30 Nov 05. AgustaWestland broke ground on an expansion of its U.S. subsidiary manufacturing facility, Agusta aerospace corporation (AAC), in Philadelphia, PA. The new, state-of-the-art facility will be used for the production of the AB139 helicopter. The groundbreaking was commemorated by a ceremony at the site of the new facility with a number of distinguished guests and elected officials, including Congressman Curt Weldon (R-PA.), Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA.), and Italian Ambassador to the United States Giovanni Castellaneta. The new facility will be constructed beginning early next year and completed by the end of 2006.
29 Nov 05. Barco announced that it is responding to the growing demand for Barco resources in classified programs for US government and military customers by establishing a wholly owned US company named Barco Federal Systems Corporation (BFS). BFS will be headquartered in Duluth, GA, where Barco has a major research and development, manufacturing and service facility. “The formation of BFS is a major step for Barco and for our US customers, because it signifies our commitment to providing the highest level of technology and expertise in even more programs than we do now,” says Dave Scott, president of Barco North America.
28 Nov 05. India’s Tata group is to set up a development centre in the UK Midlands to capitalise on new ideas in automotive engineering and technology in
Europe. When the centre is fully operational, it is expected to employ more than 1,000 people providing development expertise for the Tata conglomerate, which spans vehicles, steel and IT. The US$6m project near Coventry reinforces Tata’s commitment to the UK market following the collapse of a car distribution deal with Rover, the British carmaker, which went into receivership this year. It will initially have 50 to 150 workers. Recruitment has begun for the centre, though a date has yet to be set for its opening.
30 Nov 05. Air Force Maj. Gen. Ronald F. Sams for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general with assignment as the inspector general of the Air Force, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Sams is currently serving as director of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, deputy chief of staff, Air and Space Operations, Headquarters United States Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
28 Nov 05. BAE Systems Inc., today announced the appointment of Gen. J.H. Binford Peay, III (U.S. Army, Ret.) and Adm. Robert Natter (U.S. Navy, Ret.) to its Board of Directors. Both are former directors of United Defense, which was acquired by BAE Systems in June.
01 Dec 05. Nortel Networks Corp. said two senior executives are leaving the company, in a sign that new Chief Executive Mike Zafirovski is wasting little time putting in place his own management team. Nortel spokeswoman Patricia Vernon confirmed that Brian McFadden, chief research officer, and Sue Spradley, president of global services and operations, are leaving. She declined to comment on the reasons for the departures.
28 Nov 05. Patrice Durand, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of the Thales Group since July 2005, will also take responsibility for the Legal function. With effect from 2 January 2006, he will become Senior Vice President, Company Secretary and Chief Financial Officer of the Thales Group.
28 Nov 05. Eric Thomas is appointed Vice President, General Counsel of the Thales Group, replacing Andrew Hibbert, who leaves the Group. Eric Thomas will report to Patrice Durand. His appointment also takes effect from 2 January 2006.
28 Nov 05. Northrop Grumman Corporation has appointed John J. Chino as deputy of the company’s Electronic Systems sector and vice president and general manager of enterprise excellence. He will report to James F. Pitts, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems.