Mayor re-LINKS partnership

More than a month after a flap seemed to have separated a 10-year economic development partnership, the city of Columbus and the Golden Triangle Development LINK have renewed ties. On Feb. 26, LINK confirmed, through a media release, it would resume recruiting retail opportunities for Columbus. The tri-county economic development agency, which started in Columbus and Lowndes County, announced Jan. 23 that the city would be going it alone. The stark announcement was made public only a couple of days after the City Council began considering contracting with a Birmingham, Ala., retail recruitment firm to augment LINK’s work. Councilmen appeared to be on the verge of executing a contract with the Alabama firm until Mayor Robert Smith suggested tabling it until there were further discussions with LINK. On Wednesday, LINK executive committee chair Gordon Flowers said it was Smith who was instrumental in bringing the two parties back together. Columbus Dispatch. 02/27/14.

LINK leader earns TVA award

The CEO of Mississippi’s Golden Triangle Development LINK, Joe Higgins Jr., was honored Feb. 27 in Nashville, Tenn., with the inaugural Mega Developer Award from the Tennessee Valley Authority. The regional award recognizes an individual for their extraordinary economic development contributions in the TVA region. LINK represents the economic development interests for East-Central Mississippi and the communities of Starkville, Columbus and West Point. Under Higgins’ leadership, there have been 140 major community and economic development projects with the creation of 16,000 manufacturing jobs. Source: Chattanoogan.com. 02/27/14.

SELs oppose DeCA proposal

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Michael Stevens, a former Pensacola (Fla.) Naval Air Station command master chief, was among the top enlisted members of the three services going against the grain of the Defense Department’s proposed FY-2015 budget plan calling for reducing by two-thirds subsidies for commissaries. The inevitability of it going into affect would mean higher prices to military, military retirees and both their families shopping at Mississippi's four commissaries. MCPON Stevens recommended a major review the business practices at the Defense Commissary Agency. Under Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s plan, the Pentagon wants to cut $1 billion in taxpayer-subsidies for commissaries over the next three years (to $400 million). Source: Navy Times, 02/26/14.
(Central Mississippi/Golden Triangle note: There are DeCA commissaries located at Naval Air Station Meridian, Columbus Air Force Base, Keesler AFB and at the Gulfport Naval Construction Battalion Center.)

Keesler medical in midst of renovation

Keesler Medical Center (81st Medical Group at Keesler AFB, Miss.) is in the midst of a $68 million renovation that will take until mid-2017 to complete. Much of the KMC facility dates to 1957. The project is realigning outpatient specialty clinics; reworks surgical facilities with top-notch ORs; and with new hematology-oncology and dialysis suites. It consolidates the entire campus by moving dental and mental health clinics with the main building. Source: 81st Medical Group, 02/26/14.
(Central Mississippi/Golden Triangle note: Keesler AFB’s 81st Training Wing is host command and includes Training, Mission Support and the KMC Medical groups. KMC provides treatment to active duty and thousands of Mississippi retirees. The 81st TG is one of the largest active duty technical training groups in the AF offering cutting-edge technology and training in the areas of air traffic control and airfield management.)

MSU among top in cyber-security

Information-technology security professionals agree that Mississippi State University features one of the nation's best cyber-security programs. According to a Hewlett Packard-sponsored survey, by the Ponemon Institute, released Monday, MSU's cyber-security courses and degree programs rank among the top three in the nation for academic excellence and practical relevance. Source: WCBI 02/24/14.

Airbus announces 2 helo buys

Airbus Helicopters Inc. announced Tuesday that CHI Aviation – a search and rescue and passenger transport firm for oil and gas customers on the Gulf Coast and Alaska – has purchased two EC175s. The medium helicopters are to be delivered in 2017. The EC175s are the first Airbus Helicopters purchases by CHI and will be based at the company’s Galliano, La., location. Source: PR Web 02/25/14.
(Central Mississippi/Golden Triangle note: Airbus Helicopters has a large manufacturing and production facility in Columbus, Miss.)

NASM activates security exercise

Naval Air Station Meridian civilian and military personnel participated in active shooter training Feb. 21 as part of the Navy’s Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2014 force protection and anti-terrorism training exercise to test base security forces. SC-CS 14 allows security personnel to sharpen training skills and situational readiness through real life training scenarios. The exercise was conducted to ensure NASM was ready to respond to any threat, said base commander, Capt. Charles C. Moore II. It also provides real-time decision making to ensure personnel can provide safety of base equipment, personnel, service members and their families. Source: NAS Meridian, 02/21/14.

MSU dean moving to aerospace

Mississippi State University’s Bagley College of Engineering Dean Achille Messac, the school’s first African American dean, will be transitioning March 1 into a tenured professor position within the aerospace engineering department, according to an email from the provost's office. Provost Jerry Gilbert is in discussion to appoint an interim dean. MSU Chief Communications Officer Sid Salter confirmed the email but would not comment on personnel moves. MSU has not officially announced the transition. Messac was hired in 2013 from Syracuse University's mechanical and aerospace engineering department. Source: Columbus Dispatch, 02/21/14.

