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LOCATIONS
LAND
13 Feb 20. SYPAQ launches Innovation Collaboration Office in Adelaide. Australian-based SYPAQ has launched its Innovation Collaboration Office at the South Australian government’s innovation precinct, Lot Fourteen, in Adelaide.
Situated in the heritage-listed Margaret Graham Building in Adelaide’s Lot Fourteen Innovation Precinct, this new office builds on SYPAQ’s existing South Australian presence and projected growth in the state.
The office will be dedicated to supporting local industry and partnering with like-minded organisations to address complex and emerging technology challenges for the government and defence sectors.
Speaking at the event to mark the opening of the office, David Ridgway, South Australian Minister for Trade and Investment, welcomed the launch of SYPAQ’s Innovation Collaboration Office: “SYPAQ’s expansion into South Australia is great news for our existing organisations and provides the opportunity for the company to build its presence as they seek to grow new partnerships.
“I look forward to seeing them integrate themselves into Lot Fourteen, which provides a great collaborative environment for their business growth.”
SYPAQ managing director, David Vicino, said, “The decision to establish an office in South Australia was an easy one to make. In addition to our existing customer base including Defence and Services Australia (formerly DHS), the local market is poised for growth in the defence, science and technology sectors, and the ability to work alongside other innovative businesses at Lot Fourteen only enhances the opportunities available.”
This was echoed by SYPAQ CEO Amanda Holt, who said, “SYPAQ collaborates with organisations large and small. We have partnered with SMEs on Defence innovation projects, supported international firms to win and deliver large contracts, and worked with research institutions on next-generation technologies.
“We look forward to bringing this heritage and partnering ethos to South Australia.”
Lot Fourteen is home to the Australian Space Agency headquarters and will also serve as a Defence Landing Pad and will be overseen by Defence SA, providing immediate access to affordable, short-term office facilities co-located with other like-minded companies and industry associations.
The combination of the Defence Landing Pad and the new Australian Space Agency headquarters will support companies, providing access to government and industry support services in a single location, providing assistance with local regulations, migration, business establishment and real estate, as well as information on workforce availability and skilling opportunities.
The seven-hectare redevelopment site aims to drive jobs growth in these fast growing industries as well as blockchain, robotics and related technologies, with around 1,000 people expected to be working at Lot Fourteen by late 2019.
More than 40 businesses, including aerospace, technology and innovation giant Lockheed Martin, recently announced tenancy at the site.
SYPAQ was incorporated in Victoria, Australia, as a company in 1992. SYPAQ’s core business spans management and technology consulting, systems integration and managed services. We assist organisations transform strategy into capability through the application of a variety of disciplines spanning the entire acquisition life cycle. (Source: Defence Connect)
MARITIME
12 Feb 20. Russian frigate Admiral Kasatonov conducts trials before commissioning. Russia’s second Project 22350 Gorshkov-class frigate, Admiral Kasatonov, is conducting trials before commissioning, the Northern Fleet press service reported on the Ministry of Defence website. The service announced on 11 February that Admiral Kasatonov had arrived in Severomorsk following trials of its electronic warfare systems with the Northern Fleet in the Barents Sea. This included passive jamming and creating decoys to defend against missile attack.
After replenishment in Severomorsk, the frigate will test its air defence systems. The Northern Fleet said Admiral Kasatonov had already tested its Poliment-Redut air defence missile system during the first week of February against Northern Fleet Su-24 and An-26 aircraft flying at various altitudes and ranges. (Source: Jane’s)
11 Feb 20. UK Trafalgar-class submarine HMS Trenchant extended in service. A 31-year-old Trafalgar-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) is being kept in service for another year by the UK Royal Navy (RN) after construction delays prevented its replacement joining the fleet, Jane’s has learned. RN sources told Jane’s on 10 February that HMS Trenchant will have to remain at sea until the fourth Astute-class submarine, the future HMS Audacious , is handed over to BAE Systems in early 2021 after hitting a 17-month delay in the company’s Barrow-in-Furness shipyard. The extension in service of Trenchant is the latest consequence of the delays to Audacious, which was originally due to begin its sea trials in late 2018. (Source: Jane’s)
11 Feb 20. Damen delivers ocean patrol vessel to Mexican Navy. Damen Shipyards Group has delivered the Long Range Ocean Patrol (POLA) Class vessel ARM Reformador (POLA-101) to the Mexican Navy (SEMAR). The 107m-long POLA 101 vessel has been delivered less than three years after signing the contract. It is technologically advanced and will allow the Mexican Navy to carry out various missions.
