MANAGEMENT ON THE MOVE

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Job Of The Week!

Systems Engineer Cyber & Information

Salary: Location: Malvern

Job Description:

Systems Engineer C&I Malvern, WR14 3PS Please note that we have positions available at various levels dependant on experience QinetiQ’s Systems Engineers are renowned for providing high quality, independent technical advice to a wide range of customers, in support of their major acquisition programmes, and for developing our own range of world-leading products. We are looking for people to join our growing team of Systems Engineers who are interested in applying and developing their technical expertise, across a number of domains, both military and commercial. QinetiQ’s Cyber & Information (C&I) business helps our customers to respond to ever evolving threats, based on our expertise in secured navigation, training, secure communication platforms, intelligence, surveillance and cyber security. We deliver Mission Led Innovation into global defence, security, and critical national infrastructure markets and we are excited to be recruiting new talent into the team, please read on for further details. Opportunities to work in the following areas: Communications & Information Systems (predominantly military environment) Cyber and Security Electronic Warfare Research & Innovation Secured Navigation Global Navigation Satellite Systems – GNSS and electronic engineering Consultancy and Business Analysis Product Development (full lifecycle) Service Delivery Engagement with customers and developing new propositions Key Accountabilities (Project and Individual Dependant): Working either as part of a team or individually on projects and tasks to deliver Systems and Requirements Engineering projects, supporting internal product development and external customers; Engaging with external stakeholder communities, gathering material and understanding their requirements; Supporting and undertaking the technical design as guided by more senior Systems Engineers; Collaborate with multidiscipline project teams; Secure Information management. Key Knowledge, Skills & Requirements (Project and Individual Dependant): Understanding and applying the Systems Engineering approach across the lifecycle (‘strength in breadth’)Developing Architectures, product design and development & through-life design & management; Able to technically lead groups of scientists and engineers in a collaborative and collegiate way, enabling a high-performing culture; Business analysis and consultancy, including requirements gathering; Planning for trials, test and/or acceptance; Developing outputs for customers (reports, products, services) Experience with Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) Architectural Framework (e.g. MODAF, TOGAF) Flexibility to travel as required to support project activities; British National, able and willing to attain UK SC level clearance. Why QinetiQ? As a company of over 6,000 dedicated professionals we continue to grow into new markets around the world, there’s never been a more exciting time to join QinetiQ. The formula for success with QinetiQ is the appetite for innovation and courage to take on a wide variety of complex challenges. Joining QinetiQ offers an opportunity to work on highly technical cutting-edge projects, enabling customers to protect, improve and advance their vital interests. We offer an opportunity to work across a broad range of interesting defence-based projects with vast career progression across a global organisation in addition to competitive personal and professional benefits. Apply Today: If you feel you meet the criteria for this position and would like to be considered, please apply with your CV and a brief cover letter demonstrating your suitability for the position and we will be in contact. This job was originally posted as www.totaljobs.com/job/91879187

LOCATIONS

LAND

26 Feb 21. New $17m facility launched to store Defence data. A new data centre has been launched in Canberra, designed to store highly-classified government information.

Macquarie Telecom Group has announced the opening of a new $17m data centre in Canberra, which is expected to house “highly-classified” Commonwealth government data, including sensitive material stored by the Department of Defence.

The facility, which forms part of the company’s data centre portfolio — Intellicentre 5 (IC5) — is the latest of a $100m investment in the construction of secure, sovereign Australian data centres in Sydney and Canberra.

The new centre is expected to offer further capacity for government cloud workloads and an additional secure facility to back up data.

“Data and cloud demand has skyrocketed as the pandemic continues to bring forward years’ worth of IT and digital transformation projects,” David Hirst, group executive, Macquarie Data Centres, said.

“Ensuring that data remains secure, sovereign and within Australia’s borders is vital to protecting our national security and privacy interests – this facility embodies that need in every way.”

The facility was built by Australian construction company Manteena, which has previously helped design and construct secure infrastructure for the Department of Defence and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Manteena formed part of Macquarie’s local supply chain, which included Queanbeyan company SRA Solutions, which provided data centre racks for IC5.

“Government agencies cannot risk having all their data eggs in one basket,” Aidan Tudehope, managing director, Macquarie Government and Hosting Group, said.

“Canberra needs greater diversity in its balance of data storage, protection and management, and the Australian government wants greater competition in the local market that supports government agencies.

“IC5 is not just welcome, but necessary infrastructure for government agencies that are increasing their cloud and IT needs.”

The launch of the facility comes just a week after it was reported that the Department of Defence extended a data storage contract with Chinese-owned firm Global Switch.

The deal, renewed in September, permits the company to continue storing data at its Ultimo facility in Sydney, despite the government’s previous commitment to relocate the information to a secure government-owned complex by 2020.

Secretary of Defence Greg Moriarty dismissed suggestions that the deal compromises sensitive national security information, insisting that Defence’s data is “safe and secure”.

Moriarty stressed that control and access of the Defence data stored at the Ultimo facility “remains under full operational control” of the federal government, adding that all sensitive data was removed from the storage centre in May 2020.

He added that Defence is taking a “rigorous, risk-based approach” to migrating the remaining “less sensitive” data to an alternate facility. (Source: Defence Connect)

 

22 Feb 21. Paramount Group Ltd. ADGM, the UAE-based parent company of the global aerospace and technology group of companies, Paramount Group announced the establishment of new offices in Tel Aviv, Israel. The office opening comes in support of the recent signing of the historic Abraham Accords. In a move designed to strategically expand the company’s international footprint, Paramount Group customers and partners located in the Middle East and the wider European Markets, will benefit from a direct and on-site point of contact through Paramount’s new Israeli branch office, based in Tel Aviv’s Central Business District.

The announcement which was made during the International Defence Expo (IDEX 2021) held in Abu Dhabi, came against the backdrop of the 2020 Washington D.C.- signing of the Abraham Accords and the subsequent normalising of relations between the Republic of Israel, the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Paramount Group has established itself as an important player in the region, having worked in the Middle East for over 20 years. The company opened its first office in the region in Abu Dhabi and is involved in multiple projects in the UAE and neighbouring countries. Its latest Mbombe 4 combat vehicle has been acquired by the UAE during 2019. In the same year, Paramount signed a high-level defence collaboration agreement with Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI). Long-term relations with other countries in the region include Jordan, Oman and Bahrain.

Clifford Dewell, Senior Vice President of Paramount Group, stated that, “We are very pleased to strengthen our presence across the Middle East. This comes at a historic moment as the geopolitical landscape is shifting. The region has begun to speak with one voice. Countries share similar challenges to security and have a common interest in stability. We see similarly, unique opportunities to address those challenges while bolstering those nations’ indigenous aerospace and defence industries alongside our partners, serving as a proponent of their economic growth.”

According to the UAE-Israel Business Council the new era of trade between UAE and Israel is forecasted to reach $4bn in three years. With the removal of trading restrictions manifested by the Abraham Accords, business connections will be formed, joint ventures will be created and economic cooperation will be fostered.  A $3bn fund, the Abraham fund, was established jointly by UAE, US and Israel in order to stimulate private sector-led investments across the two nations by enabling infrastructure projects, bolstering regional trade and increasing energy security.

 

22 Feb 21. Defence engineering firm RHH Franks has unveiled its newly expanded factory in Hampshire, UK, which will increase its manufacturing capacity by over 25%. Following a successful application to the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the advanced engineering business was awarded more than £97,000 towards its investment to acquire and equip an additional 6,600sq ft of unit space at its premises on Gore Road Industrial Estate, New Milton.  It takes the total manufacturing site to more than 30,000sq ft in size.

The expansion project, which was completed in January 2021 – RHH Franks’ 60th year of trading – is part of the business’s growth strategy to substantially increase turnover in the next five years.

The extension includes a dedicated and improved Nadcap-accredited heat treatment facility, increased machining and fabrication workshops and storage provision, allowing for all other departments to expand within the existing premises.

New technology worth more than £150,000 has been purchased, including a third heat treatment oven and four-axis CNC machine which will increase manufacturing capabilities at RHH Franks from 130,000 components per year currently to more than 160,000.

Managing Director Elsa Hogan said: “As part of our intense growth strategy which we have launched to mark our 60th year, we are thrilled to unveil our newly expanded premises.

“They will significantly increase our manufacturing output to meet the growing demands of our clients and their supply chains.

“Over the past 10 months our team and contractors have worked extremely hard to create a modern and fully-equipped facility, despite the operational challenges, that provides our skilled engineers with a positive and productive working environment, improving capacity and lead times.

“When circumstances allow, we are looking forward to welcoming clients to our new facility.”

