LOCATIONS
MARITIME
24 May 23. Beginning of the Sea Trials of the Nuclear Attack Submarine Perle. The nuclear attack submarine (SNA) Perle began her initial sea trials on May 17, 2023. The Blue crew, commanded by Commander Nicolas Maigne, conducted surface propulsion and maneuverability trials. It then took a major step forward by performing its first static dive test on May 22, 2023. These initial trials, important markers for the completion of her periodic unavailability for maintenance and repairs (IPER), aim to ensure the submarine’s ability to navigate safely.
During a major technical stop in the Missiessy basin of the Toulon nuclear attack submarine squadron, the SNA Perle suffered a major fire on June 12, 2020.
After checking the feasibility, the Minister for the Armed Forces Florence Parly decided to repair her in order to maintain the nuclear attack submarine fleet format.
Repair work of an unprecedented scale as part of a major technical shutdown was carried out, first in Cherbourg and then in Toulon, by the Naval Group shipyards under the project management of the Fleet Support Service (SSF). This work consisted of replacing the front half of the submarine Perle with that of the recently retired submarine Saphir, using cutting and welding processes mastered by the manufacturer, and then performing the electrical and fluid connection between the two parts.
Major maintenance work then continued with the reassembly of all the equipment; the modernization works already planned before the fire; the reloading of the nuclear core and the requalification of the nuclear boiler room. Inspections and tests then made it possible to validate the repair work and the proper functioning of all the installations.
The SNA Perle will be able to return to the operational cycle at the end of her sea trials period, after checking her ability to navigate safely and then validating her combat systems.
Reconstituted in June 2022, the Blue crew of the SNA Perle has since carried out qualification training on the simulators of the Toulon underwater navigation school. Since October 12, 2022, the crew has been in charge of monitoring the work and the vessel’s ramp-up.
The SNA Perle sailed to Toulon at the end of October 2021 after ten months of work in Cherbourg. Her return to her home port marked the resumption of work interrupted by the fire.(Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com) (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ French Armed Forces Ministry)
23 May 23. Sixth Kalvari-class submarine boosts India’s maritime capabilities. The sixth submarine of the Kalvari-class has initiated sea trials, signalling a significant step forward in enhancing India’s naval strength and self-reliance. The sea trials of the sixth submarine of the Kalvari-class have commenced, marking a milestone towards its induction into the Indian Navy’s capabilities. This development will bolster India’s maritime capabilities, safeguard its interests in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), and strengthen its defence industrial base.
Defense Analyst Kandlikar Venkatesh from GlobalData, a renowned data and analytics company, expressed his views on the subject, emphasizing the significance of this milestone.
“With an expected commissioning in early 2024, this last class submarine will significantly bolster the Indian Navy’s maritime capabilities, safeguard its maritime interests, and strengthen its position in the IOR.
The successful completion of Project 75, under which the Indian Navy is building six diesel-electric submarines, demonstrates India’s growing self-reliance in defence production, promoting the development of the defence manufacturing sector and strengthening the country’s defence industrial base.”
The fourth, fifth, and sixth Kalvari-class attack submarines for the Indian Navy have been launched or are undertaking sea trials within the last four years, which bodes well for India’s indigenous naval industry. All the Project 75 submarines are being built indigenously based on the Naval Group’s Scorpene-class design.
In other naval developments, the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, lauded the successful berthing of INS Vikrant, the country’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, at the newly constructed Aircraft Carrier pier in Karwar.
Responding to a tweet by the Indian Navy, the Prime Minister expressed his appreciation, stating, “Remarkable!” This achievement represents a significant milestone in India’s naval capabilities, further strengthening its maritime defence capabilities.
Defense Analyst Kandlikar Venkatesh from GlobalData continued: “According to GlobalData, India is projected to spend $24.9bn on submarines over the next ten years to enhance its maritime capabilities.
