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LOCATIONS
LAND
20 Oct 20. Astrobotic Unveils New 47,000sq.ft. Headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA. Astrobotic, space robotics company, opens one of the largest private facilities in the world dedicated to lunar operations. Astrobotic officially opened its new headquarters in Pittsburgh in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday. The 47,000 square foot complex is the largest private facility in the world dedicated to lunar logistics. Astrobotic’s Peregrine and Griffin lunar landers will be built on-site, with Peregrine set to become the first commercial mission to the Moon, and the first American lander on the Moon since the Apollo missions.
“I like to say we’re a 13-year overnight success story,” said Astrobotic CEO John Thornton. “In the past 18 months, we grew from a staff of 18 to more than 100 employees, with two funded lander missions and a rover mission to the Moon, and multiple contracts to develop exciting new space technologies. It’s still surreal.”
Monday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by a wide range of prominent federal, state, and local officials, including U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, U.S. Congressman Conor Lamb, Pennsylvania Governor’s Action Team SW Director Eric Bitar, Allegheny Country Executive Rich Fitzgerald, and Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto. They were joined by local business and community leaders LaShawn Burton Faulk, Executive Director of Manchester Citizens Corporation, Sam Reiman, Director of the Richard King Mellon Foundation, and David Malone, Chairman and CEO of Gateway Financial.
“You [Astrobotic] are currently leading the market with seventeen contracts in place for your first mission with customers in seven countries,” says US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “The Commerce Department will continue to make resources available to you and to the broader U.S. commercial space industry to ensure that we remain the leader in space commerce.
“I personally want to thank all the folks at Astrobotic for taking on this national mission. You are a big part of our strategy going forward to be a successful, strong, growing economy in a country that is well-defended and well-represented in space. So thank you very much, we’re proud of you,” says U.S. Congressman Conor Lamb.
Astrobotic’s headquarters houses offices, labs, and fabrication areas, including a “clean room” and “high bay” required for final spacecraft assembly. Astrobotic will use the facility to build its lines of landers, rovers, autonomous spacecraft navigation systems, and other space technologies. The facility will also be used to operate them. When Peregrine lands on the Moon next year, it will be controlled directly from the Astrobotic Mission Control Center inside the Pittsburgh headquarters.
Phase two of the headquarters’ construction, now underway, will add a rover test pit, a drone flying arena, a public gathering space, additional offices, labs, and fabrication spaces.
The opening of the headquarters marks a major milestone in the company’s history. After its inception as a private company spinoff from Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute, Astrobotic started in a 400 square foot room above a bagel shop in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood. It later moved to a former steel-stamping factory in the Strip District, and then an office building downtown. The company has grown rapidly, signing fifteen commercial customers representing seven countries for its lunar payload delivery service, and winning a $79.5m NASA contract to fly scientific instruments aboard Peregrine, and again in June by winning a $199.5m contract to deliver NASA’s water-hunting rover, VIPER, to the south pole of the Moon.
“The first Astrobotic mission, which will fly on Peregrine, will deliver about a dozen NASA-developed payloads to a mid-latitude region on the Moon. These NASA-developed payloads will range in capabilities from technologies to demonstrations, demonstrate functionality in the unique environment of the Moon. We’ll also fly science instruments, so we’ll obtain important scientific data to help inform our future exploration missions,” says Ryan Stephan, NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) Payload Integration Manager.
Astrobotic’s new headquarters is located in Pittsburgh’s Northside, home to five historical districts. The headquarters is within a mile of several popular cultural destinations, including The Carnegie Science Center, Heinz Field, Stage AE the National Aviary, and the Children’s Museum.
“The innovation sector in Pennsylvania, and especially here in Pittsburgh, has been a powerhouse for the Commonwealth. And that’s thanks to companies like Astrobotic who have operated and grown here in Pittsburgh since their founding thirteen years ago…Astrobotic is at the forefront of developing advanced robotics for lunar operations that will help propel the industry into the future and further cement Pittsburgh’s status as an international hub,” says Eric Bitar, Governor’s Action Team (GAT) SW Director.
“It’s really a story about what Pittsburgh has always been,” says Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “We’ve always been a place of innovation. Always a place of the next technology…”
“I was five years old when we landed on the Moon. By the time I was six years old, I could name every planet. And that is an opportunity that is now down the street for every young Pittsburgh child. This is the technology of the engineers, and the dreamers, and the scientists from our region. And this is the product that you [Astrobotic] have given us to give to the world,” says Mayor Bill Peduto, Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh.