Founded in 1961, RHH Franks has grown from a modest sheet metal workshop to a sizeable end-to-end subcontract manufacturer providing a complete range of services from CNC milling and turning to fabrication and Nadcap-accredited welding, chemical processing, heat treatment and dip and torch brazing.  Clients include Leonardo Helicopters, Eaton Aerospace, Cobham Mission Systems, SEA Ltd and QinetiQ.  Honeywell Aerospace is one of the firm’s longest standing clients, having worked with RHH Franks since 1967.

Based in New Milton, Hampshire, RHH Franks employs over 40 skilled engineers from the Hampshire and Dorset area and is committed to inspiring the next generation of young engineers through its apprenticeship and work experience offering.

Brian Johnson, Chair of the Solent LEP, said: “I am delighted to congratulate New Forest-based business RHH Franks for completing their 60th year of trading; and also to look back to see how the LEP’s Local Growth Fund has been put to such good use within the manufacturing sector in the region.

“The Solent has a strong manufacturing base relative to the rest of the country that accounts for 11% of Gross Value Added.

“RHH Franks is one of many innovative and high performing manufacturing businesses based in the Solent who are providing much needed innovation and jobs that will support our economic renewal.”

As well as defence, RHH Franks also serves the aerospace, nuclear and marine industries

Visit https://www.rhhfranks.co.uk/ for more details.

MARITIME

23 Feb 21. HMS Spey to begin next testing phase in Solent under White Ensign. The UK Royal Navy’s fifth and final next-generation River-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) HMS Spey has entered the next phase of tests, trials and training. The UK Royal Navy’s fifth and final next-generation River-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) HMS Spey has entered the next phase of tests, trials and training.

The OPV sailed into the Solent under the White Ensign for the first time.

This follows the successful completion of Her Ready for Sea Date inspection recently. Last month, the UK Navy commissioned HMS Spey.

The vessels were built under a contract with BAE Systems and are worth a total of £635m.

HMS Forth, Medway, Tamar and Trent are the four other vessels built under the contract.

Spey commanding officer lieutenant commander Ben Evans said: “The ship’s company and I have been enjoying a succession of firsts with HMS Spey, and there will be more to come as we build towards the excitement of our first operational deployment.”

The 2,000t, 90m-long patrol vessel, HMS Spey, was named by sponsor Lady Alison Johnstone during a naming ceremony at Scotstoun in 2019.

Construction of the vessel began in April 2017 at BAE Systems’ Govan shipyard. Last September, HMS Spey began contractor sea trials.

The vessel is fitted with a 30mm cannon and features a flight deck for accommodating the navy’s Merlin and Wildcat helicopters.

Equipped with a mess deck for 50 embarked troops, HMS Spey is designed for work in the UK waters. HMS Spey will support counter-terrorism and anti-smuggling work. It will also be deployed in support of defence operations. The vessel will become formally operational later this year after completing Operational Sea Training. (Source: naval-technology.com)

24 Feb 21. South Korea to begin work on light aircraft carrier in 2022. South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) announced on 23 February that work on the Republic of Korea Navy’s (RoKN’s) future next-generation light aircraft carrier is slated to officially start in 2022 and be completed by 2033.

Citing a decision made the previous day by the country’s Defense Project Promotion Committee, DAPA said that about KRW2.3trn (USD2.07bn) has been tentatively earmarked for the project, which was previously known as LPX-II but has now renamed CVX.

The RoKN unveiled in January a revised conceptual design for its future light aircraft carrier featuring a twin-island arrangement. Work on the carrier project is now set to officially begin in 2022 and be completed by 2033, according to DAPA. (RoKN)

The agency pointed out that the total project cost “will be reviewed/confirmed through a feasibility study” set to be conducted by the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

DAPA said the CVX project is aimed securing the country’s the first light aircraft carrier to “suppress provocations in disputed waters” and to quickly respond to “various security threats” through the use of short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft.

The latest developments come after the RoKN unveiled a revised conceptual design of the carrier on 3 January. The latest design, which confirms that the vessel will not have a ski-jump, features a twin-island arrangement.

The computer-generated imagery (CGI) also appeared to confirm that the service plans to operate Lockheed Martin F-35B Joint Strike Fighters from the vessel. Naval helicopters, somewhat similar in appearance to the Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin MH-60R Seahawk, can also be seen on the carrier.

The RoKN pointed out, however, that the latest conceptual design can be further revised during the basic and detailed designed stages.

(Source: Jane’s)

19 Feb 21. Launch of the third generation of French nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN): Naval Group remains the key industry partner of French nuclear deterrence. Florence Parly, French Minister of the Armed forces, announced, at the Centre of expertise for Hydrodynamic techniques of the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA), the launch of the program for the third generation of SSBN (SNLE 3G) for the French Navy. This submarine program is a major challenge for Naval Group, a leading industry partner in the service of the French sovereignty. The first of class is scheduled to enter operational service by 2035. Three other submarines will then be delivered, every five years.

Pierre-Eric Pommellet, Naval Group CEO, declared on this occasion: “Naval Group is very proud to put its skills, talents and industrial resources at the service of France’s nuclear deterrence. The whole company will be mobilized with its partners to carry out this exceptional project. We are aware of our responsibility and we will do our utmost, as previous generations have done, to provide France with the tool of its sovereignty.”

SSBN remain one of the most complex industrial products ever made. Their design and construction require rare know-how, unique industrial means and the ability to federate the contributions of two hundred partner companies that make up the French defence industrial base, present across the country.

Naval Group benefits from a unique position as a systems architect and integrator which enables it, in collaboration with TechnicAtome, the prime contractor for the nuclear boiler room, to commit to the overall performance of these armed vessels, to assume overall responsibility for their construction and to guarantee control of quality, deadlines and costs.  The program aims to provide a new generation of four nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines that will serve the French Navy’s operational needs between the 2030s and the 2090s.

AIR

19 Feb 21. US Air Force U-28A reaches 600,000 flight hours. The US Air Force (USAF) has reached 600,000 flight hours in its Pilatus PC-12 (U-28A in USAF service) turboprop utility aircraft. USAF spokesperson Captain Savannah Stephens said on 18 February that 328,000 of those flight hours supported flight operations outside the contiguous US (OCONUS). The initial block of U-28As were procured and modified for use in Operation Enduring Freedom, which lasted from 2001 to 2014, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, which lasted from 2003 to 2011. The U-28A is a modified single-engine aircraft and is part of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) manned airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) fleet. The aircraft provides manned fixed-wing tactical airborne ISR support to humanitarian operations, search and rescue, and conventional and special operations missions.

The U-28A enterprise receives its maintenance support from Sierra Nevada Corp (SNC), which provides contractor logistics support (CLS). CLS for the U-28A provides nose-to-tail maintenance that includes depot-level maintenance to maintain airworthiness, scheduled phased maintenance, and aircraft modifications.

Capt Stephens said AFSOC, in co-ordination with US Special Operations Command (SOCOM), the U-28A programme office, and SNC, will continue to seek capability upgrades to the U-28A to meet Pentagon, National Defense Strategy (NDS), SOCOM, and AFSOC priorities. A request for comment was made to SNC prior to publication.

AFSOC fielded the U-28A through the purchase of commercially-available aircraft and subsequent military modification. These modifications include tactical communications capabilities, aircraft survivability equipment, electro-optical (EO) sensors, and advanced navigation systems. (Source: Jane’s)

PLANT CLOSURES, JOB LOSSES AND STRIKES

22 Feb 21. LCS shipbuilder president resigns amid US and Australian financial investigations. The head of Alabama shipbuilder Austal USA has resigned amid investigations from U.S. and Australian authorities into a $115m loss the company posted in 2016 that was tied to the builder’s Independence-class littoral combat ship program. The company announced in a press release Monday that Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle has resigned and been replaced in the interim by Rusty Murdaugh, the company’s chief financial officer. Austal USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Australian shipbuilder Austal.

In 2016, the company posted a loss $120.9m, down from a reported profit of $85.3m the year before. At the time, the company attributed the loss to underestimating the costs associated with the littoral combat ship.

In its Feb. 22 release, the company said it was under investigation by the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. As part of its own investigation, Austal said it hired attorneys to look into the loss posted in 2016, claiming that it underestimated how much it would cost to meet the U.S. Navy’s rigorous shock standards, among other requirements.

Austal said its internal investigation found that because the company did not have a strong understanding of how much the ship would cost to construct, it overstated the value of the work (known as “work in progress” for accounting purposes) on the LCS-6, the USS Jackson, according to the press release.

Furthermore, U.S. officials are investigating valves installed on several ships that did not meet military specifications. But the company said in the release that the Navy decided to amend the contract to allow the valves to remain, rather than force the company to replace them all.

Austal USA said it was continuing to cooperate with investigators and said it did not know if any further action would be taken against the company.

