AHI 10th anniversary at NTPS

Airbus Helicopters Inc. (AHI) hosted a ceremony with leaders of the Naval Test Pilot School (NTPS) to commemorate the UH-72A Lakota’s 10th anniversary at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Md. AHI established the Lakota program in Maryland in July 2009. Over the past 10 years, the UH-72A Lakota fleet there has consistently exceeded operational availability targets and continues to provide high levels of mission readiness with availability rates averaging nearly 94 percent. "Experimental test pilots need a reliable and versatile aircraft … at the edge of its performance envelope, and we’re confident that we have provided the best value over the last 10 years for this requirement," said Scott Tumpak, AHI Vice President of Military Programs. The Lakota is a version of the highly successful EC-145 twin-engine rotorcraft used by Navy, Army and many other military units worldwide. AHI has delivered more than 430 Lakota aircraft to the Army. AHI has a vested interest in delivering the effective training systems for the Pentagon’s rotary-wing aviators. Recently, the company offered its H135 as its proposal for the Navy’s Advanced Helicopter Training System (AHTS) - to be known as the TH-73A. The UH-72A Lakota is built in Columbus, Miss., the same location where AHI has manufactured 555+ helicopters for the U.S. government. (Source: Verticalmag.com 07/30/19)

$9M Vertex FMS contract for Kuwait

Vertex Aerospace LLC of Madison, Miss., is awarded $9,556,334 for modification P00003 to a previously issued firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-17-C-0080). This modification is for Automatic Dependence Surveillance-Broadcast Out installs and also exercises an option for organizational and intermediate depot maintenance and logistics and supply support for three KC-130J aircraft for the government of Kuwait under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Work will be performed at the Abdullah Al-Mubarak Air Base in Kuwait, and is expected to be completed in August 2020. FMS funds will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Air Systems Command of Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 07/31/19)

Senate confirms deputy DoD

The U.S. Senate confirmed President Trump's pick, David Norquist, to become Deputy Defense Secretary by voice vote on July 30. Norquist had been acting as the deputy since January, but stepped aside for the confirmation process. He has been DoD’s comptroller since 2017. He was the latest Pentagon official to be confirmed as senators tarried to wrap up work before the August recess. They’ll be out of D.C. until early September. (Source: The Hill 07/30/19)

SEAP summer internships

PANAMA CITY, Fla. - Six NW Florida high school students completed summer internships through the Navy’s Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) on July 26 after spending eight weeks at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City, Fla. SEAP provides opportunity for high school students to participate in STEM-related research at a Navy laboratory during the summer. This is the first time the SEAP internship has been available to high school students in NW Florida for more than a decade. Capt. Aaron Peters, commanding officer at NSWCPC, said it was crucial to grasp the attention of the future generations and “pique their interest” in STEM related fields. Internships allow students to see the immense impact their work can have for the Navy, said Peters. Internships allow students a hands-on collaboration with Navy scientists to develop potential innovative tools and to see the “immense impact their work can have,” he continued. Students participating in the 2019 internship were North Bay Haven High School, Bay High School, Mosley High School, and Rutherford High School. SEAP provided competitive research internships to 250 high school students across the county this year. There are 28 participating Navy labs offering internships, including the Naval Research Laboratory at Stennis Space Center, Miss. For more information about SEAP internships, or to apply for summer 2020, please visit: https://seap.asee.org/. The 2020 application window opens Aug. 1. (Source: NSWCPC 07/28/19)

NASM has new CNATRA boss

Rear Adm. Gregory “Hyfi” Harris relinquished command of the Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) to Rear Adm. Daniel “Dozer” Dwyer during a July 26 “aerial change of command ceremony” over Naval Air Station (NAS) Corpus Christi, Texas – both flag officers were flying in T-45C Goshawk jets from Training Air Wing 2 in Kingsville. Both read their orders, and Dwyer’s aircraft moved to thelead of the formation - signifying assumption of command. Dwyer, a native of Alameda, Calif., takes the CNATRA helm following his command of Carrier Strike Group 9, which consists of more than 7,000 sailors aboard nine ships, including USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and the 80 aircraft of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11. Harris will move on to his next assignment in Washington, D.C. as director of Air Warfare at the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. (Source: CNATRA 07/26/19) Gulf Coast Note: CNATRA leads the Naval Air Training Command (NATRACOM) composed of five Training Air Wings located on Naval Air Stations Meridian, Miss.; NAS Pensacola and Whiting Field, Fla.; and NAS Corpus Christi and Kingsville, Texas. The wings are home to 17 Training Squadrons; and the Blue Angels.

