MANAGEMENT ON THE MOVE

LOCATIONS

LAND

29 Mar 19. Nova Systems opens new Asia headquarters. Nova Systems has announced the opening of a new headquarters in Singapore, which aims to continue deepening “economic and defence cooperation between Australia and Singapore under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”. The new headquarters was opened by Kate Duff, Australian Deputy High Commissioner to Singapore, and Greg Hume, Nova Group CEO, at a symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Duff noted in her keynote address that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has enabled companies like Nova Systems to “pursue continued growth in Singapore”.

Hume said, “We are excited to continue to expand our footprint in Asia through our new office in Singapore. This represents our ongoing commitment to the region and collaboration with our partners in industry, academia and government.”

Nova Systems said the investment in the new headquarters demonstrates their “continued commitment to building a strong Singaporean company to solve the problems that really matter to our clients”.

“Nova Systems is focused on helping clients to strengthen their cyber security around critical information infrastructure, improving safety of unmanned system operations and deepening their knowledge of deep engineering and technology subjects through training,” a release from the company said.

Nova Systems is an Australian-owned-and-operated global professional service provider that specialises in the provision of technology abling solutions and expertise in “delivering complex capabilities and systems to solve technologically challenging problems”.

The 3,300sq ft office will also host Nova Systems’ sister company GVH Aerospace and offers room for further expansion of Nova Systems’ cyber security, unmanned systems and defence capability assurance offerings in Asia. GVH Aerospace is a global civil aerospace company that provides engineering and operational solutions to help their clients “achieve competitiveness and meet their business objectives”. (Source: Defence Connect)

28 Mar 19. QinetiQ announced today that it is increasing its business development focus in the Asia Pacific region. At the start of the year, the company opened its first office in the region, in Kuala Lumpur, and is attending this week its first tradeshow since the opening of the office: LIMA, 26-30 March, stand A143. The business has also recently signed a contract in South Korea, its first contract in the region since the opening of the office.

27 Mar 19. USAF Selects Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota to Host First B-21. The Air Force’s first operational B-21 Raider bomber will be based at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, the service announced March 27. Ellsworth, which is home to 27 B-1B Lancer bombers hosted by the 28th Bomb Wing, is the “preferred location” for the first operational B-21 – in development by Northrop Grumman [NOC] – and the first formal training unit (FTU), according to the Wednesday press release. Whiteman AFB, Missouri, and Dyess AFB, Texas, will receive the next-generation bombers “as they become available.” The South Dakota base was chosen as the first location because it has sufficient space and existing facilities that allow it to perform simultaneous missions for a low cost and with minimal operational impact across the three chosen bases, the service said. A final B-21 basing decision will be made around 2021, following compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and other regulatory and planning processes. The Air Force plans to incrementally retire two out of its three current bomber jets – the B-2 Spirit as well as the B-1 – once enough B-21s are delivered. The service’s oldest bomber, the 1960s-era B-52 Stratofortress, will continue to operate out of Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, and Minot AFB, North Dakota, and is expected to continue flying into the 2050s after a series of modernization efforts, including a engine recapitalization program. The Air Force is expected to issue a request for proposals for the re-engine program this spring. The first B-21 Raider is expected to be delivered in the mid-2020s, the service said. Officials have offered few updates on the secretive program, but Air Force leaders including Secretary Heather Wilson have confirmed in recent appearances that the program is progressing on schedule. The service’s fiscal year 2020 presidential budget request included $3bn in research, development, test and evaluation funds, up from $2.2bn in FY ’19 (Defense Daily, March 12).

“We are procuring the B-21 Raider as a long-range, highly-survivable aircraft capable of penetrating enemy airspace with a mix of weapons,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein in the release. “It is a central part of a penetrating joint team.” (Source: Defense Daily)

27 Mar 19. iXblue expands local capabilities in Australia. French navigation and imaging company iXblue has announced the expansion of its local capabilities in Australia. iXblue confirmed in a release that its focus in 2019 will be “developing the company’s local expertise in inertial navigation systems for both defence and civil markets. iXblue specialises in the design and manufacturing of autonomous, marine and photonics technologies, with in-house expertise including innovative systems and solutions that work on inertial navigation, subsea positioning, underwater imaging as well as shipbuilding and tests.

iXblue’s technologies include:

• Fibre-optic gyroscope;
• Optical fibers and components;
• Optical modulation;
• Inertial navigation;
• Underwater acoustics;
• Seabed mapping;
• Data fusion;
• GEO database; and
• Advanced control.