“Austal and Austal USA are engaging with the relevant US regulatory authorities regarding these investigations,” the statement read. “It is not possible at this stage to predict what action (if any) they may take in relation to these matters.

“However, the Company is confident that the proactive steps it has already implemented to strengthen its internal reporting and compliance practices will be taken into account in determining whether there are any potential consequences arising from matters identified by the investigation, as well as ensuring such circumstances do not happen again.”

In 2016, Defense News reported that the write-off was due to “a significantly higher level of modifications to the ship design and cost than previously estimated.”

The changes, Austal said in a statement to investors, are driven by a “contractual requirement to meet the military shock standard and U.S. Naval Vessel Rules,” a set of building standards imposed by the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command.

The cost of building and modifying the ships to meet the shock rating standard and U.S. Naval Vessel Rules is “materially more than what was previously estimated,” the company said.

(Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)

 

19 Feb 21. US Army retires ‘Creek’ training helo. The US Army has retired its Bell TH-67 Creek training helicopter after 28 years of service.

The final flight for the TH-67 fleet that entered service in 1993 took place at Cairns Army Airfield, Fort Rucker, Alabama, on 17 February.

“If you’re a [US] Army Aviator who began your aviation career between 1993 and 2020, the odds are pretty good that the TH-67 Creek helicopter was the foundational tool on which you built your aviation tradecraft,” Brigadier General Stanley Budraitis, US Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker deputy commanding general, said. “The TH-67 has spent three decades preparing our aviators to eventually transition to the UH-1 Huey, the AH-1 Cobra, the OH-58 Kiowa and Kiowa Warrior, the UH-60 Black Hawk, the AH-64 Apache, the CH-47 Chinook, and even the C-12 [Huron fixed-wing aircraft].”

Based on the Bell 206 JetRanger, the TH-67 was a single-engine analogue-equipped helicopter that amassed over 1,915,000 hours and trained more than 25,000 students in the US Army’s initial entry rotor-wing programme, with the fleet comprising 181 aircraft at its peak.

The TH-67 has now been superseded in the US Army by the twin-engined and digitally equipped Airbus Helicopters UH-72A Lakota, the first of which was delivered in 2007 and which began training pilots at Fort Rucker in 2016. Airbus delivered the last of 463 UH-72As to the US Army in September 2020, and will shortly begin handing over 17 UH-72Bs in the coming weeks. As well as being used for pilot training, the UH-72A is also employed as a ‘behind the lines’ support helicopter for the US Army and National Guard. (Source: Jane’s)

MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT

PERSONNEL

25 Feb 21. MoD faces exodus of young soldiers because of shabby accommodation without hot water.  The MoD is facing an exodus of young soldiers because of shabby accommodation without hot water for showers, MPs have heard. Concerns about the Armed Forces’ single living accommodation were raised by Mark Francois MP, the former Armed Forces minister, and Sir Geoffrey Clifton Brown, MP for the Cotswolds, who questioned the quality of housing and highlighted the lack of available hot water. Mr Francois told the Public Accounts Committee that soldiers were regularly returning from exercises without the ability to have hot showers afterwards due to “inadequate” living quarters. As a result, Mr Francois said this was “directly undermining our operational capability”.

He said: “So many young soldiers and junior ranks, are the main retention problem, leave the armed forces because of the poor quality of their accommodation. It’s a decision in the round but that’s often an important decision for a number of them.

“That means we reduce the operational capabilities of those units.”

Mr Francois added that if the MoD is going to “slash the army by 10,000″, as recently revealed by The Telegraph, that was partly because of “the failure to retain people, partly because the accomodation they live in is so poor and we don’t honour them properly”.

“We call them heroes, and they are, but we don’t treat them as such.

He added: “This has real operational consequences for the defence of the realm.”

Sir Stephen Lovegrove, the MoD’s outgoing permanent secretary, insisted it was an issue the MoD took seriously.

Sir Stephen told the committee: “We are not at all happy with the quality of our single living accommodation.”

Meanwhile, Sir Stephen, who leaves his post next month to become Boris Johnson’s National Security Adviser,  also said that “sometimes Defence has a tendency to be a bit fortress of defence and I don’t think that’s helpful to it or the country”.

He said: “The more that we can get out there, the more that we can make a contribution, the better it would be.”

Sir Stephen added that Defence also “needs to continue with deep integration of defence into Whitehall and British life”.

When asked about potential cuts to the army, he said: “Our focus is to provide the best, safest and most lethal equipment to our soldiers in our armoured divison in order to do the job that they know they have to do and we need them to do, that is the guiding principle behind any decisions we will be making on armour, heavy, medium or light.”   (Source: Daily Telegraph)

23 Feb 21. Engineers With Both Government, Private Sector Experience Make ‘Most Impact’ During Engineers Week, the Defense Department is highlighting its efforts to develop a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce and to increase understanding of and interest in engineering and technology. Engineers who have experience in both the public and private sector bring a lot of value to their employers, said the principal director for fully networked command, control and communications within the office of the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering.

“Both the DOD and commercial sector are great places to work with interesting projects that are building a bridge to the future,” said Michael Zatman. “In my experience, people who have experienced both make the most impact in both. Spending time working in the DOD will reward you with stimulating challenges while serving our nation, and also seeding capabilities that will transition back to the commercial sector and lead to a better world for all.”

Engineers are the focus of the Defense Department during this year’s National Engineers Week, which runs February 21-27. The importance of engineers and engineering was first recognized in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers. It’s something the DOD has been observing as well for years now.

Zatman leads the department’s efforts to attain fully networked command, control and communications, or FNC3.

“Command and control is an application, and we think of that as something that allows machines to exchange information, make decisions and then transport those decisions to each other in order to accomplish a goal,” Zatman said. “The networking communications is the infrastructure that allows these different machines and these different applications to talk to each other.”

The United States and its allies need FNC3 to be able to more reliably move increasing amounts of data and information across a growing collection of diverse platforms, Zatman said. Additionally, each of those platforms may be supporting multiple missions in a variety of environments, including those that are contested or benign, as well as environments that may also be congested.

While the department has many engineers now, it’s looking for and needs many more, especially engineers interested in the areas that will support the furthering of the DOD’s FNC3 efforts.

“Being able to develop, and then field these technologies requires engineering expertise that the DOD needs to have internally since many of the environments that the DOD works in are unique to the Department of Defense, and different from those that are encountered in the commercial sector,” Zatman said. “The DOD needs to have engineers who are actually familiar with the environments and the kinds of systems that the Department of Defense is working with, in order to often apply commercial ideas and commercial concepts in order to improve our own capabilities.”

Young Americans who want to support the defense of the nation are encouraged to do so by pursuing an education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, Zatman said.

“Students interested in pursuing a career in this area typically have degrees in electrical engineering or computer science,” he said. “However, most important is to have a strong analytical background. I have skilled colleagues with degrees in physics and other sciences, mathematics and even economics. The best engineers I know also have a breadth of experience gained from working in a variety of different areas.” (Source: US DoD)

 

24 Feb 21. Reynolds to take medical leave, interim replacement announced. The Australian government has announced that Defence Minister Linda Reynolds will take a period of leave following medical advice, and has appointed an interim replacement to assume her responsibilities in her absence.

In a statement released on Wednesday morning, the federal government announced that the Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds would take a period of medical leave in response to advice from her cardiologist relating to a pre-existing medical condition.

Minister Reynolds has also been admitted to a Canberra Hospital as a precautionary measure.

In her absence, Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne will assume responsibilities for the Defence portfolio. (Source: Defence Connect)

U.S. APPOINTMENTS

22 Feb 21. New Officials Sworn-in at the Department of Defense. The following individuals have been sworn-in virtually or in-person from Feb. 17, 2021, through today, Feb. 22, 2021.

• Elizabeth Stockton, Advance Officer, Office of the Secretary of Defense
• Farooq Mitha, Director, Small Business Programs, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy
• Daniel Parnes, Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment
• Jamal Brown, Deputy Press Secretary, Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs
• Won Palisoul, Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
• Spencer Boyer, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Europe and NATO Policy
• Milancy Harris, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Combatting Terrorism

(Source: US DoD)

25 Feb 21. Rear Adm. Jeffrey T. Jablon will be assigned as commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.  Jablon is currently serving as director, Military Personnel Plans and Policy Division, N13, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Arlington, Virginia.

25 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) James A. Kirk, selected for promotion to rear admiral, will be assigned as commander, Carrier Strike Group Fifteen, San Diego, California.  Kirk is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group Eleven, Everett, Washington.

25 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Andrew J. Loiselle, selected for promotion to rear admiral, will be assigned as director, Air Warfare Division, N98, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.  Loiselle is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group Four, Norfolk, Virginia.