Stark: In midst of US-Iaraeli issues

Americans and Israelis celebrated the successful tests of the Israeli Arrow-3 missile in Kodiak, Alaska, but one factor is casting a shadow over those festivities: The U.S.’ refusal to let the Israelis export the weapon. For all Israeli weapon developed with U.S. funds, Washington has veto power over sales outside of Israel due to American industry competition. The U.S. has declined to buy Arrow for its military, and has blocked Israel from other defense systems to interested countries. Israel has been pushing America to allow Arrow exports in the past, and the issue was raised again during the 10-day testing in Alaska, when the Arrow performed three intercepts of simulated ballistic missiles. Arrow manufacturer IAI’s (Israeli Aerospace Industries) has pushed to build some of its key components at its U.S. subsidiary – Stark Aerospace of Columbus, Miss. But Americans have stood firm on the ban, which fits the administration’s strategy of promoting U.S. exports. Arrow is just the latest example of a long standing irritant in the U.S.-Israel defense relationship. The U.S. pressured Rafael from officering its David’s Sling interceptor missile to Switzerland; and blocked the sale of AIA’s Iron Dome to South Korea although Congress forced the U.S. Army to buy two of the battery system. The U.S. has also kept IAI out of the U.K. and South Korean competition for early warning radar aircraft to improve Boeing’s Wedgetail chances. Israeli sources point to the U.S. for interfering in a domestic Israeli sale, pushing their government to buy Boeing KC-46 tankers instead of a 767 that IAI offered to convert for the mission. Israeli firms may be able to get around American resistance is by bringing in U.S. partners and subsidiaries, such as Stark Aerospace that is building Arrow missile canisters for IAI. Another major reason to bring in U.S. partners is the U.S. is requiring an ever-increasing percentage of its massive military aid be spent on American products. Over the latest 10-year agreement with Israel (2019-28), Israel will receive $38B in U.S. military aid ($33B in Foreign Military Sales (FMS), $5B in US appropriations for Israeli missile defense). After years of being allowed to convert 26 percent of that aid from dollars to shekels to spend domestically, Israel will now have to reduce that annual percentage steadily to zero. (Source: Breaking Defense 07/29/19) Stark Aerospace has composite build to print and design and build manufacturing capability from component level through fully integrated assemblies and structures. Stark’s Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Division produces the ArrowLite™ small UAS system, and supports the U.S. Army Hunter MQ-5B Unmanned Aerial Systems. The Sensors Division assembles and repairs Plug-In Optronic Payloads (POP), including variants of the POP300 (D, HD, I, LR) used on the Army RQ-7 Shadow UAS. Its engineering team specializes in systems development, aerodynamics, loads, structures, stability and control, concept development, preliminary design, systems integration, flight tests, and software development. The operational unit provides field services, training and demonstrations worldwide, including sUAS and loitering munitions. It is an experienced team with Special Forces background, all licensed and certified FAA sUAS pilots with over 10,000 hours of flight time. FSRs provide on-site formal training and intermediate maintenance.

Army-Navy unhappy with housing

The satisfaction rates for privatized military housing have declined for both the Army and Navy, according to surveys released July 25 by the services. Army families living in private base housing can view the survey results of each installation, but the Navy results don't specify bases by name only a general look at the state of Navy housing. After an early-year scandal that came to light the presence of vermin, mold and lead contamination in military housing managed by private companies, the services launched a series of inspections and fixes, including resident surveys, to determine the extent of the issues, and how to address them. The Navy saw its average satisfaction rates drop nearly 12 points. No Navy housing scored either "very good" or "outstanding"; and none saw an increase of satisfaction rates. For the Army, “outstanding” bases were Fort Greely, Alaska; Fort Huachuca, Ariz.; and Picatinny Arsenal, N.J. Housing management was by Lendlease, Michaels, and Balfour Beatty Communities, respectively. Fort Bragg, N.C., was at the bottom ("very poor”). Bragg is managed by Corvias. Fort Carson, Colo., managed by Balfour Beatty, was one of two to receive "poor" ratings. A spokeswoman for Corvias told Military.com that the survey was taken before the company made improvements to its property management operations. She added, however, that Corvias is "using the survey … to continue to make improvements." The remainder of the Army's bases ranged from very good to below average. Navy survey results did not contain the names of the installations or the contractors. (Source: Military.com 07/28/19) Gulf Coast Note: Corvais manages Army and Air Force base housing at Gulf Coast regional commands at Fort Rucker, Ala., and Fort Polk, La.; and Air Force bases in Florida at Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field. Balfour Beatty manages regional base housing at NAS Meridian (Miss.), NAS Pensacola (Fla.), NAS Whiting Field (Fla.), NCBC Gulfport (Miss.), NSA Panama City (Fla.).

Tricare for reserves likely going up

Reservists, young adults or transitioning military service members enrolled in Tricare or a transition health insurance plan will likely be paying more for health insurance; and an enrollment change may also impact how much some users must have to pay up front. Tricare released its 2020 rates for the Tricare Reserve Select (TRS) and Tricare Retired Reserve (TRR) programs, as well as for Tricare Young Adult and Continued Health Care Benefit Programs. Like almost everything else, prices are going up. (Source: Military com. 07/25/19)

Area mil.hospitals' contract

Draeger Inc. of Teleford, Pa., was awarded a $9.9M contract for anesthesia recording and monitoring devices sustainment services in support of Navy, Army, Air Force, and National Capital Region military treatment facilities inside and outside the continental U.S. Among the work locations are Eglin Air Force Base hospital, Fla. (2%); Keesler Air Force Base hospital, Miss. (2%); and Naval Hospital Pensacola, Fla. (2%). This contract has a five-year period of performance and all work is expected to be completed by July 26, 2024. Naval Medical Logistics Command of Fort Detrick, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 07/26/19)

O&G assessment on GoM

A 2018 federal lawsuit against the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service ended last week in a July 19 settlement that requires the agency to prepare a years-over-due assessment of the impacts of oil and gas development on federally protected species and critical habitats in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). Under the agreement, NMFS is to complete a legally-required (under the Endangered Species Act) biological (assessment) opinion by Nov 5. Under the Act, the fisheries service is required to gauge the impacts of federally authorized oil and gas operations on species listed as threatened and endangered, as well as habitat designated as critical. It’s been 12 years (2007) since the fisheries service did such an analysis of energy development in the GoM. The assessment was intended to cover a five-year period from 2007-12. Since that last assessment, there was the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster, which poured an estimated 4.9M barrels of crude oil into the GoM. “We hope this long-overdue assessment will inject some accurate facts and science into the government’s offshore drilling decisions,” said Earthjustice attorney Chris Eaton. The suit was filed in federal court in Florida by Earthjustice, Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity and Healthy Gulf. (Source: Kallandish News 07/25/19) Kallanish Energy is a daily energy news publication offering coverage of North America, South American, and European Oil and Gas markets, with focuses on Natural Gas, Unconventionals, and Crude Oil.