The company employs a workforce of 600 employees over 60 countries. (Source: Defence Connect)

26 Mar 19. Booz Allen Announces New Jobs in Ohio. Growth initiative brings highly skilled tech jobs and a new digital hub to Beavercreek. Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE: BAH) announced it expects to bring 60 new jobs to Ohio by 2021 and build a new digital hub in the state to house its growing technical workforce. The digital hub will include secure facilities and be part of Booz Allen’s Digital Solutions Network, which is comprised of digital strategists and technologists across the firm that research, design and collaborate to help solve complex challenges for business, government and military clients.

Booz Allen will add a variety of high-skilled jobs in the Dayton region including software developers, data scientists, cybersecurity engineers, scrum masters, analysts, and systems administrators. Salaries for the new employees will vary by position and experience.

Booz Allen provides a variety of high-demand digital solutions, engineering, cybersecurity, analytics, and consulting services and has work sites throughout Ohio and globally. The addition of these new software, cyber and engineering jobs will enable the company to continue tackling the complex challenges of today and the future, leveraging innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, machine learning, augmented and virtual reality, cloud, the Internet of Things (IoT) and modern techniques including user-centered design, Agile and DevSecOps to create more efficient and effective solutions for clients.

“New trends in technology, culture, partnership and innovation are shaping an advanced era of digital transformation for our clients, and the possibilities are endless,” said Julie McPherson, senior vice president and head of digital solutions at Booz Allen. “With this addition of high-tech talent and a new digital hub in Beavercreek, we have even more capacity to help innovate, collaborate and support our clients’ demand for transformative technology.”

“Booz Allen has a strong presence in Ohio and the Dayton area provides a diverse talent pool that brings tremendous value to our clients,” said Rick Holley, senior vice president at Booz Allen. “We’re proud of the workforce we’ve built in the Dayton area and we look forward to further drawing on the region’s highly skilled residents, vibrant business community, and close proximity to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, which make it an essential hub for supporting mission-critical work.”

The company’s expansion will open new opportunities for veterans who are transitioning from the military and seeking high-impact, mission-focused careers, as well as military spouses with diverse skillsets. Booz Allen has been recognized as a “Best Employer for Veterans” by Forbes Magazine, “Best of the Best” Veteran-Friendly Company by U.S. Veterans Magazine and “Top Military-Friendly Employer” by GI Jobs Magazine. It has also been named a “Best for Vets” Employer by Military Times for four consecutive years and one of Working Mother’s “100 Best Companies” for 20 consecutive years.

“Booz Allen Hamilton has a record of success in Ohio, and we are thrilled it chose to expand its cyber and digital operations in our region,” said Ted Griffith, JobsOhio managing director for information technology. “We look forward to Booz Allen Hamilton adding new software development jobs to its Ohio workforce, where its talented associates will continue to support software, cybersecurity and engineering solutions for its customers.”

“Booz Allen Hamilton plays a critical role in our country’s national defense, partnering with the U.S. Air Force and others to provide essential support to our nation’s war fighters through their work at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and beyond,” said Jeff Hoagland, president and CEO of the Dayton Development Coalition. “We’re grateful for their proposed investment in the Dayton region and look forward to continuing to support their growth in our community.” (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)

26 Mar 19. Lendlease wins contract to deliver second stage of infrastructure works at Garden Island. Lendlease Building will deliver critical infrastructure works to Garden Island, Sydney, after winning a contract for stage two of the program offered by Defence. The project is valued at $286m, and Lendlease is scheduled to commence the works in May 2019, with an estimated completion in late 2023.

Assistant Minister for Defence David Fawcett made the announcement, with the contract representing “the government’s significant investment in Garden Island as the primary home port for Navy ships on the east coast”.

“Lendlease has developed a Local Industry Capability Plan, which will maximise opportunities for local and Indigenous business to be involved, with approximately 2,500 personnel being directly and indirectly employed over the construction period,” Senator Fawcett said.

