LOCATIONS
MARITIME
21 Feb 25. Construction begins on Indian Navy’s third FSS. The FSS are equipped to provide at-sea replenishment for fleet vessels, supporting extended deployments. The start of construction of the Indian Navy’s third of five Fleet Support Ships (FSS) was marked with the first steel cut at L&T Shipyard in Kattupalli, Tamil Nadu. The FSS will support the Indian Navy’s blue water operations by providing refuelling services to fleet ships while at sea. In August 2023, the Indian Navy contracted Hindustan Ship Yard Limited (HSL) for the acquisition of five FSS. Deliveries of the FSS are scheduled to begin by mid-2027. As part of the project, HSL has subcontracted the construction of two ships to L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli. This collaboration aims to optimise India’s shipbuilding capacity and ensure timely delivery under a public-private partnership model. The ships are part of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, which aims to prioritise the use of locally produced equipment and promote the ‘Make in India’ campaign. These vessels will be both designed and built domestically, incorporating 80% materials sourced from within the country. In a press statement, the Indian Ministry of Defence said: “With a completely indigenous design and sourcing of the majority of equipment from indigenous manufacturers, this project will boost the Indian Shipbuilding Industry and is in consonance with GoI initiatives of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India and Make for the World.” The Indian Ministry of Defence sanctioned the acquisition of these vessels at a total cost of around $2.24bn (Rs194bn). With a displacement exceeding 40,000 tonnes, these vessels are designed to carry essential supplies such as fuel, water, ammunition, and stores. The FSS vessels have an overall length of 200 metres (m), a breadth of 25m, a draft of 10m and can cruise at a speed of 20 knots. Additionally, the FSS will serve a secondary role in humanitarian aid and disaster relief by facilitating the evacuation of personnel and rapid delivery of relief materials during natural disasters. In December 2024, Kongsberg Maritime was selected by HSL to supply electric replenishment-at-sea equipment for the FSS programme, further enhancing the ships’ operational capabilities. (Source: naval-technology.com)
24 Feb 25. British aircraft carrier goes to sea. HMS Prince of Wales has put to sea for pre-deployment training ahead of a British Carrier Strike Group deployment to the Pacific later this year. The warship, after departing Portsmouth this morning, will be at sea for a number of weeks conducting training ahead of Carrier Strike Group 25. Onboard the vessel one word dominates the mood: excited. For the crew of the Royal Navy’s flagship, this mission marks the culmination of years of preparation, hard work, and perseverance. Speaking aboard the ship, Captain Will Blackett spoke to me on the sense of accomplishment that has brought them to this moment. “Excited” he said when asked to summarise the mood among the crew. For Captain Blackett and his team, this deployment isn’t just another task; it represents the result of rigorous trials and intense training.
“It’s the first time this ship has held the duty of flagship,” Captain Blackett explained. “Over the course of four years, we’ve overcome quite a lot of challenges.” Among these was a major repair to the ship’s propeller system, a period that Captain Blackett acknowledged was critical in shaping the ship’s readiness.
Since then, the crew has put HMS Prince of Wales through its paces, both materially and operationally, ensuring that both the vessel and its sailors are prepared for the challenges ahead. “We’re ready to go,” said Captain Blackett. “The ship works, the team know what they’re going to do, and we’re on standby now waiting for instructions.”
The upcoming Carrier Strike Group 2025 operation will see HMS Prince of Wales take her task force east of the Suez Canal on a global mission. Britain’s two Queen Elizabeth-class carriers, HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth, regularly rotate the flagship title between them, with one ready for deployment and the other in routine maintenance. This is the first time in her five-year career that HMS Prince of Wales has assumed the prestigious role. Reflecting on the significance of the moment, Captain Blackett remarked, “This is a proud moment for HMS Prince of Wales. We’ve been training hard, ably assisted by our sister ship HMS Queen Elizabeth. We’re ready, we’re excited, and look forward to taking the next step in the ship’s life.” (Source: News Now/https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/)
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
26 Feb 25. Dame Sarah MacIntosh DCMG has been appointed British High Commissioner to Australia in succession to Mrs Victoria Treadell CMG, MVO who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Dame Sarah will take up her appointment during April 2025.