The involvement of Indian shipbuilders in these upcoming submarine projects enhances their capabilities and positions them as key players in the global submarine construction industry.”
India’s strides in the defence sector, particularly in indigenous production and maritime capabilities, highlight its commitment to self-reliance and determination to become a key player in the global defence landscape.
As the country continues to invest in its naval forces and foster collaborations, it is expected to enhance its position as a significant regional maritime power. (Source: naval-technology.com)
19 May 23. HMS Iron Duke, the nation’s most advanced frigate, is back at sea for the first time in more than five years.
The Type 23 frigate, known affectionately as the Iron Duck, sailed from Plymouth, supported by Babcock engineers who have been working with the ship’s crew to get her ready for sea at the international defence company’s Devonport facility.
In all, 1.7 million hours of labour from shipwrights, engineers, technicians and experts of the Babcock team, alongside the Royal Navy, contributed to the biggest overhaul of Duke-class ships to date in the life extension programme, including major structural work twice that of any other.
Multiple warfare, communication, navigation and system upgrades have been undertaken to ensure she remains at the cutting edge of naval operations. IT systems onboard have been revamped in line with technological advancements and living spaces have been updated to suit the modern sailor.
The work means that the vessel, originally intended to serve for 20 years since design in the 1970s and early 80s, can continue to undertake front-line duties until the successors of her class, the Type 26 and 31 frigates, start to enter service later this decade.
Gary Simpson, Managing Director of Babcock’s Marine Support business, said:
“We’re proud to work alongside the crew of HMS Iron Duke to ready her for her next mission.
“Our team has shown relentless commitment and passion to get the job done and to deliver significant enhancements to the ship for the men and women who work selflessly to keep our country safe every day.”
“We look forward to continuing to support HMS Iron Duke’s success in future operations and to stand alongside our Royal Navy partner as we support the Type 23 life extensions of her fellow Duke-class ships.”
Commander Charles Wheen, HMS Iron Duke’s Commanding Officer, said:
“HMS Iron Duke is back at sea and ready to start an intensive trials and training programme. She is in great shape following the refit, with some exciting new capabilities, and our challenge now is to sharpen those capabilities and to restore the ship to front-line operations in the shortest time possible.
“Bringing a ship out of refit is no picnic and it puts considerable pressure and relentless demands on a Ship’s Company. Achieving ‘Ready for Sea’ is testament to the months of hard work the team have put in and I am incredibly proud of their efforts. Now the fun work starts.”
Captain Steve Large – DE&S Type 23 Strategic Class Authority Team Leader:
“HMS IRON DUKE’s return to sea at the end of a 5-year period alongside is a remarkable achievement made possible by the mixed Team of our industrial partner Babcock completing the Upkeep, DE&S personnel managing the contract and Royal Navy personnel taking the ship back to sea in preparations for future operations. The regeneration of the ship is an example of the outstanding level of engineering support provided by this mixed Team enabling the Royal Navy to sustain maritime operations across the globe and I am incredibly proud to lead them.”
The warship, the third incarnation of Iron Duke commissioned in 1993 following her predecessors of 1655 and 1912, will now continue rigorous sea trials and testing to ensure she is ready in all respects for operational tasking later in the year.
AIR
23 May 23. RAF receives final A400M Atlas. The procurement of 22 A400M Atlases from Airbus concludes as the new transport aircraft replaces the legacy C-130 fleet. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) subsidiary, Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), has delivered the 22nd and final A400M Atlas transport aircraft to the UK Royal Air Force (RAF). The aircraft’s arrival at RAF Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire, marks the end of the UK’s order from Airbus, the original equipment manufacturer.
The 22 Atlas aircraft have replaced the C-130J; the UK MoD listed its legacy fleet for sale in October 2022. The withdrawal of the 14-strong C-130J fleet will be a blow to the service’s airlift capability, although the induction of the larger Atlas will offset the loss.