Stage two of the program will “remediate the remaining wharves as well as base-wide engineering services such as the electrical and fuel systems”, with Defence saying the purpose of the works is to address “significant condition, capacity and compliance issues with the wharves and base-wide engineering services.”

Stage one of the program was completed at a cost of $217m, and featured the following six elements:

• Project Element 1: Demolition of wharf structures;
• Project Element 2: Construction of wharf structures;
• Project Element 3: Seabed dredging;
• Project Element 4: Wharf furniture;
• Project Element 5: Portal crane; and
• Project Element 6: Shore engineering services.
• (Source: Defence Connect)

25 Mar 19. NASA UTM Study in Downtown Corpus Christi. Officials from NASA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management project selected Corpus Christi as one of two nationwide test sites.

“This area has a diverse geographic landscape. We are looking at the downtown areas of Corpus Christi,” said Dr. Marcus Johnson, NASA Deputy Project Manager.

Downtown Corpus Christi also provides the challenges of maneuvering around tall buildings — especially when wind is factored in, Johnson said.

The project’s goal is to collect information on challenges of flying where communications, GPS, tall buildings and community acceptance are factors. NASA’s ultimate goal is to boost technological and economic growth that comes from the rapid popularity of drone use. That’s not the only thing that will reap the benefits of unmanned aircraft.

Public safety agencies will benefit from a better understanding of how drones can help with everyday tasks, without obstructing the public or other aircraft, Johnson said.

NASA’s Mission Control Center at Lone Star UAS Center of Excellence & Innovation at Texas A&M Univeristy – Corpus Christi

The UAS Lone Star Center knows first-hand how drones help in rescue efforts.

“We entered into an interlocal agreement with Nueces County to help police and fire in search and rescue, and recovery with the drones after a disaster,” said Michael Sanders, acting executive director of the Lone Star UAS Center.

The team-up with NASA, Sanders said, came after five years of hard work. Six student interns can also add the project to their résumé.

Some students are building air frames, helping with integration of software and spreading the project’s importance to the community, Sanders said.

“Just to get the operation going, there are challenges,” Johnson said. “In general, (Corpus Christi) is a welcoming environment that meets all the challenges we’re looking for in this assessment.”  (Source: UAS VISION/Caller Times)

MARITIME

27 Mar 19. Technical glitches delay US Navy’s Ford aircraft carrier. Delivery of the US Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford (CVN-78), to the fleet is being delayed for three months than originally expected due to faulty nuclear propulsion and elevators. Navy officials told a House Armed Services Subcommittee that the Ford will not join the fleet until October this year. Last July, the new supercarrier began undergoing its 12-month post-shakedown availability (PSA) process at Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia. It was initially expected to complete its 12-month review after sea trials in July this year. The technical glitches to were detected during sea trials that part of a PSA.

Navy acquisition chief James Geurts was quoted by USNI News as saying to the seapower and projection forces subcommittee, “All three of those causal factors, making the adjustments to the nuclear power plant that we noted during sea trials, fitting in all of the post-shakedown availability workload, and finishing up the elevators, they’re all trending about the same time. So, October right now is our best estimate.”

Repairs to the turbine generator may be associated to previous propulsion issues as a result of a design change which compelled the vessel to return to port last May.

The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is considered to be an expensive warship in the US, carrying a price tag of $13bn.

Ford is the first of a new generation of aircraft carriers to replace the Nimitz-class carriers.

Media sources reported the US Navy’s plan to retire the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman earlier than scheduled.

CVN 78 is the first new aircraft carrier design in four decades in the US. (Source: naval-technology.com)

27 Mar 19. In a ceremony that formally marks the beginning of a ship’s construction, Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and Fincantieri Marinette Marine laid the keel on Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) 25, the future USS Marinette. During the ceremony, the ship’s sponsor Jennifer Granholm, former governor of Michigan, had her initials welded into the ship’s keel plate. Unique among combat ships, LCS is designed to serve a variety of missions today, and is easily adapted to serve future and evolving missions tomorrow.

