MANAGEMENT ON THE MOVE
LOCATIONS
24 Oct 08. It’s official. The long-awaited Global Strike Command charged with taking over the U.S. Air Force’s nuclear mission has been unveiled. Air Force leaders have completed the Nuclear Roadmap, which includes the standup of Global Strike Command and the ensuing organizational shake-up, the largest since Strategic Air Command disbanded in the early 1990s. Eighth Air Force and 20th Air Force will fall under Global Strike Command, bringing the Air Force’s intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear-capable bombers – the B-52s and B-2s – under one command for the first time since SAC. The 8th Air Force will be stripped of all responsibilities except its bombers before the switch. The cyber mission will fall to the 24th Air Force the service will stand up in place of the previous plans to create a Cyber Command. (Source: Defense News)
30 Oct 08. General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited opened its pioneering defence innovation centre today, Thursday 30 October 2008. This physical facility is at the GDUK South Wales facilities, linked across the UK to GD’s R&D labs. The opening ceremony was conducted by Andrew Tyler, Chief Operating Officer of the MoD’s Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) organisation. EDGETM UK provides a collaborative environment for Britain’s knowledge-based industries to join new equipment and software with existing defence communications and information technology systems, facilitating speedy assessment and refinement of emerging capabilities for the armed forces and security services. Fifteen high-tech companies, including Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), are already involved.
23 Oct 08. US Visiting Forces (USVF): Bases in UK. The Armed Forces’ Minister said (23 Oct 08) that USVF occupied the following bases in England, all designated as RAF Stations: Alconbury, Cambridgeshire; Barford St John, Oxfordshire; Croughton, Northants; Fairford, Gloucestershire; Feltwell, Norfolk; Lakenheath, Suffolk; Menwith Hill, North Yorkshire; Molesworth, Cambridgeshire; Upwood, Cambridgeshire and Welford, Berkshire. There is also a USVF presence at the Joint Maritime Facility at St Mawgan, Cornwall.
Comment: Although the Minister added that there “are no USVF bases in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland” this has not always been the case. The definitions of ‘USVF’ and ‘bases’ need to be considered carefully. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0842, 27 Oct 08)
24 Oct 08. NATO Maritime Group: Escort Duties. Three ships separated (24 Oct 08) from the main Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) and are making for the East African coast. The flagship, ITS DURAND DE LA PENNE, accompanied by the Greek frigate HS THEMISTOKLES and HMS CUMBERLAND are to conduct escort duties and act as a deterrent to piracy.
Comment: The remaining four SNMG2 ships (a US destroyer, a German frigate with an auxiliary and a Turkish frigate) are continuing with their original out-of-area deployment to Istanbul Co-operation Initiative (ICI)
nations in the Gulf. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 0842, 27 Oct 08)
23 Oct 08. The Minister for Defence, the Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP, and the Federal Member for Blair, Shayne Neumann MP, announced today that the $117.1m facilities project to support the introduction of the new F/A-18F Super Hornet has received Parliamentary approval. The Australian Super Hornet Facilities Project will deliver the facilities and infrastructure to support No 82 Wing’s operations at RAAF Base Amberley for at least 10 years from 2010. Construction is planned to start in early 2009 on the facilities project to support the 24 new jets. (Source: ASD Network)
30 Oct 08. Secretary of the Navy, Donald C. Winter announced last night at a Navy SEAL Warrior Fund Benefit Gala at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, the name of the newest Zumwalt-class Destroyer will be USS Michael Monsoor. Designated as DDG- 1001, the name honors Petty Officer 2nd