The four-engine turboprop aircraft can deliver 37 tonnes of cargo over 2,000 nautical miles at speed. Its short field performance enables it to operate from short unprepared as well as semi-prepared strips, all achievable whilst using night vision goggles.
A rocky path to procurement
The MoD faced challenges in the procurement process, which the National Audit Office (NAO) outlined in a report published in November last year. The report detailed concerns that the MoD could not afford to induct more than 22 units.
“An option to purchase additional A400M aircraft was assessed as unaffordable. Air Command is developing an affordable choice to improve A400M availability.”
When the UK listed the C-130J fleet for sale at the end of last year, it was amid serious economic decline in the country. Defence equipment sales would offer a way to cut sustainment costs while also generating some funds that could be returned to the ministry for use elsewhere.
As the RAF lacks the intended number of units it sought, the NAO’s assertion tells us that we can expect future contracting work to enhance the capabilities of the RAF’s new fleet.
What does the Atlas bring to the table?
Besides deploying troops and equipment between theatres, the aircraft has been used to support humanitarian missions. Most recently the aircraft evacuated British nationals from war-torn Sudan.
Since entering RAF service in 2014, the Atlas has performed relief operations in the Caribbean and contributed to the military response to COVID, transporting patients, equipment and vaccines. It played a pivotal role in the evacuation of personnel from Afghanistan and Sudan and has provided support to UK Defence operations around the globe, including the Middle East, Falkland Islands, and Mali. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
22 May 23. New Portuguese Flight Squadron in the Air Force. The Air Force has a new flying squadron: Squadron 506, nicknamed “the Rhinos.” The squadron activation ceremony took place today at Air Base No. 11, in Beja, at an event chaired by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force ( CEMFA ), General João Cartaxo Alves.
In the presence of the superior structure of the Air Force, Major Pilot-Aviator Miguel Pousa was appointed commander of Squadron 506 – “Rinoceroses”.
Addressing the soldiers who now make up the 506 Squadron, CEMFA spoke with emotion of a “dream that came true”, representing the 506 Squadron as a symbol of modernity, the beginning of an Air Force of the future. The creation of this Squadron “is based on three pillars: state-of-the-art systems and infrastructure, highly qualified people and an evolved Air Force at the forefront”, which form a triangle whose apex will have “the fulfillment of the mission”. At the conclusion of the words, the CEMFA invited “to tighten the belts in this flight towards modernity, the future, the new technology”.
Already invested as Squadron Commander, Major Miguel Pousa highlighted the challenges that await the “Rinoceroses”, “due to the responsibility that comes with being the first European country and the second country in the world to operate the KC-390. Under the watchful eye of all of us, we will have the challenge not only of fulfilling the missions that will be assigned to us, but also of improving and deepening the operational use of the aircraft, in order to elevate the KC-390 and the 506 Squadron to references in the field of Air Transport” , he concluded.
The ceremony also included the delivery of Our Lady of the Air and the pennant. After a visit to the new station’s facilities, CEMFA signed the 506 Squadron’s book of honor. (Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com) (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Portuguese Air Force;)
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
23 May 23. Mr Alastair Long has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain in succession to Mr Roderick Drummond who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Long will take up his appointment in late August 2023.
26 May 23. Mr Richard Porter has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Plurinational State of Bolivia in succession to Mr Jeff Glekin who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Porter will take up his appointment during September 2023.
