MANAGEMENT ON THE MOVE
LOCATIONS
01 Oct 08. Joint Operational Meteorological and Oceanography Centre (JOMOC): Launched. JOMOC officially opened (1 Oct 08), replacing the Fleet Weather and Oceanographic Centre and elements of the Defence Met Centre. JOMOC is based at Northwood and will “provide meteorological, oceanographic and hydrographic information to UK Defence, NATO and other Government Departments”.
Comment: The establishment of JOMOC follows the opening of a Defence Meteorological Unit at the Met Office in Exeter. It is anticipated that a Joint Operational Environmental Centre will be established in 2012. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 08/39, 06 Oct 08)
02 Oct 08. DMA and SBAC: To Amalgamate?. In a joint announcement (2 Oct 08), the DMA (Defence Manufacturers Association) and the SBAC (Society of British Aerospace Companies) stated that they were in discussions “to examine whether they can work more closely together”. A potential merger of the two organisations is one of “several options” under consideration.
Comment: The DMA has over 650 members, as described on its website (www.the-dma.org.uk). The SBAC represents over 2,600 companies, with further information on its website (www.sbac.co.uk). Self-evidently, there is considerable duplication of membership between the two organisations. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 08/39, 06 Oct 08)
08 Oct 08. Alliant Techsystems has received an additional $94 million in funding for critical modernization projects at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RFAAP), where it serves as the operating contractor. The Program Executive Office for Ammunition in Picatinny, New Jersey and the U.S. Army Sustainment Command in Rock Island, IL recently awarded the funding. This brings the total amount of modernization funding received by ATK for RFAAP to $148M over the last two years. This funding is supporting a number of critical projects, the largest of which is the completion of the design and construction of the new Nitric Acid Concentrator/Sulfuric Acid Concentrator (NAC/SAC) facility. The NAC/SAC is an acid plant where weak nitric acid and spent acid from nitration processes are fortified for use in the production of propellants. The funding will also support the development of a new Solvent Recovery System. Both projects will allow important chemicals to be recycled on site designed to reduce the environmental emissions of the plant. Other supported projects include water distribution system repairs and additional powerhouse repairs.
01 Oct 08. Aircrews flew the remaining six MH-53 Pave Low helicopters on their last combat missions in support of special operations forces Sept. 27 in Southwest Asia. The last mission, a SOF logistical resupply and passenger movement throughout central and southern Iraq, marks their last combat mission before the airframe retires after nearly 40 years in the Air Force inventory.”We really feel like we are standing on the shoulders of giants,” said Lt. Col. Gene Becker, the 20th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron commander and a MH-53 pilot of 13 years. “(We owe it to) the folks, who over the past 40 years, have built the capability of this aircraft and the mission. We were just the lucky ones to be here at the end.” “We felt a great responsibility to close the MH-53’s remaining months in the Air Force in a professional, disciplined and safe manner,” he said. “At the end of the last mission, we felt like we achieved that goal. A goal, that we believe, was the best way to honor those (who contributed to) the last 40 years of this magnificent helicopter.” HH-53s, with their unique special operations mission and capabilities, have played a vital role in several operations during a career spanning four decades. The MH-53 was the lead command and control helicopter during a raid of Son Tay prison camp in 1970, a mission linked to improving conditions for prisoners of war in North Vietnam. (Source: ASD Network)
01 Oct