The navy can use the vessel for safeguarding Mexican sovereignty, international security cooperation, law enforcement and for other missions such as long-range search and rescue operations and humanitarian aid.
Furthermore, the United Mexican States can use the POLA 101 to increase the surveillance coverage and protect their maritime interests beyond the five million square kilometres of jurisdictional waters.
Damen Shipyards Mexico president Horacio Delgado said: “This is a vessel built in Mexico, for the Mexicans and by the Mexicans.
“We are proud to have this vessel finished with a significant footprint in the south-eastern region of Mexico and Isthmus of Tehuantepec. This includes 750 man-years of direct Mexican labour, 400 direct jobs and more than 2,000 indirect jobs.”
The vessel is based on Damen’s SIGMA Frigate 10514 design and is the tenth of its kind. It is the result of Damen’s collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Navy. (Source: naval-technology.com)
10 Feb 20. Patria Delivers First Upgraded HAMINA Missile Boat. Finland’s MoD confirmed completion of the first of four HAMINA class missile boat mid-life upgrade (MLU) project. The HAMINA class upgrade programme started in early 2018, adding new anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and surface defence capabilities, should reach completion in 2021.
Prime contractor Patria’s division Systems delivered the Tornio to the Finnish Navy during a ceremony held at the Upinniemi naval base after starting work on the MLU almost two years earlier – and almost two decades after its original delivery from the Aker Finnyards (later STX Finland, then Meyer Werft, USC).
Patria handed over the vessel after completing a series of a rigorous regimen of naval tests and trials in 2019 to proof the vessels operational capabilities and the MLU’s effectiveness. Subcontractors on the MLU include Teijo Finland-based Oy Western Shipyard Limited.
While Patria System is responsible for integration of a number of sensor, weapon and communication systems, system upgrades, etc. each HAMINA class missile boats will also receive the following from selected subcontractors that Patria System integrates as prime contractor:
- ASW training target system (Patria)
- Bofors 40 Mk4 40mm Main Naval Gun (BAE Weapon Systems Sweden)
- Torpedo 47 (Saab Business Area Dynamics)
- Trackfire Remote Weapon Stations (Saab Business Area Dynamics)
- Saab 9LV Combat Management System (Saab Business Area Surveillance)
- Gabriel V Anti-Ship Missile (IAI / Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd.)
- ST2400 Variable Depth Sonar (Kongsberg Maritime)
- Ceros 200 radar and optronic tracking fire control director – updated (Saab Business Area Surveillance)
- TRS-3D phased array C-band radar – updated (Hensoldt)
The Patria-led MLU will extend the service life of HAMINA class missile boats until 2030, when the next generation POHJANMAA class corvettes enter service. The POHJANMAA class acquisition is part of the Squadron-2020 programme. (Source: ESD Spotlight)
AIR
13 Feb 20. Y-20A aircraft is now operational with a second PLAAF transport division. Images released by Chinese state-owned media indicate that the Y-20A Kunpeng transport aircraft is now operational with a second transport division of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).
The photographs show that two of the six Xian Aircraft Corporation (XAC) Y-20As that arrived on 13 January at the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport carrying medical reinforcements and supplies to help against the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus in the Wuhan area, bearing serial numbers 20041 and 20042. Five-digit serial numbers adhering to the format 20x4x indicate that the platforms bearing them are operated by the 13th Transport Division (37th Air Regiment) based at Kaifeng in China’s Henan Province. (Source: Jane’s)
11 Feb 20. Thailand shows off upgraded F-5TH fighters. A modernised version of the venerable Northrop F-5 has made its debut at this year’s Singapore show, with the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) displaying a pair of aircraft upgraded to the new TH standard. The F-5TH was commissioned into Thai service in late 2019 and are operated by the service’s 211 Sqn from Ubon air base, located near the Cambodian border in the east of the country.
