LOCATIONS
MARITIME
10 Feb 25. Colombian Navy buys new Arcángel vessel. The Colombian Navy (Armada de la República de Colombia: ARC) and the Cotecmar shipyard signed a contract for the manufacture of a new ARC Marrugo-III-type patrol boat, called Arcángel, which will be used in high-level interdiction missions; anti-narcotics; security and control of maritime traffic; and search, rescue, and salvage in littoral and bluewater operations, according to the government contracts published online in early January. Signed at the end of December 2024 for USD5.6m, the contracts call for delivery of the boats in December 2025, according to the contracts. Cotecmar told Janes the boat will be built in structurally reinforced naval aluminium with a length of 20.3 m, a beam of 5 m, and a draught of 1.06 m. Two 1900HP MTUengines and Hamilton Water Jet will provide speeds of up to 21 kt. (Source: Janes)
07 Feb 25. HMS Sutherland returns to sea after successful upgrade. Following a significant upgrade and modernisation programme, HMS Sutherland has set sail for initial training prior to sea trials – marking a major milestone in her journey back to full operational capability with the Royal Navy. We have successfully delivered major enhancements, including a power generation and machinery upgrade, structural surveys and critical system installations. Collaboration has been key to the programme’s success, with our teams working with the Royal Navy and Ministry of Defence (MOD) to ensure HMS Sutherland remains a highly capable asset for years to come. The upgrade was carried out as part of the Royal Navy’s commitment to sustain and enhance the fleet’s operational capability into the 2030s. To mark her return to sea, HMS Sutherland was officially handed over to the Royal Navy at a small ceremony onboard before she headed down the River Tamar into Plymouth Sound.
Sir Nick Hine, Chief Executive of our Marine Sector, said: “After a significant upkeep programme, it is fantastic to see HMS Sutherland starting sea trials and well on her way to achieving full capability before rejoining the fleet. Our team has provided trusted expertise, utilising our long-standing through-life support experience to ready the ship before she recommences her journey to support the nation’s defence. We’re proud to support these important naval assets and to work alongside our MOD and Royal Navy colleagues.”
PLANT CLOSURES, STRIKES AND JOB LOSSES
13 Feb 25. Bezos’ Blue Origin to layoff about 10% across its space, launch business. The CEO of Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin announced in an all-hands call on Thursday company-wide layoffs of “about 10 percent” of its employees, a sweeping readjustment as it aims to cut costs and ramp up rocket launches. The layoffs affect roughly 1,400 of the company’s nearly 14,000 employees – mostly concentrated in Florida, Texas and Washington – and comes as Blue Origin starts production of its giant New Glenn rocket, which had its first long-awaited debut launch last month.
“There’s no easy way to communicate this,” CEO Dave Limp told employees in the meeting, which was scheduled the night prior and lasted about 10 minutes. “There’s no question that we’ve had a lot of successes over the last few months.”
“But that being said, when you look at the foundation of the company and what we need to get to over the next three to five years, we just came to the painful conclusion that we aren’t set up for the kind of success that we really wanted to have,” Limp said. (Source: Reuters)
08 Feb 25. Boeing warns moon rocket program employees of layoffs. Boeing warned on Saturday of layoffs in its Space Launch System moon rocket program, saying it expects to have about 400 fewer positions in line with revisions to NASA’s Artemis program and cost expectations. The Seattle-based aerospace manufacturer said it will issue 60-day notices of involuntary layoffs to the affected employees in the coming weeks. “We are working with our customer and seeking opportunities to redeploy employees across our company to minimize job losses,” a Boeing spokesperson said via email. (Source: Reuters)
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
07 Feb 25. New UK welfare centre opens for army recruits at Pirbright. A new welfare facility has been opened at the Army Training Centre (ATC) Pirbright to support recruits undertaking their initial military training. The new Soldiers’ Centre offers centralised welfare support for recruits who are completing the 13-week basic training course. Spread over 2 storeys, the £11m purpose-built facility comprises retail and food outlets, a cinema and social areas. It also functions as a gathering space for families attending passing out parades. The investment was joint-funded by the British Army and the Army Central Fund (ACF) which provided a £7 m grant – the single biggest donation ever made by the ACF. The project was delivered by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) contracting to Henry Brothers and WSP. At the official opening of The Soldiers’ Centre on 31 January, Major General Richard Clements CBE, Director of Basing and Infrastructure, said: “The Soldiers’ Centre is an outstanding facility that will promote wellbeing and foster a sense of community among recruits at ATC Pirbright as they start their life journey with the army. This project also demonstrates our extensive investment in modernising our estate, supporting future capability, and enhancing the environments where our soldiers live, work and train.