NOLA airport parking max'd out

All parking lots at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport are closed because they’re totally max’d out, officials posted in a Twitter message Saturday (July 27) morning. The message said all short-term and long-term garages, credit card lot(s) and the overflow parking lots are full. Air passengers are advised to seek alternate transportation such as taxis and ride-hailing services, officials said, and they suggested arriving two hours ahead of scheduled departures to ensure finding a rare parking spot and clearing security. There are some private parking lots nearby, but those are expected to be filled up, too. The airport hasn't announced an opening for its new terminal, which will also add parking (2,190-space short-term garage, a 2,750-space long-term garage and a surface parking lot), which officials already have been saying could support another garage in the future. (Source: NOLA.com 07/27/19)

AETC has new boss

Lt. Gen. Brad Webb took the reins of Air Education and Training Command from Lt. Gen. Steve Kwast during a change of command ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, on July 26. Prior to becoming the 34th commander in AETC history, Webb - a native of Austin, Texas - spent the last two years leading Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field, Fla., where he oversaw some 19,500 active-duty, Reserve, Air National Guard and civilian professionals that make up the Air Force component of U.S. Special Operations Command. He is a command pilot with more than 3,700 flying hours in the CV-22 Osprey, UH-1N Huey, MH-53 Pave Low, MC-130H Combat Talon II and MC-130P Combat Shadow, and including 117 combat hours in Afghanistan, Iraq and Bosnia. Among Webb’s career achievements is being named winner of the 1996 Cheney Award for most valorous flight of the year in a humanitarian effort when he was involved in the search and recovery efforts for then-Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown in Croatia in April of that year. Webb also showed leadership during "Operation Assured Response,” a non-combatant evacuation operation in which his MH-53 team helped evacuate 2,126 people from 76 countries from the fighting that was taking place in Monrovia, Liberia. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein presided over the ceremony and emphasized the importance of the AETC mission, including the Pilot Training Next, force development - a campaign of learning, squadron commander school - and the overhaul of the officer and enlisted promotion systems as “future game changers for our Air Force and joint teams. “This command has fundamentally changed how we develop Airmen to deliver joint war-fighting excellence,” Goldfein said. (Source: AETC 07/26/19) AETC operates more than 1,400 trainer, fighter and mobility aircraft at 23 wings, 10 bases and five geographically separated groups. It trains more than 293,000 students per year with about 61,000 active-duty, Reserve, Guard, civilian and contractor personnel. AETC units within Gulf Coast states are Columbus and Keesler AFBs, Miss.; Eglin AFB, Fla.; and Maxwell AFB, Ala.

Gen. Hyten's VCJCS hearing July 30

The stalled nomination of Gen. John Hyten to become the U.S. military’s No. 2 officer – Vice Chariman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - will begin to move again July 30 when the Senate Armed Services Committee holds a confirmation hearing, the committee staff said in a statement July 25. The president’s nomination of the current commander of the U.S. Strategic Command was thrown into quandary by an allegation of sexual assault by a senior military officer who was working for Hyten at the time. Hyten was cleared by an Air Force investigation, according to the Defense Department, but some lawmakers have continued to raise questions about the alleged incident, which took place sometime in late 2017 and early 2018. The hearing is set for 10 a.m. on Tuesday. The nomination hearing for Vice Admiral Michael M. Gilday, to be admiral and Chief of Naval Operations, has been pushed back to 9: 30 a.m. on July 31. Lawmakers heard from both the accuser - a female colonel - and Hyten on July 25. “She is very believable. He is also very impressive,” said Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), a combat veteran, who has raised questions about the handling of the Hyten investigation by suggesting he received preferential treatment from the DoD because of his pending nomination. If confirmed, Hyten would replace Gen. Paul Selva, who must step down from his four-year appointment on July 31. The VCJCS oversees weapons development, and acquisition and budget. The chairman focuses on military operations around diplomatic engagements with foreign militaries. (Source: Defense One 07/25/19)

https://www.defenseone.com/politics/2019/07/gen-hyten-get-his-senate-confirmation-hearing/158717/

2Q US GDP rises 2.1%

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released the second quarter gross domestic product numbers, finding that the real GDP increased at an annual rate of 2.1 percent in the second quarter. “The Trump economy is growing strong and, on the heels of 3.1 percent growth in the first quarter, is poised to continue expanding,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. The Trump Administration’s policies have delivered repeated positives for American workers. In July, the current economic expansion became the largest in U.S. history. In the 2Q, consumer spending surged at a 4.3 percent annual rate, and spending on goods rose at the fastest rate since the 1Q of 2006. The economy beat expectations in June by adding 224,000 jobs, the last month of the 2Q, and averaging 129,000 jobs added per month over the past year. Since the President’s election, the country has added nearly 5 million jobs, while the manufacturing industry alone has added more than 500,000. The tight labor market benefitted American workers in another way in June as nominal average hourly earnings rose by 3.1 percent over the previous 12 months, meeting or surpassing 3.0 percent growth for the 11th month in a row. Before 2018, nominal average hourly wage gains had not reached 3.0 percent since 2009. (Source: Department of Commerce media release 07/26/19) In Louisiana, the New Orleans metro area added 12,900 jobs, a nearly 4 percent increase and a total of 588,300 over the past year. It’s the biggest percentage gain and largest number of new jobs for any metro area in the state. NOLA was among three of Louisiana's nine metro areas that added non-farm jobs over the year, according to preliminary U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics data that is not seasonally adjusted. The state gained 3,700 jobs, a .02 percent increase, since June 2018 for a total of 1.9M jobs. The Crescent City metro area’s leisure and hospitality was the leading sector which 6,200 jobs. The metro’s unemployment rate was 5 percent, down from 5.8 percent in June 2018. The Acadiana region added 2,400 jobs over the year, an increase of less than 1 percent to 205,900 jobs. Unemployment in Lafayette was 5.2 percent, down from 6.1 percent last June. The Baton Rouge capital region area lost 500 jobs over the last 12 months for 411,000. Hammond showed no change, and had 84,300 jobs. Lake Charles added 300 jobs (to 118,800); Houma-Thibodaux lost 2,700 jobs to 84,300; Shreveport-Bossier City lost 2,100 jobs to 179,800; Monroe lost 100 jobs down to 78,300 and Alexandria lost 100 jobs to 61,700. (Source: NOLA.com 07/26/19)