“Technology and robotics give Pittsburgh a competitive edge, and companies like Astrobotic – a venture that’s successfully commercialized its advanced space robotics capabilities and is a rising star – are catalyzing interest in Pittsburgh, creating job growth and carrying the banner for this region’s unrelenting drive to innovate, shape the world and own the future,” said Mark Anthony Thomas, president of the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, the region’s economic development organization. “As one of the largest private facilities of its kind anywhere, Astrobotic’s new headquarters and lunar operations facility is proof that remarkable things are happening in Pittsburgh.”
At the opening ceremony, and as Astrobotic employees return to work at the new facility, the company has required masks and limited building capacity to allow for greater social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Astrobotic has also enlisted Checklist Facility Maintenance cleaning services to maintain high sanitary standards.
19 Oct 20. U.S. Autonomous Drone Maker Skydio Expands Footprint to Japan. Skydio, the leading U.S. drone manufacturer and world leader in autonomous flight technology, today announced the opening of its new office in Tokyo, Japan, strengthening the company’s ability to support local enterprise and public sector customers as they adopt the company’s groundbreaking technology. This marks the first step of a broader international expansion strategy following Skydio’s recent $100M Series C funding round. The office will be under the leadership of Tom Moss, CEO of Skydio Japan.
“I’m pleased to be able to bring Skydio’s world leading autonomous drone technology to Japan. Our focus in the Japanese market will be to create a safer and more productive society, building upon the early success we have already had in Japan in supporting the safe, reliable, and scalable inspection and maintenance of infrastructure such as bridges, skyscrapers, and power plants, as well as in post disaster response and more,” said Tom Moss, CEO of Skydio Japan.
Moss was the first investor into Skydio and the first business person at Skydio, and also served as its first Chief Operating Officer. Prior to this role, Moss started and led Skydio’s strategy for enterprise and government sectors. As CEO of Skydio Japan Moss will oversee the broader Asia-Pacific region for Skydio. Moss has held other high-profile roles in the technology space including Senior Vice President of Mobile, at Razer Inc. and was a founding member of several successful mobile related companies. He also worked at Google as the worldwide Head of Android Business Development General Manager of Android for the Japan and Asia Pacific market.
“We are excited to bring our autonomous drone technology to Japan, which we believe is on the path to becoming a model for the world with respect to the successful integration of drones into the broader economy and society at scale,” said Adam Bry, CEO of Skydio.
The office will be located at Roppongi 3-1-1, Minato-Ku, Tokyo, 106-0032 as of the middle of November 2020. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
MARITIME
22 Oct 20. Peruvian Navy surface fleet plan focuses on new OPVs. As part of its plans to revamp its surface fleet, the Peruvian Navy (MGP) will focus on building up to three new offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) as its new priority, according to Admiral Fernando Cerdan, MGP commander in chief.
“[The] navy had recently approved the update of its long-term planning, which define several projects and objectives in the short and long term,” Adm Cerdan said on 8 October during a speech commemorating the navy’s anniversary.
“We had identified the need for off-shore patrol vessels, with helicopter carrying capability. The construction of up to three of these units at [the] SIMA shipyard is required.”
At the same ceremony, Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra confirmed the government’s support of the OPV project, noting, “We make the commitment to start, during the current government administration, the project of building two OPVs”.
Due to industrial capability limitations, the OPVs project is split between an initial two-ship batch, to be completed by 2023, and a follow-up unit to be contracted by 2022. While the navy-approved project includes all three ships, it will be up to the next elected administration, which will take office in July 2021, whether to buy the third ship.
The Navy’s OPV requirements include a displacement between 1,500 and 2,000 tonnes; a length between 80 and 100 m and a 10 to 14 m beam, with either a CODAD (Combined Diesel and Diesel) or a CODAG (Combined Diesel and Gas) propulsion system; and the capability to deploy at least two rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) and one helicopter, navy sources at Lima told Janes . The total per-ship cost could reach about USD85m. (Source: Jane’s)
22 Oct 20. Malaysia tallies deficiencies observed on first Keris-class littoral mission ship. The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has compiled a list of deficiencies that were observed while operating the first Keris (littoral mission ship)-class vessel, and is now in discussions with selected contractors to rectify them and prevent similar issues with the remaining hulls.
