CFO Departure. Science Applications International Corp. says its Chief Financial Officer, John Hartley, will resign from the company at the end of June. Hartley is with the company since 2001 and helped move the corporate headquarters from San Diego to Northern Virginia in 2009. Hartley, 50, says he is returning to Southern California to have more time with his family after commuting to the East Coast for the last four years.
Make it Easy. A key lesson from a nearly two-year old laboratory test project of biometric exit technologies and processes for potential application to foreign nationals leaving the United States by air is the ease of use by these people, the head of the project, which is managed by the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate, tells Defense Daily. “With few exceptions, biometric collection and matching systems perform very well, but what set some concepts apart from others, what really drives or inhibits overall system performance, is not usually the technology itself, but rather the degree to which it can be seamlessly integrated into trusted, familiar, intuitive, and user-friendly processes,” says Arun Vemery, the project manager for the Air Entry/Exit Re-engineering partnership between S&T and Customs and Border Protection.
Low Point. During a contentious House Homeland Security Committee markup on Wednesday of a bill aimed at countering the messaging of violent extremists, Democrats Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas) and Loretta Sanchez (Calif.) call the rancor between their party mates and Republicans during the debate a “low point” for the committee. Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) agrees, albeit for different reasons. McCaul is upset that that Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) offers nine amendments to the bill at the last minute when the committee is trying to wrap up work so members could make their flights home to begin the Easter recess. He says that Democrats had two weeks to respond to his offer for input into the bill. Thompson complains there were no hearings on the bill. While Thompson’s amendments are voted down en bloc by voice vote, McCaul says he is willing to consider changes to the bill before it goes to the House floor.
Capitol Hill Week Ahead. The House and Senate are on spring break this week. The Senate will return April 4, but the House won’t be back in session until the week after that.
MK 41 Launcher Line Gets Makeover. Lockheed Martin upgrades its MK 41 Vertical Launching System production line in Middle River, Md. According to a news release, the new line includes more than 80 new tools to improve production flow. Lockheed in 2014 is awarded a $235 million contract that would extend MK 41 production until 2022. The MK 41 launcher is installed on U.S. Navy service ships, particularly cruisers and destroyers, as well as more than 20 ship classes operated by 12 partner nations.
C-40A Clipper Support. The Navy awards AAR a $104 million contract for five years of C-40A Clipper fleet logistics support. Heavy maintenance on the aircraft, a derivative of the Boeing 737-700 commercial plane, will be performed at AAR’s maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Oklahoma City, according to a press release. The company will also support logistics at five naval air stations. Subcontractor Lockheed Martin Commercial Engine Solutions will provide engine repair work.
LCS Contract. Austal receives a $14 million contract modification to conduct studies and analysis on its variant of the littoral combat ship, the Independence class. The company will provide engineering and design services to reduce costs associated with the Independence class, it said in a news release. The award exercises an option on the company’s 10-ship block buy contact. “Our workforce is strong, the production line is hot, and our LCS program has a great deal of momentum right now,” says Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle. “Our partnership with the Navy remains strong as we continue to deliver the LCS and prepare for the advanced high-speed future frigate.” Austal picks up another $14 million contract modification earlier this month for planning of needed corrections and upgrades that were identified during ship construction.
Communications Contract. The U.S. Navy awards Bethel-Webcor JV-1 a $70 million firm-fixed-price contract for the design and construction of a communication information system (CIS) operations complex at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Contract work involves the design and construction of facilities and the installation of telecommunications cable connecting the new remote switch and the new CIS operations complex. The contract includes one unexercised option worth over $4 million. The contract is competitively procured through the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with 15 proposals received. Fiscal 2014 military construction contract funds of the full amount are obligated at award time and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Work will be performed in Oceanside, Calif. and is expected to be complete by January 2020. The contracting authority is the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, in San Diego, Calif.
U.S.-Israel Cyber Bill. Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) introduces a bill to authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a U.S.-Israel Center for Excellence in Cybersecurity (H.R. 4860) to have both countries collaborate on global cybersecurity issues. “The U.S.-Israel Cybersecurity Cooperation Act will enhance the framework for leaders from our two nations to work together and develop new ways to cooperate on cybersecurity,” Cicilline says in a statement. This comes following the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act, signed by President Obama in Dec. 2014, which identifies cybersecurity as a major priority for the U.S. Co-sponsors include Reps. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Congressman Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Bill Keating (D-Mass.), Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.), Jared Polis (D-Colo.), and Lois Frankel (D-Fla.).
…And a U.S.-India Cooperation Bill. Rep. George Holding (R-N.C.) introduces a bill to strengthen U.S. and Indian partnerships on defense technology, the U.S.-India Defense Technology and Partnership Act (H.R. 4825). The bill calls for the President to annually assess the extent to which India possesses strategic operational capabilities to execute military operations of mutual interest between the U.S. and India and the use such assessment to inform the review by the U.S. for applications to sell or export defense and technical material under the Arms Export Control Act.