Milley confirmed for CJCS

WASHINGTON - Army Gen. Mark Milley will be the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) following an 89-1 vote in the Senate on July 25. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) was the lone no vote. Milley, the former Army chief of staff, is expected to replace Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford as the nation’s top uniformed officer in September. He will work again beside newly installed Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. The two worked side by side for two years, when Esper was Secretary of the Army. (Source: Defense News 07/25/19)

Navy PPV housing survey results

WASHINGTON - The Navy’s recently conducted “out of cycle” resident satisfaction survey confirmed that most of the actions recently taken by the Navy and its public private venture (PPV) partners are aligned to the areas of most concern to service members and their families. The Navy and its PPV partners are employing a multi-layered approach to improve the quality of life for housing residents. Recent efforts have focused on the maintenance process, with an emphasis on quality of workmanship as well as timeliness. Highlighting the Navy Housing Service Center’s role as an advocate for the resident and their family has been a longstanding communication goal. Additionally, Navy leaders have reinforced the military bases’ chain of command is responsible for to ensuring service members and their families have safe living quarters. “The Out of Cycle Survey was another method … to validate what we have already been hearing regarding quality and timeliness of our housing programs” said Vice Adm. Mary Jackson, head of the Navy Installation Command. “Collectively and individually, the Navy housing staff, the military chain of command, and our PPV Partners are driving hard towards a culture of excellence, service, and accountability at all levels,” she said. “Our goal is to proactively provide the quality expected rather than responding to issues that never should have been present in the first place. … and our commitment remains to provide quality, safe housing to our service members and their families.” The average Overall Satisfaction Index score for family housing was 11.6 points less than the 2018 satisfaction survey. The 2019 Navy PPV Housing “Out of Cycle” Summary for Commander Navy Installations Command survey results are available here. In the summary, project names are redacted because the Navy’s business agreements with its PPV housing partners limit the type of information that can be released publicly. Housing projects are identified as “A” through “K.” A housing project includes neighborhoods at one or more installation within a specific geographical area managed by a single PPV partner company. In accordance with the agreements, PPV property managers of neighborhoods that received an Overall Satisfaction Index score less than 75 points (“Average” or below) are required to submit an action plan to address issues noted in the “out of cycle” survey. The action plans will be reviewed and approved by the Navy. Concurrently, the Navy Housing Service Center will develop action plans to ensure all concerns are addressed regardless of score. (Source: Commander Naval Installation Command 07/26/19)

USM veep testifies at Sen. hearing

The Subcommittee on Science, Oceans, Fisheries, and Weather of the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation held a hearing Tuesday on America’s waterfronts. The “America’s Waterfronts: Addressing Economic, Recreational, and Environmental Challenges” hearing focused on the state of American waterfronts, balancing stakeholder needs, and maximizing benefits from the nation’s water and coastal resources. “The economic and environmental (and) well being of all our nation’s waterfronts benefit us all and the shared stewardship is a responsibility we should accept,” Mike J. Friis of the National Working Waterfront Network, testified. Local, state, tribal and federal collaboration and cooperation is “necessary to be able to revitalize and enhance our working waterfronts and build local capacity. Coordination allows for sharing of expertise and resources to realize the most successful impact, he said. Dr. Monty Graham of the University of Southern Mississippi said the timing of the hearing was “fortuitous” for Mississippi in that it is currently working to strengthen its coastal communities and waterfronts to create a “resilience-based” economy. “Mississippi is at the critical point of making large decisions that will move the coastal working waterfront away from a disaster-based economy to a resilience-based economy through workforce and economic diversification,” Graham said. (Source: Work Boat 07/25/19) Graham is the Associate Vice President for Research, Coastal Operations at USM. His full testimony is linked to his name in the story above.

MMA to partner with NEMCC

The Mississippi Manufactures Association’s (MMA) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEPS) announced a partnership with the Northeast Mississippi Community College’s Workforce Training Program. NEMCC joins the network of colleges that provide training, engineering solutions and support services for new, expanding and existing business and industry in Mississippi. “We are pleased to provide the technology and expertise to assist in workforce training and manufacturing excellence,” said NEMCC President Ricky G. Ford. NEMCC Workforce provides a wide range of training to develop industry-skilled employees. Workforce training programs available to businesses and industries are: customized and consortium training, pre-employment screening, safety and health and short term training, rapid response and personal development. Mississippi’s MEP program is one of 51 – NIST- MEP Centers nationwide and provides service to Mississippi’s manufacturers. (NIST: National Institute of Standards and Technology). (Source: Daily Journal 07/24/19)