26 Feb 25. Mr Neil Bradley has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Namibia in succession to Mr Charles Moore who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Bradley will take up his appointment during April 2025.
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
26 Feb 26. President Donald J. Trump announced the nomination of Dan “Razin” Caine for the position of chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Feb. 21, 2025. The chairman is the nation’s highest-ranking military officer and the principal military advisor to the president, defense secretary and National Security Council. Caine, a retired Air Force lieutenant general, will require Senate confirmation before taking on the role. (Source: U.S. DoD)
24 Feb 25. NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro announced Monday Vanessa Wyche will serve as the acting associate administrator for the agency at NASA Headquarters in Washington, effective immediately. Wyche, who had been the director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, is detailed as Petro’s senior advisor leading the agency’s center directors and mission directorate associate administrators. She will act as the agency’s chief operating officer for about 18,000 civil servant employees and an annual budget of more than $25 bn. Stephen Koerner will become the acting center director of NASA Johnson. The agency also named Jackie Jester as associate administrator for the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs and announced Catherine Koerner, associate administrator for the agency’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, will retire effective Friday, Feb. 28. Lori Glaze, currently the deputy associate administrator for Exploration Systems Development, will become the mission directorate’s acting associate administrator. (Source: PR Newswire)
REST OF THE WORLD APPOINTMENTS
21 Feb 25. SIAA picks telco exec as new CEO after JP 9102 axe. The appointment of Dan Lloyd comes months after the axing of the $3 bn JP9102 SATCOM project and also follows the cancelling of several other high-profile space contracts in 2023. Lloyd held various senior positions globally at Vodafone for 15 years and advised the federal minister for communications. He is currently the group executive of regional telco Field Solutions Group. JP 9102 aimed to deliver a new military satellite communications capability for Australia. Headed by Lockheed Martin, it was also supported by scores of other smaller local businesses. (Source: Space Connect)
INDUSTRY
PERSONNEL
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
27 Feb 27. Manuel Escalante has been appointed Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and member of the Indra Group Management Committee, replacing Miguel Ángel Morell. Manuel Escalante holds a degree in Telecommunications Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Madrid and has more than 25 years’ professional experience in the aerospace and defence sector. At Indra Group, he held the positions of Managing Director of Defence and Security and member of the Indra Management Committee, as well as Director of Cybersecurity and Cyber Defence and member of the Minsait Management Committee. He was previously Director of Business Development and member of the Management Committee of S21Sec Thales; General Manager of the National Cybersecurity Institute (Incibe); and Director of Public Policy and member of the Management Committee of the Public Business Entity Red.es. Indra Group thanks Miguel Ángel for his work and commitment to the company.
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
24 Feb 25 Billington CyberSecurity today announced Troy Schneider has been promoted to president of the organization. Schneider will assume full operational responsibility for the company, enabling founder Thomas K. Billington to focus on continuing to build the overall cyber government ecosystem and the trusted relationships to advance the cybersecurity education mission he began in 2010. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
27 Feb 25. Core4ce, a federal contractor with expertise in data and cyber operations, today announced that Doug Small is joining the company’s Board of Advisors. Small is a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral with over 30 years of distinguished service. From 2020 to 2024, he served as commander of Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR), where he led 11,000 personnel in advancing the Navy’s networking, communications, and cyber capabilities. In addition to his role as commander, Small led Project Overmatch, the Navy’s contribution to the Department of Defense’s Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) initiative, which aims to digitally connect the entire fleet with the Joint Force. Earlier in his career, Small served as program executive officer for Integrated Warfare Systems, overseeing the development and sustainment of surface navy combat and weapon systems among many other vital roles. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
27 Feb 27. IonQ, Inc. (NYSE: IONQ), a leader in the quantum computing and networking industries, today announced that the company’s Board of Directors has appointed Niccolo de Masi as President and Chief Executive Officer. Niccolo will begin this new role effective immediately, and Peter Chapman will continue in the leadership role of IonQ’s Executive Chair. Niccolo, who has served on IonQ’s board of directors since 2021, is a seasoned public company chief executive officer. He has held c-suite positions at publicly traded companies such as Monstermob Group, Resideo Technologies, Glu Mobile, and most recently served as Director and CEO at dMY Squared Technology Group. He was also the Chief Executive Officer of dMY Technology Group III, the special purpose acquisition company that took IonQ public via SPAC merger in 2021. Niccolo is a physicist by training, holding a B.A. and Master of Science in Physics from Cambridge University and began his career with roles at both Siemens Solar and Technicolor. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
24 Feb 25. KBR, Inc. (NYSE: KBR) announced today that the independent directors of the KBR Board have unanimously elected Lt. General Wendy M. Masiello as Lead Independent Director, effective as of KBR’s 2025 annual meeting of stockholders to be held in May 2025. Lt. General Masiello has served on KBR’s Board of Directors since August 2017, including as the current Chair of the Cybersecurity Committee and a member of the Compensation Committee and Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility Committee. A three-star General of the U.S. Air Force, Lt. General Masiello brings a wealth of relevant experience and a deep understanding of KBR’s strategic vision and operations.