• It is flexible — with 40 percent of the hull easily reconfigurable, LCS is designed to serve today’s missions and can be outfitted with additional and evolved capabilities, including over-the-horizon missiles, and advanced electronic warfare systems and radars.
• It is lethal — standard equipped with Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) and a Mark 110 gun, capable of firing 220 rounds per minute.
• It is fast — capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots.
• It is automated — with the most efficient staffing of any combat ship.

“LCS brings something really special to the Navy. There is no other class of ship that delivers this level of flexibility for future missions,” said Joe DePietro, vice president and general manager of Small Combatants and Ship Systems. “LCS is minimally manned, so the U.S. Navy can efficiently project presence around the world. It really is a remarkable ship, and our team is so proud to begin construction on the future USS Marinette for the Navy.”

LCS 25 will be the first U.S. Navy ship to bear the name Marinette, and is named to recognize the town’s significant contributions to Navy shipbuilding. Fincantieri Marinette Marine began operations in 1942 to provide U.S. ships for World War II. Marinette is the birthplace of Lockheed Martin’s Freedom-variant LCS, which Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri Marinette Marine have partnered to produce for more than 16 years. Each day, more than 1,500 residents of Marinette, Wisconsin and Menominee, Michigan, enter the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard to build LCS.

“We are thrilled to build the future USS Marinette. As shipbuilders, we transform flat panels of steel into warships, and feel so much pride in the craftsmanship required to do this important work. It is an honor to be able to do that for the ship named after our hometown,” said Jan Allman, president and CEO of Fincantieri Marinette Marine. “The Navy selected an incredible woman to sponsor our ship. Governor Jennifer Granholm represents a large number of our workforce coming from Michigan, and she has been an avid supporter of the LCS program since its inception.”

LCS 25 will be the 13th Freedom-variant LCS, and will join a class of more than 30 ships. She is one of seven ships in various stages of construction and test at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard.

22 Mar 19. Lithuania to buy new oil pollution response and maritime rescue ship. Lithuania’s Defence Materiel Agency is planning to procure a new oil pollution response and maritime rescue ship for use by the Lithuanian Navy in support of assignments in the Baltic Sea.

The agency has completed public market consultations in relation to the procurement, which is expected to cost around €39.6m. As part of the consultations, participants were briefed about the technical specification of the ship, qualification requirements for shipbuilders, and other relevant information.

The invitation to tender is anticipated to be issued next month.

Lithuania intends to finance the project using the European Union Structural Assistance Funds for 2014-2020.

To arrange the funding, a project financing contract would be signed with the Environmental Project Management Agency.

Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence expects to sign the contract with the successful bidder in December this year.

The bidder is required to complete the project by 2022 and to deliver the ship in complete assembly and ready for operations.

The vessel being purchased will replace the existing LNS Šakiai national pollution response and rescue ship.

Lithuania’s Navy is keen on buying the new oil pollution response boat as the existing one is obsolete and does not fulfil the requirements of a multirole ship.

The country’s national defence vice-minister Giedrimas Jeglinskas said: “A quick and efficient response is vital in human search and rescue and pollution incident control, and it depends on the technical qualities of the equipment.

“We can only ensure the necessary maritime safety and expedient completion of corresponding functions only by procuring a new search and rescue and pollution incident control vessel.”

The proposed vessel will also be used by Lithuania to fulfil its national and international maritime commitments.

It will be deployed to coordinate, supervise, and conduct search and rescue and polluting incident response, as well as assist other national agencies on the issue.

Other functions to be performed by the vessel include responding to onboard fires, emergency ship towing. It will also carry out duties in oil-polluted areas and assist divers. (Source: naval-technology.com)

26 Mar 19. Australia’s Hobart-class destroyer to undergo upgrade at Osborne. The Royal Australian Navy’s Hobart-class guided-missile destroyer NUSHIP Sydney will undergo a significant capability upgrade at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia. The upgrades during the ship’s build will allow it to enter operation one year ahead of schedule.

NUSHIP Sydney is the third and final ship of the Hobart-class air warfare destroyer. Australia Defence Minister Christopher Pyne noted that that Department of Defence (DoD) was able to streamline a technical upgrade to the vessel. The streamlining was aimed at accelerating the ship’s operational schedule.