Keesler’s robotic surgical milestone

KEESLER AFB, Miss. - The Institute for Defense Robotic Surgical Education (inDORSE) program celebrated a major milestone July 23 having trained its 100th team in robotic surgery at Keesler Air Force Base. The milestone shows how far the curriculum has come since the program first stood up in March 2017, with one robot. InDORSE has since acquired a second robot, allowing them to train Robotic Surgical Education to more military surgical teams across the Defense Department and the VA medical system. There are plans to double the size of the training program this month, and offer additional advanced courses to the curriculum. Lt. Col. Josh Tyler, 81st Surgical Operations Squadron InDORSE director, had the vision for robotic surgery training. “My idea was to … train our military surgeons in-house,” Tyler said. The site was built with collaboration from the Intuitive - the DaVinci Xi surgical robot manufacturer. Intuitive teaches the curriculum at mp cost the federal government. ” InDORSE training costs $3,500 less than industry sites and with the number of personnel trained, the educational savings is more than $1M. The in-house program also is training for nurses, technicians and surgeons. (Source: Keesler AFB 07/25/19)

F-35As Auto-GCAS early birds

F-35A Joint Strike Fighter(s) at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and Hill AFB in Utah have begun using technology that can help prevent aircraft from flying into the ground, marking a milestone for the fifth-generation stealth fighter, officials announced July 25. Units at the bases are installing the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto-GCAS) seven years ahead of schedule on the Air Force variant of the F-35A variant, the Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin said in a joint statement. (Source: Military.com 07/24/19)

New EMCC-CAFB director

Sonya Bridges has been named director at East Mississippi Community College’s Columbus (Miss.) Air Force Base Extension. She assumed duty on July 9. The Laurel native and Columbus resident taught English at EMCC for four years. The first two was spent teaching full time at the EMCC-CAFB. Since then, she’s maintained an office at the college’s Golden Triangle campus, where she also teaches. In addition to her new duties, Bridges will continue in also be teaching an eight-week English Comp I course at CAFB beginning in August. She earned a master’s degree from William Carey University and an Education Specialist Degree from Mississippi College in Educational Leadership. She also has completed studies at Mississippi College for a doctorate in Educational Leadership and is working on her doctoral dissertation. The CAFB Extension opened in 1972 and serves about 200 students per semester. (Source: East Mississippi CC 07/24/19)

Senate confirms new SECDEF

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly (90-8) approved Mark Esper to be the country’s 27th Secretary of Defense ending 200-plus days to find a permanent Pentagon leader. (Source: Defense News 07/23/19)

MS intermodal grants: $10.1M

Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) has announced $10.1M in grants from the Mississippi Transportation Commission for intermodal projects for regional and municipal airports, ports, railroads and public transit systems throughout the Magnolia State. Eight ports received funding, including the Port of Pascagoula, $480,000 for improvements at South Terminal; Lowndes County Port, $739,000 for crawler crane replacement; Port of Greenville, $396,000 for port property and facility renovation; and the Port of Itawamba, $316,818 for equipment for bulk material handling. Four railroads received funding, including the Rail Authority of East Mississippi, $247,500; Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission, $350,00; Mississippi Alabama Railroad Authority, $297,000. Twenty-three airports received funding, including the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission, $345,800 – Stennis International Airport; City of Columbia and Marion County, $169,062 – Columbia-Marion County Airport; City of Columbus and Lowndes County, $199,712 – Columbus-Lowndes County Airport; Golden Triangle Regional Airport Authority, $199,782 – Golden Triangle Regional Airport; Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport Authority, $130,321 – Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport; Laurel Airport Authority, $125,369 – Hesler-Noble Field; Meridian Airport Authority, $68,725 – Key Field; Hinds Community College, $575,000 – John Bell Williams Airport; City of Starkville, $71,540 – George M. Bryan Field; Tunica County Airport Commission and Tunica County Board of Supervisors, $52,146 – Tunica Airport; and City of Vicksburg, $67,320 – Vicksburg Airport. Funding comes from the Multimodal Transportation Improvement Fund. Money from this fund is allocated specifically to support multimodal grants annually. (Source: MS News 07/20/19)

Report: Nation’s troubled beaches

LOS ANGELES - Gerry Klatt looks across the beach toward a peaceful bay at Cabrillo Beach in the port town of San Pedro, seemingly a good place for a daily dip, but he won’t be going swimming. Instead, he walks the length of a football field to the salt-water side of the bay facing the Pacific Ocean, He thinks it’s cleaner. He may be right. The inner side of Cabrillo Beach leads the list of California beaches that saw the highest percentage of days with a bacteria count deemed potentially dangerous. It is part of a new report released July 23 by the Environment America Research and Policy Center, a non-profit environmental and advocacy group. The report lists the most troubled beaches in 29 coastal and Great Lakes states. The study looked at the number of days in 2018 that the water had bacteria counts exceeding federal environmental standards. The EARPC report says the high counts can sicken up to an estimated 75,000 swimmers annually. Most days, the beaches are considered safe. But researchers found bacteria counts can spike on certain days with fecal matter being the No. 1 culprit. In Chicago, 19 of 19 beaches sampled had at least one day last year when beaches were considered potentially unsafe for swimming. One, South Shore Beach, showed contamination on 93 of the 98 days of the sampling period. Other examples included Gulfport (Miss.) East Beach, which showed high levels on 44 out of 66 days; and Tanner Park in Suffolk County, N.Y., registered high on 48 out of 71. Many counties and states are good about closing beaches when pollution levels are too high, and posting warning signs. Beachgoers are urged to check water-quality reports. The top five Gulf Coast sites by state, according to the report: In Alabama, four Baldwin County sites, including the Fairhope Public Beach; In Florida, two in Escambia County and two in Sarasota; In Louisiana, two in Cameron Parish and Fontainebleau State Park in St. Tammany; and in Mississippi, four in Harrison County, which includes Gulfport East. Source: USA TODAY 07/23/19)

