AIAA aviation conference in DC

AIAA AVIATION 2016 will combine the aspects of technical conferences with insight from aviation leaderships to provide a forum for navigating key challenges and opportunities affecting the future of global aviation policy, planning, Research & Development, security, environmental issues, and international markets. The technical program will contain more than 1,500 technical presentations regarding aviation and aerodynamic research, and offering opportunities for collaboration and discussion on high-impact topics. The conference is June 13-17 in Washington, DC. (Source: AAIA 12/15)

FAA changes for AMT schools

The Federal Aviation Administration has extended its comment period for a proposed change to Part 147 regulations governing the curriculum and operations of FAA-certified aviation maintenance technician (AMT) schools. The new comment period closes Feb. 1. According to the FAA, existing curriculum is “outdated, does not meet current industry needs and can be changed only through Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) and comment rulemaking.” In addition, the proposed amendments would clarify existing requirements, remove gender-specific references and eliminate duplication found in some sections of the current rules. (Source: AIN Online 12/29/15)

Some 38M holiday air travelers

DALLAS - Airlines are shifting thousands of flight times, and adding dozens of red-eyes, as they try to avoid delays while hauling millions of passengers through the Christmas weekend. Success or failure could all depend on the weather. Airlines are expecting some 38 million passengers over a 17-day period spanning Christmas and New Year’s, an increase of about 3 percent, according to the trade group Airlines for America. (Source: The AP 12/23/15)

FAA drone registry online

The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) drone registry began operation Dec. 21. By the end of this week, more than 45,000 people had used the online service to register their drones. If you own a drone, or any model aircraft, that weighs between 0.55 pounds and 55 pounds - including payloads - you have to register with the FAA. Registration is free until Jan. 21. 2016. Afterwards, it’ll cost $5. Registration is valid for three years. If you don’t register, there is a risk for penalties up to $27,500 and/or jail time. (Source: Tech Crunch 12/24/15)

Miss. is ANG cyber protect team

The Mississippi National Guard will be part of a 39-member Cyber Protection Team that includes the states of Louisiana and Texas. Mississippi will be one of 10 Army National Guard cyber protection team sites expected to be activated by the end of FY 2019, according to Col. Lee Smithson, director of military support for the MNG. Cyber team goals are to protect military networks, and safeguard the public from potential criminal or terroristic cyber-attacks. Smithson believes Mississippi was chosen in part due to the strength of the Mississippi State University’s computer science department and its Distributed Analytics and Security Institute, which will help train guardsmen to protect critical infrastructure, and respond to potential incidents. (Source: Mississippi Public Broadcasting 12/21/15)

MDA has new marketing leader

Pamela Weaver has been named chief marketing officer of the state’s lead economic development agency, the Mississippi Development Authority. As CMO, Weaver will lead MDA’s Marketing and Communications team’s efforts to promote investment and job creation throughout the state. Weaver has served the past eight years as communications director for the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office. Weaver, an Ocean Springs native, is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi with degrees in mass communication and political science. She is also a former news anchor and reporter at WDAM-TV in Hattiesburg. Weaver replaces Marlo Dorsey, who resigned in November. (Source: Mississippi Business Journal 12/21/15)

AHI delivers another H125 AStar

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Airbus Helicopters Inc. has delivered a new H125 AStar to the Lee County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office in Fort Myers. The H125 will be an addition to the county’s AStar fleet to three helicopters. The LCSO performs a wide variety of missions including law enforcement patrol and searches for missing persons. The agency will have a hoist installed to perform additional search and rescue missions along its coastal region. AHI’s H125 (formerly AS350 B3e) is the latest version of the company’s AStar series that are built in Columbus, Miss. (Airbus Helicopter Inc. 12/18/15)

ATK-Iuka to build rocket structures

DULLES, Va. - Orbital ATK Inc.  an aerospace and defense technologies company, announced Dec. 17 it had been awarded a contract from United Launch Alliance (ULA) for large-size composite structures to be used for the Atlas V and Delta IV vehicles in support of the current Air Force Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles programs. Orbital ATK will produce large composite structures for ULA with deliveries from 2016 to early 2019. Hardware from the order will support both Atlas V and Delta IV launches through 2021. (Source: WCBI 12/17/15) Central Mississippi Note: All of the structures will be fabricated at Orbital ATK’s Large Structures Center of Excellence in Iuka, Miss., employing advanced fiber placement and hand lay-up processes, automated machining and ultrasonic inspection techniques.

Miss. benes from omnibus bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) highlighted provisions in a FY 2016 omnibus appropriations bill signed by President Obama that will benefit Mississippi and its role in supporting national security. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 combines the 12 annual appropriations bills to fund government programs through September 2016. Aviation items of interest ensures the Air Force does not retire or divest its C-130 Hurricane Hunter fleet at Keesler AFB; funding for the LPD 28 amphibious transport dock ship to be built at HII Pascagoula; advanced procurement for construction of the LHA-8 amphibious assault ship at Ingalls; 28 UH-72A ‘Lakota’ helicopters to be built at Columbus’ Golden Triangle Regional Airport; upgrade of the National Guard's Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group facility in Gulfport; and full funding for all existing contract towers at Golden Triangle Regional, Greenville Municipal, Hawkins Field in Jackson, Meridian/Key Field, Olive Branch, Stennis International, and Tupelo Regional airports. (Source: Yall Politics 12/17/15)

New MSU Raspet flight lab director

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Dallas Brooks, a nationally-recognized leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) research, development, testing, operations and integration has been named director of the Raspet Flight Research Laboratory at Mississippi State University. Previously, Brooks was the director of UAS research and development at New Mexico State University. In his leadership role at Raspet, Brooks, a 26-year Air Force veteran, also will be the associate director of research for the MSU-led Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence. (Source: Mississippi State University 12/16/15)

Catastrophic Miss. helo crash suit

NEW ORLEANS – An Oklahoma woman is claiming in U.S. district court in Louisiana that faulty maintenance caused catastrophic engine failure leading to the deadly crash of a helicopter that her husband, Brandon Ricks, was piloting. Colleen Ricks filed a lawsuit Dec. 10 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Cadorath Aerospace LaFayette LLC, H&H Turbine Services LLC and Rotorcraft Leasing Co. LLC citing negligence. Ricks, 40, was pilot of the Model 206 L-1 helicopter from Griffin Memorial Airport in Wiggins, Miss., to assist in a controlled burn by the U.S. Forest Service on March 30. The craft’s Rolls Royce engine failed, resulting in a fatal crash for Ricks and another passenger. The lawsuit states the defendants negligently performed maintenance on the helicopter from 2009-14, which led to engine failure. Colleen Ricks seeks a jury trial and punitive and compensatory damages. (Source: Louisiana Record 12/15/15)

Afghan duo missing from Ga. base

ATLANTA - Two Afghanistan Air Force maintenance personnel in training at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., have been missing from the base since Dec. 7, when they did not report back to duty after a weekend break from training. The duo had been screened before entering the country and there is no indication they pose a threat, base officials said. The men did not report Dec. 7 for continued training with the 81st Fighter Squadron, base officials said. Federal, local and state agencies are working with the military to locate them. The names of the two men, who were scheduled to graduate at the end of December, have not been released. The duo had been at Moody under training order since February. (Source: The AP 12/09/15) Central Mississippi Note: The 81st Fighter Squadron is a tenant command at Moody AFB, but falls under the command of the 14th Operations Group and 14th Flying Training Wing at Columbus AFB, Miss.

Lakota may be ’17 budget target

The Defense Department is putting the final touches to its FY 2017 budget requests, which will call for slowing down program production and limiting R&D funds to protect personnel and readiness. DOD’s top money-handlers claim in order to make up a $15 billion between mandated congressional goals and Pentagon necessities will require targeting the equipment side of the budget. F-35 Joint Strike Fighter production will likely be slowed. CH-47F and UH-60M Army helicopters - with multi-year procurement deals - are unlikely to see large-scale reductions. However, the AH-64E and UH-72A “Lakota” are not currently multi-year buys and could be targets. However, the Lakota is a priority for Army helicopter training at Fort Rucker, Ala. (Source: Defense News 12/06/15) Central Mississippi Note: Airbus Helicopters Inc. builds UH-72s at its Columbus plant.

Space Cowboys rocket to ‘Star’

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State’s Space Cowboys rocket team recently earned the Shining Star Award for Technical Excellence for student organizations. Members accepted the award at the National Space Club’s 27th annual Von Braun Memorial Celebration in Huntsville, Ala. NASA hosted the event that also recognized aerospace professionals and policymakers. (Source: MSU 12/02/15)

AHI delivers first US-produced H125

Airbus Helicopters Inc. delivered its first H125 AStar helicopter produced on its new American assembly line for the Ohio State Highway Patrol. It is the first fully assembled aircraft on the company’s new helicopter production plant in Columbus, Miss. The H125 (formerly AS350 B3e) is the latest version of AHI’s long-running AStar series. It is also the first AHI civilian model fully assembled in the U.S. from parts sourced globally. (Source: AHI 12/03/15) Central Mississippi Note: AHI’s Columbus plant has also produced Army UH-72A Lakota helicopters since 2006. More than 350 aircraft have been delivered. The UH-72A will be the Army Aviation’s newest helicopter used for pilot training at Fort Rucker, Ala.