“The opportunity for the AWD Alliance to complete the work while the ship is still in-build is a testament to the skill and efficiency of the 400-strong shipbuilding workforce at Osborne.”

Pyne said: “Structural modifications to accommodate the MH-60R ‘Romeo’ helicopter into the Hobart-class were planned to be completed after operational acceptance trials, but an opportunity was identified to bring the aviation upgrade forward.

“The upgrade to the ship’s infrastructure to support the Romeo, the Royal Australian Navy’s next-generation maritime combat helicopter, will make it Australia’s most advanced warship.”

Australia Defence Industry Minister Linda Reynolds stated that performing the aviation upgrade during construction of the vessel will help boost the country’s defence capability.

Reynolds said: “The opportunity for the AWD Alliance to complete the work while the ship is still in-build is a testament to the skill and efficiency of the 400-strong shipbuilding workforce at Osborne.”

Australia intends to spend $90bn to further enhance the navy’s capabilities. The programme includes the construction of Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels, Hunter-class frigates, and 12 regionally superior submarines.

Sydney is being built by Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance and is based on the Navantia designed F100 frigate.

Equipped with the Aegis combat system, the vessel has the ability to provide air defence for accompanying ships and land forces and infrastructure in coastal areas.

It is also designed to ensure self-protection against missiles and aircraft. The ship will also accommodate an MH-60R helicopter to perform surveillance and response in support of warfare operations. (Source: naval-technology.com)

AIR

26 Mar 19. US Air Force performs first F-35A rapid crew swap exercise. Key Points:

• The US Air Force recently performed its first operational rapid crew swap exercise with thanks to a F-35A prognostic system
• The exercise was not previously possible in legacy fourth-generation aircraft due to engine inspection requirements

US Air Force (USAF) maintainers and pilots recently performed the first operational rapid crew swap exercise with the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) conventional variant.

During a rapid crew swap a pilot takes off, completes his or her mission, lands, and takes on fuel while another pilot takes over the cockpit of the same aircraft. This reduces the amount of required maintenance actions and the time required to generate new sorties by up to two hours, according to a USAF statement. The service said on 25 March that the rapid crew swap capability could add an extra sortie each day in the same time it currently takes to fly two sorties.

The USAF can perform rapid crew swaps with the F-35A due to the aircraft’s Prognostics Health Management (PHM) system, which reports the aircraft’s status to pilots and maintainers and tells them if there is an unsafe issue with the aircraft. If the F-35A lands with no issues, which the service calls Code-1, it can then shutdown the engine, swap crew, and confidently put the aircraft immediately back in the air without performing a full post-operation maintenance inspection. The USAF said this is a unique capability for a single-engine fighter.

Until now it was not safe to perform rapid crew swaps with legacy single engine fighters because a full post operation maintenance inspection was required when an aircraft engine is shut down completely. This includes running through checklists, visually inspecting the engine, aircraft structure, and systems, a common practice with legacy aircraft such as the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon. (Source: IHS Jane’s)

25 Mar 19. IAF inducts first four of 15 Chinook helicopters. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has inducted the first four of 15 Boeing CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters ordered in late 2015.

“The Chinooks will provide the IAF with the battle capability that was not there earlier,” Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa said on 25 March while inducting the platforms into the 126 Helicopter Flight unit at the Chandigarh airbase, which is located about 250 km north of New Delhi.

“Fitted with India-specific enhancements, these Chinooks can undertake operations round the clock and will be a game-changer for the IAF’s helicopter operations,” he added.

The first batch of four Chinooks arrived at Mundra Port on India’s west coast on 10 February, about four weeks ahead of schedule, after which they were assembled and ferried to Chandigarh. Boeing and IAF officials told Jane’s that delivery of the remaining 11 Chinooks is expected to be completed by March 2020, and that some of these platforms will comprise the IAF’s second heavy-lift helicopter unit at Dinjan airbase in India’s northeastern state of Assam, close to India’s disputed border with China. Acquired in 2015 for USD1.1bn via a direct commercial sale agreement, the Chinooks are supplementing the IAF’s depleted fleet of three Soviet-era Mil Mi-26 ‘Halo’ heavy-lift helicopters, all of which are expected to be overhauled in Russia to extend their total technical life. (Source: IHS Jane’s)

