MANAGEMENT ON THE MOVE
LOCATIONS
Mar 09. DRS Technologies is pleased to announce that their Computer Contact Center is now available 24/7. The in-house center provides a single point of contact for all aspects of customer service, including quotations, order tracking, accessories, and a full range of technical support and service coordination. DRS is fully committed to providing the highest level of support – and doing it on-site at our headquarters in Melbourne, Fla. “Being in-house is the only way we can provide the absolute best customer service experience. DRS employees are in full control of the whole process, and the customer knows we’re right here for them at all times,” says Valarie Williams, the Contact Center manager.
20 Feb 09. DRS Technologies, Inc., A Finmeccanica Company, announced that it has dedicated this year’s company-wide charitable campaign to support the building of the National Intrepid Center of Excellence in Bethesda, Maryland. When completed, this 72,000-square-foot, two-story facility located on the Navy campus in Bethesda, Maryland, will be dedicated to the research, diagnosis and treatment of military personnel and veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI) and psychological health issues.
“The employees of DRS Technologies have contributed more than $1 million in the past three years to help our wounded warriors and their families. This year’s campaign will give our workforce the opportunity to further support those injured in the line of duty,” said Richard Goldberg, President of the DRS Technologies Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Ground was broken on the Center on June 5, 2008, with completion anticipated early next year. Upon completion, the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund will give the facility to the Department of Defense for staffing and ongoing operation. “TBI is the signature injury of this war. It literally rattles the brain to the point where we’re seeing debilitating and life-altering head and brain injuries in soldiers in their 20s and 30s,” said Bill White, President of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. “We are committed to helping these soldiers regain their lives when they return from defending our nation.”
05 Mar 09. US forces in Japan face uncertain future as elections loom
The United States military faces an uncertain future in Japan, with the pro-US Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) seemingly set for an overwhelming defeat in forthcoming Japanese elections. Japan’s main opposition leader, Ichiro Ozawa, head of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), said in February that the US 7th Fleet, based in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, would be sufficient to secure the US presence in East Asia from a strategic viewpoint – suggesting that he supported the withdrawal of all other US forces. (Source: Jane’s, JDW)
04 Mar 09. Kyrgyz U-turn on US base mooted. Kyrgyzstan’s president has told the BBC “the doors are not closed” concerning talks over the US airbase which is due to close. The Manas base is critical to US and Nato operations in Afghanistan. Kurmanbek Bakiyev said negotiations with Washington would have to take a different format, and cover new conditions of use. His latest remarks, the first since announcing the closure last month, have yet to draw an American response. President Bakiyev said the old agreement on the use of the base was no longer valid but Kyrgyzstan was open to negotiation. “We are ready for any new proposals from the US government aimed at stabilising the situation in Afghanistan.” (Source: BBC)
02 Mar 09. Australian defence technology centre starts work. The Australian government has officially launched the Defence Materials
Technology Centre, with the private-public partnership now working on 16
projects researching “smart” materials for use in the Australian Defence Force’s next-generation aircraft. The A$85m ($54.7m) centre, based in Bendigo, Victoria, has been established under the Defence Future Capability Technology Centre program