25 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Brendan R. McLane, selected for promotion to rear admiral, will be assigned as commander, Naval Surface Force, Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia.  McLane is currently serving as special assistant to the commander, U.S. Fleet Forces, Norfolk, Virginia.

25 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) John A. Okon, selected for promotion to rear admiral, will be assigned as director, Warfare Integration Directorate, N2/N6F, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.  Okon is currently serving as commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, Stennis Space Center, Mississippi.

25 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) James P. Waters III, selected for promotion to rear admiral, will be assigned as director, Military Personnel Plans and Policy Division, N13, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Arlington, Virginia.  Waters is currently serving as commander, Submarine Group Two, Norfolk, Virginia.

25 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Jeffrey T. Anderson will be assigned as commander, Carrier Strike Group Three, Bremerton, Washington.  Anderson is currently serving as deputy director for political-military affairs (Asia), J5, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.

25 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Michael W. Baze will be assigned as commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Three, San Diego, California.  Baze is currently serving as director of Maritime Headquarters, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Africa/Sixth Fleet, Naples, Italy.

25 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Richard T. Brophy Jr., will be assigned as commander, Carrier Strike Group Four, Norfolk, Virginia.  Brophy is currently serving as commander, Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center, Fallon, Nevada.

25 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Robert B. Chadwick II will be assigned as commander, Carrier Strike Group Nine, San Diego, California.  Chadwick is currently serving as commander, Navy Region Hawaii; and commander, Naval Surface Group, MIDPAC, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

25 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Jeffrey J. Czerewko will be assigned as director, fleet integrated readiness and analysis, N02R, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk, Virginia.  Czerewko is currently serving as deputy director, global operations, J39, J3, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.

25 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Brian L. Davies will be assigned as commander, Submarine Group Two, Norfolk, Virginia.  Davies is currently serving as special assistant to the commander, Navy Personnel Command, Millington, Tennessee.

25 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Michael P. Donnelly will be assigned as commander, Task Force Seven Zero; and commander, Carrier Strike Group Five, Yokosuka, Japan.  Donnelly is currently serving as commander, Navy Region Korea; commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea; and commander, Naval Component, U.S. Forces Korea, United Nations Command, Korea.

25 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Christopher M. Engdahl will be assigned as commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Seven; and commander, Amphibious Force, Seventh Fleet, Okinawa, Japan.  Engdahl is currently serving as president, Board of Inspection and Survey, Virginia Beach, Virginia.

25 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Kenneth W. Epps will be assigned as commander, Naval Supply Systems Command Weapons Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Epps is currently serving as deputy chief of staff for Fleet Ordnance and Supply/Fleet Supply Officer, N41, U.S. Fleet Forces Command Fleet, Norfolk, Virginia.

25 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Robert M. Gaucher will be assigned commander, Submarine Group Nine, Silverdale, Washington.  Gaucher is currently serving as director, Maritime Headquarters (N03), U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

25 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Gregory C. Huffman will be assigned as commander, Carrier Strike Group Twelve, Norfolk, Virginia.  Huffman is currently serving as director, operations and plans, N31, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.

25 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Kevin P. Lenox is currently assigned as deputy director for operations, J3, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.  Lenox previously served as branch head, Joint Intelligence Operations Center, J3, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

25 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Daniel P. Martin will be assigned as commander, Carrier Strike Group One, San Diego, California.  Martin is currently serving as senior military advisor to the assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, Washington, D.C.

25 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Wesley R. McCall will be assigned as commander, Navy Region Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida.  McCall is currently serving as executive assistant to the assistant secretary of the Navy (energy, installations and environment), Washington, D.C.

25 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) John V. Menoni will be assigned as commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Two, Virginia Beach, Virginia.  Menoni is currently serving as U.S. Indo-Pacific Command representative, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau; commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas; and commander, Joint Region Marianas, Guam.

25 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Curt A. Renshaw will be assigned as commander, Carrier Strike Group Eight, Norfolk, Virginia.  Renshaw is currently serving as deputy commander, U.S. Naval Forces, U.S. Central Command; and deputy commander, Fifth Fleet, Manama, Bahrain.

25 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Philip E. Sobeck will be assigned as commander, Logistics Group, Western Pacific; and commander, Task Force Seven Three, Singapore.  Sobeck is currently serving as commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Three, San Diego, California.

25 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Paul C. Spedero Jr. will be assigned as commander, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, U.S. Transportation Command, Norfolk, Virginia.  Spedero is currently serving as director, fleet integrated readiness and analysis, N02R, U.S. Fleet Forces, Norfolk, Virginia.

25 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Christopher J. Sweeney will be assigned as commander, Carrier Strike Group Eleven, Everett, Washington.  Sweeney is currently serving as deputy director for plans and policy, ECJ-5, U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany.

24 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) James A. Aiken for appointment to the rank of rear admiral.  Aiken is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group Three, Bremerton, Washington.

24 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Michael E. Boyle for appointment to the rank of rear admiral.  Boyle is currently serving as director, maritime operations, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

24 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Keith B. Davids for appointment to the rank of rear admiral.  Davids is currently serving as commander, Special Operations Command South, U.S. Southern Command, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida.

24 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Leonard C. Dollaga for appointment to the rank of rear admiral.  Dollaga is currently serving as commander, Submarine Group Seven; commander, Task Force Seven Four; and commander, Task Force Five Four, Yokosuka, Japan.

24 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Christopher S. Gray for appointment to the rank of rear admiral.  Gray is currently serving as commander, Region Europe, Africa, Central; and commander, Maritime Air Forces, Naples, Italy.

24 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) John E. Gumbleton for appointment to the rank of rear admiral.  Gumbleton is currently serving as deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for budget; and director, Fiscal Management Division, N82, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.

24 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Sara A. Joyner for appointment to the rank of rear admiral.  Joyner is currently serving as chief of legislative affairs, Washington, D.C.

24 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) James A. Kirk for appointment to the rank of rear admiral.  Kirk is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group Eleven, Everett, Washington.

24 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Andrew J. Loiselle for appointment to the rank of rear admiral.  Loiselle is currently serving as commander, Carrier Strike Group Four, Norfolk, Virginia.

24 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Brendan R. McLane for appointment to the rank of rear admiral.  McLane is currently serving as special assistant to commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Virginia.

24 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) Peter G. Vasely for appointment to the rank of rear admiral.  Vasely is currently serving as director for operations, Defense Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C.

24 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) James P. Waters III for appointment to the rank of rear admiral.  Waters is currently serving as commander, Submarine Group Two, Norfolk, Virginia.

24 Feb 21. Rear Adm. (lower half) George M. Wikoff for appointment to the rank of rear admiral.  Wikoff is currently serving as special assistant to the deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans and strategy, N3/N5, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.

24 Feb 21. Capt. Christopher D. Alexander for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half).  Alexander is currently serving as commanding officer, Surface Warfare Officer School Command, Newport, Rhode Island.

24 Feb 21. Capt. Sean R. Bailey for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half).  Bailey is currently serving as chief of staff, Naval Air Force Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia.

24 Feb 21. Capt. Thomas R. Buchanan for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half).  Buchanan is currently serving as commandant of midshipman, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland.

24 Feb 21. Capt. Christopher J. Cavanaugh for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half).  Cavanaugh is currently serving as director, submarine/nuclear officer distribution (PERS 42), Personnel Command, Millington, Tennessee.

24 Feb 21. Capt. Brad J. Collins for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half).  Collins is currently serving as chief of staff, Installation Command, Washington, D.C.

24 Feb 21. Capt. Jennifer S. Couture for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half).  Couture is currently serving as assistant chief of staff, Naval Surface Force, Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia.

24 Feb 21. Capt. William R. Daly for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half).  Daly is currently serving as chief of staff, Naval Surface Forces/Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, San Diego, California.

24 Feb 21. Capt. Erik J. Eslich for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half).  Eslich is currently serving as executive assistant, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Virginia.

24 Feb 21. Capt. Ronald A. Foy for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half).  Foy is currently serving as deputy commander, Naval Special Warfare Group, Dam Neck, Virginia.

24 Feb 21. Capt. Patrick J. Hannifin for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half).  Hannifin is currently serving as director, aircraft carrier requirements, N98, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.

24 Feb 21. Capt. Christopher A. Kijek for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half).  Kijek is currently serving as executive assistant, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii.

24 Feb 21. Capt. Oliver T. Lewis for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half).  Lewis is currently serving as executive assistant to the chief of naval operations, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.

24 Feb 21. Capt. Stephen G. Mack for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half).  Mack is currently serving as chief of staff, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; and chief of staff, U.S. Strategic Command Special Activities Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia.

24 Feb 21. Capt. Benjamin R. Nicholson for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half).  Nicholson is currently serving as executive assistant to the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C.