NASA ‘landers’ pre-solicitation draft

As NASA celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first crewed landing on the moon this past week, it has released some more details about how it will procure “landers” to enable humans to return to the moon in the 2020s. NASA released a July 19 notice for its Human Landing System Integrated Lander effort, part of the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP) program. The notice included a pre-solicitation draft version of a broad agency announcement (BBA) with NASA requesting industry comments on it by Aug. 2. NASA intends to release a solicitation under the second NextSTEP-2 BAA to seek proposals from industry for the development of integrated human lunar landers and execution of crewed flight demonstrations to the lunar surface by 2024. The primary objective of this NextSTEP-2 Appendix H BAA (HLS - Integrated Lander) is to enable the rapid development of a safe and functional human landing system (HLS) that can meet NASA and industry requirements and execute a crewed demonstration mission of HLS to the Moon no later than 2024. To achieve long-term lunar lander sustainability, this BAA also has a contract option that NASA may elect to exercise for the development and, in 2026, demonstration of a sustainable HLS Integrated Lander in order to enable more permanent human access to the lunar surface. NASA anticipates that it will initially award multiple HLS contracts, followed by potential down-selection among these HLS contractors as work progresses through the exercise of options at various stages of the development effort. Intent of Draft BAA: NASA is releasing this draft BAA to give industry an opportunity to provide feedback on any aspect of the BAA; NASA strongly encourages industry to carefully review this draft and identify any areas of ambiguity or concern. NASA will seriously consider this feedback and, when appropriate, amend the final BAA. (Source: Fed Biz Ops 07/22/19)

Study: Off-the-chart heat on rise

The Union of Concerned Scientists - a non-profit group founded in 1969 by scientists and students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass., with a mission is to combat climate change - predicts that the rise in extreme heat days will be difficult for even those used to hot, sweaty summers, says Kristina Dahl, lead author on the UCS study. Heat is already the top cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S. According to the analysis, by late century, with no reduction in global emissions, multiple cities in Texas, and Alexandria, La., would be among those expected to experience the most “off-the-charts” heat days. One of the report’s findings indicate that if the goal of the Paris Agreement is met, and future global average warming is limited to 2 degrees Celsius, by late century the U.S. would see half the number of days per year with a heat index above 105 degrees Fahrenheit, on average, and almost 115M fewer people would experience the equivalent of a week or more of “off-the-charts” heat days. (Source: Union of Concerned Scientists 07/16/19) New Orleans was also highlighted in the study, and according to its maps would include the western coastal areas of Mississippi, and the eastern coastal areas of Florida that would be among the harder hit – lessened somewhat for the Alabama and NW Florida coastline. Above to much-above-average June temperatures were observed across 11 states, along the Pacific, Mid-Atlantic, and New England coasts, and the Gulf Coast where Florida experienced its third warmest June on record.

Disaster aid for 41 parishes

Gov. John Bel Edwards’ request for a federal emergency disaster declaration for flooding and storm damage in Louisiana be expanded to six additional parishes was approved by President Trump. The parishes were added to 35 other parishes include Allen, Beauregard, Catahoula, Concordia, Evangeline and Vernon. “I’m very thankful to the Trump administration for approving this request so quickly,” said Gov. Edwards. In addition, teams from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness are preparing to travel to various parishes, and will continue the formal process of assessing storm damage. The emergency declaration provides Direct Federal Assistance for emergency protective measures in 41 parishes. The initial 35 parishes included in the declaration are Acadia, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Calcasieu, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Ouachita, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana. (Source: La. Governor’s Office 07/17/19)

Methanex to build 3rd plant in La.

Gov. John Bel Edwards and Methanex executive Mark Allard announced July 19 that the company will make up to $1.4B in capital investments to construct a third methanol plant in Geismar, La. The project will join two existing methanol plants there that represent a cumulative capital investment of more than $2.5B for the methanol facilities in Ascension Parish, about 25 miles south of Baton Rouge. The project will create 62 new direct jobs. The Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in another 301 new indirect jobs for the Capital Region. The three Methanex plants will represent one of the largest methanol complexes in the world. (Source: La. Governor’s Office 07/19/19)

New Ala. bridge, tolls & commuters

MOBILE, Ala. – Alabama is planning to charge tolls - as much as $6 each way - to finance construction of a $2B bridge that would reroute Interstate 10 over Mobile River and Mobile Bay and avoiding the Wallace Tunnel. The bridge would be one of the nation's largest. State officials say tolls are needed to finance construction. About 75,000 vehicles per day currently use the Wallace Tunnel. Transportation Director John Cooper says the state can't afford to finance or pay for the entire project. Opponents say tolls would cost more than $1,000 a year for the thousands of commuters who cross the bay each day, especially for Baldwin County residents working in Mobile. Construction is slated to start in 2020. The tolls won't start until work is completed, tentatively in 2025. (Source: WKRG 07/20/19)

Rocket Day for Apollo 11

Rocket Day commemorates Apollo 11 MAXWELL AFB, Ala. - Fifty years ago, the Saturn V rocket carrying the Lunar Module “Eagle” launched Apollo 11 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on its way to putting American astronauts on the moon. In an effort to commemorate that achievement, the Air Force’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, City of Montgomery, Civil Air Patrol and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center of Huntsville joined forces for the River Region Rocket Day on July 16 at River Front Stadium in Montgomery. The event was a mass-coordinated launch of 200 rockets in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission. AFJROTC and CAP are two of the AF’s largest youth education and outreach programs. “The beginning starts right here,” said Lt. Gen. Anthony Cotton, Air University commander at Maxwell AFB. “We need to make sure that this is not an ending, but a beginning of an incredible journey that we have as American citizens and to continue to make sure that we are No. 1 in air, space and cyberspace.” (Source: Air University 07/19/19) The Saturn V rocket was developed at the Marshall Space Flight Center in north Alabama. There are 84 JROTC units in Mississippi: 51 Army, 15 Air Force, 12 Navy and six Marine Corps units.