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
23 May 23. Defense Policy Board: June Meeting Topic and New Member Announcement. Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout: The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy will host the next meeting of the Defense Policy Board, June 13-14 at the Pentagon. During the session, members will explore and evaluate aggressive action and territorial dispute scenarios in the Indo-Pacific, exploring long-term impacts on regional and global strategic interests and implications for U.S. alliances around the world. The meeting will be closed to the public due to classified briefings and discussions. Ahead of the board, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Rexon Ryu as the newest Member of the DPB. Mr. Ryu is President of The Asia Group, Board Chair of The Asia Group Foundation, and co-host of the Tea Leaves Podcast. He has more than 25 years of experience working in global diplomacy, national policymaking, and executive leadership. Over his career, Mr. Ryu served three presidents at the highest levels, working extensively with congress on foreign policy and national security challenges. Notably, he worked to expand strategic alliances and relationships, project influence globally, employ U.S. power against adversaries, prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and plan for future challenges and opportunities in Asia and the Middle East. (Source: US DoD)
24 May 23. President Joe Biden on Thursday announced he has nominated Air Force Gen. CQ Brown to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in a brief ceremony in the White House’s Rose Garden. Brown’s command roles in the Indo-Pacific region, the Middle East and Europe give him “an unmatched firsthand knowledge of our operational theaters, and a strategic vision to understand how they all work together to ensure security for the American people,” Biden said, flanked by Brown, Vice President Kamala Harris and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. (Source: Defense News)
23 May 23. MG Kevin D. Admiral, director, Force Management, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C., to commanding general, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Cavazos, Texas.
23 May 23. MG Robert L. Barrie Jr., program executive officer, Program Executive Office – Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, to deputy for acquisition and systems management, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology), Washington, D.C.
23 May 23. MG David S. Doyle, chief of staff, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, to commanding general, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, Fort Carson, Colorado.
23 May 23. MG Christopher R. Norrie, director, People First Task Force, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C., to commanding general, 3rd Infantry Division and Fort Stewart, Fort Stewart, Georgia.
23 May 23. MG James M. Smith, commanding general, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, U.S. Army Europe-Africa, Germany, to director, Operations, G-43/5/7, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.
23 May 23. MG Brett G. Sylvia, vice director, J-5, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C., to commanding general, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell, Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
23 May 23. BG Edward H. Bailey, commanding general, Medical Readiness Command, Pacific; deputy director, Defense Health Region Agency Indo-Pacific, Defense Health Agency, Honolulu, Hawaii, to Commanding General, United States Army Medical Research and Development Command and Fort Detrick, Fort Detrick, Maryland.
23 May 23. BG Michelle K. Donahue, deputy director, Readiness, Strategy, and Operations, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C., to commanding general, U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command/Sustainment Center of Excellence and Fort Gregg-Adams, Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia.
23 May 23. BG Lawrence G. Ferguson, deputy commanding general (Operations), 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to commanding general, 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
23 May 23. BG Roger S. Giraud, deputy chief of staff, Operations, U.S. Army Medical Command, Falls Church, Virginia, to deputy commanding general (Operations), U.S. Army Medical Command, Falls Church, Virginia.
23 May 23. BG Richard A. Harrison, deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, to commanding general, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Fort Bliss, Texas.
23 May 23. BG Joseph E. Hilbert, commanding general, 7th Army Training Command, U.S. Army Europe-Africa, Germany, to director, Force Development, G-8, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.
23 May 23. BG Anthony L. McQueen, commanding general, U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command and Fort Detrick, Fort Detrick, Maryland, to deputy surgeon general, Office of The Surgeon General, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.
23 May 23. BG David F. Stewart, commanding general, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Fort Bliss, Texas, to director, Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office; and director of Fires, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.
23 May 23. BG Brandon R. Tegtmeier, deputy commanding general (Support), 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to chief of staff, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.
Army Reserve
23 May 23. MG Richard J. Heitkamp, deputy commanding general (Individual Ready Reserve), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, D.C., to director, Inter-American Defense College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
23 May 23. MG Susan E. Henderson, commander (Troop Program Unit), 377th Theater Sustainment Command, New Orleans, Louisiana, to chief of staff (Individual Mobilization Augmentee), U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.
23 May 23. BG Justin M. Swanson, commander (Troop Program Unit), 310th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Indianapolis, Indiana, to commander (Troop Program Unit), 377th Theater Sustainment Command, New Orleans, Louisiana.