24 Feb 21. Capt. Randall W. Peck for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half).  Peck most recently served as commanding officer, USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), Norfolk, Virginia.

24 Feb 21. Capt. Benjamin G. Reynolds for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half).  Reynolds is currently serving as director, Operations Division, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the for Financial Management and Comptroller; and director, Operations Division, Fiscal Management Division, N821, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.

24 Feb 21. Capt. Mark A. Schafer for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half).  Schafer is currently serving as deputy, staff operations and plans, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

24 Feb 21. BG John J. Allen has been appointed to the grade of major general.  Allen is currently serving as the commander, Air Force Civil Engineer Center, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

24 Feb 21. BG Jason R. Armagost has been appointed to the grade of major general.  Armagost is currently serving as the director of operations and communications, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.

24 Feb 21. BG Sharon R. Bannister has been appointed to the grade of major general.  Bannister is currently serving as the command surgeon, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.

24 Feb 21. BG Matthew W. Davidson has been appointed to the grade of major general.  Davidson is currently serving as the deputy commander, Special Operations Joint Task Force – Afghanistan, U.S. Central Command, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.

24 Feb 21. BG Evan C. Dertien has been appointed to the grade of major general.  Dertien is currently serving as the director, air, space and cyberspace operations, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

24 Feb 21. BG Michael L. Downs has been appointed to the grade of major general.  Downs is currently serving as the vice director for intelligence, J-2, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

24 Feb 21. BG Troy E. Dunn has been appointed to the grade of major general.  Dunn is currently serving as the director, military force management policy, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

24 Feb 21. BG Peter M. Fesler has been appointed to the grade of major general.  Fesler is currently serving as the deputy director of operations, Headquarters North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

24 Feb 21. BG Paul A. Friedrichs has been appointed to the grade of major general.  Friedrichs is currently serving as the Joint Staff surgeon general, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

24 Feb 21. BG David M. Gaedecke has been appointed to the grade of major general.  Gaedecke is currently serving as the vice commander, Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber), Air Combat Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

24 Feb 21. BG Anthony W. Genatempo has been appointed to the grade of major general.  Genatempo is currently serving as the commander, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center; and Air Force program executive officer for strategic systems, Air Force Materiel Command, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.

24 Feb 21. BG David A. Harris Jr. has been appointed to the grade of major general.  Harris is currently serving as the director, Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Integration and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

24 Feb 21. BG Thomas K. Hensley has been appointed to the grade of major general.  Hensley is currently serving as the director, intelligence, Headquarters U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany.

24 Feb 21. BG Robert S. Jobe has been appointed to the grade of major general.  Jobe is currently serving as the director, strategic plans, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

24 Feb 21. BG Jeffrey R. King has been appointed to the grade of major general.  King is currently serving as the commander, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.

24 Feb 21. BG Leonard J. Kosinski has been appointed to the grade of major general.  Kosinski is currently serving as the deputy commander, Fifth Air Force; and director, Joint Air Component Coordination Element-Japan, Yokota Air Base, Japan.

24 Feb 21. BG Thomas E. Kunkel has been appointed to the grade of major general.  Kunkel is currently serving as the deputy director, Operations, Operations Team Five, National Joint Operations and Intelligence Center, J-3, Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.

24 Feb 21. BG Laura L. Lenderman has been appointed to the grade of major general.  Lenderman is currently serving as the director, Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas.

24 Feb 21. BG Brook J. Leonard has been appointed to the grade of major general.  Leonard is currently serving as the chief of staff, U.S. Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

24 Feb 21. BG David B. Lyons has been appointed to the grade of major general.  Lyons is currently serving as the senior military assistant to the deputy secretary of defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

24 Feb 21. BG Michael E. Martin has been appointed to the grade of major general.  Martin is currently serving as the director of operations, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Florida.

24 Feb 21. BG Albert G. Miller has been appointed to the grade of major general.  Miller is currently serving as the chief of staff, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.

24 Feb 21. BG Heather L. Pringle has been appointed to the grade of major general.  Pringle is currently serving as the commander, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

24 Feb 21. BG Clark J. Quinn has been appointed to the grade of major general.  Quinn is currently serving as the deputy director, plans and policy, J-5, Headquarters U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

24 Feb 21. BG Adrian L. Spain has been appointed to the grade of major general.  Spain is currently serving as the director, plans, programs and analyses, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

24 Feb 21. BG Daniel H. Tulley has been appointed to the grade of major general.  Tulley is currently serving as the commander, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Air Combat Command, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.

23 Feb 21. MG Peter B. Andrysiak Jr., commanding general, U.S. Army Alaska; and deputy commander, U.S. Alaskan Command, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, to deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Europe-Africa, Germany.

23 Feb 21. MG Xavier T. Brunson, commanding general, 7th Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, to deputy commanding general, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

23 Feb 21. MG Miguel A. Correa, senior director for Gulf affairs, Middle Eastern Affairs Directorate, National Security Council, Executive Office of the President, Washington, D.C., to deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

23 Feb 21. MG Scott L. Efflandt, special assistant to the commanding general, III Corps and Fort Hood, Fort Hood, Texas to deputy commanding general, U.S. Army North, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.

23 Feb 21. MG Rodney D. Fogg, commanding general, U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command/Sustainment Center of Excellence and Fort Lee, Fort Lee, Virginia, to deputy chief of staff for logistics and operations, U.S. Army Materiel Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

23 Feb 21. MG Charles R. Hamilton, deputy chief of staff for logistics and operations, U.S. Army Materiel Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, to assistant deputy chief of staff, G-4, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.

23 Feb 21. MG Neil S. Hersey, commanding general, Cyber Center of Excellence and Fort Gordon, Fort Gordon, Georgia, to deputy commanding general (operations), U.S. Army Cyber Command, Fort Gordon, Georgia.

23 Feb 21. MG Matthew W. McFarlane, commanding general, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, Fort Carson, Colorado, to deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Pacific Command, Fort Shafter, Hawaii.

23 Feb 21. MG Brian J. Mennes, commanding general, 10th Mountain Division (Light) and Fort Drum, Fort Drum, New York, to deputy commanding general, I Corps, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

23 Feb 21. MG Christopher O. Mohan, commanding general, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, U.S. Army Europe-Africa, Germany, to commanding general, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, Rock Island, Illinois.

23 Feb 21. MG Michel M. Russell Sr., assistant deputy chief of staff, G-4, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C., to commanding general, 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), U.S. Army Central, Fort Knox, Kentucky.

23 Feb 21. MG Stephen G. Smith, deputy commanding general, I Corps, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, to commanding general, 7th Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

23 Feb 21. MG John P. Sullivan, commanding general, 1st Sustainment Command (Theater), U.S. Army Central, Fort Knox, Kentucky, to director, strategy, capabilities, policy, programs, and logistics, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.

23 Feb 21. BG Kevin D. Admiral, commandant, U.S. Army Armor School, U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning, Georgia, to director, force management, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.

23 Feb 21. BG Gregory K. Anderson, deputy director, strategy, plans and policy, J-5, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, to director, J-3 Operations/Cyber, U.S. Africa Command, Germany.

23 Feb 21. BG Milford H. Beagle Jr., commanding general, U.S. Army Training Center and Fort Jackson, Fort Jackson, South Carolina, to commanding general, 10th Mountain Division (Light) and Fort Drum, Fort Drum, New York.

23 Feb 21. BG Guillaume N. Beaurpere, commander, Special Operations Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, Operation Inherent Resolve, Kuwait, to deputy commanding general (operations), U.S. Army Space and Missile Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

23 Feb 21. BG Christine A. Beeler, commanding general, Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, to commanding general, Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

23 Feb 21. BG Peter N. Benchoff, director, force management, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C., to chief of staff, U.S. Army Pacific, Fort Shafter, Hawaii.

23 Feb 21. BG Mark S. Bennett, commanding general, U.S. Army Financial Management Command, Indianapolis, Indiana, to director for Army budget, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller), Washington, D.C.

23 Feb 21. BG Michele H. Bredenkamp, director of intelligence, U.S. Forces Korea; and deputy director of intelligence, Combined Forces Command, Republic of Korea, to commanding general, U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

23 Feb 21. BG Trevor J. Bredenkamp, deputy commanding general (operations), Eighth Army, Republic of Korea, to chief, legislative liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Army, Washington, D.C.

23 Feb 21. BG Larry Q. Burris Jr., director, CJ3, Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, Operation Inherent Resolve, Iraq, to commandant, U.S. Army Infantry School, U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence; and director, Soldier Lethality Cross Functional Team, Army Futures Command, Fort Benning, Georgia.

23 Feb 21. BG Charles D. Costanza, deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army Forces Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to commanding general, 3d Infantry Division and Fort Stewart, Fort Stewart, Georgia.

