first principles to allow customers to rethink the skies. It can provide unique mission capabilities, low-emissions and low fuel use in military operations. We’re extremely proud to lead the charge with the US DoD in this critical area and look forward to collaborating with them further.”
Captain Ben Cohen, Project Principle Investigator says: “Throughout our first years’ work on OECIF, we have validated that hybrid aircraft enable a paradigm shift in logistics support in contested areas. As a true multi-domain platform, there are significant direct and indirect effects that enable operational solutions in a way not before seen. It is clear that innovative platforms such as hybrid aircraft offer unique opportunities to expedite hydrogen adoption and the path to zero-emissions whilst retaining inimitable capabilities. I am excited for the opportunities the second year of work will unlock.”
22 Jul 24. Boeing [NYSE:BA] and Antonov Company today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore opportunities to collaborate on defense-related projects.
“We’re pleased to continue working with the Antonov Company to support Ukraine development and economic growth,” said Ted Colbert, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “This agreement demonstrates our ongoing efforts to find more opportunities to work with Ukrainian industry, which was underscored by our signing of the Ukrainian Defense Industry Compact earlier this year.”
The areas of potential collaboration identified in the agreement consist of training, logistical support and overhaul services for tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems utilized by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which includes the ScanEagle. In addition, the companies will also explore opportunities for Antonov to provide engineering support to Boeing.
“A strong, innovative, and efficient defense industry is key to sustainable economic development and national security, and we are extremely excited to collaborate with Boeing,” said Ievhen Gavrylov, CEO of Antonov Company. “This agreement brings a whole new level of opportunity to implement the latest and most effective solutions – in addition to the possibility of future projects with Boeing in the aerospace and defense industry.”
22 Jul 24. GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE) and Kratos Turbine Technologies, a division of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., signed a Memorandum of Understanding to partner on the development and production of small affordable engines that could potentially power unmanned aerial systems (UAS), collaborative combat aircraft, and similar applications. The partnership builds on an existing joint development agreement and includes full-scale engine production.
For the last year, GE Aerospace and Kratos have been working together on a small affordable engine. The engine initially was developed and ground tested by Kratos. Under the existing joint agreement, GE Aerospace and Kratos completed additional development efforts and are now conducting tests on the engine. The team plans to continue development on the current engine, which will undergo altitude testing next year at GE Aerospace’s test cell in Evendale, Ohio.
Amy Gowder, President and CEO, Defense & Systems at GE Aerospace said, “Our defense customers have a growing interest in small affordable engines to meet their evolving mission requirements. Our initial collaboration has been very successful, and this agreement furthers our efforts in this new dynamic military segment.”
Eric DeMarco, President & CEO of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., said, “Kratos has made significant investments in the development of our family of small, low-cost jet engines for jet powered drones, missiles, and powered munitions that lead in technology and capability. We consider our relationship with GE Aerospace as invaluable based on our expectation and forecast for the potential future production of thousands of turbofan engines for multiple customers.”
Each company brings unique expertise to the partnership. Kratos has more than 20 years of experience in the development and production of small affordable jet engines for UAS, drones, and missiles. GE Aerospace has more than 100 years of experience in the development and scaling up of high-volume production for jet engine programs for a seamless transition from development to production.
22 Jul 24. AERALIS has announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with StandardAero, one of the aerospace industry’s leading independent maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) providers. The MOU will explore opportunities for collaboration across the entire life cycle for applicable AERALIS products in the UK and internationally. The companies announced the partnership at the Royal International Air Tattoo in Fairford, Gloucestershire today as they commence the process of defining future workstreams through a series of tests, demonstrations and workshops. The scope of work considered under the MOU includes engine and accessories maintenance, repair and overhaul, engine nacelles and Ground Support Equipment as well as assembly and equipping for the entire AERALIS modular system. The two companies are looking forward to working together to ensure the best products available are incorporated into every AERALIS aircraft.
AERALIS CEO Tristan Crawford said, “We are delighted to announce this MOU with StandardAero, a company with highly impressive engine maintenance, repair and overhaul services capabilities as well as notable component repair services, and we are very much looking forward to working together to solve some of the biggest aviation challenges. We are thrilled to know that as we develop our best-in-class air system, we will be developing and incorporating the finest products on the market, ensuring world-class through life support and spiral development.”
StandardAero’s Andrew Ferguson, VP, Sales and Business Development, EMEA & APAC commented, “StandardAero is thrilled to partner with AERALIS, providing tailored maintenance, repair and overhaul solutions that meet AERALIS’ unique needs. Together, we are driving innovation and reliability in aviation.”
PERSONNEL
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
22 Jul 24. Indra Group has strengthened its organization.
o Miguel Forteza, the current Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Investment Director of the Nortia Group, is set to become the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
o The new geographic organization is to be promoted through regional divisions
Following the lines set by its Leading the Future strategic plan, Indra Group has strengthened its organization to become the leading Spanish multinational in defense, aerospace and advanced digital technologies, with a key role in Europe and a greater global footprint.
As of September 1, the company will incorporate as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Miguel Forteza, the current Deputy CFO and Investment Director of Nortia Capital Investment, where he has overseen the financial area, budgets and investments, as well as the definition of the strategic plan and M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions). As part of this group, he has been the chairman of Nortia Capital Riesgo SCR and director and member of the advisory committee of different entities. He was previously Chief Investment Officer at Citigroup, where he worked for 14 years, after his time at Ardizia de Inversiones, Self Trade Bank, Merrill Lynch and Banco Inversión.
Forteza, who will become a member of Indra’s Management Committee and report to the CEO, fills the vacancy left at the end of this February by the former CFO, Borja García Alarcón.