Modification work on the original F-5E was conducted in Thailand and includes the addition of a new Elbit Systems avionics suite and an all-glass cockpit. The aircraft also gain a Leonardo Grifo active electronically scanned array, which also allows a slightly shorter nose.
Crucially, the F-5THs also feature the Link-T datalink, allowing close co-operation with other RTAF assets such as the Saab Gripen C/D and Erieye.
The addition of the new equipment has required some major changes, however. The single-seater at the show has had one of its 20mm cannons removed, while the two-seater has lost both of its guns.
Upgrades will be applied to 10 aircraft, enabling them to stay in service until the 2030s. (Source: News Now/Flight Global)
10 Feb 20. Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, delivered the first CMV-22B Osprey, which is the V-22 variant the U.S. Navy will use for transporting personnel and cargo to aircraft carriers at sea.
“The CMV-22B brings expanded capabilities not only to the carrier onboard delivery mission, but to the high-end fight,” said U.S. Navy Captain Dewon Chaney, Commodore, Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Wing. “We are anxious to get it to the fleet and show off its immense capabilities and agile flexibility.”
The Navy selected the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey to replace the C-2A Greyhound fleet. Bell Boeing will deliver 48 of the tiltrotor aircraft.
The CMV-22B, which first flew in December, carries up to 6,000 pounds for more than 1,150 nautical miles. It’s the only aircraft that can transport major components of the F-35C engine directly to a carrier flight deck, a critical capability for Navy logistics and support.
“The Osprey will transform carrier fleet operations,” said Kristin Houston, vice president, Boeing Tiltrotor Programs and director, Bell Boeing V-22 Program. “We’ve brought together the best teams for aircraft design, training, and sustainment to ensure the Navy is ready for any mission from day one.”
Navy aircrews and maintainers trained with the U.S. Marine Corps, which has employed the V-22 since 2007, to accelerate the transition. The CMV-22B will be based at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego and Naval Air Station Norfolk.
07 Feb 20. India’s Light Utility Helicopter granted initial operational clearance. India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has been granted initial operational clearance (IOC) for its Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), meaning that the company will now begin series-production of the single-engined platform. Military officials told Jane’s that the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) in Bangalore granted the IOC for the indigenously developed LUH following rigorous testing. HAL said in a 7 February statement that three LUH prototypes had “cumulatively completed” over 550 test flights in diverse climatic conditions, including cold, hot, and humid weather, but did not provide a timeline. The company stated that the LUH’s “endurance and reliability” were further established after the platform flew for 7,000 km over 17 days from Bangalore to undertake “hot weather and high-altitude trials [in western and northern India] without any abnormalities”. (Source: Jane’s)
07 Feb 20. Maiden flight for upgraded Tu-160M bomber. Russia flew the maiden flight of the upgraded Tupolev Tu-160M ‘Blackjack’ strategic bomber on 2 February, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) announced.
The flight took place at the Kazan Aircraft Plant and lasted 34 minutes with the aircraft reaching an altitude of approximately 5,000 ft. The video of the flight was released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of the Russian Federation on 6 February.
As noted by the MoD, the first upgraded aircraft are due to be received by the Russian Air Force in 2021.
The Tu-160 first entered into Soviet service in the late 1980s. Since then the swing-wing supersonic bomber has undergone several upgrades, including in the early 2000s a bolstering of the aircraft’s nuclear armament with the capacity to carry 12 conventionally armed Raduga NPO Kh-555 (AS-15 ‘Kent’) long-range cruise missiles and laser-guided bombs.
The Tu-160M upgrade is being rolled out in two phases, with the first Tu-160M1 phase comprising the new K-042K-1 navigation system and ABSU-200-1 autopilot, as well as the removal of some previous systems, such as bomb sighting systems. This Tu-160M1-variant has been operational with the air force since late 2014.