23 May 23. BG Andree G. Carter, deputy commanding general (Troop Program Unit), U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to commander (Troop Program Unit), 350th Civil Affairs Command, Pensacola, Florida.
23 May 23. BG Todd L. Erskine, deputy commander (Troop Program Unit), 377th Theater Sustainment Command, New Orleans, Louisiana, to commander (Troop Program Unit), 310th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Indianapolis, Indiana.
REST OF THE WORLD APPOINTMENTS
25 May 23. Major General Natasha Fox, AM, CSC has been appointed as the Chief of Personnel in the Australian Defence Force, overseeing ADF personnel management and reporting directly to the Chief of the Defence Force. According to the Commonwealth, the role is expected to increase the effectiveness, efficiency, and cohesiveness of personnel management in the Australian Defence Force, with the responsibility to integrate workforce management across the five domains into a single integrated system. As part of the announcement, MAJGEN Fox will be promoted to Lieutenant General and start in the new position from 5 June 2023. (Source: Defence Connect)
INDUSTRY
INDUSTRY TEAMINGS
19 May 23. Schweizer rotorcraft company expands to South America.
The American company signs two representatives based in Ecuador and Peru to provide 24/7 sales for its civil and military rotorcraft.
The Texas-based rotorcraft company, Schweizer, has signed two representatives in South America. Boncor in Equador and Global Business Logistics (GBL) in Peru.
The American company is the original equipment manufacturer of the Schweizer S300, S300CBi, and S333 helicopters. Sikorsky purchased Schweizer in 2004 – before Lockheed Martin purchased the holding company in 2015. Schweizer operated until 2018 when Schweizer RSG purchased the company.
Representation in South America
Boncor is a firm with more than 35 years representing aerospace companies to both military and civilian entities. The firm has overseen sales to the Ecuadorian air force, navy, and army. Over the years it has represented Dassault, Safran Helicopter Engines, Sabena Technics.
“Our country demands a high-level of pilot training, especially in the area of search and rescue.
“With this in mind, we identified Schweizer’s helicopters as the perfect fit both in terms of aircraft performance as well as efficient parts and logistics support,” the General Manager of Bonco said.
In Peru, GBL will represent Schweizer. The company has strong business relationships with manufacturers and Latin American military, government, and civilian aircraft operators.
GBL Founder George Busse stated: “We are deeply privileged to be associated with a renowned brand known for its exceptional helicopters, which has set a benchmark of excellence in the industry.”
In addition to aircraft sales, GBL provides training programmes, maintenance assistance, and prompt availability of spare parts to support its customers.
Schweizer President and CEO David Horton stated: “As demand for our proven and reliable helicopters grows, so has the need to ensure we have representation around the world to facilitate sales, government bidding, and 24/7/365 focused customer support and service for every Schweizer operator.
“We are thrilled to welcome Boncor and GBL to the family as we continue to build our worldwide representation.”
(Source: airforce-technology.com)
PERSONNEL
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
24 May 23. Chemring announce the appointment of James Mortensen as Chief Financial Officer. James has a proven track record in industrial, engineering and technology sectors with extensive experience in building and managing global, multi-disciplinary finance teams. He joins Chemring from Smiths Group plc (“Smiths”), the FTSE 100 engineering group where he has spent the last seven years. James joined the Smiths M&A team in 2016 and, having played a key role in scaling ventilator manufacturing during COVID for the UK Government, he became Chief Financial Officer of the $1.1bn revenue Smiths Medical Division in 2020. He held this role until the sale of Smiths Medical for $2.7bn in February 2022, having also prepared the business for a London listing. He is currently Group Head of Corporate Development with responsibility for sourcing, evaluating and executing acquisitions across the four major global markets where Smiths operate: Security & Defence, Aerospace, General Industry and Energy. Prior to Smiths James spent eight years at Smith & Nephew plc, the FTSE 100 medical technology company where he held progressively senior finance roles in the areas of group reporting, strategic planning and corporate finance. Having graduated from Bristol University James started his career at KPMG in their audit practice and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales. James will take over from Andrew Lewis, who announced his intention to retire on 23 January 2023 and whose notice period runs until 22 January 2024. The Group is working with James to agree the date on which he will join Chemring. A further announcement will be made in due course.