Student-team rocketry contest

Registration is now open for the world's largest annual student rocketry contest. Registration for the Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) is open to teams of 7-to-12th graders through December 4. (Source: AIA 09/01/15)

MDA temp replacements

In the wake of two departures this week, Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Glenn McCullough Jr., has named two members of the agency as temporary replacements. Daron Wilson is the interim director of Visit Mississippi, and Jeff Rent has taken the role of interim chief marketing officer. Both will assume their duties on Nov. 23. (Mississippi Business Journal 11/20/15)

L-3: New MS division HQ

MADISON, Miss. - L-3 Communications is re-establishing a division headquarters here and naming long-time Mississippian John “Ed” Boyington Jr. to lead it. Boyington will become president of L-3 Logistics Solutions, which should dispel rumors that the NY-based L-3 would be closing the Mississippi office that overhauls and distributes parts for military aircraft. Boyington worked for L-3 from 2003-09 including serving as president of L-3 Vertex Aerospace in Madison. Boyington is a retired Navy rear admiral. (Washington Times 11/20/15)

Aircraft laser pointing indictment

Landon Albritton, a 20-year-old Terry, Miss., man was charged in a federal indictment Nov. 18, and could face five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, for pointing a laser at an aircraft. U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate will hear the trial on Jan. 4. (Source: Clarion-Ledger 11/18/15) Central Mississippi Note: Thomas Hannigan, information systems manager at the Mississippi State University’s aerospace engineering department, and a flight instructor, said pointing a laser at an aircraft could instantly render a pilot’s night vision completely ineffective.

‘Lux’ named ASSURE associate

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Stephen “Lux” Luxion has been named associate director of the Mississippi State University-led Alliance for System Safety of Research Excellence (ASSURE) for Unmanned Aircraft Systems. In May, the Federal Aviation Administration designated ASSURE as the national Center of Excellence for UAS. He is a graduate of the Air Force Academy, and retired from service as a colonel in 2014. Luxion has experience in UAS research, development, testing, operations and integration. He also established the AF’s first armed UAS squadron in the wake of 9/11, and assisted NATO with its first aerospace center of excellence. At his final duty station, he was professor of aerospace studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, an ASSURE partner institution. He helped test unmanned vehicles off the coast of Florida at Embry-Riddle. (Source: Mississippi State University 11/19/15)

Key Field energy competition

Meridian’s Key Field Air National Guard Base began an energy conservation competition this summer that runs through Dec. 31. The goal is to create energy conservation awareness and reduce usage by 7 percent. To date, there has been a 4.3 percent base-wide energy reduction resulting in about $7,500 in savings for the Air Force and base. Winners are announced monthly. The overall winner will be announced in January. This quarter’s winner was the Aerospace Ground Equipment shop. (Source: Meridian Star 11/15/15)

MSU among top schools for vets

STARKVILLE, Miss - Mississippi State University was named No. 44 among the 2016 ‘Military Times Best for Vets’ college rankings. The project evaluates many factors that help make colleges a good fit for service members, military veterans and their families. More than 600 colleges took part in a detailed survey and assessment of veteran and military student services and rates of academic achievement. (Source: Mississippi State University 11/13/15) Central Mississippi Note: There are about 450 students who are veterans and service members at MSU; and another 2,100 students are dependents. A new facility at the G. V. “Sonny” Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans currently is under construction. It is to open in 2016. The building features a computer lab, study rooms and a day room.

Army opts for 12 Columbus-Lakotas

The Army has exercised $65.8 million in contract options for 12 UH-72A Lakota helicopters and mission equipment packages from Airbus Helicopters Inc. of Columbus, Miss. Since 2006, AHI has delivered nearly 350 Lakotas to the Army, Navy and Royal Thai Army. The dozen UH-72As for this contract option will be delivered in August 2017, and as the Army’s initial entry rotary-wing trainer. The Army has fielded more than 50 Lakotas to Fort Rucker, Ala., in preparation for its FY-2016 formal introduction into its training curriculum. The Army plans for 187 Lakotas to be delivered for initial-entry rotary wing training. The Navy operates UH-72As in training at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. (Clarion-Ledger 11/13/15) Central Mississippi Note: AHI’s Columbus plant opened in 2004. It also produces the AS350 B2/B3 AStar commercial helicopter.

3D Aurora Flight Services’ UAV

Stratasys Ltd., a 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions company, has announced it is teaming with Aurora Flight Sciences to deliver what is believed to be the largest, fastest, and most complex 3D printed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) ever produced. Unveiled for the first time at the Dubai Airshow, the high-speed aircraft is built using lightweight materials to achieve speeds in excess of 150 mph. The final 3D printed UAV design has a 9-foot wingspan and weighs 33 lbs. and built on the expertise of AFS’ aerospace and Stratasys’ additive manufacturing. “A primary goal for us was to show the aerospace industry just how quickly you can go from designing to building to flying a 3D printed jet-powered aircraft,” said Dan Campbell, aerospace research engineer at AFS. (Source: MFRTECH 11/10/15) Central Mississippi Note: Aurora Flight Sciences is a leader in the development and manufacturing of advanced aerospace vehicles. It operates a production plant in Columbus, Miss. Stratasys Ltd. has offices in Minneapolis, Minn., and Rehovot, Israel.

Silicon facility opens in North Miss.

The first silicon metal manufacturing facility built in the U.S. in more than 40 years is up and running in the North Mississippi town of Burnsville, about 100 miles from Memphis. The $200 million Mississippi Silicon plant began startup operations in late September on a 94-acre site in Tishomingo County. The plant is a joint venture between the Vicitin family of Brazil and CleanTech LLC. The largest single use of Silicon is as an alloy material in various grades of aluminum, mostly aluminum used for things like automotive components and aerospace products. (Source: Memphis Daily News 11/01/15)

Mid school forms Robotics Club

Northwest Middle School students in Meridian, Miss., have formed a Robotics Club as part of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) focus within the Meridian Public School District. The club is comprised of approximately 20 students who meet once a week; and recently participated in the Mississippi Best Robotics Competition at Mississippi State University. “As technology becomes more and more a part of our daily lives,” said Daniel Roberts, Robotics Club sponsor. “It is this forward thinking that will broaden the horizons for all current and future Northwest students.” (Meridian Star 10/28/15) Central Mississippi Note: The Golden Triangle region is a hot bed of STEM activity and aerospace businesses.

GEA to build twin facilities in Ala.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - GE Aviation is building twin silicon carbide production factories in Huntsville, Ala., that are expected to employ up to 300 workers. Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley made the announcement Oct. 27. Silicon carbide materials are used in jet engines. Construction begins in 2016; and expected to begin production in 2018. GE Aviation also has a plant in Auburn, Ala. (Source: The Associated Press 10/27/15) Central Mississippi Note: GE Aviation also has two aviation composites’ factories at Ellisville and Batesville, Miss.

AHI exhibits police helo in Chicago

Airbus Helicopters Inc., the U.S. sales leader in law enforcement helicopters, is exhibiting the Mississippi Department of Public Safety’s H125 AStar at the 2015 International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference in Chicago through Oct. 27. The H125 AStar is built and certified at AHI’s assembly plant in Columbus, Miss. (Vertical Magazine 10/22/15)

Airbus seeks quality inspectors

MOBILE, Ala. - Airbus Americas and its hiring partner AIDT are seeking four quality inspectors for its U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile. The quality inspectors-final assembly line are responsible for the execution and confirmation of quality inspections in the production process in the Final Assembly Line Hangar. Among other qualifications, candidates should have five years of experience, preferably with quality inspection of aircraft installations in an international aviation company, and experience as a technician with a focus on quality inspection in structure and/or system manufacturing in the aviation industry with a high school diploma. For more information and to apply, go to the AIDT site. (Source: Airbus, 10/26/15)

AHI announces new helo sales

STAT MedEvac, a major air medical transport service provider operating from western Pennsylvania, has ordered two H135-series helicopters from Airbus Helicopters Inc. to replace older aircraft. The announcement was made Oct. 20 at the Air Medical Transport Conference in Long Beach, Calif. STAT MedEvac operates some 10,000 missions annually with a fleet of 20 helicopters, including 14 EC135s and six EC145s. AHI has a large manufacturing and production facility at Columbus, Miss. (Source: PR Web 10/21/15)

DOD, fed jobs on the line

Congress was poised Oct. 20 to send an annual Defense Department policy bill to the White House setting up a showdown that could leave the Pentagon without a budget and about 400,000 federal employees facing furloughs. President Obama has until Oct. 31 to decide whether to make good on his veto threat to the National Defense Authorization Act of FY 2016. This fiscal year’s bill includes an reform of the federal pension system, price hikes for Tricare fees, and protection of the Air Force’s A-10 Thunderbolt II – that the service doesn’t want. A veto could throw the whole defense budget into uncertainty, and sending Congress scrambling for a renewed plan by Dec. 11, when the current Continuing Resolution runs out. Troops would not be paid; and some 400K civilians would be furloughed if not resolved. (Source: Stars and Stripes 10/20/15) Central Mississippi Note: There are thousands of federal workers, and contractors, throughout the state of Mississippi including those working at Columbus AFB and NAS Meridian.