The Malaysian government signed a contract for four Keris-class patrol vessels with China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) in April 2017. It was Putrajaya’s first naval ship contract with Beijing, and the programme’s first-of-class, KD Keris (111), was commissioned in January 2020.
A list of the deficiencies encountered, which has been provided to Janes by an industry source with access to the discussions, suggests that the issues encountered by Keris largely revolve around its Chinese-supplied sensors and combat systems.
The vessel, which has an overall length of 68.8 m, is equipped with the OFC-3 electro optical tracking system (EOTS) from Huazhong Institute of Electro-Optics, the SR2405A air and surface search radar from the Nanjing Marine Radar Institute, and an electronic support measure (ESM) system from the Southwest Institute of Electronic Equipment of China.
The ship is also equipped with the VisionMaster FT 250 navigation radar from Sperry Marine, which incorporates an electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) and an automatic identification system (AIS).
In terms of weaponry, the Keris class is armed with a CS/AN3 30 mm multi-purpose naval gun from the Chongqing Chang’an Industrial Group Limited in the primary position, and two CS/LM6 12.7 mm heavy machine guns from the Sichuan Huaqing Machinery Company Limited. (Source: Jane’s)
15 Oct 20. Construction of the First of Six New Overseas Patrol Vessels for New Caledonia Begins at Socarenam in Saint-Malo. Florence Parly, Minister of the Armed Forces, on October 8 launched the construction phase of the first of the six overseas patrol boats, during a ceremony marking the first metal cut for the ship at the Saint-Malo shipyard.
Led by the Directorate General of Armament (DGA), the Patrouilleur Outre Mer (overseas patrol vessel, POM) program will significantly strengthen the resources of the Navy to monitor the maritime areas of New Caledonia, French Polynesia and La Réunion.
In particular, POMs will have significantly improved capacities to carry twice as much freight and nine more passengers than P400 patrol boats. With a greater range, they can also operate a drone.
The POM program will complete the renewal of the French Navy patrol vessels stationed overseas. The six POMs will be delivered by the end of 2025 and will fully replace the older generation of P400 patrol boats. The first POM vessel will arrive in New Caledonia at the end of 2022.
The design and construction of POMs represent between 500 and 600 highly-qualified and non-relocatable jobs on the sites of Socarenam (in Saint-Malo and Boulogne-sur-Mer) and of its many subcontractors in France.The POM program was announced by the President of the Republic at the Conference on the Economy of the Sea on December 3, 2019. It allows the renewal of the fleet of patrol boats stationed overseas.
On December 24, 2019, the DGA ordered the six POMs from the consortium formed by Socarenam and CNN MCO, responsible respectively for manufacturing and maintenance of the vessels during the first six years of their operational service.
The six POMs will be based in Noumea for New Caledonia, Port des Galets for Reunion Island and Papeete for French Polynesia, with two units per home port. They will completely replace the older generation of P400 patrol boats.
In a context of growing threats to fishery resources, biodiversity and the application of international rules of the law of the sea, the POMs will carry out missions of sovereignty and protection of national interests in the French Exclusive Economic Zones and their surroundings: fisheries police, intervention against maritime pollution and in favor of the preservation of the environment, fight against illicit activities including drug trafficking and illegal immigration, assistance to vessels in difficulty, and rescue of people at sea.
The POM is the first small vessel to operate a drone system. Its stability performance has been adapted to the navigation conditions which can be extremely difficult in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
It also features an innovative hybrid propulsion architecture and hydrographic capability. It will be able to carry out missions of up to 30 days without refueling, with a crew of 30 sailors and carry up to 23 passengers.
Main characteristics of POMs
— displacement: approximately 1,300 t;
— dimensions: length: 79.9 m, width: 12 m, draft: <3.5 m;
— range: over 5,500 nautical miles at 12 knots;
— installations for a vertical take-off drone up to 200 kg;
— 30-day battery life;
— maximum speed: 24 knots;
— crew: 30 sailors;
— passengers: 23 people (gendarmes, commandos);
— armament: one 20mm remotely-operated cannon, two 12.7mm and two 7.62mm machine guns;
— detection: an air / surface surveillance radar, a tactical situation system, a day / night optronic identification system;
— satellite communication capability;
— Drome: two 8m fast boats on a ramp and davit, a service boat;
— deck storage capacity for a 20-foot container and handling crane;
— towing and pollution control capacity;
— hydrographic measurement capability.
(Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com)
(Source: defense-aerospace.com/ French Directorate General of Armaments)
19 Oct 20. Myanmar Navy showcases newly acquired submarine in Fleet Exercise Bandoola. The Myanmar Navy – Tamadaw Yay – has publicly displayed its lone submarine at its ongoing Fleet Exercise 2020 (Exercise ‘Bandoola’), which kicked off on 15 October. The highlight of the exercise, which featured at least 12 naval vessels, was the Project 877 EKM submarine UMS Minye Theinkhathu (Min ye Thein Kha Thu), which was formerly the Indian submarine INS Sindhuvir. As imagery of the submarine was released by the Tatmadaw on 15 October 2020, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) made an official announcement regarding the submarine transfer.
MEA spokesperson Anurg Srivastava said that India “will be delivering a Kilo class submarine, INS Sindhuvir , to the Myanmar navy” as part of India’s “enhanced engagement” with Myanmar, adding that this development is in accordance with India’s vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and also in line with our commitment to build capacities and self-reliance in all our neighbouring countries.
India is keen to counter Chinese influence in neighbouring countries. In the security domain, India’s neighbours, such as Myanmar, benefit handsomely from arms deals on very favourable terms and lines of credit from both countries as India tries to vie with China for influence.
However, the MEA announcement trails the actual transfer, which is understood to have taken place in February 2020 when imagery emerged of Sindhuvir. (Source: Jane’s)
AIR
22 Oct 20. Operation Safeguard – an appeal to secure the future of Avro Vulcan XH558 takes off. The charity behind one of the last icons of British military history is launching a £4m rescue mission to secure its future. The Vulcan to the Sky Trust (VTST), who were responsible for restoring XH558 to flight, has confirmed that it is in negotiation to secure a mortgage of up to £2.4m to enable it to build a hangar at Doncaster Sheffield Airport. The support of the public via a fundraising appeal is needed to meet the total costs of the build, which will result in XH558 being brought under cover, protected from the elements and once again available to the public.
Dr Robert Pleming, chief executive of VTST said: “From the earliest days of the Vulcan to the Sky Trust’s work, the charity has always had two guiding principles, to honour those who served us in the past and to inspire future generations to make meaningful change in the world. We are proud to announce a major fundraising campaign to build the first phase of The Vulcan Experience, a dedicated new home at Doncaster Sheffield Airport that will embody those guiding principles in a memorable and unique centre, making the airport a destination in its own right.”
VTST’s vision for The Vulcan Experience is that it will be a major attraction, housing the iconic Avro Vulcan XH558, where visitors will be able to hear and see the story of her history, her restoration to flight in 2007 and the part played by the RAF’s V-Force aircraft in preserving the peace during the Cold War. XH558 is still very much a live aircraft and she will continue to thrill her supporters for years to come.
Robert continued, “We have always aimed to inspire youngsters to pursue careers in aerospace and engineering. The innovative 1950s technology of the Vulcan is relatively easy to understand and her awesome power and beauty generates a huge following. We need to inspire youngsters to become the engineers who will devise the required technical solutions to the global climate challenge. As we develop The Vulcan Experience, they will be able to start their journey in the exciting Green Technology Hub – a major new and, as far as we know, unique initiative central to the Vulcan Experience. Aircraft and air travel using today’s technologies will become unsustainable and if the world is to retain global connectivity, new technical ideas are needed; indeed, some are already on the drawing board. Innovation as exemplified by XH558 is a bridge to these future technologies. The Green Technology Hub will be focused very much on the future, highlighting current climate change concerns, and aimed at the young; the engaged members of ‘Generation Z’ and specifically in relation to aviation,” added Robert.
Youngsters will leave the Green Technology Hub understanding that;
- Scientists, engineers and technicians can help to solve climate change problems.
- Energy comes from a variety of sources of differing characteristics.
- Aviation has a future, but it may well look different from today.
The Green Technology Hub will feature explanations and demonstrations of the Climate Change Imperative and aviation’s contribution to climate change but it will offer hope by showing there are solutions, for example, the evolution of greener aircraft design and the materials that make them.