PLANT CLOSURES, JOB LOSSES AND STRIKES

25 Mar 19. Belgian Sea King conducts last flight. The fifth and last Belgian Sea King helicopter made its last flight on 21 March 2019. The five search-and-rescue (SAR) helicopters had been operating from Koksijde on the Belgian North Sea coast since 1976, having saved 1,757 lives, according to the Belgian Ministry of Defence website. Their missions also included responding to aircraft accidents and recovering pilots lost behind enemy lines. (Source: IHS Jane’s)

MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT

PERSONNEL

28 Mar 19. NATO keeps Stoltenberg as its chief until 2022. NATO has extended the mandate of its top civilian official, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, for two years, making the former Norwegian premier one of the longest-serving heads of the military alliance. Stoltenberg said Thursday he is “honored” by the decision made by the 29 allies.

“I thank them for putting their trust in me,” he said. “We face the biggest security challenges in a generation, and I look forward to continue working with all allies to adapt and modernize NATO.”

Only former Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Luns, who spent 13 years in office from 1971, will have served in the post longer if Stoltenberg sees out his term. (Source: Defense News)

26 Mar 19. Freed Royal Marine Alexander Blackman gets a new job finding work for wounded veterans after his release from three-year jail term for shooting dead a Taliban fighter in Afghanistan. Freed Royal Marine Alexander Blackman has a new job helping other veterans through hard times. Ten months after his release from jail, the sergeant has joined a new scheme supporting wounded servicemen find work.

He declared: ‘I cannot stress enough how great it feels to be useful again to society – and to be able to contribute to the household finances again.’  Yesterday he attended the official launch of the new service, called ExFor+, at the Houses of Parliament. (Source: Facebook/Daily Mail)

BATTLESPACE Comment: This is great news for Alexander Blackman and his family. It will enable him to put the past behind him and the disgraceful manner by which he was treated by the MoD. He must be the one of very few men in history to have been convicted of murder without a Post Mortem on the victim!

EUROPE APPOINTMENTS

22 Mar 19. DE&S CEO Sir Simon Bollom has announced two senior staff appointments. Adrian Baguley, currently Director Programmes, will take over the post of Chief of Materiel (Joint Enablers) when Pete Worrall retires at the end of March. In addition, Rear Admiral Chris Gardner, on promotion to Vice-Admiral, will take up the post of Chief of Materiel (Ships), taking over from Neal Lawson, who had served as interim. He comes to DE&S from his role as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Ships). (Source: U.K. MoD desider)

U.S. APPOINTMENTS

27 Mar 19. USMC LG David H. Berger for appointment to the rank of general, and assignment as commandant of the Marine Corps. Berger is currently serving as the deputy commandant for combat development and integration; and commanding general, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico, Virginia.

27 Mar 19. U.S. Navy Command Master Chief Philip Ibanez, currently assigned as the command master chief for Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Twelve, Virginia Beach, Virginia, has been selected to replace Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Horn as the command senior enlisted leader for Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

26 Mar 19. USAF Gen. John W. Raymond for appointment to the rank of general, and assignment as commander, U.S. Space Command; and commander, USAF Space Command, Peterson USAF Base, Colorado.  Raymond is currently serving as commander, USAF Space Command, Peterson USAF Base, Colorado.

26 Mar 19. USAF LG Jeffrey L. Harrigian for appointment to the rank of general, and assignment as commander, U.S. USAFs Europe; commander, U.S. USAFs Africa; commander, Allied Air Command; and director, Joint Air Power Competence Centre, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.  Harrigian is currently serving as deputy commander, U.S. USAFs Europe; and deputy commander, U.S. USAFs Africa.