Obama-Xi Meeting. President Obama and Chinese President Ji Jinping are set to have a bilateral meeting on the margins of the upcoming Nuclear Security Summit on March 31. The meeting is an opportunity to discuss several issues of mutual interest and allow both leaders to “address areas of disagreement constructively,” the White House says in a statement. The range of issues will likely include Syria, climate change, economic issues, trade issues, cybersecurity, and human rights concerns, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner says at a press briefing.
Vulcan BE-4 PDR. United Launch Alliance (ULA) successfully completes the preliminary design review (PDR) for the Vulcan Centaur launch vehicle with Blue Origin’s BE-4 first stage. The PDR, a major milestone, confirms that the design meets the requirements for the diverse set of missions it will support. ULA President and CEO Tory Bruno says in a statement the company has a strong path for its 2019 flight test. Vulcan Centaur is both the first stage and upper stage. ULA spokeswoman Jessica Rye says the PDR for the vehicle with Aerojet Rocketdyne’s AR-1 engine will take place next year.
Rutherford Engine. Rocket Lab qualifies its Rutherford engine for flight after completion of a rigorous test program, according to a company statement. Rocket Lab creates the 5,000 lbf engine specifically for its Electron launch vehicle. The company puts Rutherford through extensive tests over two years and qualifies it after more than 200 engine hot fires. The engine will first fly during the Electron test program scheduled to run throughout the second half of 2016. Preparations are underway to begin manufacturing the engines at volume.
CHAMP. The Air Force awards Raytheon a $4.8 million contract to continue the Counter-Electronics High Power Microwave Advanced Missile (CHAMP) aboard the conventional Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM). CHAMP is a non-kinetic payload that can disable adversaries’ electronic systems. Raytheon Missile Systems Ktech will refurbish the CHAMP payload and a pair of CALCMs and deliver them to the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) by March 2017. Raytheon says this is the first major CHAMP activity since AFRL demonstrated the technology in 2012. The CHAMP industry team includes CALCM manufacturer Boeing and Sandia National Laboratories.
John Hesterman. Air Force Assistant Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. John Hesterman files a retirement request after an Air Force inspector general investigation substantiates misconduct, according to Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek. An investigation finds that between March 2010 and May 2011 when Hesterman was a major general, he exchanges inappropriate emails with an Air Force female lieutenant colonel. The Air Force IG finds these exchanges constitute an unprofessional relationship. The investigation does not find any additional misconduct. Hesterman relinquishes his duties and is removed as assistant vice chief of staff, effective March 17.
AMRAAM. The Air Force awards Raytheon a $573 million contract modification to exercise the option on a previously awarded contract for Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missiles (AMRAAM), according to a company statement. Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz., and Raytheon expects to complete by February 2019.
Trident II (D5). U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) test launches three Trident II (D5) missiles the week of March 13 as part of a Follow-on Commander’s Evaluation Test (FCET), according to a STRATCOM statement. The test launches demonstrate the missiles are safe, secure, effective and reliable, Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work says in a statement. Trident II (D5) is the nuclear submarine-based arm of the nuclear triad.
Lori Robinson. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter selects Air Force Gen. Lori Robinson to serve as the next chief of U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), according to a DoD statement. Robinson currently serves as commander of Pacific Air Forces and is air component commander for U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM). Robinson is a senior air battle manager with more than 900 flight hours in the E-3B/C Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft and the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) aircraft. Her nomination is subject to Senate confirmation.
Lisa Disbrow. The Senate in February confirms Lisa Disbrow as the Air Force’s new under secretary, according to a service statement. In this position, Disbrow oversees the Air Force’s annual budget of more than $120 billion and serves as the co-chair of the top Air Force corporate decision making body the Air Force Council.
MUOS-5. United Launch Alliance (ULA) delays the Navy’s Mobile User Objective System-5 (MUOS-5) launch from May 5 to no earlier than May 12 to further review the data anomaly experienced during the OA-6 mission to ISS on March 22. MUOS-5 is secure at the payload processing facility. The delay allows additional time to review the data and confirm readiness for the mission. ULA is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing.
JSTARS Recap. The Air Force on March 24 awards a pair of contracts to Northrop Grumman and Raytheon for the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) Recapitalization program, according to a DoD statement. Northrop Grumman receives a not-to-exceed $70 million undefinitized contract action while Raytheon receives the same contract structure, but not to exceed $60 million. Both contractors will provide nonrecurring hardware and software engineering activities to ensure radars are scaled to meet JSTARS Recap wide area surveillance requirements.