L-3 earns C-12 mod contract

L-3 Communications Corp., Systems Field Support, of Madison, Miss., has been awarded an estimated $12,000,000 modification to exercise the option on previously awarded contract for C-12 contractor logistics support. Contractor will provide maintenance, repair and support functions. Work will be performed Accra, Ghana; Andrews Air Force Base, Md.; Ankara, Turkey; Bangkok, Thailand; Bogota, Columbia; Brasilia, Brazil; Budapest, Hungary; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Cairo, Egypt; Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.; Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; Gaborone, Botswana; Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.; Islamabad, Pakistan; Manila, Philippines; Nairobi, Kenya; Rabat, Morocco; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; San Angelo, Texas; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; and Yokota Air Base, Japan, and is expected to be complete by March 31, 2016. This contract involves foreign military sales. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Lifecycle Management Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 10/20/15)

AHI-Columbus delivering new helos

LONG BEACH, Calif. - Airbus Helicopters Inc. announced Oct. 19 that it has received orders from Air Medical Resource Group (AMRG) for three H125 and two EC145 helicopters. The helicopters will be put into service with AMRG’s community and hospital-based air medical transport programs across 10 states and Puerto Rico. Two of the H125s are to be delivered this month. The three new H125 AStars will bring to 20 the number in the AMRG fleet. The H125s were produced at AHI’s Columbus, Miss., plant. (Source: PR Web 10/19/15)

MS universities: RESTORE centers

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has announced that the Mississippi Based RESTORE Act Center of Excellence (MBRACE) - a consortium made up of Mississippi’s four major research universities - has been selected as the RESTORE Research Center of Excellence. Following the Deepwater Horizon disaster, Congress passed the RESTORE Act to direct a portion of Clean Water Act civil penalties collected from responsible parties to the states impacted by the oil spill. It includes a 2.5 percent funding designation to establish Research Centers of Excellence. The result of the research is to enhance coastal resource management and develop practical applications to drive technology innovation and business development. (Source: WDAM TV 10/15/15) Central Mississippi Note: The MBRACE consortium includes the University of Southern Mississippi, Jackson State University, University of Mississippi, and Mississippi State University. USM is to serve as the lead institution within the University’s Center for Gulf Studies.

AHI to display new helo at AMTC 15

Airbus Helicopters Inc. will feature its newest single-engine helicopter for air medical transport services at the Air Medical Transport Conference 2015, which opens Oct. 19 in Long Beach, Calif. AHI is the leading provider of air medical transport service helicopters in the U.S. AHI’s exhibit will include two leading helicopter models featured with the H130 engine (formerly EC130 T2), and equipped with the firm’s innovative air medical transport equipment package. The first H130 equipped air medical interior equipment package went into service in February 2015 at the Enloe Medical Center FlightCare program in Chico, Calif. Eight more H130s with the identical equipment package have been delivered recently to Air Methods Corp. (Airbus Helicopters Inc. 10/15/15) Central Mississippi Note: AHI is the U.S. affiliate of Airbus Helicopters with a large manufacturing and production facility in Columbus, Miss.

GC states’ Space Grant program

Gulf Coast states with a piece of the Interstate 10 aerospace corridor have four NASA consortiums that can help the region prepare the next generation for exciting careers in the final frontier. (Gulf Coast Reporters League October 2015)

Zombie defense blimp doesn’t work

When a Florida postal worker landed a gyrocopter on the U.S. Capitol lawn last April, his mission was to deliver letters to Congress in protest of big money donations into politics. That flight shed light on a “zombie” defense blimp initiative, called Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS), designed to protect against low-level “impossible to kill” attacks by drones and small vehicles, according to the Los Angeles Times. The postal worker, although interviewed in advance by Secret Service, didn’t alert the North American Aerospace Defense Command, which could have deployed JLENS. But, even after 17 years, JLENS doesn’t work. The LAT reported the ineffective system has survived kill efforts – by the Army - amid critical reports from the Pentagon’s Operational Test and Evaluation Office and GAO, which rated its reliability as “poor.” Foreign Policy magazine reported in May 2014 that DOD planned to “preserve the sanctity of human life” among all “non-zombie” humans. CONOP 8888’s provided for a “zombie survival plan, how-to guide for military planners trying to isolate the threat from a menu of the undead -from chicken zombies to vegetarian zombies and even ‘evil magic zombies’ - and destroy them.” (The document’s “disclaimer section” noted that “this plan was not actually designed as a joke.”) (Waterloo Cedar Falls [Iowa] Courier 10/08/15) Central Mississippi Note: The “zombie” project lives on because its manufacturer, Raytheon, spread job-producing subcontracts throughout congressional districts across 10 states; and deployed heavyweight lobbyists like former senators Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and John Breaux (D-La.).

3D aerospace printing webinar

CLEVELAND - Aerospace Manufacturing and Design and Stratasys will host a free webinar from noon to 1 p.m. (CT) Oct. 27 on advance materials for 3D printing and additive manufacturing in the aerospace industry. The second webinar on 3D printing will feature Alissa Wild, senior AM Research Engineer with Stratasys, and Kim Choate, Mass Transportation Marketing Director with SABIC’s Innovative Plastics. They will discuss advanced technical compounds developed for 3D-printing objects for aerospace applications. Eric Brothers, editor of Aerospace Manufacturing & Design will lead the webinar. (Aerospace Manufacturing & Design 10/09/15)

ATK-Iuka aids MEXSAT launch

DULLES, Va. - Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services launched the Morelos-3 satellite for Mexico's Ministry of Communications and Transportation from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Oct. 2. A United Launch Alliance Atlas V 421 rocketed into space from Space Launch Complex 41, carrying Mexico's next-generation communications satellite into orbit. Orbital AKT, a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, provided critical launch vehicle and satellite payload hardware for the Morelos-3 satellite. Morelos-3 is the second satellite that comprises the MEXSAT communications satellite system owned by Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes, a Mexican government agency. (Source: Business Wire 10/02/15) Central Mississippi Note: Orbital ATK produced the 10-foot diameter composite heat shield that provided a low-weight, high performance shield essential to protecting the first stage of the launch vehicle from engine exhaust temperatures over 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The assembly was fabricated at Orbital ATK's Iuka, Miss., facility. It was the 57th Atlas V launch using Orbital ATK-built composite structures.

AHI names new sales exec

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Airbus Helicopters Inc. named Ralph Crosby III to the position of executive director of corporate and VIP sales. Crosby, with more than a decade of experience in aircraft sales, and help lead U.S. sales and assist with Airbus Helicopters Canada. Crosby joins AHI from work as VP of sales at Dallas Jet International. AHI is the U.S. affiliate of Airbus Helicopters, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world, and a subsidiary of the Airbus Group. (Source: Airbus Helicopters Inc. 09/29/15) Central Mississippi Note: AHI also operates from its headquarters in Texas and with a large manufacturing and production facility at Columbus, Miss.

Greenwood firm's $45M pact

R.C. Construction Company of Greenwood, Miss., was one of six firms to be awarded a $45 million multiple award task order contract for airfield maintenance and construction with an estimated completion date of Sept. 29, 2020. Funding and work locations will be determined with each order. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah, Ga., is the contracting activity. (Source: DOD 09/29/15)

L-3 earns $57M T-1A pact

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace of Madison, Miss., was awarded a $57,231,214 Air Force contract for logistics support for the T-1A aircraft. The T-1A ‘Jayhawk’ is a medium-range, twin-engine jet trainer used in the advanced phase of specialized AF undergraduate student-pilot training at Columbus AFB, Miss. The ’Jayhawk’ is also used to support navigator training for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and partner-nations at Pensacola. Work will be performed at Columbus AFB, Miss.; Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.; and bases in Oklahoma and Texas. The contract is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2016. (Source: DOD 09/28/15)

EMCC ‘Communiversity’ grant

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), announced Sept. 26 the award of a $6.1 million federal grant to support construction of a workforce training facility – being called a “Communiversity” – to focus on increasing Mississippi’s advanced manufacturing and engineering capabilities in such areas as the aerospace industry. The grant will go to East Mississippi Community College (EMCC) and the training facility will be located at the entrance to the Golden Triangle Regional Global Industrial Aerospace Park in Lowndes County. The nearly 140,000 square-foot-facility is to accommodate EMCC’s Manufacturing Technology & Engineering Division with courses related to training advanced manufacturing workers. It is intended to enhance the region’s manufacturing sector by supporting workforce development for industries such as Airbus Helicopters Inc. and Yokohama Tire that already call the Golden Triangle home. (Source: U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran 09/26/15)