Robert added, “Operation Safeguard will enable the first – vital – part of our vision by building the hangar home. We are seeking the public’s support to fund this exciting and important new project. This is a fantastic way to leave a real legacy for the next generation and to help to honour the past, the present and the future.”
To support the appeal the charity is offering two levels of contribution: a donation of £50 will see donors automatically become an XH558 Guardian Member for 12 months. Their name or a name of their choice will be added in perpetuity on a very special hangar exhibit with genuine XH558 provenance placed next to XH558 and honouring all those who will have made the new home possible.
A donation of £30 will bring the same benefits but names will be placed on two specially mounted original Vulcan port and starboard wing tips, major items from the spares purchased from the MoD after XH558 left RAF service.
To donate or find out more visit www.vulcantothesky.org
18 Oct 20. Second joint RAF & Qatari air force squadron intended for UK. The joint Royal Air Force & Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) Typhoon squadron was officially opened yesterday at RAF Coningsby.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace hosted his Qatari counterpart as they opened 12 Squadron and signed a Statement of Intent to establish an additional joint squadron.
The UK has offered to base Qatar’s recently acquired nine Hawk aircraft at a British RAF station, which could also be home to a joint RAF & QEAF Hawk training squadron.
“Today we mark the start of an exciting new chapter in the longstanding defence relationship between the UK and Qatar, reinforcing and strengthening the bonds our Armed Forces already share. Building upon the success of our joint Typhoon squadron, this new era of collaboration will deliver prosperity and security benefits for both our nations.” Ben Wallace. Defence Secretary
The partnership would provide RAF personnel with access to increased aircraft flying hours, give the QEAF access to world-class RAF accredited training, and see long-term investment in RAF infrastructure and training facilities.
His Excellency Dr Khalid, Minister of State for Defence Affairs in Qatar and a former fast jet pilot trained at RAF Valley, took to the skies in a Typhoon to experience first-hand the expertise, skill and professionalism of 12 Squadron.
In June 2020, 12 Squadron commenced flying as a joint squadron for the first time. Since then several training milestones have been achieved including heavy weapons training and taking part in an exercise at sea alongside the Royal Navy.
The Squadron’s new headquarters at RAF Coningsby were built by a team of over 30 sub-contractors from both national and local supply chains. Its flexible and multi-functional design will be able to support the longer-term requirements of the RAF.
Following the achievements already set by 12 Squadron, which is the UK’s first joint squadron since World War Two, the potential new joint Hawk training squadron will further deepen the UK’s defence relationship with Qatar and in turn, contributes to the security and stability of the Middle East. (Source: Warfaretoday/RAF)
PLANT CLOSURES, JOB LOSSES AND STRIKES
22 Oct 20. Peter Hardisty Departs RBSL. In an unexplained move, Peter Hardisty, Managing Director of RBSL suddenly departed the company on Thursday. No explanation has been forthcoming so far from RBSL or parent companies BAE Systems and Rheinmetall. The move was believed to have been made after a Board Meeting on Wednesday.
19 Oct 20. The United States Marine Corps, USMC, have officially retired the Bell AH-1W “Super Cobra” from their ranks after more than 30 years of dependable service. The iconic dual-blade aircraft served as the dedicated attack helicopter for the Marines through multiple campaigns, including Operation Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom.
“The AH-1W Super Cobra has served admirably and leaves a remarkable legacy of on-time, on-target attack helicopter support for our Marines,” said Col. David Walsh, the program manager for Light/Attack Helicopter Programs (PMA-276). “Although the AH-1W chapter is closing, the AH-1Z Viper stands ready with even greater capability to support our Marines for years to come.”
Originally designated as the AH-1T+, the Super Cobra first flew on November 16, 1983 at Bell’s Flight Research Center in Arlington, Texas. Bell delivered the first AH-1Ws to the Marines on March 27, 1986 and delivered the final aircraft in 1999, for a domestic fleet of 179 attack helicopters. Through August 2020, the USMC flew the Super Cobra for 933,614 hours.
“We are tremendously proud of the capabilities the AH-1W has brought to the United States Marines for the past 34 years,” said Michael Deslatte, H-1 Bell Program Manager. “The Super Cobra’s tremendous legacy is a testament to the excellence and dedication the men and women at Bell put into these platforms for generations and we look forward to continuing that legacy for years to come.”