The ACF Chair, Major General Sam Humphris MBE, said: “The Army Central Fund provides grant funding to improve the physical, mental and social wellbeing of serving British Army personnel and their immediate families. We are extremely proud of the leadership gift we made to enable delivery of this modern, high-quality welfare facility, which will support the morale of recruits and provide enduring benefit to them and their families. In addition to supporting the recruits, The Soldiers’ Centre will contribute to local efforts to reduce the army’s carbon footprint. Modern methods of construction were used for the Glulam structural frame, while photovoltaic panels have been installed to enable generation of on-site renewable energy.”
Warren Webster, MPP Programme Director – Army, Defence Infrastructure Organisation, said: “I am delighted to see this hugely impressive welfare facility being used by army recruits. We’ve focused on providing a building that has been designed with sustainability at its heart to meet the needs of soldiers and their families. We look forward to many cohorts of recruits passing through on the way to the rest of their army careers.”
David Henry, Managing Director of Henry Brothers, said: “We are delighted to have completed The Soldiers’ Centre – a facility that reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional builds for our clients and which will make a positive contribution to the experience of recruits as they embark on their army careers.”
Ray Lovegrove, Public Sector Portfolio Lead, WSP, said: “It has been a privilege for WSP to be engaged on this project from the earliest concept through to completion of this fantastic facility. It is great to see the vision, input and expertise of many people from different organisations come together this way, and I hope that The Soldiers’ Centre will be at the heart of the Pirbright community for many years to come.”
Following completion of The Soldiers’ Centre, the army is making further significant investment to support consolidation of basic training at Pirbright under the Defence Estate Optimisation (Army) Programme. The Alexander Barracks Project will provide enhanced living, working and training accommodation, including modern recruit accommodation, a swimming pool and gymnasium. Construction is due to start in 2026 with completion scheduled for 2032.
Lt Col Bysshe COLDM GDS, Commanding Officer, ATC (Pirbright), said: “The Soldiers’ Centre provides a 21st century welfare facility for ATC (Pirbright). Serving recruits, permanent staff and families, it significantly enhances the lived experience for all. As the first new building within wider plans to overhaul a sizeable proportion of the Pirbright estate, it provides a tangible example of high-quality modernised infrastructure and sets the standard moving forward.” (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
07 Feb 25. BAE Systems has tested the latest attitudes towards career paths among young people to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week (10-16 February).
The findings are part of a newly launched Apprenticeship Barometer, which surveyed 2,000 young people (16-24 year olds) across the country to identify views on education, training and pathways to career success.
Main attractions
The survey revealed a growing interest in apprenticeships, with more than 70% of respondents willing to relocate to a different part of the UK to seize an apprenticeship opportunity and 6 in 10 preferring it as an alternative to university.
The findings highlight a significant shift toward flexibility and apprenticeships being increasingly recognised as a pathway to secure and rewarding careers, with respondents citing job security (28%), high starting salaries (28%) and hands-on training (23%) as the most appealing features.
An overwhelming 86% of respondents agreed that apprenticeships enhance social mobility, offering significant potential to support disadvantaged groups and provide alternatives to traditional higher education routes.
Barriers to access
Despite their appeal, responses suggest barriers such as limited opportunities (35%) and lack of information (32%) continue to hinder access to apprenticeships, highlighting the need for greater awareness and more accessible pathways.
