25 Nov 04. CAE’s Military Simulation and Training operation in Australia has moved to new facilities to support the company’s growing business in Australia. The new Australian headquarters for CAE, located at Slough Business Park in Sydney, was officially opened this week in ceremonies attended by Australian Defence Minister Robert Hill and Donald W. Campbell, CAE’s group president for military simulation and training. CAE currently has more than 80 employees in Australia. Last year, the company signed a long-term agreement to provide flight training support services for all three armed services of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
22 Nov 04. The Department of Defense notified Congress today of the fielding plan for 11 new Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil Support Teams (WMD-CSTs). Today’s action to establish these 11 teams is a final step toward fulfilling the request of Congress that every state and territory have a WMD-CST. The eleven teams that will be funded in the Defense Appropriations Act for fiscal year 05 are: The District of Columbia, Delaware, Guam, Montana, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, and Wyoming. Congress authorized the first WMD-CSTs in the Defense Appropriations Act for fiscal year 99. Today, there are 32 certified teams stationed throughout the United States and 12 additional teams working toward certification. The fielding and certification of these final 11 teams will bring the total number of WMD-CSTs to 55.
19 Nov 04. Dr. Francis J. Harvey was sworn in today at the Pentagon as the 19th Secretary of the Army. “This is a great honor for me. My top priority will be to serve our Soldiers, civilian employees and family members of the Active Component, Army Reserve and Army National Guard. I look forward to working with the Secretary of Defense, the Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Pete Schoomaker, and the Army senior leadership as we fight the Global War on Terrorism while continuing to transform the force,” Secretary Harvey said. The Senate confirmed President Bush’s nomination of Dr. Harvey Nov. 16.
26 Nov 04. BAE Systems is looking to strengthen its board by bringing in up to two US nationals as non-executive directors. The board shake-up is also expected to lead to the departure of Lord Hesketh, the former government chief whip. The move is designed to stamp the authority of Dick Olver, BAE chairman, on the company since he took over from Sir Richard Evans in July. Mr Olver hinted that Lord Hesketh would be replaced by a candidate with “a heavy industrial or project management background”. Mr Olver is keen to see changes to the board to dispel feelings among investors that BAE non-executives are too close to management. His predecessor, Sir Richard, who had an executive role, was widely perceived as being far too dominant over the non-executives. Mr Olver also spelt out his strategic vision for BAE following two strategic reviews conducted by Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, the investment banks. In effect, he reiterated the strategy of continuing to build BAE’s presence in the large US defence market to reinforce its “transatlantic” position. (Source: FT)
23 Nov 04. Lockheed Martin Corporation announced that Vance D. Coffman will retire from its board of directors effective April 2005. As a result of Coffman’s retirement, the board of directors has expressed its intent to elect Robert J. Stevens as chairman of the board in April 2005. Coffman has served as chairman since 1998 and retired as Lockheed Martin’s chief executive officer in August of this year when he announced that he would remain as the board’s non-employee chairman until April 2005. Coffman began his career with Lockheed Martin 37 years ago as an aerospace engineer and subsequently served in a series of key corporate leadership positions. Stevens became president and CEO in August. Prior to August, Stevens served as Lockheed Martin’s president and chief operating officer. H