26 Mar 19. U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Gregory A. Smith, currently assigned as the command chief master sergeant of Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Florida, has been selected to replace Command Sgt. Maj. Patrick L. McCauley as the command senior enlisted leader for U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

25 Mar 19. US Army vice chief nominated for chief of staff position. U.S. Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville has been nominated to become the 40th Army chief. His nomination was delivered to the Senate Armed Services Committee on March 25. McConville is a U.S. Military Academy graduate from Quincy, Massachusetts, and has been serving as the Army vice chief since June 2017. He has had a long career as an Army aviator, having flown AH-64 Apaches, OH-58 Kiowa Warriors and AH-1 Cobras. The vice chief has played a major role in the Army’s massive transformation for the past several years. Along with Under Secretary Ryan McCarthy, he led the charge in establishing the Army’s new four-star command — Army Futures Command — that will tackle major modernization priorities as the force moves into the future and faces more challenging threats. McConville also worked alongside McCarthy, Army Chief Gen. Mark Milley and Army Secretary Mark Esper to find billions of dollars to fund the Army’s modernization efforts. The four leaders took deep dives, program by program, over the past year during what the service calls “night court” to make decisions on legacy programs to free up money to develop new capabilities. (Source: Defense News)

REST OF THE WORLD APPOINTMENTS

28 Mar 19. PM and Defence Minister confirm new Australian Defence Chiefs. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Defence Minister Christopher Pyne have announced the appointment of a new Chief of Air Force and new Chief of Joint Operations at a ceremony in Canberra.  Defence Connect can today confirm that Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld, AO, DSC, will be Australia’s next Chief of Air Force. The appointment was made by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the government for a period of four years from 4 July 2019.

AIRMSHL Hupfeld is currently serving as the Chief Joint Operations and has extensive leadership and operational experience through senior positions, including Air Commander Australia and Head Force Design.

The government said AIRMSHL Hupfeld’s experience in these roles makes him ideally suited to continue the development of the Air Force as a modern and effective force capable of undertaking regional and global operations.

The government also extended its sincere gratitude to outgoing Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Leo Davies, noting his relentlessness in embedding a culture of innovation and integration that will continue to shape the Air Force for generations to come.

The Chief of the Defence Force, General Angus Campbell, AO, DSC, has advised the government that Major General Greg Bilton, AM, CSC, will be promoted to Lieutenant General and appointed as the Chief of Joint Operations from 28 June 2019.

MAJGEN Bilton is currently serving as the Commander Forces Command within Army and is a highly experienced officer with extensive leadership and operations experience through senior positions including Deputy Chief Joint Operations and Commander 7th Brigade. He has also served as Deputy Commanding General United States Army Pacific. The government congratulated AIRMSHL Hupfeld and MAJGEN Bilton on their selection and wished AIRMSHL Davies well in all his future endeavours. (Source: Defence Connect)

INDUSTRY

PERSONNEL

U.S. APPOINTMENTS

21 Mar 19. Two Significant Industry Experts Join HawkEye 360’s Advisory Board. HawkEye 360 Inc. has announced that Admiral James A. “Sandy” Winnefeld, Jr., the former United States Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Mr. Douglas Loverro, former United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, have joined the company’s advisory board — together, Admiral Winnefeld and Mr. Loverro bring extensive experience working for the United States government in the aerospace and defense markets.

Admiral Winnefeld brings 37 years of experience in the United States Navy to the HawkEye 360 Advisory Board. During his time in the service, Admiral Winnefeld instructed at the Navy Fighter Weapons School and served as a senior aide-de-camp to General Colin L. Powell, among other accomplishments. He also served as the ninth Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff until 2015 — the nation’s second highest ranking military officer.

Mr. Loverro joins the HawkEye 360 Advisory Board with almost 45 years of government service and extensive experience in space for the Department of Defense. From 2013 to 2017, Mr. Loverro served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, before which he was the Executive Director for the Air Force Space Command’s Space and Missile Systems Center. He is currently the president of Loverro Consulting, LLC.

28 Mar 19. The former deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), Major General (ret.) Stephen Denker, will join Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) to lead key satellite ground programs, effective Monday, April 1. Denker will oversee Intelligence and Analytic Development programs in support of space ground systems within the Mission Solutions line of business for Lockheed Martin Space. Gen. Denker brings a wealth of experience and leadership skills from his 33-year Air Force career, including managing all Air Force personnel and assets assigned to NRO and serving as the agency’s senior military advisor from 2015 to 2018. The Intelligence and Analytic Development area encompasses cloud-based satellite mission management solutions, command and control, data processing and analysis for the Intelligence Community. Denker holds multiple advanced master’s degrees, including a Master of Science in Systems Management from the University of Southern California.

