MANAGEMENT ON THE MOVE

LOCATIONS

30 Jun 08. The Navy’s newest class of large-deck amphibious assault ship, LHA 6, will bear the name USS America, Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter announced while speaking at the USS America Carrier Veterans Association reunion in Jacksonville, Fla. This ship will inherit a proud tradition, explained Winter. From the American Revolution through the first Gulf War, three warships have sailed with the name America. LHA 6 will be the fourth U.S. Navy ship to bear the name America. The first America, a 74-gun ship-of-the-line, was the first built for use by the Continental Navy. However, before having a chance to serve the fledgling U.S. Navy, the ship was presented as a gift to the king of France to show appreciation for his country’s service to the new nation. The second USS America (ID-3006) was later the name given to a troop transport used during World War I. The third was a Kitty-Hawk class aircraft carrier (CV 66) in commission from 1965 to 1996. Among other notable accomplishments, the carrier America made three deployments to Vietnam and launched air strikes on Iraq during the opening days of Operation Desert Storm.

30 Jun 08. General Dynamics Information Technology has been awarded a delivery order by the U.S. Army to expand information technology (IT) infrastructure and network capabilities at Fort Meade to support the Maryland base’s growth. The delivery order has a total potential value of $16.5m over two years if all options are exercised.

01 Jul 08. BAE Systems is establishing a maritime development center for command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) systems at its Liberty Station complex in Point Loma, California. The company’s new 80,000-square-foot Liberty Station facility will focus on research, development, testing, and integration of large-scale C4I network systems to help solve current, emerging, and future customer mission requirements. Liberty Station will be the center of BAE Systems’ support to all regional Department of Defense, intelligence, and homeland security contracting agencies — including Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command and the Joint Program Executive Office, Joint Tactical Radio System. ”The Liberty Station facility demonstrates BAE Systems’ commitment to the C4I community by providing an environment to develop innovative solutions through close interactions with our customers and end-users,” said Mike Heffron, president of Electronics & Integrated Solutions for BAE Systems. “The technologies we develop here will increase commanders’ decision-making ability through timely, actionable intelligence.”

02 Jul 08. To meet the demands of company growth, Aitech Defense Systems Inc. is relocating its corporate headquarters as of July 1, 2008. The new 22,500-square foot facility, combined with the 5,600 square feet of space being retained from Aitech’s original location, will more than double the company’s US-based operations. The new, single occupant facility is approximately one city block from the original building and will house the company’s US-based holding company, Aitech Rugged Group, Inc. as well as Aitech Defense Systems, Inc. This new facility will encompass the company’s US administration, finance, sales and marketing, technical support, engineering, manufacturing, operations and quality departments. Aitech’s growing Space Systems Group will remain and expand immediately into the original location at 9301 Oakdale Road, Chatsworth, CA 91311.

JOB LOSSES AND STRIKES

01 Jul 08. The French Army chief Gen. Bruno Cuche resigned July 1, two days after a soldier from an elite paratrooper regiment opened fire on spectators at a military open day, wounding 17 people including five children. The second-in-command, Gen. Elrick Irastorza, will take over on a temporary basis, an Army spokesman said. Defense minister Hervé Morin called for immediate sanctions to be taken, without waiting for findings of se