Preparing for fed gov’t shutdown

The Defense Department was preparing this week for a potential federal government shutdown with only days remaining for Congress to approve FY 2016’s federal budget through either full-year funding or periodic continuing resolutions (CR). DOD spokesman Peter Cook invoked hope Sept. 23 that lawmakers would strike a deal before the end of Sept. 30; and insisted the situation wasn’t dire enough to warn federal civilian workers of potential fallout. A shutdown would have a significant impact on DOD and would likely suspend some government services, although DOD declined specific details. The last shutdown was in 2013. It temporarily sent home more than 800,000 federal employees – 400,000 DOD workers - without pay. (Source: Stars & Stripes 09/23/15) Central Mississippi Note: The U.S. Senate was to consider a CR on Sept. 24 that would keep the entire federal government funded through Dec. 11 and provide about $75 billion for the military's overseas war fund. That resolution would give Congress 72 days to come up with appropriations bills, according to Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

UAS leaders meet at MSU

Proponents say Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) will be huge, but first comes safety issues in integrating those drones into an air traffic control system which wasn’t created with UAS in mind. Accomplishing that goal will take more research at places across the nation. Mississippi State University has become the lead for several of those research sites. Leaders of UAS integration research came together Sept. 15 at MSU in Starkville. (Source: Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association 09/22/15)

L-3 earns $160M mod contract

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC of Madison, Miss., was awarded a $160,238,440 modification to a previously awarded contract (N00019-14-D-0011) to exercise an option for the organizational, intermediate, and depot level maintenance and logistics services in support of approximately 200 T-45 aircraft based at Naval Air Stations (NAS) Meridian, Miss.; Kingsville, Texas; Pensacola, Fla.; and Patuxent River, Md. Logistics services to be provided include sustaining engineering, supply and government property management, and procurement of associated parts and materials. Work will be performed in Kingsville (48%); Meridian (44); Pensacola (7); and Patuxent River (1), and is expected to be completed in September 2016. Funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, is the contracting activity. (Source: DOD, 09/22/15)

Airbus-Mobile officially opens

MOBILE, Ala. - Scores of dignitaries, including corporate officials, politicians and three ambassadors, were on hand Sept. 14 for the formal opening of the $600 million Airbus A320 assembly plant at the Mobile Aeroplex, the aircraft maker's fourth A320 assembly plant and its first in the United States. (Source: GCAC 09/14/15) Central Mississippi Note: The Mobile assembly is a key part of the company’s American and global growth strategy that includes Airbus Helicopters Inc. of Columbus, Miss. The Mississippi plant assembles commercial and military helicopters, including the UH-72A 'Lakota' for the U.S. Army.

L-3 earns $29.4M mod pact

L-3 Vertex Aerospace LLC of Madison, Miss., was awarded a $29,455,331 modification to a previously awarded contract to exercise an option for aircraft maintenance and logistical life cycle support for 53 C-12 aircraft. Work will be performed in Manitoba, Canada (34%); San Angelo, Texas (34); Corpus Christi, Texas (12); and various locations within and outside of the U.S. (20). Work is expected to be completed in March 2016. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (DOD 09/14/15)

MSU, Morocco sign deal

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State University President Mark E. Keenum has been named Honorary Consul to the Kingdom of Morocco in Mississippi by Moroccan Ambassador Rachad Bouhlal, the country’s ambassador to the U.S., at an event Sept. 11 on the Starkville campus. The MSU president will work to help further develop cultural and business relationships between Mississippi and North African nation. Keenum had developed diplomatic and business relationships with key Moroccan officials. Earlier this year, the ambassador gave a speech at MSU and met Gov. Phil Bryant and state economic development officials. Keenum’s appointment was approved by the U.S. State Department. (Source: Mississippi State University 09/11/15) Central Mississippi Note: MSU also signed a memorandum of understanding agreement with the International University of Rabat for implementation of a School of Automotive Engineering on the Moroccan campus.

Madison firm earns Keesler award

Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services of Madison was awarded a $7,023,720 modification to a previously awarded contract Sept. 3 for full food services. Work will be performed at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., and is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2017. The 81st Contracting Squadron, Keesler Air Force Base, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 09/11/15)

MDA accepting biz award apps

MDA accepting biz award apps JACKSON – The Mississippi Development Authority is accepting applications for the 2015 Governor's Awards for Excellence in Exporting. The awards are designed to recognize state-wide firms for success in maintaining or increasing export sales. The awards will honor two companies in the service sector and two companies in the manufacturing sector. (Source: Hattiesburg American 09/08/15)

AHI Columbus helos for Israel

Airbus Helicopters Inc.’s final assembly plant at Columbus, Miss., will build four H125 AStars and two H145s helicopters for Elbit Systems Ltd. to replace an aging fleet of single-engine helicopters for the civilian police force of Israel – the Israel Police. Delivery of the aircraft will “mark the introduction of the H125 and H145 to Israel,” says Sebastien Delmaire, VP of Strategy and Business Development. The H125s will be the first built for a foreign customer at AHI’s Columbus plant. (Source: PR Web 09/10/15)

MSU grad heads Yellow Creek Port

JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Development Authority has announced that Robert Dexter of Tupelo has been named executive director of Yellow Creek Port, a state-owned facility near the confluence of the Tennessee River and Tombigbee Waterway in Iuka. Dexter was to be sworn in Sept. 10. He is the former operations start-up manager for GRAMMER Inc., a German-based manufacturer of seating components to the automotive industry, which set up shop in Tupelo in 2013. Source: Mississippi Development Authority 09/09/15) Central Mississippi Note: Dexter has a master’s degree in business administration from Mississippi State University and holds bachelor’s degrees in accountancy and organizational management from the University of Mississippi and Concordia University.

L-3 earns mod Navy aircraft pact

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace of Madison, Miss., was awarded a $12,009,064 Navy modification contract for maintenance, repair, and logistics support for Navy training aircraft at the Naval Air Stations Pensacola, Fla. and Corpus Christi, Texas. Sixty percent of the contract work will be performed at NAS Pensacola and is expected to be completed in September 2016. (Source: Defense Department 09/03/15)

L-3 Vertex: $21.3M Navy pact

L-3 Vertex Aerospace LLC of Madison, Miss., was awarded a $21,371,269 Navy contract for the procurement of business jet training services in support of contracted air services’ basic training; and national and single-unit training mission exercises. Work will be performed in Virginia (51 percent) and California (49 percent); and expected to be completed in August 2016. (Source: DOD 08/28/15)

MSU to host UAS public hearing

The Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership, one of six FAA-designated test sites for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), held the first of seven public meetings Aug. 24. The Virginia Tech University-managed partnership announced testing of 338 flights of 13 different platforms. Mississippi State University, which leads an FAA-selected consortium, will host its public meeting Sept. 15 in Starkville. (Source: AIN Online 08/25/15) Additional info via MSU link http://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2015/08/mississippi-state-host-faa-public-meeting/

Alternative energy for Navy MS

With a one-of-a-kind renewable energy agreement signed, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus traveled to California Aug. 21 to celebrate the goal of using that solar power pact to provide half the energy to 14 West Coast Navy and Marine bases. The solar agreement is the biggest in a growing portfolio of renewable energy projects the Navy is counting on to reach Mabus’ goal of generating 1 gigawatt of renewable power. That’s enough to fill half its shore facilities’ electricity needs by late 2016 and ahead, by several years, of the Air Force and Army. On Sept. 10, the Navy will break ground on a 42-mega watt (mw) solar farm – set for operation in late 2016 - at the Kings Bay (Ga.) Submarine Base built on 258 acres by Georgia Power – a subsidiary of The Southern Company. The Navy will also be doing renewable energy projects at bases in Pensacola, Fla.; and NAS Meridian and Gulfport, Miss., said Dennis McGinn, retired vice admiral and the Navy’s assistant secretary for energy, installations and environment. Since becoming SECNAV, Mabus – a former Mississippi governor - has been pressing for clean energy, conservation and alternate renewable energy sources. (US Naval Institute News 08/21/15)

Millsaps grad gets HII promotion

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Huntington Ingalls Industries announced Aug. 24 that 1991 Millsaps College (Miss.) graduate Karen Velkey was promoted to corporate VP of benefits and compensation. Velkey will be responsible for formulating and maintaining competitive benefit and compensation programs for HII. Velkey joined HII in April 2011 and has 20-plus years of experience in human resources. She previously worked at HII's Newport News (Va.) Shipbuilding division and Northrop Grumman. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Millsaps College, a private liberal arts college located in Jackson, Miss., and an MBA from the University of Montana. (Source: HII 08/24/15)