Party like it’s 1969! Apollo 11

Golden anniversary of Apollo 11 landing on the moon.

(Source: U.S. Navy 2019)

Material handler jobs in East Miss.

Airbus Helicopters at Columbus; and in West Point, Miss. (Source: Recruit Net 07/2019)

Ala. unemployment No. 2 in June

Unemployment rates were lower in June in six U.S. states and stable in 44 and the District of Columbia, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Three states had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier. The national unemployment rate (3.7 percent) was little changed from May, but was a 0.3 percentage point lower in June 2018. Vermont had the lowest unemployment rate in June, 2.1 percent. The rates in Alabama (3.5 percent), Arkansas (3.5 percent), New Jersey (3.5 percent), and Texas (3.4 percent) set new series lows. Alaska had the highest jobless rate at 6.4 percent. Thirteen states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure, while nine states and D.C. had higher rates; and 28 states had rates not appreciably different. In June, six states had unemployment rate decreases, the largest of which was New Jersey (-0.3 percentage point), followed by Alabama and Colorado (-0.2 point each). Louisiana’s June unemployment rate was 3.2 percent; and Mississippi was 5.0 percent. The remaining states/D.C. had jobless rates not notably different from the previous month. Non-farm payroll employment increased in four states in June 2019: California (+46,200, or +0.3 percent), Texas (+45,000, or +0.4 percent), Georgia (+20,200, or +0.4 percent), and Tennessee (+9,600, or +0.3 percent). Twenty-eight states had over-the-year increases in non-farm payroll employment in June. The largest job gains occurred in Texas (+315,600), California (+296,100), and Florida (+218,800). Bureau of Labor and Statistics 07/19/19) Note: The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release for June is scheduled to be released on Thursday, Aug. 1, at 9 a.m. (CDT). The State Employment and Unemployment news release for July is scheduled to be released on Friday, Aug. 16, at 9 a.m. (CDT).

MSU, WSU earn UAV Army grants

Washington State University associate professor Jacob Leachman of the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering has received a $1.8M grant from the Army to demonstrate a liquid hydrogen-powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and refueling system. The $7.2M total grant includes researchers from Mississippi State University (MSU), Insitu Inc., and Navmar Applied Sciences Corp. Insitu, a subsidiary of Boeing, will provide its ScanEagle3 UAV, equipped with a fuel cell-powered electric engine. MSU will measure performance characteristics of the drone. UAVs running on liquid hydrogen can fly longer and farther than UAVs running on batteries and require significantly less maintenance than gasoline-powered UAVs. They also produce water vapor as the only emission. Crucially for the Army, they are also quiet. (Source: Washington State University 07/18/19)

‘Top Gun: Maverick’ trailer released

The trailer for the soon-to-be-released ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ movie starring Tom Cruise has been released. (Source: Military.com 07/18/10)

CAFB: Female equipment resdesign

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. – Air Force flight equipment is on its way through a major overhaul, with the largest change to equipment designed with measurements of female aviators. Maj. Saily Rodriguez, Systems Program Office (SPO) female fitment program manager, and Maj. Christianne Opresko, headquarters of Air Force operations’ chief aircrew support branch, were at Columbus Air Force Base on July 11-12 to address some aircrew flight equipment concerns. Base commander, Col. Samantha Weeks of the 14th Flying Training Wing, invited the duo to fly in the T-38 Talon and T-6 Texan II trainer aircraft to experience what women deal with while airborne. Weeks wanted to address it firsthand because she is a female pilot looking to obtain better solutions to the issues – primarily bladder relief options for women. What’s happening among some female aircrew is “purposely dehydrating themselves” to avoid bladder relief, said Hall, and that comes with a “whole lot of issues” such as in-flight safety hazards. The reason the duo came to CAFB was to see what the pilots experience during their first real exposure to aviation. Being in the trainer aircraft, Rodriguez could acquire a better understanding of what women go through at the very beginning when they first come in as a pilot. Rodriguez tried out a disposable urinary relief device called the Traveljohn while she was in the T-38. She wanted to try out this device to get female pilots’ meaning when they tell her about bladder relief issues. The bottom line, Rodriguez found, was that it wasn’t feasible to use the device while buckled in place. The issue with the bladder relief isn’t devices, but rather to increase options available to the aircrew members, Hall commented. The SPO is responsible for research and development, test and evaluation, and management of these issues. Rodriguez and Opresko plan to use the experience to vector their programs to satisfy pilot’s needs. “At the end of the day it is all about having form, fit and function to enable our aircrew to optimize their performance in the aircraft,” said Opresko. Any issue found is a barrier to the performance of pilots, he said. The SPO is looking for outside sources to pitch new bladder relief options as well as partnering with the Navy by putting money toward their projects. Rodriguez claimed the Navy is working on new devices that could be beneficial with existing products. The SPO is looking at what is available commercially, what the sister services are doing, and improving what they already have to get the issue resolved. (Source: CAFB 07/17/19) If flight equipment, from harness straps to flight suits, does not meet pilot needs, then AF aviators are not going to be as effective and ready for combat. For many female aviators, this marks a monumental push to ensure they are combat ready and their input and opinions are being heard.