23 Feb 21. BG Thomas R. Drew, military deputy, Talent Management Task Force, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C., to commanding general, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky.

23 Feb 21. BG Brian S. Eifler, chief, legislative liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Army, Washington, D.C., to commanding general, U.S. Army Alaska; and deputy commander, U.S. Alaskan Command, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

23 Feb 21. BG Brett T. Funck, deputy commanding general (operations), 10th Mountain Division (Light); and acting senior commander-Fort Drum, Fort Drum, New York, to director, Talent Management Task Force, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.

23 Feb 21. BG Patrick L. Gaydon, deputy commanding general (support), 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, to deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and experiments, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army Futures Command, Austin, Texas.

23 Feb 21. BG Garrick M. Harmon, special assistant to the deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C., to commanding general, U.S. Army Security Assistance Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

23 Feb 21. BG David M. Hodne, commandant, U.S. Army Infantry School, U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence; and director, Soldier Lethality Cross Functional Team, Army Futures Command, Fort Benning, Georgia, to commanding general, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, Fort Carson, Colorado.

23 Feb 21. BG Daryl O. Hood, commandant, U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear School, U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, to deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army Reserve Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

23 Feb 21. BG Jonathan E. Howerton, deputy assistant to the President; and director, White House Military Office, Washington, D.C., to military deputy director, program analysis and evaluation, G-8, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.

23 Feb 21. BG Christopher C. LaNeve, director, operations, readiness and mobilization, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C., to deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army Forces Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

23 Feb 21. BG Gavin A. Lawrence, commander, Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Defense Logistics Agency, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to deputy chief of staff, G-4, U.S. Army Forces Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

23 Feb 21. BG David A. Lesperance, commanding general, National Training Center and Fort Irwin, Fort Irwin, California, to commanding general, 2d Infantry Division (Combined), Eighth Army, Republic of Korea.

23 Feb 21. BG Douglas S. Lowrey, commanding general, U.S. Army Security Assistance Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, to commanding general, Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.

23 Feb 21. BG Steven M. Marks, Deputy commanding general, 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to director, joint and integration, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.

23 Feb 21. BG Anthony L. McQueen, deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army Medical Command, Falls Church, Virginia, commanding general, U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command and Fort Detrick, Fort Detrick, Maryland.

23 Feb 21. BG Patrick R. Michaelis, deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Recruiting Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky, commanding general, U.S. Army Training Center and Fort Jackson, Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

23 Feb 21. BG Duane R. Miller, deputy provost marshal general, Office of the Provost Marshal General; commanding general, Army Corrections Command; and deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, Washington, D.C., to provost marshal general/commanding general, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, Washington, D.C.

23 Feb 21. BG Christopher R. Norrie, commanding general, 7th Army Training Command, U.S. Army Europe-Africa, Germany, to director, People First Task Force, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.

23 Feb 21. BG Thomas W. O’Connor Jr., deputy commanding general (support), 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas, deputy commanding general (operations), Eighth Army, Republic of Korea.

23 Feb 21. BG Charles R. Parker to deputy director for command, control, communications, and computers/cyber systems, J-6, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C. He most recently served as special assistant to the deputy chief of staff, G-8, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.

23 Feb 21. BG Isaac J. Peltier, deputy commanding general (support), 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado, to commander, Special Operations Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, Operation Inherent Resolve, Kuwait.

23 Feb 21. BG Allan Pepin, deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to commanding general, Military District of Washington; and commander, Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region, Washington, D.C.

23 Feb 21. BG Keith C. Phillips, senior defense official and defense attaché, U.S. Defense Attaché Office, United Arab Emirates, to senior defense official and defense attaché, U.S. Defense Attaché Office, Iraq.

23 Feb 21. BG Andrew D. Preston, chief of staff, U.S. Army Pacific, Fort Shafter, Hawaii, to commandant, U.S. Army Field Artillery School, U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence, Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

23 Feb 21. BG Joseph A. Ryan to deputy chief of staff, operations, Resolute Support Mission, NATO; deputy commanding general (operations), U.S. Forces-Afghanistan; and commander, U.S. National Support Element Command-Afghanistan, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Afghanistan. He most recently served as chief of staff, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

23 Feb 21. BG Mark T. Simerly, director, J-4, U.S. Forces Korea; deputy director, C/J-4, United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command, Republic of Korea, to commanding general, U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command/Sustainment Center of Excellence and Fort Lee, Fort Lee, Virginia.

23 Feb 21. BG James M. Smith, chief of transportation; and commandant, U.S. Army Transportation School, U.S. Army Sustainment Center of Excellence, Fort Lee, Virginia, to commanding general, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, U.S. Army Europe-Africa, Germany.

23 Feb 21. BG Paul T. Stanton, deputy commanding general (Operations), U.S. Army Cyber Command, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to commanding general, Cyber Center of Excellence and Fort Gordon, Fort Gordon, Georgia.

23 Feb 21. BG William L. Thigpen, deputy director for operations, National Joint Operations Intelligence Center, Operations Team Four, J-3, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C., to commanding general, U.S. Army South, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.

23 Feb 21. BG David C. Trybula, commanding general, White Sands Missile Range; and deputy commanding general for developmental testing, U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, White Sands, New Mexico, to deputy commanding general, Combat Capabilities Development Directorate; and senior commander, Natick Soldier Systems Center, U.S. Army Futures Command, Natick, Massachusetts.

23 Feb 21. BG Colin P. Tuley, deputy chief of staff, operations, Resolute Support Mission, NATO; and deputy commander, U.S. National Support Element Command-Afghanistan, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Afghanistan, to deputy director, strategy, plans and policy, J-5, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

23 Feb 21. BG Matthew J. Van Wagenen, deputy chief of staff for operations, Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, NATO, United Kingdom, to deputy commanding general, V Corps, Poland.

23 Feb 21. BG Timothy P. White, commanding general, 593d Expeditionary Sustainment Command, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, to director, J-4, U.S. Forces Korea; and deputy director, C/J-4, United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command, Republic of Korea.

23 Feb 21. BG James P. Work, deputy commanding general (support), 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to director, operations, readiness and mobilization, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.

23 Feb 21. BG Richard L. Zellmann to deputy director, J-3, U.S. Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. He most recently served as deputy director, J-5, U.S. Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

INDUSTRY

INDUSTRY TEAMINGS

24 Feb 21. Clarion Defence grows North American footprint with Kallman Worldwide partnership. Clarion Events Defence and Security and Kallman Worldwide have entered into an agreement that will see Kallman Worldwide represent the Clarion Defence portfolio in North America.

Under the agreement, which commenced on 21 February 2021, Kallman Worldwide will act as the local U.S. and Canadian agent on behalf of Clarion Defence for DSEI, DSEI Japan, BIDEC and EDEX.

Kallman’s team of experienced sales, marketing and public relations personnel will give North America customers local support and an enhanced experience when exhibiting as part of U.S. pavilions at Clarion events around the globe. It will also give Clarion better reach into this market, with the opportunity to fully leverage Kallman’s extensive North American network across the aerospace and tri-service sectors.

North America is a key market for Clarion Defence; the U.S. Pavilion is DSEI’s largest international group at nearly 3,000m2.  Under this teaming arrangement, Clarion will be able to better support this significant contingent of exhibitors and help to grow their access to new markets around the world via DSEI Japan, BIDEC and EDEX. It will also enable U.S. suppliers who do not currently have a global footprint to increase their exposure to international supply chains.

Meaningful U.S. and Canadian participation in tri-service defence exhibitions requires the involvement of numerous government and non-government stakeholders. The U.S. and Canadian Departments of Commerce and Trade, Defense, and State as well as America’s and Canada’s leading industry associations have all supported Clarion events and Kallman Worldwide pavilions in the past.  Joining forces to foster global partnership and support our mutual clients/constituents assures the best possible results for all moving forward.

Kallman will also engage and coordinate efforts on Clarion’s behalf with the U.S. and Canadian Embassies in London, Cairo, Manama, and Tokyo as well as the foreign embassies of the UK, Egypt, Bahrain and Japan located in Washington, DC.

Sally de Swart, MD of Clarion Defence and Security, commented: “Kallman has a long history of professionally representing U.S. and Canadian companies with their flagship USA and Canadian Partnership Pavilions globally, and we are excited to expand on this and work together to offer professional, reliable support to our US customers ahead of DSEI 21 and the other events in the portfolio.”

Tom Kallman, President & CEO of Kallman Worldwide adds: “The global pandemic has shaken every household and every business, large and small.  My team and I have been assisting U.S. and Canadian aerospace and defense exporters for 35 years – for us, success will not be marked by the return of what was, but the transition to something better. We are fired up to play our role in elevating the U.S. and Canadian participation at these first-class Clarion events to new heights.”