USM, Army helmet liners

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Continued success has been a challenge for Dr. Jeffrey Wiggins, director of University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Polymers and High Performance Materials. But, he and the USM faculty are reaching new levels after garnering positive results with the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, who wore helmets incorporated with technology developed by USM’s research laboratories. USM and the Army recently announced a $4.9 million contract for development and evaluation of a new helmet liner designed to provide enhanced head protection for war-fighters - an extension of NFL helmet research. USM’s Pneumatic Cushion liner system is radically different from traditional foam pads used for decades. USM is also among an elite group of awardees of the inaugural National Science Foundation Research Traineeship Program. The five-year $2.8 million award is designed to encourage development of potentially transformative models for science, technology, education and math (STEM) graduate training. USM’s polymer science education provides an opportunity to engage students with major corporations like GE Aviation, which has two plants in Mississippi, including at Ellisville. Teams have been working in polymer science labs at USM to create composite materials such as aviation fan blades for the global markets. These advanced materials are lightweight and durable, which translates to fuel savings, lower energy costs, and reduced maintenance for sophisticated jet engines. (Source: WDAM-TV 08/19/15)

MSU to open vet-biz center

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Entrepreneurial military veterans will soon have a new resource adjacent to Mississippi State University to help get their businesses up and running. MSU was recently selected to become one of five new locations for a Veterans Business Outreach Center designed to provide counseling, training, and other resources to former service members seeking to launch businesses. The center is designated to serve residents of Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Tennessee. It will be located next to campus in Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Park. The grand opening is set for 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. (Source: Mississippi State University 08/21/15)

GA pilots helping boost drone ops

The Defense Department has hired General Atomics to help boost its drone operations by 50 percent by 2019. GA’s Predator and Reaper drone-pilots have begun flying intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) data missions for the Defense Department in August. It’s not unusual for DOD to hire drone-makers to fly them. But the Predator is a highly capable drone that can fly at 10,000 feet and armed with missiles. DOD doesn’t have plans to allow contractors to fire those missiles, but allowing them to feed targeting data to the military trigger-pullers is a step closer in that direction. ISR is 99 percent of drone pilot flight hours. GA officials wouldn’t disclose the location of the missions or details. Air Force drone pilots fly 60 Predator and Reaper combat air patrols. On CAP aircraft is up 24/7. The Pentagon is aiming for 90 flights by 2019. But the war-time drone patrols are wearing down those AF crews; and that fact has DOD leaders turning to the Army, U.S. Special Operations Command and the aerospace defense industry. Contractors could be hired to fly older non-strike Predators for around 10 flights per day. Some see it as the first step toward allowing civilian contractors being allowed to fire weapons on behalf of the military. (Source: Defense One 08/18/15) Central Mississippi Note: General Atomics operates an Electromagnetic Systems (EMS) manufacturing and test facility in Shannon, Miss., in the the suburbs of Tupelo.

GTRA has what Havana doesn’t

The U.S. flag is flying over Havana, Cuba, once again – after almost 60 years. Havana is now the “hot ticket item” for airline jet-setters preparing to hit the tarmac’s pavement running. The U.S. estimates there will be 1.8 million potential fliers wanting to jet between Havana and America from chock-a-block sites from every decent-sized U.S. city. But, there likely going to have to wait as long as to the year 2050. The reality is two-fold: (1) Despite diplomatic relations, Cuba hasn’t decided when/if it will allow U.S. tourists and an expanded list of business people to travel to their island-nation; and (2) No U.S. airline is chomping at the bit to fly to Havana or any terribly impoverished island because there’s no existing demand to make it profitable. “There are a lot more lucrative places in the US” to fly,” says Colorado aviation consultant Michael Boyd. There are “significantly greater opportunities” for airlines to exploit … like adding service to the Golden Triangle Regional Airport (GTRA) near Columbus, Miss. In a new commentary, Boyd wrote: “(T)here are much stronger airline revenue opportunities at (GTRA) than there are (in Havana) – or all of Cuba.” For that matter, Columbus has what Cuba doesn’t – a burgeoning manufacturing industry, trained workforce, and an major foundation of global businesses from Japan, Israel, France, and the Netherlands - all of which generate enormous levels of international aviation traffic. (Forbes 08/18/15)

State biz junket to Israel

JACKSON, Miss. - Gov. Phil Bryant will lead a delegation of Mississippi firms on a business development mission to Israel from Nov. 8-12. The trip is designed to connect state businesses wanting to expand trade and create new business relationships with qualified buyers in Israel. The trip will coincide with the UVID International Conference of Unmanned Vehicles, which will be held Nov. 9-10. The conference is a joint venture between AUVSI Israel Chapter and Israel Defense, the leading organizations in the Israeli Unmanned Systems industry. Space is limited. For information visit www.mississippi.org. (Source: Mississippi Development Authority 08/18/15) Central Mississippi Note: Stark Aeriospace is headquartered in Columbus, Miss. It’s Unmanned Aerial Systems Division produces the ArrowLite and Hunter MQ-5B UAS. Stark is a wholly owned subsidiary of IAI North America, the US subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries.

AFS to furlough 25 in Conn.

BRIDEPORT, Conn. - About 25 employees at Aurora Flight Sciences’ aerospace parts maker have been furloughed for two months, says company spokesman Chip Sheller. The 60-day furloughs at AFS were effective beginning Aug. 17. “We very recently learned of a major slowdown on a helicopter program that we support,” Sheller said. “It’s very, very unexpected, and it’s a significant loss in work for approximately one year for the Bridgeport facility,” he added. The Manassas, Va.-based firm employs 136 at its Bridgeport facility. Both production workers and middle management are included in the furloughs. (Source: The Exponent Telegram 08/17/15) Central Mississippi Note: Aurora Flight Services fabricates and performs final assembly of composite aerostructures for defense and commercial aerospace customers at its Aurora Mississippi facility located at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, Miss.

MSU designated Purple Heart U

STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Military Order of the Purple Heart has designated Mississippi State University as a “Purple Heart University” for outstanding service to military veterans, service members, dependents and survivors. A presentation of the proclamation will take place Nov. 14 at halftime of the Mississippi State-Alabama football game. There are some 450 veterans and service members that are students at MSU, and the veteran community, which includes dependents, comprises more than 2,100 students on campus. (Source: Mississippi State 08/15/15)

AIA joins fight: Enough EOs

An anticipated presidential executive order (EO) requiring federal contractors to offer up to 56 hours of annual paid sick leave, four major contractor groups – including the Aerospace Industries Association - wrote Aug. 11 to the White House asking for an easing off of EOs “for the foreseeable future.” With the WH issuing more contractor-specific orders, the “rapid growth in compliance requirements is becoming untenable,” said the letter, written to Chief of Staff Denis McDonough and Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett. “The impacts, inefficiencies, and in many cases, unintended consequences are such that the interests of the American taxpayer are being significantly and negatively impacted.” The letter was signed by presidents of AIA, National Defense Industrial Association, Professional Services Council and the IT Alliance for Public Sector. Since 2009, the president has issued 12 contractor-focused executive orders that have led to 16 new regulations that have “added thousands of pages of new requirements to an already complex federal acquisition system …” The “net effect” has significantly increased the costs of doing business with the government by including “substantial investments in time and systems during a period of extreme budget pressure with very little benefit for the government.” There are hundreds of thousands of contractors nationwide. The Labor Department could not confirm such an EO was coming, but told Government Executive that the department will “continue to explore ways to expand access to paid leave” if Congress does not take action. (Source: Defense One 08/11/15)

GTRA arrests related to ISIS

JACKSON, Miss. – Two former Mississippi State University students were arrested over the weekend at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport (GTRA) in Columbus on charges they were attempting to travel abroad and join the Islamic State militant organization. A criminal charge filed Aug. 8 indicated Jaelyn Delshaun Young, 19, and Muhammad Oda Dakhlalla, 22, were arrested at GTRA and both charged with attempting and conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist group. A hearing on their detention began Monday in Oxford. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad Lamar said it will continue Aug. 11. Young and Dakhlalla are U.S. citizens. MSU’s Sid Salter said records indicate Dakhlalla graduated in May; and Young was enrolled until May as a sophomore. Charges indicate the pair had planned to fly to Greece and then take a bus to Turkey, but the couple later bought tickets on Delta leaving GTRA bound for Atlanta, Amsterdam and to Istanbul. MSU had cooperated with the investigation and provided background information on the students. GTRA Executive Director Mike Hainsey has confirmed the FBI arrested a man and woman prior to their boarding a flight Aug. 8. (Source: Fox News 08/11/15)
UPDATE 10 A.M AUGUST 11: A federal judge has denied bail to the couple pending grand jury action.