MS Silicon to invest $200M

Governor Phil Bryant and the Mississippi Development Authority announced a new silicon metal production company, Mississippi Silicon, will be investing $200 million dollars in the project and will create 200 jobs in the Tishomingo County. The new Mississippi-based facility will produce silicon metal for a broad range of industries in the U.S. including aluminum production, aerospace, automotive and chemical industries. Source: PR Web, 2/20/14.

GMI challenges Miss. permit

On Feb. 12, the Selma, Ala.-based Globe Metallurgical Inc filed for a formal hearing before the Mississippi Environmental Quality Permit Board challenging the fast-tracking permit for Mississippi Silicon, a newly established firm to be located in Tishomingo County. GBI claims the site would be allowed to emit air pollutants without certain control devices standard in the U.S. industry. MS Silicon is affiliated with Rima Holdings USA and Rima Industrial SA of Brazil. Source: Globe News Wire 02/12/14.

L-3 to host AIA’s suppliers’ meeting

Aerospace Industries Association’s spring supplier management council session, to be hosted by L-3 Communications, is scheduled for March 25-27 in Arlington, Texas. Features will include business-to-business sessions and a dinner meeting with L-3 division representatives and featuring government and industry panels and speakers. L-3 CEO Michael T. Strianese is chairman of AIA’s Board of Governors and GE Aviation CEO David L. Joyce is serving as Vice Chairman for 2014. For more information call Garnett Black at (703) 358-1095. Source: AIA, 02/19/14.
(Central Mississippi note: L-3 Communications has a System Field Support facility at Madison, Miss. GE Aviation has two aviation manufacturing plants in Mississippi at Batesville and Ellisville.)

AE Columbus earns Lakota work

EADS-North America of Herndon, Va., was awarded a $22,856,085 Army contract modification to acquire four UH-72A Lakota helicopters with engine inlet barrier filters and ARC-231 radios. FY-2014 Army funds were obligated at the time of the award. The work is to be performed at EADS-Airbus group’s American Eurocopter facility in Columbus, Miss., facility with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2015. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 02/18/14)

USM project headed for ISS

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – A University of Southern Mississippi project hopes to get a step closer to seeing if an Earth-born organism can live on Mars. USM Professor Scott Milroy recently learned that his NASA-funded “Pioneering Mars” project was selected for payload integration aboard the International Space Station. Milroy’s project is one of two chosen from the NASA ISS National Laboratory Education Project for transport to the ISS sometime in 2015. Milroy notes that while many of the physical, chemical, and climatic conditions of Mars can be simulated in an Earth-bound laboratory, the capability to maintain living cultures, like the blue-green algae in this experiment, in reduced gravity conditions can only be explored on the ISS. Milroy is an associate professor of marine science. (Source: Hattiesburg American, 02/17/14)

Retired L-3 Madison CEO joins Galaxy

WINFIELD, Kan. – A retired CEO and director of the Madison, Miss.-based L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC, Daniel A. Grafton, has joined the board of directors of Galaxy Tool Holding Corp and its subsidiary Galaxy Technologies Corp. Galaxy Technologies is a major supplier for the design, manufacturing and assembly of production tooling for aerospace, defense and plastics markets. Among some of its major customers are Boeing, Spirit Aerosystems, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin and Rubbermaid. Source: Business Wire, 02/12/14.
[Central Mississippi/Gulf Coast Note: Grafton is in the Mississippi Business Hall of Fame. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance and Accounting from the University of South Alabama in Mobile and a master’s degree in business from Mississippi College.]

L-3 Madison wins $6M+ Navy pact

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace of Madison, Miss., was awarded a $6,530,626 firm-fixed-price Navy contract Feb. 12 for maintenance and logistics services in support of the KC-130J aircraft for the government of Kuwait - under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in Kuwait and expected to be completed in August 2015. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-14-D-0015). Source: Defense.gov 02/12/14.

Airbus posts first blue-collar jobs at Mobile

MOBILE, Ala. -- Airbus is hiring for the first wave of hourly manufacturing jobs at its A320 final assembly line being built at Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley. Positions include aircraft structure/installation mechanics, installers for aircraft cabin furnishings and aircraft electricians. Starting pay for all of the positions is from $13 to $22 per hour plus benefits. All positions require a minimum of a high school diploma or GED and at least five years' experience in aircraft maintenance. The $600 million plant will come online in 2015 and eventually employ 1,000 workers. (Source: AL.com, Feb. 11, 2014)
[Central Mississippi note: Airbus subsidiary Airbus Helicopters has a production facility at Columbus, Miss.]

Airbus-Columbus hiring engineers

Airbus Helicopters is looking to hire a senior and an associate flight test engineer for its production and flight test division at Columbus, Miss. The senior test engineer plans, directs and conducts helicopter ground and flight test projects. Deadline for applying is March 30. The associate schedules and conducts helicopter ground and flight test projects. Deadline for applying is March 4. Source: Airbus Helicopters.