Nearly half (44%) of the young people surveyed said they felt uninformed about apprenticeship opportunities in their field of interest and almost 9 in 10 (89%) believed employers should expand apprenticeship programmes alongside graduate schemes to meet rising demand.
STEM leads the way
Industries linked to careers in science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) led the way in apprenticeship preferences, with 1 in 4 (26%) of the young people surveyed expressing interest. They also ranked in the top three careers that respondents associated with the greatest job security.
Money matters
More than half (54%) of respondents identified earning while learning as the main reason for choosing an apprenticeship over university, while 36% cited avoiding student debt as a key motivator, reflecting a perceived growing financial awareness.
Richard Hamer, HR Director of Education and Skills at BAE Systems, said:
“The Apprenticeship Barometer gives a real insight into the aspirations and values of the next generation of the UK workforce. It’s clear there’s a huge appetite for high quality vocational training that provides a clear career pathway, whilst offering financial security.
“I’d encourage anyone interested in apprenticeships to have a look at the thousands of highly valuable opportunities available across the country.”
BAE Systems is recruiting for more than 2,400 new apprentice, undergraduate and graduate roles in 2025, which will result in around 6,500 in training, making up approximately 15% of its UK workforce.
Baroness Jacqui Smith, Minister for Skills, Department for Education, said: “Apprenticeships are central to this government’s Plan for Change — they break down barriers to opportunity and equip people of all ages and backgrounds with the skills they need to go on to rewarding careers. They also drive growth by giving businesses the workforce they need in key sectors of the economy.
“It’s great to see BAE Systems, one of our Top 100 apprentice employers, backing this mission by recruiting more than 2,400 new apprentices, undergraduates, and graduates in 2025. Their commitment demonstrates the real impact apprenticeships can have—helping young people gain hands-on training, access secure and well-paid careers, and power key industries like STEM.”
The closing date for apprentice applications is 28 February 2025. There are multiple graduate intakes throughout the year, including January, April, July, August and September. Find out more and apply: baesystems.com/earycareers
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
10 Feb 25. The King approved the following appointments:
- Ashley Dalton MP as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department of Health and Social Care.
- The Rt Hon. Douglas Alexander MP jointly as a Minister of State in the Cabinet Office, in addition to his role as Minister of State in the Department for Business and Trade.
- Lord Moraes OBE as a Lord in Waiting (Government Whip).
- Lord Wilson of Sedgefield as a Lord in Waiting (Government Whip).
Andrew Gwynne MP has left the government.
10 Feb 25. Mr Ameer Kotecha has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia in succession to Mr Neil Bradley who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Kotecha will take up his appointment during April 2025.
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
30 Jan 25. James Rockas Appointed Deputy Undersecretary of Commerce for Industry and Security. The Trump administration has appointed James Rockas as Deputy Undersecretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, placing him at the helm of the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) amid ongoing concerns over global trade restrictions and technology security. His appointment comes as the U.S. continues to navigate complex economic and national security challenges, particularly in regulating exports to adversarial nations and safeguarding critical technologies. Rockas, a veteran of the first Trump administration, previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and later held senior roles in the State Department, including Chief Policy Officer in the Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, Energy, and the Environment. With a background in political campaigns and legislative work in the U.S. House of Representatives, he has been involved in shaping policies on trade and economic security. Dr. Anthony Limberakis, National Commander of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, praised Rockas’ appointment, emphasizing his commitment to public service and religious advocacy. “The appointment of Archon James Rockas to this key position illustrates anew how each Archon serves God, His Holy Church, our Holy Mother Church of Constantinople, and His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in a huge variety of arenas, bringing the timeless sacred values of the Church into the secular realm,” Limberakis said in a statement. (Source: glstrade.com/Tovima.com)
REST OF THE WORLD APPOINTMENTS
11 Feb 25. Australia announced the appointment of Brigadier Hugh Meggitt as the next head of the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) for the Australian Defence Force. BRIG Meggitt brings expertise across innovation, capability delivery and industry engagement, including from his role as Director-General Special Operations Modernisation at the ADF’s Headquarters Joint Operations Command. BRIG Meggitt has a track record in managing diverse, complex priorities that require coordination, understanding and agreement at the most senior levels of Defence and government. His skill set and drive will be invaluable assets as ASCA moves to a new phase of capability delivery. Reflecting this new phase, ASCA will also transition into the Vice Chief of the Defence Force Group, ensuring investments are directly informed by operational needs and delivering an integrated, focused force as required under the National Defence Strategy. (Source: Defence Connect)
INDUSTRY
PERSONNEL
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
15 Jan 25. Filtronic, the leader in advanced RF and mmWave solutions, is announced two key appointments to its leadership team. David Marshall joins the company as Director of Programmes, while Sarah Shaw has been appointed as General Counsel. These appointments follow the recent announcement of Antonino Spatola as Filtronic’s Chief Commercial Officer, bringing extensive market experience to the top team, as the business continues its rapid growth.