24 Feb 25. SGI Global, LLC (SGI) welcomed Mr. Patrick McElwain as SGI’s new Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) to its corporate leadership team. Mr. McElwain brings over 27 years of federal law enforcement experience as a special agent with HSI and the U.S. Customs Service. His most recent role with HSI was as the Deputy Executive Associate Director (Deputy EAD) from May 2023 until January 2025. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
24 Feb 25. SOSi announced today that it welcomed Lieutenant General (Ret.) Scott A. Spellmon as Senior Account Executive to support the company’s growth in the defense and national security sectors. In the newly created role, Spellmon will cultivate business opportunities and help shape the company’s market strategies and capture plans for the defense and national security market. He will be responsible for strengthening relationships with customers and industry partners so the company can continue delivering solutions tailored to unique agency and mission requirements. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
25 Feb 25. Terran Orbital, a leading manufacturer of satellite solutions primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries, today announced the appointment of Richard Ullman as Senior Vice President, Finance & Business Operations (F&BO). Ullman brings over three decades of financial leadership experience in the aerospace and defense sector, with a proven track record in strategic financial planning, business operations, cost management, and government contracting. He joins Terran Orbital from The Boeing Company, where he most recently served as Senior Director of Finance & Divisional CFO for Boeing Space Mission Systems. In this role, Ullman led financial strategy, capital investment planning, and operational integration for multiple subsidiaries, including Millennium Space Systems and Spectrolab.
27 Feb 25. Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) announced that Rob Mionis has been elected to the company’s Board of Directors, effective March 1, 2025. Mionis is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Celestica Inc., a multinational leader in design, manufacturing, hardware platform and innovative supply chain solutions for a wide range of industries including aerospace, industrial and communications. Celestica’s solutions span design and engineering through to after-market services. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Celestica employs approximately 27,000 people across 40 locations in the Americas, Asia and Europe, and generated $9.7 billion in revenue in 2024. Mionis has served as Celestica’s CEO since 2015. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
REST OF THE WORLD APPOINTMENTS
24 Feb 25. SpearUAV, a leading developer of autonomous, AI-based encapsulated loitering weapon systems, announces the appointment of Mr. Yiftach Kleinman as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Over the past few years, SpearUAV has achieved significant milestones, expanding its market presence and securing major contracts under the leadership of Founder and CTO, Gadi Kuperman, and the company’s experienced management team. Most recently, SpearUAV secured a $20m contract, further reinforcing its position as an industry leader.
25 Feb 25. TSS Solutions, a global defense electronics company focused on the repair, modernization, operations, maintenance, and leasing of radar systems, has appointed Harry Wilson as Vice President of Production. In this new role, Harry is responsible for guiding the Production teams that repair and upgrade radar system components, fabricate cables and harnesses, and manufacture the new TSS TIGAR tactical radar system from the ground up. He joined TSS Solutions, an Acorn Capital Management Company, in 2020 and previously held positions as the Director of Production, Production Manager, and the Radar Upgrade Program Manager. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)