Organization by region
In addition to bringing on board Miguel Forteza, Indra Group has laid out its international organization, to be structured in regional clusters that will go operational starting September 1, appointing the managers as guest members of the Management Committee, giving a major boost to the international strategy announced in the presentation of its 24-26 plan:
o Latin America and Southern Europe will be headed by Pedro Rodríguez Veiga, who until now has been in charge of Minsait’s international business. This cluster will report to Luis Abril, executive director of Minsait.
o The Middle East will be led by Luis Permuy, head of Indra’s Asia, Middle East and Africa business since 2016. This cluster will report to José Vicente de los Mozos, CEO of Indra.
o United States, United Kingdom and Northern Europe, whose leadership will be taken on by Jacinto Monge, who will join Indra Group after more than 20 years of professional experience in companies such as Airbus Military or Bell Flight. This cluster will report to José Vicente de los Mozos, CEO of Indra.
The rest of the world will be coordinated, in an export model, by José Luis Gascó, currently running Asia-Pacific, reporting to Borja Ochoa, Managing Director of Defence. (Source: Google/Indra)
23 Jul 24. General Martin Herem, the former commander of the Estonian Defence Forces, is to join the team of Milrem Robotics, the world’s leading robotics and autonomous systems developer.General (ret) Herem will join the team as a Military Strategy Advisor starting in August. His role will be to bridge the gap between end-user requirements and product development, specifically leading the process of assessing lessons learned in Ukraine and converting them into use cases for land robotics in the future. Herem will also advise the company’s management, business development and capability development units in decision-making from a military user perspective.
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
23 Jul 24. René Carbone Bardorf has joined AeroVironment (AV) as Vice President of Marketing and Communications. In line with the company’s continuous growth trajectory, Bardorf joins to lead AV’s global strategic marketing and oversee all facets of corporate communications strategy and execution. She will be based at AV’s corporate headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, under the leadership of Senior Vice President for Government Relations and Communications, Church Hutton. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
22 Jul 24. In line with AeroVironment’s (AV) continuous growth trajectory, the company is bolstering its presence at its global headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, by establishing a robust government relations team. Led by Senior Vice President of Government Relations Church Hutton, the new team comprises seasoned professionals Rachel Lipsey, Bill Pennington, Chris Meyers and Rocky Checca.
“AV has been a cutting-edge company for over 50 years and is trusted by the national security enterprise to deliver innovative solutions and advanced technologies for critical missions and rapidly evolving demands. Our exponential growth and expanding influence are a testament to our innovation and reliability,” said Hutton. “We are reinforcing this momentum by investing in a stellar team capable of effectively broadening AV’s reach within the executive branch and on Capitol Hill. Our newly formed team has decades of combined experience in service to our country, both in uniform and within our government, and they bring a deep understanding of the national security landscape and today’s complex global threat matrix.”
Rachel Lipsey, Senior Director for Washington Operations overseeing congressional affairs, joined AV from The Boeing Company, where she led congressional engagement and strategic advocacy on defense acquisition. Prior to her tenure at Boeing, Lipsey held staff positions in the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and state government, advising on defense policy and national security matters.
Bill Pennington, also a Senior Director for Washington Operations focusing on congressional affairs, has extensive experience with federal appropriations and congressional relations. Pennington held a variety of increasingly prominent roles in the U.S. Navy before joining AV, including commanding aviation units at the squadron and wing levels. He most recently served as the Director of the Navy and Marine Corps Congressional Appropriations Matters Office, bringing vast expertise in defense resourcing and requirements.
Chris Meyers, Senior Director for Washington Operations, works with the Executive Branch in support of domestic business development. Before joining AV, Meyers served as the Director of Business Development for government programs at CesiumAstro. His distinguished military career in the Marine Corps saw him command units at all levels within the armor community, retiring as a Colonel. Meyers also served as a Congressional Fellow, Legislative Liaison, Budget Programmer, and Director of the Marine Liaison Office to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Rounding out the team is Rocky Checca, Director for Washington Operations, who works closely with the Legislative and Executive branches, foreign embassies, industry associations, and think tanks in support of AV’s international affairs. Checca retired from the Marine Corps as a Lieutenant Colonel and served as a Presidential helicopter pilot in Marine Helicopter Squadron One. He conducted deployments to Iraq in direct support of combat operations. He also served as a Congressional Defense Fellow for Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) and Deputy Director of the Marine Liaison Office to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Leading the team is Church Hutton, who joined AV in December 2023 and oversees the company’s strategic engagement with the Department of Defense (DoD) and Congress. “Our team brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to AV and has already hit the ground running on increasing and enhancing awareness of AV with our government customers and elected officials,” continued Hutton. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
26 Jul 24. ECS, a leader in advanced technology, science, and engineering solutions, has named Peter Santighian senior vice president of Defense. As a member of the ECS executive leadership team, Santighian will be responsible for strategy, growth, and solution delivery related to Department of Defense (DoD) customers — including cybersecurity, cloud, enterprise transformation, AI/ML, and acquisition management solutions. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
24 Jul 24. Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK), a leading innovator of purpose-built vehicles and equipment, announced today that William (Bill) Burns, chief executive officer of Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Oshkosh effective July 23, 2024. With the appointment of Burns, Oshkosh Corporation has 11 board members. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
REST OF THE WORLD APPOINTMENTS
18 Jul 24. SIAA chief executive quits after 3 months. The new CEO of the Space Industry Association of Australia has stepped down after just three months in the role. In a LinkedIn post announcing the news, Maria MacNamara gave no reason for her exit, while the SIAA has yet to issue a public statement on the departure. (Source: Space Connect)