The second Tu-160M2 phase includes the new Novella NV1.70 radar, a digital ‘glass’ cockpit, modern communications and anti-jamming equipment, upgraded NK-32 engines (designated NK-32-02), and modern conventional and nuclear weapons. (Source: Jane’s)
07 Feb 20. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) delivered the second of two KC-130J Super Hercules aerial refuelers to representatives from France’s Armée de l’Air on Feb. 4, at the company’s Aeronautics facility in Marietta, Georgia. France has received a total of four Super Hercules aircraft — two C-130J-30 combat delivery airlifters and two KC-130J aerial refuelers — through a Foreign Military Sale with the U.S. government. The two C-130J-30 airlifters were delivered in 2017 and 2018, and first KC-130J delivered in September 2019. All of these Super Hercules are operated in conjunction with France’s existing C-130H fleet.
“France’s C-130 crews have long demonstrated the unmatched and proven performance of the Hercules aircraft in support of critical missions,” said Rod McLean, vice president and general manager, Air Mobility & Maritime Missions at Lockheed Martin. “This additional KC-130J expands the Armée de l‘Air’s already robust airlift and refueling resources to not only serve as a national asset, but a global resource as well.”
France is the 17th country to choose the C-130J for its airlift and refueling needs. The C-130J Super Hercules is the most advanced tactical airlifter in operation today, offering superior performance and enhanced capabilities with the range and versatility for every theater of operations and evolving requirements.
As the preeminent tactical aerial refueling tanker, the KC-130J is a battle-tested solution that takes full advantage of the tremendous technological and performance improvements inherent in the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. A true force multiplier, the KC-130J refuels both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft as well as conducts rapid ground refueling.
With this delivery, France joins a global community of KC-130J operators. In 2018, Germany announced the acquisition of a C-130J-30/KC-130J fleet, to be operated in partnership with France — making this the first operator relationship of this type in C-130J history.
The C-130J Super Hercules is the global standard in tactical airlift, providing a unique mix of versatility and performance to complete any mission — anytime, anywhere. The Super Hercules worldwide fleet has more than 2 million flight hours and is the airlifter of choice for 20 nations.
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
12 Feb 20. White House looks to curtail DOD worker unions. A recent White House memo authorized a new policy to let the defense secretary roll back collective bargaining among civilian workers at the Department of Defense.
A Jan. 29 White House memo signed by Trump gives Secretary of Defense Mark Esper blanket authority to exclude defense agencies from collectively bargaining with workers. There are about 750,000 civilian workers at DOD. The memo was first reported by GovExec.
“When new missions emerge or existing ones evolve, the Department of Defense requires maximum flexibility to respond to threats to carry out its mission of protecting the American people,” President Trump wrote in the memo, which was obtained by FCW. “Where collective bargaining is incompatible with [DOD] organizations’ missions, the Department of Defense should not be forced to sacrifice its national security mission and, instead, seek relief through third parties and administrative fora.”
Title V of the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act contains a provision that allows the President to exclude agencies from engaging in collectively bargaining with workers via written order in some circumstances, including “an emergency situation.”
Everett Kelly, national secretary of the American Federation of Government Employees, said, “Denying nearly half a million Defense Department workers the collective bargaining rights guaranteed to them by law since 1962 would be a travesty — and doing it under the guise of ‘national security’ would be a disgrace to the sacred oath and obligation that all federal workers make to their country.”
AFGE represents DOD employees at the Defense Contracts Management Agency, the Defense Finance and Accounting Services, the Defense Logistics Agency, the Marine Corps, the Air Force and other workplaces throughout the DOD and the armed forces.
Carl Dahms, a DOD employee at Tinker Air Force Base, said the news report was the first time he and his fellow workers had learned of the memo’s existence.
“It gives the department the ability to do whatever they want with us and lead to a lot of abuses,” Dahms said in a Feb. 10 interview with FCW at an AFGE conference. “It will change the atmosphere drastically, because people are going to fear for everything they do. A large amount of [DOD] employees are veterans. For us, this is a continuation of our service.”
The memo throws a wrench into the ongoing contract negotiations process, even though no one from the Department has approached the workers from whom the memo would strip collective bargaining rights, according to Dahms. He said it would likely discourage retention and hiring numbers would suffer.
“I absolutely think you’re going to see a lot of people just step away from federal service. You’re gonna see a lot of favoritism. They’re going to take care of who they want to take care of, and they’re going to, unfortunately, abuse the rest of us.”
Dahms added that the memo came at a time when the military couldn’t afford to lose any more workers.