26 Mar 19. Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) Chairman and CEO Thomas A. Kennedy announced today the appointment of Wesley D. Kremer as President, Raytheon Missile Systems (RMS), succeeding Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, who informed the company of his intention to retire from Raytheon on July 14, 2019. Additionally, Kennedy has appointed Ralph H. Acaba President, Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS), succeeding Kremer. The new appointments are effective March 30, 2019. Dr. Lawrence will serve as a senior advisor to the company during the interim period prior to his retirement.

In commenting on the company’s new leadership appointments, Kennedy added, “Wes and Ralph each bring extensive technical and operational expertise to their new roles. Their customer relationships and proven leadership capabilities will serve our company well as we enter a new period of technical advancement, product innovation and global growth.”

Wesley D. Kremer

Kremer, who joined Raytheon in 2003, was named a corporate officer and President, IDS in 2015.  Previously, Kremer was vice president of the Air and Missile Defense Systems (A&MDS) product line at RMS, where he managed the SM-3®, SM-6®, Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) and Redesigned EKV (RKV) programs, as well as Advanced Kill Vehicles and European Missile Defense efforts.

Kremer previously served as the director of Raytheon’s SM-3 program, where he was responsible for the development, testing and production of all variants of the SM-3 missile portfolio. He had previously served as the director of Systems Design and Performance Engineering, leading an organization of more than 1,700 engineers responsible for the systems engineering; modeling, simulation, and analysis; guidance, navigation and control; and signal processing design for all Missile Systems programs.

Kremer served 11 years in the U.S. Air Force as a weapon systems officer, flying the F-111 and F-15E, with more than 1,500 hours of flight time in fighter aircraft, including over 90 combat sorties in Iraq and Bosnia. He was the first person to be named the top graduate of both the Electronic Warfare Officer course and the Fighter/Bomber course at Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training. Kremer was ranked first of 411 graduates and named as the Air Training Command Navigator of the Year for 1989. He received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Montana State University and his MBA in engineering technology management from City University of Seattle. Kremer will be based at RMS headquarters in Tucson, Arizona.

Ralph H. Acaba

Acaba joined Raytheon in 1986 and has held a series of increasingly senior leadership roles in the company, including director of the Patriot Systems business, director of Maneuver Protection Programs, and program manager for the Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor program.

In 2013, Acaba was named vice president of Raytheon’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense portfolio within IDS, which includes all aspects of the global Patriot Air and Missile Defense System, Hawk Air Defense System, and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System business, supporting customers in more than 20 countries. He was named a corporate officer and vice president of Raytheon Program Management Excellence in 2017, where he was responsible for the continuous improvement and implementation of program management best practices and automation across the company’s more than 8,000 programs. In this role, Acaba also led the development and certification of the company’s program leaders.

Acaba received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California, and his master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California. In his new role, Acaba will be based at IDS headquarters in Tewksbury, Massachusetts.

Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence

Dr. Lawrence retires after serving more than 13 years with the company, including over a decade as President, RMS. Prior to leading RMS, Dr. Lawrence served as Raytheon’s vice president of Engineering, Technology and Mission Assurance. In that role, he guided the company’s vision and provided corporate leadership in the strategic areas of technology and research, engineering, operations, performance excellence, Raytheon Six Sigma™ and Mission Assurance.

Previously, Dr. Lawrence was sector vice president and general manager of the C4ISR and Space Sensors division for Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems. Before joining Northrop Grumman, Dr. Lawrence served as the staff director for the Select Committee on Intelligence for the U.S. Senate and, previously, as deputy director of the Information Systems Office of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. He also held a variety of scientific and research leadership positions, including deputy program leader of the Advanced Imaging, Imaging & Detection Program of the Lasers Directorate at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; senior staff scientist of the Research and Development division of Trex Enterprises; and research assistant and undergraduate research fellow in the physics department at the California Institute of Technology.

Dr. Lawrence holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from the California Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in applied physics from Stanford University. He earned his doctorate in applied physics from Stanford in 1992. He is a member of the Caltech Board of Trustees, the Caltech Space Innovation Council and a recipient of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service.