Drone crash-avoidance add-on

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Commercial drones are emerging as a mainstream venture for everyday consumers. With dozens of options on the market, finding affordable drones is fairly simple, but replacing damaged ones can be costly. Panoptes Systems, a spinoff from Aurora Flight Sciences, exists to accelerate the introduction of unmanned aircraft into American airspaces by enabling safe and efficient operation. They’ve developed eBumper4 which can automatically avoid collisions. The eBumper4 is the first obstacle avoidance product for consumer drones, said Elena Micich, Panoptes’ products VP. It has the capability to protect and control a drone in tight spaces. Designed as a retrofit kit, eBumper4 is an add-on for some of the more popular consumer drones – like DJI Phantom 2 and the 3D Robotics Iris+. It works like an automatic braking system for a car; and protects drones against collisions with objects. Central Mississippi Note: Aurora Flight Sciences is a developer and manufacturer of advanced aerospace vehicles with its HQ in Manassas, Va., and operates a production plant in Columbus, Miss. (Intelligent Aerospace 07/29/15)

Burns Dirt earns CAFB pact

Burns Dirt Construction of Columbus, Miss., was awarded a $35,000,000 contract for repair and construction of asphalt and concrete pavements base-wide, and the painting of runways, taxiways, and aprons at Columbus Air Force Base. Work will be performed at Columbus AFB and its Auxiliary Field at Shuqualak, Miss. It is expected to be complete by July 30, 2020. (Source: DOD 07/30/15)

MDOT grants to 17 airports

Grants from the Mississippi Department of Transportation have been awarded for more than $3 million to 17 statewide airports, including $31,300 to Columbus’ Golden Triangle Regional and Starkville’s Bryan Field. The Columbus grant will help lay groundwork for expansion of Mississippi State University's SMART bus system to a waiting area at GTR; and $45,485 to George M. Bryan Field in Starkville for two pieces of ground support equipment. GTR Executive Director Mike Hainsey said the funding will pay for a bus shelter similar to the ones SMART uses in Starkville. The Starkville-MSU Area Rapid Transit is a public transit system operated by MSU. (Source: Columbus Dispatch 07/29/15) Central Mississippi Note: One recipient of a 2015 MDOT grant, Stennis International Airport in Bay St. Louis, received an additional grant matched by the FAA to acquire an aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle.

L-3 wins aircraft mod pact

L-3 Communications Corp.’s Systems Field Support of Madison, Miss., was awarded a $274,596,000 Army modification to contract for continued logistic support for about 235 military aircraft (40 RC-12s, 167 C-12s, 28 UC-35s). Work will be performed in Madison with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2016. Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting authority. (Source: DOD, 07/27/15)

Iuka enables satellite launches

DULLES, Va. - Orbital ATK supplied products from multiple company locations across the United States – including its Iuka, Miss., manufacturing plant - that helped enable the successful launch of both the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V vehicle and the GPS satellite that was deployed July 15 from Cape Canaveral, Fla. The 10th GPS IIF satellite will replace first-generation GPS satellites and provide improved accuracy, signal strength and quality to U.S. war-fighters, allies and civilian users worldwide. Boeing designed and built the GPS IIF satellite for the Air Force. The Orbital ATK components were used on both the Atlas V launch vehicle and GPS satellite. These include large composite structures, retro motors, and state-of-the art solar arrays and other critical components on the GPS IIF satellite. Orbital ATK is a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies. (Source: Business Wire 07/15/15) Central Mississippi Note: For the ULA Atlas V rocket, Orbital ATK produced the 10-foot diameter composite heat shield. Orbital ATK fabricated the assembly using advanced fiber placement manufacturing techniques at the company’s Iuka, Miss., facility. It was the 55th Atlas V launch using Orbital ATK-built composite structures.

Improving the AF’s RPA mission

WASHINGTON - In response to a critical shortage of remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) pilots, the Air Force has rolled out more information about plans to alleviate the problem in the short and long term. Recent initiatives include creating bonuses for RPA pilots ($15K/year) starting October 1; placing newly trained pilots in RPA squadrons in August; and investing $100 million-plus to buy more ground control stations, simulators and contract instructors. (Source: Air Force News Service 07/16/15) Central Mississippi Note: One of the solutions is for about 80 Undergraduate Pilot Training graduates to be added over the next 12 months, and who will be assigned to RPA positions for one assignment tour to help alleviate growing pressure on overtaxed RPA crews. AF pilot training bases are at Columbus AFB, Miss.; Laughlin AFB, Texas; Vance AFB, Okla.; and Sheppard AFB, Texas.

OSHP orders AHI-Columbus helo

The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) has ordered the first H125 AStar produced on the new final assembly line of Airbus Helicopters Inc.’ production facility in Columbus, Miss. The AStar is America's most popular single-engine turbine helicopter that is now built in the United States by American workers. AHI will recognize the OSHP an Airborne Law Enforcement Association ALEA Expo 2015 ceremony in Houston on July 17. OSHP operates two AS350B2 AStars to conduct a wide variety of law enforcement missions; and have been operating AStars for more than 20 years. The helicopter was the first H125 produced from the Columbus assembly line and certified by the Federal Aviation Administration. (Source: Street Insider 07/14/15) Central Mississippi Note: AHI installed the Columbus final assembly line to allow shorter delivery times, increased aircraft customization and the ability for customers to see their aircraft being manufactured, and to offer enhanced customer support. AHI-Columbus also produces UH-72A Lakota helicopters for the Army; and has delivered more than 340 to date.

Meridian's McGrevey to join MDA

Mississippi Development Authority announced that Mike McGrevey will join the agency as deputy director beginning July 6. McGrevey comes to MDA from the City of Meridian, Miss., where he served as chief administrative officer responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the city, including economic development and working to improve the city’s infrastructure. (Source: MDA 06/29/15)

MSU, AU prosperity recognition

WASHINGTON, DC – Auburn (Ala.) University and Mississippi State University were among 18 institutions to earn recognition as the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities’ class of 2015 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities. The designation acknowledges the universities with working with public and private sector partners in their regions to support economic development. (APLU 06/24/15) AU’s self-study revealed the school has a $5.1 billion economic impact on the state’s economy; alongside side its engagement with GE Aviation, which makes jet-engine fuel nozzles and among the nation’s first to mass produce additive components for the jet propulsion industry. (Tallassee (Ala.) Tribune 06/23/15)

CAFB’s new vice wing commander

The 14th Flying Training Wing at Columbus Air Force Base will welcome its new vice wing commander, Colonel James Fisher, on June 22. As vice commander, Fisher is responsible for day-to-day operations of base support functions and mission activities for more than 3,600 people with capital assets and equipment exceeding $2.3 billion. Fisher, who entered the AF in 1991 as an Air Force ROTC graduate from Mississippi State University, is no stranger to CAFB. He was selected for pilot training and earned his wings at CAFB. Additionally, he served as a T-1A Jayhawk specialized undergraduate pilot training instructor at CAFB. His previous duty was as Director of Safety for the Air Education and Training Command at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. (Source: Columbus AFB 06/19/15)

New 172nd Wing Commander

Colonel Barry A. Blanchard of New Orleans has been named Wing Commander of the Mississippi Air National Guard’s 172nd Airlift Wing at Thompson Field in Jackson. He will direct operations, maintenance and support of the Wing's nine assigned C-17 Globemaster IIIs for global strategic and tactical airlift in support of national command authority and for the Governor of Mississippi. The 172nd is comprised of 14 units and three geographically-separated units and is capable of supporting airlift and aeromedical evacuation operations, tactical airlift control, combat civil engineering, air control, and combat readiness and training. A command/evaluator pilot with more than 4,300 hours in the C-17A, Blanchard has participated in operations Southern Watch, Enduring/Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn. While serving as a traditional guardsman, Blanchard is a pilot with FedEx. (Times Picayune 6/16/15) Central Mississippi Note: Blanchard was commissioned through the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1992. He attended undergraduate pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., and received his wings in 1993.

Wicker: NDAA veto would hurt MS

TUPELO, Miss. - U. S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) claimed that a presidential veto of the National Defense Authorization Act would have negative impacts on Mississippi’s active duty, reserve and guard facilities that have projects funded with the latest NDAA. Wicker claimed that President Barack Obama should agree to the funding bill passed by lawmakers because it achieves necessary military spending and within the White House's budget request of $6.12 billion. The president threatened to veto the measure because it does not agree with his assessment of the ways some of the funding was to be allocated; and the amount designated for overseas spending. Wicker cited Columbus Air Force Base, National Guard Aviation Support Facility in Tupelo, and the Army Reserve Center in Starkville with projects within NDAA. (WVTA Tupelo 06/17/15)

MDA planning Asian biz junket

JACKSON. Miss. – The Mississippi Development Authority will lead a state delegation of firms on a business development mission to Asia this coming fall - Oct. 14-21. The mission is designed to connect state businesses that want to expand trade and create new economic relationships with qualified buyers in Japan and South Korea. The mission may include an additional stop in a third country. The trip will be a multi-industry mission with prospects in the fields of aerospace, biotechnology, chemical manufacturing, computers and electronics products, defense equipment and renewable energy technology – among others. Japan and South Korea are the fourth- and seventh-largest importers of U.S. goods and services. In 2014, combined exports to these two nations from Mississippi totaled more than $427 million. The mission is to coincide with the Tokyo Aerospace Symposium 2015; BioJapan 2015, Asia's top partnering event for biotechnology; and Seoul ADEX 2015, an international aerospace and defense exhibition. (Source: Hattiesburg American 06/17/15) Central Mississippi Note: Deadline to register is July 20.

