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)