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
13 Feb 25. Academy Securities, the nation’s first Post-9/11 veteran owned and operated investment bank, today announced the addition of Vice Admiral Timothy White to its Advisory Board and Geopolitical Intelligence Group. Vice Admiral Timothy “T.J.” White retired from the United States Navy in 2020 after more than 30 years of distinguished service in cyber warfare, signals intelligence, and information operations. His final assignment was as the Commander of US Fleet Cyber Command/US 10th Fleet, where he led naval cyber operations and defended national security interests in the digital domain. Prior to this, he held several notable roles including the Commander of Cyber National Mission Force at US Cyber Command, the Director for Intelligence at US Indo-Pacific Command, and the Deputy Director of Tailored Access Operations at the National Security Agency. Originally commissioned as a surface warfare officer, he transitioned to cryptology in 1992 after serving aboard the USS Missouri (BB 63). (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
07 Feb 25. Astronics Corporation (Nasdaq: ATRO), a leading provider of advanced technologies for global aerospace, defense and other mission critical industries, announced the appointment of Fay West to its Board of Directors, effective February 6, 2025. Ms. West brings over two decades of financial leadership experience across various industries. Since April 2021, she has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Tennant Company (NYSE: TNC), a global leader in designing, manufacturing, and marketing solutions that help create a cleaner, safer, and healthier world. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
13 Feb 25. Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE: BAH) announced today that Mujtaba Hamid has joined the firm as Executive Vice President of Product, overseeing a strategic portfolio of technology offerings designed to speed outcomes for the U.S. federal government. The company has identified, invested in, and scaled emerging tech across government for decades, catalyzing technologies like AI, cybersecurity and cloud that are now core to essential missions. Hamid will oversee the conceptualization, development, production, and delivery of Booz Allen’s emerging products and solutions. This portfolio is being built by combining Booz Allen’s advanced technology, deep understanding of mission, and proprietary IP with leading-edge dual use technology from its commercial partners. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
11 Feb 25. Frontier Technology Inc. (FTI), a leading provider of mission-tailored technology, deep data expertise and services for the U.S. Department of Defense, Intelligence Community and other agencies of the Federal Government, today announced the promotion of Jose Hidalgo to CEO. The announcement was made by Ron Shroder, FTI’s longtime CEO and Chairman of the Board, who remains as Chairman. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
12 Feb 25. PDW welcomed David Spirk as a Board Member to its esteemed Board of Directors. Spirk is currently a Senior Counselor at Palantir, where he focuses on assisting across the U.S. Government, Allied Partner, and Commercial business – and boasts an illustrious career in the military data sector. Most recently, Spirk led the Department of Defense’s Data Office as its first Chief Data Officer – instilling a strong focus on warfighter needs, data governance, and a data ready workforce to inspire a data-driven culture across the department. It was there that Spirk developed the Department of Defense’s first Data Strategy, Data Decrees, and Joint All Domain Command and Control Data Implementation Plan. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)