AH-1Ws remanufactured into AH-1Z Vipers will continue to serve in the United States Marines. The four-bladed Viper replaces the Super Cobra as the successor to the modern attack helicopter platform and provides fully-integrated air-to-air and anti-armor capabilities designed to successfully accomplish the broadest array of contemporary missions.
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
21 Oct 20. ‘Swat Team of Nerds’ Tackles Tough Tech Challenges. The Defense Digital Service is a team of 82 engineers, data scientists and computer scientists, working on some of the hardest problems in the Defense Department.
Brett Goldstein, DDS director, said they’re a “swat team of nerds.” He spoke remotely today to the Center for a New American Security in Washington, D.C.
A big advantage of DDS, he said, is that it reports directly to the secretary of defense.
That means the team is able to quickly answer the call if any tech issue arises. He also said that they could work on large projects rapidly when needed.
DDS has worked on the much-publicized “hack the Pentagon” program, which looks for vulnerabilities in the department’s information technology systems and comes up with ways to fix them, as well as to improve software and hardware.
Currently, DDS is partnering with the National Security Agency to cyber-protect Operation Warp Speed’s search for a COVID-19 vaccine, he said.
Spotlight: Operation Warp Speed
DDS has also partnered with the medical community to develop COVID-19 symptoms checkers, which DOD personnel and their families can use to figure out if they need to get medical care, he said.
Another important ongoing program is the counter-unmanned aerial systems initiative, which addresses the problem of being attacked by swarms of small, hard-to-detect unmanned aircraft systems. Goldstein said that a rapid response team is on standby to fly out to remote areas should the problem arise.
For example, when the USNS Comfort and Mercy hospital ships were aiding in the COVID-19 effort, DDS personnel were helping to ensure small UAS were not being used to attack them.
DDS is also working with the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center to advance AI and machine learning, he said.
Most DDS employees recruited are civilians coming for two- to four-year terms, from the Silicon Valley world. The selection process is very rigorous, he said, because those who are selected will be working on the hardest problems in the department.
Goldstein said the team members are given the most “wicked” projects to work on and they’re okay with that because “engineers love challenges.”
Some advice Goldstein has for information technology leaders in the department: “We need to sometimes talk a little less and execute a little more. Sometimes we’ll be dead-on and sometimes we’ll fail, learn from the failure and then be okay with the failure and just try again. Like that’s the type of environment we need to encourage. Americans are innovative. We need to foster that innovation here.” (Source: US DoD)
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
20 Oct 20. Mr Edward Oakden CMG has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Tunisian Republic in succession to Mrs Louise de Sousa who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Oakden will take up his appointment in October 2020.
Curriculum Vitae
Full name: Edward Oakden
Married to: Dr Florence Eid PhD
Year
Role
2015 to 2020
Amman, Her Majesty’s Ambassador
2013 to 2015
FCO, Director, Middle East
2012 to 2013
Strategic Trade UKTI, Managing Director
2010 to 2012
Sectors Group, UKTI Managing Director
2006 to 2010
Abu Dhabi, Her Majesty’s Ambassador
2004 to 2006
FCO, Director for Defence and Strategic Threats, and Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism
2002 to 2004
FCO, Director for International Security
2002
FCO, Head of Security Policy Department
1998 to 2002
Madrid, Deputy Head of Mission
1997 to 1998
FCO, Deputy Head, EU Department (Internal)
1995 to 1997
Private Secretary to the Prime Minister
1992 to 1995
FCO, Deputy Head, EU Department (External) & Eastern Adriatic Department
1988 to 1992
Washington, Private Secretary to Her Majesty’s Ambassador
1985 to 1988
Khartoum, Second Secretary
1984 to 1985
Baghdad, Third Secretary (later Second Secretary)
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
21 Oct 20. Mr Charles Moore has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Namibia in succession to Ms Kate Airey OBE.
Mr Charles Moore has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Namibia in succession to Ms Kate Airey OBE who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Moore will take up his appointment during January 2021.