 

24 Feb 21. ViaLite Seeks New Distributors in Reseller Network Expansion. ViaLite is seeking to further expand its RF over fiber reseller network with new distributors in Europe and South Africa.

In Europe, ViaLite is particularly interested in talking to potential distributors from Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland) and Greece.

“We are excited to be able to offer the chance for new distributors to come on board as part of our reseller expansion. This is an opportunity for distributors to join the world’s leading product line in RF over fiber communications” said ViaLite Director of Sales, Richard Jacklin.

The company is looking for distributors with good customer relationships in the Satcom, Broadcast, GPS Derived Timing or Mil-Aero markets and expertize in Radio frequency or Optical communications.

For more information about ViaLite and RF over fiber, please visit www.vialite.com. Any interested parties should email: .

 

23 Feb 21. DTC Communications partners with UXV Technologies. DTC Communications Inc. (DTC): DTC and UXV Technologies are happy to announce our new partnership which is based on believing that strong partnerships are one of the best ways to create value for our customers. Also, we believe that our partnership will make it possible to deliver stronger final products concurrent with creating more confidence and value for our customers. We are looking forward to collaborating and sharing the same core values.

“We are partnering with UXV because, just like us, they put their customers first by meeting their needs and requirements,” says Juan Navarro, CEO of DTC Communications Inc.

The purpose of our partnership is to work continuously on generating value for our customers. A key factor in ensuring value is by partnering up and combining solutions and products from multiple technology leaders.

The benefits of this partnership include:

• Quality Solutions
• Customer-focused
• Customers will have faster access to the market

In the long term, we believe that we can combine our technology as we each have our specific knowledge. Our combination will consist of DTC’s communication tools and UXV Technologies ground control stations. In that way, we can offer our customers a combined package solution. (Source: PR Newswire)

PERSONNEL

23 Feb 21. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has signed a ground-breaking Armed Forces Covenant, pledging its commitment to advocate for recruitment and retention of ex-military personnel across the automotive industry. The pledge commits SMMT to promoting best practice, fostering a culture and ethos of inclusivity, and making the commercial case for automotive companies to also sign up to the Covenant. The signing reaffirms the work done through Mission Automotive, an initiative dedicated to placing ex-servicemen and women in jobs across the sector, set up in partnership with the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the forces’ charity Mission Motorsport, and supported by the Ministry of Defence.

Making the process as easy as possible, SMMT has helped members create tailored engagement programs, guiding and aligning their interactions with the Armed Forces community across brand, corporate and HR areas to support their own business strategies. Some 55 SMMT member companies already work with the armed forces community, employing veterans, service leavers and their spouses across all parts of the automotive supply chain, from cars to commercial vehicles, across design, manufacturing, repair and through to retail and logistics.

As the UK looks to secure battery gigafactory investment ahead of the 2030 phase-out of sale for new conventional petrol and diesel engine cars and vans, the automotive industry hopes to help fill the skills gap with service leavers, offering opportunities for development and mapped-out career paths which translate military skills into qualifications required by the sector. Many service personnel are uniquely suited to this industry, with experience of high voltage equipment and other technologies. Veterans, therefore, are potentially some of the best candidates for roles working in electric and hydrogen vehicle manufacturing and engineering.

The past year tested the auto industry’s resilience as the country battled coronavirus, with the sector keeping essential services and key workers moving, supporting the vulnerable and even manufacturing ventilators. Many automotive companies worked with veteran volunteers to redeploy vehicle fleets across the country to transport medical supplies and PPE.

James Cameron, Mission Motorsport CEO, said, “The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise, a commitment to ensure that those who have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, should not be disadvantaged by their service to the country. Service leavers and veterans are a national resource, and SMMT has been innovative in helping its members to share best practices, support each other, and harness that potential. By helping to make the commercial case for companies, SMMT’s engagement and advocacy through its Mission Automotive initiative will encourage other industry bodies to follow suit and this should be celebrated.”

Johnny Mercer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence People and Veterans, said, “The skills and training military personnel bring to civilian employers are incredibly important. By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, employers are harnessing the value that the Armed Forces community contributes to business. That is why it is vitally important that employers publicly pledge their support for the Armed Forces community – it means a lot to the cohort that we are trying to represent. In this field, it is hard to find a better exemplar of best practice than SMMT.”

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “Upskilling our industry will be crucial as new technologies transform the sector, and ex-military personnel are an often-untapped talent pool that can provide these in-demand skills. We are incredibly proud to support Mission Motorsport in helping service leavers embark on new career paths and signing the Armed Forces Covenant cements SMMT’s long-term commitment to this cause. As events of the past year have shown, the veteran community is a real asset to automotive businesses and will be central not just to a successful and sustainable recovery, but to our future success as we transition to a connected, autonomous and zero emissions future.”

Commentary from veterans (download high-res photos via Dropbox here)

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hfgdy54z5boo3kp/AACCCDXiGm8_orpZ2aNKekMVa?dl=0

Jo Parker, ex-Royal Air Force and Stephen Eagell Toyota Workshop Controller said, “Being part of the Mission Automotive initiative has changed my life. I am now in secure fulltime employment with an employee who recognises the talent that ex-service personnel can bring to a team. I would whole-heartedly recommend that a service leaver wanting to get into the automotive industry speak to the guys at Mission Motorsport. They have first-hand experience of what it like to leave the services and have a great understanding of the automotive industry.”

Alex Fogg, former Royal Engineer and Arrival Logistics Store Manager said, “With the help of Mission Motorsport and the Mission Automotive initiative I have a career that has not only changed my life but is also incredibly therapeutic for me. I couldn’t be happier.”

Mission Automotive is already working to place personnel with highly relevant skills in the UK automotive industry. Companies that want to find out more can visit the website www.missionautomotive.org or contact  for more information, and an induction pack.

U.S. APPOINTMENTS

22 Feb 21. Cielo Global Holdings Announces CieloGov Military Advisory Board. CieloGov, a Cielo Global Holdings company, has established a Military Advisory Board (MAB) to inform CieloGov’s federal deal pursuits. The board members bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in the government and U.S. military sectors that will enrich CieloGov relationships, capabilities and overall experience for partners and clients.

CieloGov is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) organization that provides a full range of services designed to help government clients meet their mission-critical requirements in the most secure, efficient and cost-effective manner. The CieloGov team has experience with a wide variety of program management disciplines and key capabilities include: low voltage infrastructure, cyber security, cloud integration, IoT integration, IT services, and software development.

With the addition of the MAB members, the CieloGov team has a total of 350+ years of combined experience in the U.S. military, Department of Defense, Department of State, and the National Security Council. LTG John Sylvester, USA (Ret) will serve as the board chair along with the following members: Ambassador Douglas Lute, LTG, USA (Ret); Lt. Gen. Thomas Waskow, USAF (Ret); Lt. Gen. Richard Mills, USMC (Ret); and RADM Samuel Perez, Jr., USN (Ret).

BJ Carter, a U.S. Army Veteran, CEO of CieloGov and Chairman of Cielo Global Holdings, stated, “Our team is extremely honored to be able to bring together these highly regarded, retired military leaders as members of our advisory board. Their expertise and depth of knowledge will be invaluable in guiding and advising our CieloGov division. We deeply appreciate their service to our country and their willingness to collaborate with us on how we can better serve our government entities.”

CieloGov is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) organization specializing in technology that integrates secure solutions addressing business operations and mission-critical demands. For more information and the full biographies of advisory board members, please visit our website at https://cgholdings.com/cielogov/military-advisory-board/. (Source: PR Newswire)

23 Feb 21. COMSovereign Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: COMS) (“COMSovereign” or “Company”), a U.S.-based developer of 4G LTE Advanced and 5G Communication Systems and Solutions, today announced that it has appointed Martin R. Wade III as its Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President effective February 20, 2021. Mr. Wade succeeds Brian T. Mihelich who is leaving the Company to pursue other interests including spending more time with his family. Mr. Mihelich has agreed to support Mr. Wade’s transition into the role of CFO through the end of March 2021. (Source: PR Newswire)

24 Feb 21. Timothy Jeffries, the Co-Owner, Executive Chairman & CEO of CRC Surface Technologies, and ChemResearch Company, Inc., announced that the Honorable Gregory J. Slavonic, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Retired) and former Under Secretary of the Navy (Acting), has joined the company board of directors as Vice Chairman. Admiral Slavonic will aid CRC’s strong focus on the defense and aerospace industries, and he will assist Mr. Jeffries with his ownership commitment and executive efforts to support the revitalized leadership team, improve company culture, engage strategic customers, and expand strategic services. (Source: PR Newswire)

24 Feb 21. Forensic Logic COPLINK Announces Formation of Strategic Advisory Board. Forensic Logic, LLC, the premier provider of data products and services to American law enforcement, today announced the formation of its strategic advisory board. The group of renowned civic, law enforcement, and government technology leaders will provide guidance to the company as it continues to leverage data and technology to drive innovation and reform in law enforcement.