ATK-Iuka site of aero retrofit

Nova-Tech Engineering of Washington state has landed some aerospace work in Mississippi at a meeting June 15 with Orbital ATK executives at the Paris Air Show in France. The firm will do engineering “retrofit of the control hardware” for a rocket transporter at Orbital ATK's Iuka, Miss., plant. “They were able to more or less confirm that they are ready to go forward,” said Bill Bigot, Nova-Tech's VP of business development. Orbital ATK formed in February with the merger of Orbital Sciences Corp. and Alliant Techsystems Inc. Nova-Tech’s VP was to have met with two Airbus Group executives June 18 in Paris to discuss opportunities for work on the A320 family aircraft. Airbus is building an A320 assembly plant in Mobile, Ala. (Source: Herald Net 06/16/15)

MSU signs UAS MOU with UAF

Mississippi State University and America's northernmost land-, sea- and space-grant institution – University of Alaska Fairbanks - are now working together to advance development of unmanned aircraft solutions for the oil and gas industry. MSU’s David Shaw signed a memorandum of understanding with UAF creating a new long-term partnership to advance interdisciplinary unmanned aerial systems research and development. (Source: Mississippi State University 06/08/15)

Lauderdale: Encroachment decision

Recently, the Joint Land Use (JLUS) Committee approved a motion recommending the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors hire Maryland-based Matrix Design Group to conduct a study and identify encroachment issues - residential and commercial development - near NAS Meridian. At June 15’s board meeting, supervisors will consider that recommendation. Encroachment is construction on lands around a military installation that could hinder the base’s basic mission. In 2009, Valparaiso, Fla., sued the Air Force following residential complaints of noise created by F-35s taking off and landing at Eglin AFB. After contentious sparring, the AF limited the number of F-35 operations to one a day - down from a proposed 33. Study recommendations could avoid that type of negative publicity and avoid encroachment issues. Encroachment is also one of the key components examined by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission when determining what installations to close. (Source: Meridian Star opinion piece 06/14/15)

GT firms' environmental penalties

Mississippi Golden Triangle entities have been issued $463,547 in environmental penalties for violations of permits by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality since 2011. Industries in Lowndes County are the most penalized having paid out $388,177. Mississippi State University was issued a $9,500 penalty this past April 1 for having excess nitrogen oxide emissions while burning natural gas and fuel oil at the MSU Mill. MDEQ offered MSU to use $7,125 of that money to purchase modern boilers. These penalties are issued in agreement orders from MDEQ and are used in lieu of formal enforcement hearings. The most penalized ($135,000) was against Severstal North America for violations at its Columbus plant. The violations stem from a series of May 2014 emissions and incomplete compliance records from 2011-12. In 2012-13, Severstal released 215 pounds of cadmium compounds. [Cadmium is a carcinogen commonly found in batteries.] (Source: Columbus Dispatch 06/13/15) Central Mississippi Note: Steel Dynamics Inc. acquired Severstal Columbus in September 2014 for $1.625 billion. SD produces corrosion-resistant steel including hot dipped galvanized Galvalume and painted steel at its facilities in Indiana, Pittsburgh and Columbus.

Innovate MS earns SBA grant

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration has granted $100,000 in award grants for the remainder of FY 2015 to 20 state, local economic and business developments and colleges to support programs for innovative, technology-driven small businesses under its Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program. FAST is designed to stimulate economic development with outreach and technical assistance to science and technology-driven small businesses - with an emphasis on socially and economically disadvantaged firms to lend a helping hand in competing for federally-funded R&D through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs. Among Gulf Coast state recipients of the SBA awards are Innovate Mississippi and Louisiana State University. (Source: Innovate Mississippi 06/08/15) Central Mississippi Note: Innovate Mississippi is a non-profit organization based in Ridgeland with the mission to drive innovation and technology-based economic development for the state.

Cochran panel OKs R&D for MS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, praised provisions of an FY 2016 commerce, justice, science and related agencies’ appropriations bill that could provide continued scientific research and rocket engine development at Mississippi’s Stennis Space Center and the state’s four research universities. The bill was approved June 11 by the Senate Appropriations Committee on a 27-3 vote. Highlights of the bill for Mississippi include: $1.9 billion for the Space Launch System. Main engine testing is ongoing at the A-1 test stand and eventually will utilize the historic B-2 test stand at the Stennis Space Center; and &18 million for the NASA Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research to promote long-term improvements in the research capabilities of academic institutions such as the state’s four research universities at the University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University, University of Southern Mississippi and Jackson State University. The appropriations bill is now available for consideration by the full Senate. (Source: Y’all Politics 06/13/15)

High mark for GTRA

The Columbus, Miss.-based Golden Triangle Regional Airport has had more passengers in the month of May than any other month in the last decade. About 3,974 passengers boarded flights at GTRA – a 2.5 percent increase from May 2014. Most of the flights that month were at least 90 percent full. The airport’s executive director credits the increase to business traffic and Mississippi State University, plus more people are flying from GTRA from western Alabama and Tupelo. (Columbus Dispatch 06/11/15)

Loe takes helm at 37th FTS

Air Force Lt. Col. Jason Loe became the new commander of Columbus, Miss., Air Force Base’s 37th Flying Training Squadron at a June 4 change of command ceremony. Col. James Boster, commander of the 14th Operations Group officiated at the ceremony and handed-off the 37th FTS guidon flag to Loe. The 37th FTS conducts primary flight training for student-aviators in the tandem-seat T-6 Texan II aircraft. (Columbus AFB 06/05/14)

West to head newly-named college

Arkansas native Debra West will become the new chancellor for University Mid-South Community College in West Memphis, Ark., beginning August 1. West has broad experience with community college workforce training initiatives and will succeed Glen Fenter, who is retiring. Pending approval from the Higher Learning Commission at its next meeting June 25-26, the college will become Arkansas State University Mid-South on July 1. The community college offers degree and certificate programs – including Aviation Technology and aviation maintenance. (Source: Memphis Business Journal 06/08/15)

Airbus watching UTC helo biz

Airbus is “watching with interest" to see if United Technologies Corp. puts its Sikorsky helicopter business on the auction block, Airbus Group Inc. CEO Allan McArtor said June 8 at the Herzliya Conference in Israel. UTC is expected to make a decision on whether to divest Sikorsky within the next few months. “We are interested to see what (UTC) intends to do with Sikorsky, he said, but would not elaborate. Airbus appears to be interested in acquisition opportunities in the areas of defense, space, helicopters, cyber security and 3D manufacturing. Airbus has a new facility in the Silicon Valley (Calif.) devoted to start-ups. (Source: Reuters 06/08/15) Central Mississippi Note: Airbus Helicopters Inc. of Columbus, Miss., makes helicopters in the United States for the Army and Navy.

MS airports to split $10M in grants

JACKSON, Miss. - The U.S. Transportation Department is awarding more than $10 million in grants to be divided among 35 Mississippi airports, U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) said. The grants, which will come from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, are designed to pay for safety-and-efficiency projects. The grants will cover 75 percent of costs for larger airports and up to 95 percent for smaller ones. (Source: Washington Times 06/08/15) Central Mississippi Note: Among some of the 35 airport projects are the Golden Triangle Regional Airport ($860,802) for airport apron rehabilitation and land acquisition; Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport ($762,587); Tupelo Regional Airport ($716,779); Trent Lott International Airport in Jackson County ($352,620); and Vicksburg Municipal Airport ($144,675).

Opinion: BRAC bad for CAFB?

The biggest expenses in the Defense Department’s budget are personnel and weapons systems. The challenges of cutting military spending isn’t new. Early headaches from 1990s budget-cutting created the “independent” Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) to make the hard decisions. Congress is expected to resort back to BRAC within two years. An Air Force Times article from nearly a year ago, brought about some public comments last week from Columbus Air Force Base’s commander. The article rated CAFB tied for No. 67 out of 68 bases rated on quality of life. Col. John Nichols, commander of the 14th Flying Training Wing, told the Columbus Exchange Club that nine of the 12 criteria were unrelated to CAFB; and that the other three (commissary size, base exchange size, size of on-base health care facilities) were on target for size and capacity. However, articles like that tend to show up in BRAC presentations. (Columbus Dispatch opinion 06/06/15) Central Mississippi Note: The opinion author, Bill Crawford, is a syndicated columnist for the Columbus Dispatch.