Mississippi firm part of new NGJ contract

Naval Air Systems Command confirmed last week that Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems has been awarded a $279.4M protested contract to build the Next-Generation Jammer (NGJ) for the carrier-based EA-18G Growlers. Defense industry rival BAE Systems had formally protested the July 2013 award to Raytheon. Part of that contract work will be conducted at Raytheon's Forest, Miss., facility. Source: Avionics Intelligence, Feb. 9, 2014.

Keesler’s flying surgeon to lead air mobility command

KEESLER AFB, Miss. - Keesler Medical Center Commander Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Kory Cornum - who encouraged the innovative "Hospital Without Walls" concept allowing flight surgeons and critical care air transport teams to share their expertise across the Gulf Coast region -- has been selected to become the Air Mobility Command Surgeon at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. He will be succeeded by Col. (Dr.) Thomas Harrell, commander of the Defense Department-Veterans Affairs Joint Venture Hospital at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. The change of command ceremony will be March 28. KMC partners with the Air Force Reserve Command's 403rd Wing's medical unit here to support KMC’s Total Force flying mission, including tactical airlift and the weather reconnaissance capability of the "Hurricane Hunters." Cornum also served an operational deployment, while assigned to the 58th Fighter Squadron at Eglin AFB, Fla., in support of Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Source: Keesler AFB, Feb. 4, 2014.

United reaches agreement with flight attendants union

United Airlines reached an agreement with the Association of Flight Attendants union Friday that avoids involuntary furlough through improved voluntary options. Without the deal, 688 flight attendants would have faced furloughs in April. The job loss threat was a result of the 2010 merger of United and Continental Airlines. The union represents about 25,000 workers. (Source: PRNewswire, Feb. 7, 2014)
[Central Mississippi/Golden Triangle note: In the Gulf Coast region, United serves New Orleans, Gulfport/Biloxi, Mobile, Ala., and Pensacola and Eglin/Valparaiso, Fla.]

Palazzo signs letter in support of LCS

New 1st District Alabama Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-Mobile) and 21 colleagues signed and sent a letter to President Barack Obama Feb. 6 in support of the Littoral Combat Ship program. One of the two variants is built in the Port City of Mobile. The entire Alabama congressional delegation was joined by Gulf Coast neighbor-lawmakers Steven Palazzo (R-Biloxi, Miss.) and Jeff Miller (R-Pensacola, Fla.). Byrne and Rep. Reid Ribble (R-Wis.) – home to the second variant - co-wrote the letter. Unofficial reports have indicated the Navy is considering cutting back - from 52 to 32 – the number of LCS it plans to acquire. Pointing out the current budget challenges, the Bryne letter highlights the high-water marks of the program contractors’ abilities to bring the ship to the fleet on budget and on time and support of building all 52 ships for the Navy. The Alabama-based LCS contract is held by Austal USA – Mobile’s largest employer. LCS critics contend the vessel does not meet minimum combat requirements. Source: AL.com, Feb. 7, 2014.

MSU students assist with Gulf maritime museum

Mississippi State University architecture students, partnering with Gulf Coast residents, have been developing a vision for the Mississippi Maritime and Warship Museum in Pascagoula. MSU students are assisting with a layout for two buildings at the main museum site – the former Pascagoula High School math and band facilities. The cost to refurbish the museum may cost as much as $1.7 million and take two years to complete. Last weekend, 34 MSU architectural students returned to the coast to examine Lowry Island for a potential Phase II for the museum. The island is being considered for the potential site for a large sea-going vessel as part of the museum. Source: Biloxi Sun Herald, Feb. 6, 2014.

NSF funds UAH-MSU planning session for research center

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- The National Science Foundation has funded a University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) session designed to establish an Industry and University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) at UAH. The proposed center, in partnership with Mississippi State University (MSU) in Starkville would concentrate on advanced composites in transportation vehicles, including the automotive and aerospace industries - key sectors in the Southeast’s economy. The planned I/UCRC site would also allow UAH to act as a co-equal partner with MSU to perform related research. The $11,500 grant will fund UAH’s upcoming center planning workshop. A final decision on the research center will come in the first quarter of 2015. So far, UAH and MSU have the support of more than 20 potential industry partners. (Source: al.com, Feb. 6, 2014)

Aurora-Columbus to build VTOL

Aurora Flight Services plans to design and build its LightningStrike aircraft, as part of a Phase I contract award announced Feb. 4, for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Vertical Takeoff and Landing X-Plane program. The aircraft is to be built at Aurora’s production plant in Columbus, Miss. There was no monetary contract award provided for the DARPA contract. The VTOL aircraft is designed for hover and speed that meet DARPA's performance and load-capacity goals. Aurora plans to design LightningStrike in Manassas, Va. Source: Aurora Flight Services, Feb. 4, 2014.