09 Mar 23. Ronald LeClere Joins QinetiQ as Vice President, Financial Planning & Analysis. QinetiQ US, a leading defense company providing mission-critical solutions to create, test, and use the latest technologies to deliver real world advantages, is pleased to announce that Ronald LeClere has joined the company as Vice President, Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A). Ronald will report to the Chief Financial Officer, and in this role he will leverage his experience interpreting financial performance and presenting insights to assist company leadership with operational decisions as well as providing detailed financial analysis, reporting, forecasting, budgeting, and business case analysis.
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
22 May 23. AAR CORP. (NYSE: AIR), a leading provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators, MROs, and OEMs, announced today it has selected Tom Hoferer as its Vice President of Repair and Engineering Services. In this role Hoferer will oversee the Company’s Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) Services and Mobility Systems operations. Hoferer brings more than 30 years of experience with GE Aerospace, where he held various leadership positions focused on business growth and customer support. Hoferer’s entrepreneurial approach drove new sales and margin improvement across the company’s subsidiaries. Most recently, he served as President of GE Aerospace’s Unison Industries, a global leader in aviation performance solutions.
24 May 23. BAE Systems, Inc. today announced that former U.S. Representative and retired U.S. Navy commander Elaine Luria has been appointed to its Board of Directors. From 2019 to 2023, Luria represented Virginia’s Second Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, where she served as vice chair of the Armed Services committee and as a member of the Veterans’ Affairs and Homeland Security committees. Prior to her time in Congress, Luria completed a 20-year active duty career in the U.S. Navy, serving as a nuclear-trained Surface Warfare Officer, with six deployments to the Middle East and Western Pacific. Her final tour was as commanding officer of Assault Craft Unit TWO. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
23 May 23. MatrixSpace announces the addition of Lieutenant General Glenn Spears, US Air Force (retired), and Brigadier General Robert Hipwell, Ph.D, US Army (retired), to its Advisory Board, strengthening its engagement with the defense sector. MatrixSpace’s mission is to offer real-time AI edge-based sensing with the ability to detect and track multiple types of objects in any situation. Combining industry leading sensing, AI edge processing and RF communication in real-time is a major technology breakthrough that will reinvent business models across multiple vertical market applications, in particular the defense and public safety industry. The recently announced MatrixSpace Radar is the foundational product of this open architecture sensing platform.
Glenn Spears
A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Naval War College, Glenn served in the U.S. Air Force for over 33 years as a pilot and commander. He commanded from squadron to numbered Air Force, in peacetime and combat, flying 16 types of military and commercial-derivative aircraft. He also led in service and Combatant Command headquarters. His active-duty service culminated as the commander of both Air Forces Southern and Twelfth Air Force.
Glenn brings decades of successful leadership in public and private sector organizations to match customer requirements with his clients’ capabilities and products in his role as advisor to aerospace, defense and technology companies. Additionally, Glenn provides peer reviews to the Institute for Defense Analyses and is a member of several industry advisory and veteran service organization boards.
Robert Hipwell, Ph.D.
Robert served in the U.S. Army, the Army Reserves, and Army National Guard, and deployed to many remote locations throughout the world during his military career while still completing civilian work responsibilities at both Cisco and Lockheed. Robert also holds a Ph.D. and graduated from the U.S. Army War College. After being promoted to Brigadier General he was selected to command a Military Police Brigade and served many tours in support of OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom) and OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom).
Today, Robert is a strong advocate for our military, veterans and first responders, working with those organizations across the United States on effective teamwork and leadership, and how to increase profitability and success while inspiring each other, sponsors and their respective communities.