MSU celebrates UAS research nod

STARKVILLE – Researchers at Mississippi State University sent a small, 3-pound Precision Hawk Lancaster 3 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) soaring above Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park in a celebration June 5 of the Federal Aviation Administration's selecting MSU's Raspet Research Lab as the site for its Center of Excellence for UAS Research. As part of that initiative, MSU will lead a team of 21 universities in a research alliance to develop unmanned aircraft systems' capabilities for the future. David Shaw, VP for Research & Economic Development, said drone research is "boundless" with practical applications ; and that Raspet would help define UAVs' place in the national airspace and assist lawmakers in developing policies to allow drones and conventional manned aircraft to co-exist safely. Newly -appointed Mississippi Development Authority director Glenn McCullough said hundreds of Mississippi companies – like Aurora and Stark Aerospace - are already developing aerial technology and could immediately benefit from the MSU-led research. (Columbus Dispatch 06/06/15)

AHI Columbus’ new site manager

COLUMBUS, Miss. - Airbus Helicopters Inc. has selected Robert Boman to become the new director and site manager overseeing compliance for its Columbus-based helicopter assembly plant. Boman will be responsible for management and administration of the facility and with its compliance with FAA and Defense Contract Management Agency regulations, safety, security and environmental programs. The Sulligent, Ala., resident joined AHI in 2008, after a 23-year Air Force career. He had held elected positions with the Sulligent city council and as its police commissioner. (WTVA 06/04/15)

AHI names two new leaders

Airbus Helicopters Inc. announced May 31 the appointment of John Roth as Senior Director of Government Programs with the responsibility for managing the Army’s UH-72A Lakota helicopter program being built at Columbus, Miss. Additionally, Terry Eichman, who served as sales manager for training and services, will become the head of AHI’s Customer Training Center. Prior to joining AHI in 2012, Roth held leadership positions at Sikorsky Aircraft, including executive assistant to the president and chief operating officer of its Huntsville, Ala. facility. Additionally, Terry Eichman, who served as sales manager for training and services, will become the head of AHI’s Customer Training Center. (Source: PR Web 05/31/15)

Boeing picks MSU

The Boeing Co. chose Mississippi State University as the host for a research center that will lead development on composites the company will eventually use to build aircraft. The Stitched Resin Infused Composite Research Center will be housed at MSU’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory. The school in Starkville was selected through a competition. Boeing would provide $3 million in equipment and fund two full-time engineers. The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg will serve as a technology incubator of next-generation composite material systems. Southern Miss has entered into a new master agreement with the company to accelerate research and development of next generation materials, including polymers and polymer matrix composites. The new agreement builds on an existing relationship between Southern Miss and Boeing, which currently has a research contract to utilize the assets of the Accelerator, the university's business incubator. (Sources: Jackson Clarion Ledger, WMC-5, 05/28/15) Previous

L-3 gets mod Navy helo pact

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC of Madison, Miss., was awarded a $56,182,753 modification to a previously awarded Navy contract (N00019-13-D-0007) to exercise an option for logistics and depot level services for 119 TH-57 aircraft in support of the Naval Air Training Command's Undergraduate Helicopter Pilot Training Program. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Milton, Fla., and is expected to be completed in May 2016. Funds will be obligated against individual delivery orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 05/26/15)

MDA heading group to east Europe

JACKSON – Mississippi Development Authority officials will lead a delegation of companies on a Central European business development mission to Poland and the Czech Republic from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4. The mission may include an additional stop in a third country. The trip will be a multi-industry mission with prospects in the fields of aerospace, information technology, electrical power systems, telecommunications, automotive and agricultural and medical equipment. Among the top focuses will be the defense sector surrounding the International Defense Industry Exhibition, the largest trade fair dedicated to military equipment in Central and Eastern Europe. For more information visit www.mississippi.org. (Source: Hattiesburg American 05/26/15)

Lockheed Martin small biz outreach

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics is in the process of a second-phased renovation project and is reaching out to small businesses to form a supplier data base for services needed during the renovation period. In an effort to reach those businesses, LMA is conducting a ‘Lunch and Learn’ meeting May 28 at Union Station in Meridian, Miss. The event is open to the public; and small businesses are encouraged to attend. Karmyn Norwood, general manager for Lockheed Martin, will discuss vendor services. LM is widely known for its work in aeronautics, but the company also researches and develops advanced information technology. It’s also one of the world’s largest defense contractors. Register at http://www.mscpc.com] Source: Meridian Star 05/21/15)

Ala. lawmaker to visit AHI

U.S. Rep. Martha Roby, an Alabama congresswoman whose district includes Fort Rucker, the Army’s primary helicopter pilot training facility where Mississippi-built UH-72A Lakota helicopters are being phased into the training regimen will tour Airbus Helicopters Inc.’s production facility in Columbus on May 26. Roby is on the House Appropriations Committee. (Source: Clarion Ledger 05/2/15) Central Mississippi Note: Airbus Helicopters Inc.is producing more than 400 Lakotas for the Army.

Aurora earns Sikorsky gold

STRATFORD, Conn. Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation announced May 13 its 2015 Supplier of the Year awards and 14 Gold Suppliers for best-in-class performance. The 2015 Supplier of the Year in the Industrialization category went to Aurora Flight Sciences, which operates a fabrication and aerostrutures composite final assembly plant in Columbus, Miss., for defense and commercial aerospace customers. Among the 14 Sikorsky Gold Suppliers is the Arnold-Hanafin Corporation, a Boca Raton, Fla.-based engineering services firm that supports tactical and strategic goal objectives with breakthrough engineering and IT contract labor services. A-HC first achieved UTC Gold in 2012. The company first opened its Panama City (Fla.) Low Cost Engineering Design Center in 2011. The companies were recognized at Sikorsky's annual Supplier Summit in West Palm Beach, Fla. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. and owns Pratt & Whiney, makers of the F135 engine for all variants of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

State’s growing aero industry

Florida has long been the world’s premier gateway to space and the aerospace industry. But a growing number of global aerospace companies are finding competitive advantages needed for success in Mississippi: Affordable operating and energy costs; seamless one-stop permitting process; robust transportation network; proximity to military bases; and a skilled, productive workforce are all assisting businesses position themselves to compete in the market. Mississippi has a long, rich history in the aerospace industry, dating back to the 1930s when Pioneer Aerospace, became the state’s first aerospace company. Since that time, Mississippi’s aerospace industry has grown significantly, and is primed for future prosperity. The state’s well-trained workforce is a primary factor is that accomplishment with partnerships with the state’s 15 community colleges and MSU’s Raspet flight laboratory. Today, Mississippians are producing everything from helicopters to unmanned aerial vehicles to composite jet components. Central Mississippi note: Among the successful aerospace leaders are Airbus Helicopters Inc. of Columbus, GE Aviation, Rolls-Royce, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman and Aurora Flight Sciences. (Business Facilities 05/07/15)

MSU team named COE UAS

The Federal Aviation Administration has chosen the Mississippi State University team as the FAA's Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (COE UAS). The center will focus on research, education and training in areas critical to integration of unmanned systems into the nation's airspace. The team includes 15 leading UAS and aviation universities. The research areas will include detect and avoid technology, low-altitude operations safety, control and communications, spectrum management, human factors, compatibility with air traffic control operations, and training and certification. Other team members are Drexel University, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Kansas State, Kansas, Montana State, New Mexico State, North Carolina State, Oregon State, University of Alabama in Huntsville, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, North Dakota, and Wichita State. The COE will be able to begin research by September 2015 and be fully operational by January 2016. Once the team develops detailed research plans, the FAA will determine the relationship between the new COE and the six UAS sites the FAA announced last year. The FAA expects COE flight testing to occur at one or more of the existing test sites. (Source: News Wire Mississippi State University 05/08/15) Central Mississippi note: The Gulf Coast region is heavily involved in unmanned systems, including work on the Northrop Grumman Fire Scout and Global Hawk systems.

AHI Lakota modified contract

Airbus Defense and Space Inc. of Herndon, Va., was awarded a $24,012,980 modification (P00878) to multi-year contract W58RGZ-06-C-0194 for mission equipment packages to be cut into the UH-72A Lakota Helicopter production line as part of the Army Aviation Restructure Initiative for training aircraft. Work will be performed at Airbus Helicopter Inc.'s Columbus, Miss., plant with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2017. Fiscal 2014 and 2015 other procurement (Army) funds in the amount of $ 24,012,980 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. (Source: DOD 05/07/15)

MDA biz ops conference

The Mississippi Development Authority’s 2015 Government Procurement Opportunities Conference and Trade Fair is May 5 in Southaven. Businesses are invited to make connections with federal and state purchasing offices and private sector firms at the biennial event, sponsored by MDA and the Mississippi Procurement Technical Assistance Program. Dr. Donna Peebles, associate director of the Office of Small Business Programs of the National Guard Bureau will be the opening-session speaker. Invited federal agencies and defense contractors include: Air Force, Army and Navy installation officials, Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Homeland Security, the VA, Lockheed Martin, Huntington Ingalls Industries and NASA. For more information, call (601) 359-2904. (Source: MDA 04/30/15)

McCullough to lead MDA

Former Tupelo mayor Glenn McCullough Jr. is the new executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority. Gov. Phil Bryant made the announcement April 30 at the Mississippi Economic Council's annual PowerPlay meeting in Jackson. McCullough succeeds Brent Christensen, who is to leave MDA June 1 to take over the Greensboro (NC) Partnership. McCullough, 60, was mayor of Tupelo from 1997-99. Former president Bill Clinton appointed him to the board of the Tennessee Valley Authority afterwards; and former president George W. Bush appointed him TVA chairman of that board in 2001. (Source: Clarion Ledger 04/30/15)