The assemblage of industry experts and leaders marks another milestone for Forensic Logic, which in 2017 acquired the COPLINK network from IBM before undertaking a sweeping modernization of the platform. Central to the effort was the expansion of its breakthrough law enforcement search engine technology, which has been hailed by its users as critical to reducing violent crime while also minimizing negative interactions between police and local communities. (Source: PR Newswire)

18 Feb 21. NXTCOMM Announces Board of Directors, Validates Ku-band Antenna Design. Board Brings In-depth Knowledge of Aerospace Manufacturing and Satellite Connectivity Markets. Following successful validation tests of its next-generation Ku-band antenna design, NXT Communications Corporation (NXTCOMM) is pleased to announce formation of a new Board of Directors to help guide the next phase of its growth and commercial market introduction. Coming from the technology, aerospace, manufacturing, retail and  satellite sectors, the board brings more than a century of experience and leadership to address the connectivity challenge.

NXTCOMM is on a mission to bring proven, affordable connectivity technology to broadband mobility markets.  The company launched in 2017 and last June unveiled its new Electronically Steered Antenna (ESA), a building block for a portfolio of next-generation, lower-cost commercial satellite antennas designed to meet global demand for cost-effective worldwide mobile connectivity.

The board members include:

• Robert (Scott) Zimmer, Board Chairman, NXTCOMM
• David Horton, CEO, NXTCOMM
• Stephen Newell, Chief Commercial Officer, NXTCOMM
• Curtis C. Reusser, Board Member, NXTCOMM
• Lawrence Soriano, President, Western Pioneer, Inc.

“NXTCOMM will benefit immensely from the business leadership and guidance of these directors,” said Scott Zimmer, board chairman. “This is the right board to support the management team at this critical stage in NXTCOMM’s growth. The directors collectively bring a breadth of expertise and relationships across aerospace and defense and the broader connectivity  market that will allow us to execute on our strategy and deliver a new high-performance antenna to meet the explosive demand for mobile broadband with speed and scale.”

The timing of appointing a new board follows successful validation of NXTCOMM’s Ku-band antenna design with Georgia Tech Research Institute, during which NXTCOMM’s antenna achieved more than 88%  efficiency across the band.

“We are very pleased with the results. Not only have we completely de-risked our design development, but we also now have data to prove that NXTCOMM’s core subarray can achieve efficiency levels that are significantly better over what is in the market today,” Horton said.

The board, a combination of  NXTCOMM management and outside directors, collectively have significant market and technical expertise to guide the company forward.

Horton brings more than two decades of leadership experience in satellite communications equipment manufacturing for aerospace and satellite companies, having worked with both top antenna providers and the industry’s leading inflight connectivity hardware and service providers.

Newell is a 25-year satellite communications entrepreneur and business development executive with proven results driving growth in avionics and satcom firms, most recently serving as FLYHT’s VP, Business Development and as the Chief Commercial Officer of TrueNorth Avionics (now part of Satcom Direct).

Zimmer’s three  decades of satellite sector leadership includes launching EchoStar International Corp., serving as its first president for a decade, followed by serving on the board and advising EchoStar Communications Corp. He also consulted with  global CEOs in the mobile communications and IoT market on their growth strategy.

Curtis Reusser’s over three decades of broad aerospace and defense industry experience includes leading United Technologies’ multi-billion-dollar Aircraft Systems business and then leading Esterline Technologies Corporation as its president, CEO and chairman, where he negotiated its merger with Transdigm, a leading specialty manufacturer serving the global aerospace and defense markets. Reusser also led the Electronic Systems Segment for Goodrich Corporation, growing the company’s military business and revenues before its acquisition by United Technologies.

Lawrence Soriano comes from an entrepreneurial family with a 40-year heritage serving Alaska’s dynamic fisheries trade. In college he worked on freighters going from Seattle to Alaska and the Bering Sea, an experience that reinforced to him the need for maritime boat operators to have reliable connectivity. As president of Western Pioneer, Inc., Soriano has helped strengthen the company’s core retail and real estate businesses in Alaska and Seattle, including its thriving Alaska Ship Supply retail grocery and marine supply store.

With the board in place and initial testing completed, NXTCOMM is on schedule to drive the next step of product iteration, with 50-centimeter panel evaluation units sent for production. The company intends to   support customer demonstrations in the second quarter of 2021. In tandem, NXTCOMM is further developing its internal capabilities and infrastructure to support additional customer requirements and manufacturing.  (Source: PR Newswire)

19 Feb 21. Symetrica Inc, an innovative, leading radiation detection and identification business in Massachusetts has announced a material business impact from the appointment of John Zangardi, a former advisor to the US Secretary of Defense for Information Management / Information Technology as a Non-Executive Director to the Symetrica Board. Symetrica Inc. operates internationally and has successfully provided the Homeland Security and Military radiation detection market sectors with a wide range of innovative solutions for over 10 years. John is an internationally recognized IT, cybersecurity, and data analysis leader and executive. He is a regular conference speaker and has had the honor of testifying before US House and Senate committees on topics such as IT modernization, cybersecurity, supply chain management, and space. John is currently the president of Redhorse Corporation, a technology services company delivering decision quality data to federal government customers. He also serves on the Board of Directors at Qualys and as a technical and strategic advisor to Acceptto. Commenting on his appointment, John Zangardi, said; “Symetrica Inc is a distinguished leader in Military and Homeland Security markets founded on consistent delivery of the best detection solutions over the past 10 years. Symetrica is  especially skilled at integrated solutions that incorporate detection into overarching solutions, in the shape of handhelds, backpacks, mobiles, portals, X-rays and legacy data sources. I am  excited to be joining Symetrica at a time when they are  leveraging their considerable machine learning expertise to solve real operational challenges.”

25 Feb 21. Virgin Galactic announced a few exciting leadership appointments as they accelerate their path to commercialization.  These leaders will play key roles as they pivot to higher rate production and widen their lens on the commercial opportunities ahead.

• Doug Ahrens appointed Chief Financial Officer

o Ahrens is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of significant global experience managing financial operations and strategy at public and privately-held companies within complex technology manufacturing environments, including rapidly growing companies.

• Swami Iyer appointed President of Aerospace Systems

o Swami has over 20 years of experience in commercial and highly classified aerospace, defense and cyber industries.

o Swami will lead the engineering teams, designers, technicians, and support teams who are building the fleet of vehicles and designing the future opportunities that underpin our business.

• Stephen Justice appointed Vice President of Engineering

o Stephen joins with four decades of vast technical experience in defense aerospace, having spent four decades at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works.

o Steve will lead and grow a world class engineering team supporting our future spaceship development, Propulsion, and Mothership programs, as well as our longer-term efforts around high-speed point-to-point travel.

 

REST OF THE WORLD APPOINTMENTS

26 Feb 21. Elbit Australia appoints new chair.

The defence contractor has appointed a new chair to head up its advisory board.

Elbit announced the appointment of Dr Karen Stanton as chair of Elbit Systems of Australia on Thursday.

Dr Stanton has been on the board of Elbit Australia since August 2018 as a non-executive director and was appointed to the Centre for Defence Industry Capability as a member of the advisory board in 2016. Prior to working at Elbit, she was an entrepreneur and an academic.

“Dr Stanton will oversee the transformation of Elbit Systems of Australia as it gains independence and takes control of its security, governance, IT and engineering, in order to address any foreign ownership concerns,” managing director Major General (Ret’d) Paul McLachlan AO, CSC, said.

Dr Stanton said, “I am honoured Elbit Systems of Australia has chosen me to oversee one of the most important developments in the business since the inception of Elbit Systems into Australia in 2007.”

(Source: Defence Connect)

22 Feb 21. MDA announced the appointment of Vito Culmone as the company’s new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Mr. Culmone will play an integral role on the executive team with his deep expertise in finance leadership and strategic planning. He will assume his new position at MDA in early March. Mr. Culmone brings 30 years of financial and operational expertise to MDA, having served as CFO for the last 14 years in a number of large publicly traded Canadian companies in a diverse range of sectors. He has a proven track record with a focus on building sustained shareholder value. Most recently, Mr. Culmone served as CFO of  Element Fleet Management, the largest pure-play commercial vehicle fleet manager in the world, where he played a critical role in the highly successful operational and financial transformation of the company. From 2007-2018, he served as CFO at Shaw Communications, one of the country’s largest cable and communications enterprises and WestJet Airlines, one of Canada’s largest air carriers. Prior to that he held increasingly senior positions at Molson Coors Brewing. (Source: PR Newswire)

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