“The most frustrating part for me is that [DOD officials] are against the very people that keep the Air Force and the Navy and the Army moving. We’re not in a place right now where we can afford to have any decrease in the people that are supporting those efforts,” he said.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) spoke at the AFGE conference on Monday. She promised workers that she’d make a bipartisan effort to make sure that civilian DOD
“I’ve not seen the memo but read that the reason cited was flexibility. Well, let me tell you: I don’t accept that rationale,” Collins said to applause. “Please know that I will work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to protect the rights of DOD civilian employees to engage in collective bargaining.” (Source: Defense Systems)
12 Feb 20. Statement on the Deployment of Army’s 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade to Africa. Attributable to Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Alyssa Farah “The Secretary of Defense has been conducting a comprehensive review of DoD forces, programs and activities within each Combatant Command to ensure alignment with the National Defense Strategy’s priorities. U.S. Africa Command was the first to present their findings and recommendations. As part of this review and in order to better compete with China and Russia in Africa, the Secretary is directing the deployment of elements of the Army’s 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) to the continent to conduct train, advise, and assist missions in spotlight African countries. This is the first of many decisions regarding AFRICOM’s mission. Army SFABs are manned, trained and equipped specifically for the train, advise and assist mission. This allows them to perform this important ‘great power competition’ role more effectively and more efficiently than conventional units. In addition to meeting combatant command requirements on the continent, the deployment of the SFAB will help improve Army readiness by reducing the demand for brigade combat teams to conduct security force assistance operations there. The deployment of the SFAB allows the Army to return elements of an infantry brigade from the 101st Airborne Division back to its home base of Ft. Campbell, KY, allowing it to train and prepare for high intensity conflict operations. Deployment of the 1st SFAB and return of 101st Airborne Division personnel will commence in the coming weeks. This realignment and rightsizing of mission requirements demonstrates the Department’s commitment to implementing the National Defense Strategy and our continuing commitment to our African partners.” (Source: US DoD)
10 Feb 20. Saudi Arabia Armed Forces launches first military wing for women. Saudi Arabia’s Armed Forces has launched the first military wing for women, an effort that marks another milestone in the country’s Vision 2030 modernisation programme. The new military wing has been opened to women across Saudi Arabia. It plays a key role in the initiative of inaugurating women into the development of the country. As reported by a Saudi magazine, the military wing was opened by several senior military officials in the country.
The Middle East Monitor noted that the opening of the job market to women in the country is seen as a major step towards reforming the kingdom, which is highly conservative.
Vision 2030 was launched in 2016. Since then, every sector from aviation security to the passport controller started offering employment to female staff.
Several branches such as the Royal Saudi Land Forces, Royal Saudi Air Force, Royal Saudi Naval Forces can now recruit woman in the country in various capacities such as lance corporals, corporals, sergeants and staff sergeants.
Forces, Royal Saudi Strategic Missile Force and Armed Forces Medical Services.
Gulf Today quoted first lieutenant general Fayyad Bin Hamid Al Ruwaili as saying that the female wing was launched to address the needs of the female component of Saudi Arabia military branch.
Fayyad Al-Ruwaili further explained the regulations of acceptance and the locations that were allocated for the female military unit. (Source: army-technology.com)
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
12 Feb 20. MG Scott L. Efflandt, special assistant to the commanding general, III Corps and Fort Hood, Fort Hood, Texas, to deputy commanding general, III Corps and Fort Hood, Fort Hood, Texas.
12 Feb 20. MG Kenneth L. Kamper, deputy commanding general, III Corps and Fort Hood, Fort hood, Texas, to commanding general, U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill, Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
12 Feb 20. BG Michele H. Bredenkamp, vice director for intelligence, J-2, Joint Staff (Defense Intelligence Agency), Washington, District of Columbia, to director of intelligence, U.S. Forces Korea; and deputy director of intelligence, Combined Forces Command, Republic of Korea.
12 Feb 20. BG Michael R. Eastman, deputy director for joint force development and design integration, J-7, Joint Staff, Washington, District of Columbia, to deputy commanding general, 10th Mountain Division (Light), Fort Drum, New York.
12 Feb 20. BG Kevin C. Leahy, deputy commanding general (operations), 7th Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, to director, Transregional Threat Coordination Cell, J-5, Joint Staff, Washington, District of Columbia.