22 May 23. SOSi announced today that Preston Dunlap, the first Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Chief Architect Officer of the U.S. Space Force and Air Force, has joined the company as a strategic advisor. Mr. Dunlap serves as an independent director on corporate boards and advises Fortune 100, growth, private equity, and venture capital firms. He is a well-known expert in artificial intelligence, space, autonomy, transportation, hypersonic technology, infrastructure, and distributed mobile communications. Prior to his role in the U.S. Space Force and Air Force, he was the Executive for National Security programs at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory; led initiatives for the Vice President of the United States on the future of commercial and national security space; led strategy, analysis, and diligence for three Secretaries of Defense to allocate and deploy $750B+ annually across multiple industry sectors; started $250B+ of new programs, including the newly unveiled B-21 bomber, space, hypersonic, intelligence, electronic warfare, and communications capabilities; and helped start several commercial software and infrastructure companies. (Source: PR Newswire)
22 May 23. Synthetaic welcomed Robert Cardillo to its Board of Directors. Robert brings unparalleled experience in geospatial intelligence, with nearly 40 years of service to the U.S. Intelligence Community, including serving as Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency from 2014 to 2019. In his role on the Synthetaic board, Robert will advise and guide the company as it adds differential value to the defense and intelligence communities and experiences the associated period of significant growth. Robert started his career as an imagery analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency and has experienced firsthand how geospatial intelligence technology grew from an exclusive and limited capability of the U.S. government to a vibrant ecosystem of industry, academia, and think thanks. This is a strong and growing commercial market, estimated to reach $50 bn by 2032, according to a study by Global Market Insights, Inc. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
25 May 23. Retired four-star US Army General John “Mike” Murray and former US Navy Vice Admiral Timothy (T.J.) White have joined Virtualitics, Inc.’s Federal Advisory Board. They bring with them decades of strategic expertise that will transform the company’s artificial intelligence and data exploration solutions. The two appointments reflect Virtualitics’ expanding work with the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. The company has partnered with the defense and national security community since 2017 on projects ranging from operational readiness, investment analysis and mission support, and intelligence analysis, among others. General Murray rose from commissioned infantry officer to become the first Commanding General of United States Army Futures Command (AFC), a public-private initiative. There, he was charged with running technology-heavy modernization projects for the Army. Murray previously was a deputy to the Chief of Staff of the US Army, serving as principal advisor for materiel requirements. He capped his nearly four-decade Army career in 2022. (Source: PR Newswire)
REST OF THE WORLD APPOINTMENTS
26 May 23. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited on Friday informed that Jai Prakash Srivastava, Director R&D with additional charge of Director Finance has been designated as Chief Financial Officer of the company, the company announced through an exchange filing. Jai Prakash Srivastava, Director (Engineering, Research & Development) and Board Member, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) also holds the additional charge of Director (Finance), BHEL. Shri Srivastava is a 1985 batch Mechanical Engineering graduate from IIT Roorkee (erstwhile University of Roorkee) with a postgraduate degree in Business Administration. Shri Srivastava has subsequently also undergone an Advanced Management Programme from IIM, Calcutta. (Source: Google/https://www.freepressjournal.in/business)
26 May 23. Embraer Announces New Chief Commercial Officer for Defense & Security International Business. Following the appointment of Bosco da Costa Junior as President & CEO of Embraer Defense & Security in November 2022, Embraer strengthens its leadership to accelerate the internationalization of its Defense unit, building on the excellent moment of the C-390 Millennium and the A-29 Super Tucano in the global market. Today Embraer announced the appointment of Frederico Lemos to the position of Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) for international businesses of Embraer Defense & Security. Bosco da Costa Junior retains commercial leadership for Brazil and Latin America, in addition to the CEO role. Lemos will take office on June 1 and will be based in Lisbon, Portugal.