Curriculum vitae
Full name: Charles Moore
Married to: Deborah Moore
Children: 3
Year
Role
2018 to 2020
Juba, Deputy Head of Mission
2018
FCDO, Private Secretary to the Chief Information Officer
2017 to 2018
Turks and Caicos Islands and Anguilla, Post-Hurricane Recovery Liaison
2015 to 2017
FCDO, Head of Strategy, Policy and Corporate Issues, Knowledge and Technology Directorate
2014 to 2015
Port of Spain, Acting British High Commissioner
2013 to 2014
FCDO, Head of Commonwealth Games and Sport
2012 to 2013
FCDO, Head of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Maldives Team, South Asia Directorate
2010 to 2012
London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Head of Dignitary Operations
2008 to 2010
FCDO, Parliamentary Clerk
2006 to 2008
Accra, Head of Corporate Services
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
21 Oct 20. USAF LG Michael T. Plehn for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general, with assignment as president, National Defense University, Joint Staff, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. Plehn is currently serving as military deputy commander, U.S. Southern Command, Doral, Florida.
21 Oct 20. Rear Adm. (lower half) Richard D. Heinz for appointment to the rank of rear admiral. Heinz is currently serving as director, logistics, J4, U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany.
21 Oct 20. Capt. Kevin P. Lenox for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Lenox is currently serving as branch head, Joint Intelligence Operations Center, J3, U.S. Central Command, Tampa, Florida.
21 Oct 20. Capt. Wesley R. McCall for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). McCall is currently serving as executive assistant to the assistant secretary of the Navy for energy, installations and environment, Office of the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D.C.
INDUSTRY
PERSONNEL
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
12 Oct 20. Quilty Analytics’ Two New Team Members of Satellite and Space Professionals. With an increased demand in the global space industry for research, and investment banking and the advisory services, Quilty Analytics realized their need to add experts in the satellite and space markets. They have enlisted the talents of such experts with Caleb Henry and Gerry Nagler.
Caleb Henry
Caleb Henry began his career as a reporter for satellite and space publications and, in just a few years, established a reputation as an outstanding journalist and industry thought leader. His ability to evaluate major news events and summarize implications across the industry — technical, commercial, regulatory and otherwise — made his articles in SpaceNews a “must read” for all those with an interest in space markets. Caleb will assist in expanding Quilty Analytics’ coverage of the space industry and will work directly with the firm’s partners on serving clients.
Gerry Nagler
Gerry Nagler is a Senior Advisor to Quilty Analytics supporting the firm’s research, strategy, and consulting services. With 30+ years in satellite communications, Gerry brings to Quilty the unique qualification of having held senior management positions at both mobile and fixed satellite service (MSS and FSS) operators. Gerry was Director, Marketing at Telesat from 2002 to 2020 where he had a lead role in the company’s strategic planning, forecasting and competitive evaluations.Gerry began his satcom career in the 1980s at COMSAT Corp. where he was promoted to Vice President. He then worked for Lockheed Martin in the same role following the COMSAT-Lockheed merger.
“Caleb Henry and Gerry Nagler have proven records evaluating major events across the space industry and explaining their implications in ways that will help Quilty clients make better investment and business decisions,” said Chris Quilty, Partner, Quilty Analytics. “The space industry is attracting a surge of interest from numerous corporate, government, and financial sponsor actors around the world who recognize that space-based technologies are increasingly important in maintaining and improving life on our planet. We are very pleased to serve our growing roster of clients who rely on our expertise, and we are excited to add Caleb and Gerry, further deepening our firm’s commitment to providing outstanding advice to the sector.” (Source: Satnews)
REST OF THE WORLD APPOINTMENTS
21 Oct 20. Angelo Quabba is appointed new CFO of RUAG International. The 55-year-old was most recently CFO at plastics manufacturer Gurit and will take up his new position on 23 November 2020 at the same time as the new CEO André Wall. Until then, Urs Kiener, current CFO and CEO a.i., will continue to manage the direction of the company. Angelo Quabba has extensive management experience in financial positions, including proven expertise and many years of industry experience in international business environments. Angelo Quabba was most recently with Gurit Holding AG and previously with Bruker BioSpin. The 55-yearold was CFO of SR Technics Group for many years and prior to that held various finance and controlling positions at Honeywell and Zellweger Analytics. In addition to his core competencies in Finance & Controlling, Angelo Quabba has gained significant experience in dealing with complex turnaround and transformation situations. Angelo Quabba is an Italian-Swiss dual citizen. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Zurich University of Applied Sciences HWZ and completed the Advanced Management Program from Harvard University. (Source: Al Defaiya)
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