12 Feb 20. BG Duane R. Miller, commanding general, Army Corrections Command; and deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, Arlington, Virginia, to deputy provost marshal general, Office of the Provost Marshal General; and commanding general, Army Corrections Command; and deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, Washington, District of Columbia.
12 Feb 20. BG Michael T. Morrissey to director for test, Missile Defense Agency, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. He most recently served as commanding general, 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Honolulu, Hawaii.
12 Feb 20. BG Mark T. Simerly, commanding general, 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, Eighth Army, Republic of Korea, to director, J-4, U.S. Forces Korea; and deputy director, C/J-4, U.N. Command/Combined Forces Command, Republic of Korea.
12 Feb 20. BG (Promotable) John H. Phillips, chief information officer and deputy chief of staff, G-6, U.S. Army Europe (Individual Mobilization Augmentee), U.S. Army Europe, Germany, to commander (Troop Program Unit), 335th Signal Command (Theater), East Point, Georgia.
12 Feb 20. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Michael D. Albaugh, currently assigned as the 75th Ranger Regiment command sergeant major, Fort Benning, Georgia, has been selected to replace Command Sgt. Maj. Lyle H. Marsh as the command senior enlisted leader for the Special Operations Command-Africa (SOCAF).
13 Feb 20. MG Eric T. Hill, commanding general, Special Operations Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, U.S. Central Command, Baghdad, Iraq, to deputy commander, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Florida.
13 Feb 20. MG Randall Reed, senior defense official and defense attaché, Ankara, Turkey, to commander, Third Air Force, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
13 Feb 20. BG Mark R. August, commander, 86th Airlift Wing, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, to director, global reach programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
13 Feb 20. BG David M. Gaedecke, director, electromagnetic spectrum superiority, Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategy, Integration, and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia, to vice commander, Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber), Air Combat Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.
13 Feb 20. BG Robert S. Jobe, commander, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Air Combat Command, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, to director, strategic plans, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
13 Feb 20. BG Leonard J. Kosinski, director, logistics, J-4, Headquarters U.S. Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany, to vice commander, 5th Air Force; and director, Pacific Air Forces Joint Air Component Coordination Element, Pacific Air Forces, Yokota Air Base, Japan.
13 Feb 20. BG Caroline M. Miller, director, manpower, organization and resources, Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower, Personnel and Services, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia, to commander, 502d Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio, Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
13 Feb 20. BG Lansing R. Pilch, commander, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, Air Combat Command, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, to director, air and cyberspace operations, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
13 Feb 20. BG Heather L. Pringle, director, strategic plans, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia, to commander, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
13 Feb 20. BG Donna D. Shipton, vice commander, Space and Missile Systems Center, Air Force Space Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, to director, strategic plans, programs, requirements and analyses, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
13 Feb 20. BG Jeremy T. Sloane, commandant, Air War College, Air University, Air Education and Training Command, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, to commander, 36th Wing, Pacific Air Forces, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.
13 Feb 20. BG Jeffrey D. Valenzia, commanding general, Train, Advise, Assist Command-Air, Operation Resolute Support, U.S. Central Command; and commander, 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, Air Combat Command, Kabul, Afghanistan, to director, joint force integration, Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategy, Integration and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
13 Feb 20. BG (select) Eric P. DeLange, senior executive officer to the vice chief of staff, U.S. Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia, to director, cyberspace operations, Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Cyber Effects Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
13 Feb 20. BG (select) Michael R. Drowley, commander, 355th Wing, Air Combat Command, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, to commander, 57th Wing, Air Combat Command, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
13 Feb 20. BG (select) Michael H. Manion, director, joint and National Security Council matters, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia, to director, electromagnetic spectrum superiority, Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategy, Integration, and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
13 Feb 20. BG (select) Parker H. Wright, commander, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Cyber Effects Operations, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, to director, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Cyber Effects Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
13 Feb 20. BG Donald J. Cothern, senior materiel leader, Assistant Program Director for F-35 Development and Production, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia, to vice commander, Space and Missile Systems Center, U.S. Space Force, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California.
INDUSTRY
14 Feb 20. The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today reached a tentative agreement with the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) on a new four-year contract extension that would run through 2026 covering approximately 18,000 engineering and technical employees, nearly all of whom are in Washington and Oregon. SPEEA’s Executive Board has endorsed the offer, which will be put up for a vote by the membership and is expected to run from Feb. 24 to March 9, 2020 via mail-in ballots. The current contract is set to expire in 2022.
“We are pleased to come to a tentative agreement that recognizes the tremendous contributions of our engineering and technical teammates. We listened to our employees and addressed areas that are important to them,” said Greg Hyslop, Boeing chief engineer and senior vice president of Engineering, Test & Technology. “These early discussions and ongoing dialogue will further enhance our efforts to focus on safely returning the 737 MAX to service and facilitating our engineering realignment and ongoing commitment to engineering excellence.”
Highlights of the agreement include:
Annual salary adjustment funds
Under the tentative agreement, Boeing and SPEEA will establish fixed salary adjustment funds for each year, 2020 through 2026, replacing the prior indexed formula.
Paid leave
Boeing will apply the Company’s existing 12-week Paid Parental Leave policy to SPEEA-represented employees. By virtue of the contract extension, SPEEA-represented employees in Washington will now also be covered by the Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave Act.
Health care benefits
Under the tentative agreement, employees will continue receiving competitive benefits with no change in plan design for medical, dental and vision plans. Beginning in 2023, employees’ contributions will be based upon their salary.
Employee Incentive Plan (EIP)
The Employee Incentive Plan target will be raised from 3.85% of eligible earnings to 5% of eligible earnings.
14 Feb 20. Nova Group CEO to step down after four years at helm. Nova Group has announced that group CEO Greg Hume has elected to step down from his role later this year, while the board undertakes the search for a new group CEO to ensure a seamless transition.
Jim Whalley, Nova’s chair, acknowledged Hume’s contribution to Nova, having delivered significant business growth over the course of his tenure since taking over the group CEO role in 2016, with projections for this financial year of more than $200m in revenue.
“Greg has been a valued part of the Nova family for 17 years and was a key founding member of the company as employee number 10. He has been instrumental in the growth of Nova and his stewardship over the past four years has created a firm foundation on which we can continue to pursue our growth aspirations,” Whalley said.
Hume led Nova’s diversification and globalisation strategy, which resulted in Nova’s expansion beyond Australia and the UK into Asia, New Zealand and Europe, establishing trust and credibility with clients across a range of sectors.
Hume said he would always feel part of the Nova family and acknowledged that now was the right time to move on.
“This year marks 20 years of Nova and I look forward to seeing the new group CEO continue to harness the entrepreneurial spirit of our company as Nova embarks on this next exciting phase of its growth strategy and continues to solve the problems that really matter,” Hume added.
He added, “I’ve been fortunate to have been a part of the Nova family, working with incredibly smart and dedicated people and am proud we have been recognised for a number of years as one of the ‘Top 50 best places to work’ and ‘Top 50 Most Innovative Companies’ in Australia, along with a ‘Best place to work’ in Asia and the UK.”
Hume will continue to work closely with the board and executive leadership team and will assist with the transition to the new group CEO over the coming six to nine months.
Nova Group is an Australian owned and operated global services provider. Founded in 2000, Nova’s businesses include professional services provider Nova Systems, aerospace engineering firm GVH Aerospace, geospatial firm Geoplex, and software as a service firm two10degrees. With over 600 employees, Nova operates in offices across Australia, New Zealand, south-east Asia, the UK and Europe.
(Source: Defence Connect)
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ExFor+ CIC is a relatively new organisation but has been established with the objective of becoming a National overarching organisation within the Veterans Support Sector. Our aim is to bring about, positive Social and Economic change for the country as well as a significant
transformation of how Service leavers, Veterans, their families and communities are supported. We will do this through effective collaboration, communication and management of a number of services and departments, ranging from engaging with Government, The Third sector and also the supporters of, those who’ve served and often sacrificed so much for their country. We are currently supporting a number of service leavers and veterans with a range of issues ranging from housing, unemployment, benefits, personal development, education, and are constantly looking for employers who see the positives in recruiting and supporting individuals in to work to create longterm and sustainable futures.
www.InvestorsInVeterans.com
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