First AF pilot to fly new HH-60W

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Northwest Florida-based 413th Flight Test Squadron (FLTS) successfully conducted the first Air Force-piloted flight of the HH-60W combat rescue helicopter on July 11 at defense contractor Sikorsky’s Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach. The unit embedded personnel from its Duke Field, Fla., base with the contractor to provide early war-fighter involvement and operationally relevant developmental testing. The HH-60W is modified to perform missions locating and rescuing downed pilots in hostile territory. The AF is contracted to purchase 113 of the aircraft to replace its aging fleet of HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters. “Our entire team has been focused on bringing together a lot of moving parts to get here today,” said Lt. Col. Wayne Dirkes, 413th FLTS operations officer, and are “really excited to be a part of recapitalizing a vital component of our war-fighting strategy.” The test flight crew performed instrumentation and telemetry checkout with the control room, gathered basic engine start data, and flew referred gross weight level flight speed sweeps between 40 knots and maximum horizontal speed. The tests were designed to collect required data the AF requires to move the program into production and deployment phases. The flight also served as a method for test pilot Maj. Andrew Fama of the 413th FLTS to complete required qualifications to fly the aircraft, and becoming the first AF pilot to fly the aircraft. There are six aircraft dedicated to the developmental test program. The 413th’s HH-60W operations are scheduled to begin at Eglin AFB’s auxiliary field known as Duke Field this fall. (Source: Eglin AFB 07/17/19) Although technically part of the larger Eglin AFB complex, Duke Field is essentially a small air force base in its own right. Primarily an Air Force Reserve Command installation, Duke Field is hosted by the 919th Special Operations Wing. The 413th FLTS conducts developmental testing on new aircraft. The unit plans, executes and reports development tests and evaluations of the Air Force’s Special Operations Command’s aircraft, as well as the Air Force’s vertical lift aircraft.

Hurricanes & a growing Gulf Coast

The Atlantic-Gulf Coast 2019 hurricane season got off to a quick start this past weekend with the first of the season, Cat 1 Barry, which made landfall on July 13 in Louisiana. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coastline communities had their faces mussed up with 13 hurricanes that caused more than $10B in damage from 2000-17. Seven occurred in just two years (Ivan: 2004 and Katrina: 2005). Coastline counties are grouped into Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Pacific regions. The number of people living in some of these vulnerable coastline regions is also growing. About 94.7M people - about 29.1% of U.S. population - lived in coastline counties in 2017 – up 15.3 percent since 2000. The two regions are most vulnerable to hurricanes. The two regions added 8.3M people from 2000-17 (16% increase). But the GoM region was the fastest growing coastline, adding 3M from 2000-17 (26.1 percent increase). The nation as a whole grew by only 15.7 percent in the same timeline. (Source: Census Bureau 07/2019)

CG aerial survey of Barry aftermath

Rear Adm. Paul Thomas, commander of the Eighth Coast Guard District in New Orleans surveyed the impact of Hurricane Barry along the Mississippi River near Plaquemines Parish and Morgan City, La., on July 15. Early preparation and communication between federal, state, local and industry partners helped minimize the potential for damage. The admiral – along with Master Chief Petty Officer Heath Jones, and aviation maintenance technician Petty Officer 1st Class Adam McNeil of the CG Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Ala. - surveyed the impact from the opened rear platform of the aircraft. (Source: Coast Guard 8th District 07/15/19)

SECDEF nom papers arrive @ Senate

The White House sent its official paperwork to the Senate in the afternoon of July 15 nominating Dr. Mark Esper for Secretary of Defense. “At 3:04 p.m. (EDT), the Senate received the President's formal nomination of Dr. Mark T. Esper to be Secretary of Defense,” chief Pentagon spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman said in a DoD statement. This move requires Esper to step down from his current role as acting SECDEF, and temporarily heading back to his former Army Secretary post. Esper is set to go before the Senate Armed Services Committee on the morning of July 16 to begin his confirmation hearing. In keeping with line of succession, Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer will temporarily become acting SECDEF, according to Hoffman’s statement. (Source: DoD 07/15/19)

Jackson gets part of launcher work

Lockheed Martin Corp. of Grand Prairie, Texas, was awarded a $492,108,514 fixed-price-incentive contract for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems M142 launchers and support requirements to include Product Data Definition Package Maintenance, training, support equipment, qualification testing, initial spares/repair parts and software. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Camden, Ariz.; Boca Raton, Fla.; Budd Lake and Whippany, N.J.; Dallas, Texas; Palm Bay, Fla.; Archbald, Pa.; York, Pa; Clearwater, Fla.; Jackson, Miss.; and Brownboro, Ala., with an estimated completion date of May 30, 2023. Fiscal 2019 Army operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $66,404,293 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command of Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 07/15/19)

AFMC teams to visit Eglin, Maxwell

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio - The Air Force Materiel Command’s ‘AFMC We Need’ team will travel to operating locations across the command to conduct in-person focus groups beginning July 22. The enterprise-wide initiative, launched in late June, seeks input and recommendations from AFMC civilian and military personnel to how best support the current and future National Defense Strategy. “We’ve received nearly 2,000 responses and have started the process of analyzing the data to identify trends,” said Col. Patrick McDonnell, AFMC operational team leader. Phase two will focus on gathering data before select personnel from across the command travel to the HQ for training, and to support focus groups on base. Teams will then begin travel to AFMC operating locations at several southeast regional commands, like Eglin AFB, Fla., Warner-Robins (Ga.) Air Logistics Center, and Gunter-Maxwell AFB, Ala., from July 22-26. (Source: AFMC HQ 07/15/19)

New boss at IWTC Corry

PENSACOLA, Fla. - Cmdr. Zach McKeehan relieved Cmdr. Chad Smith as commanding officer of the Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) here at Corry Station during a July 10 change of command ceremony. Smith, a native of Indianapolis, Ind., assumed command in September 2017, and was responsible for leading the largest schoolhouse in the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT) domain. Capt. Nick Andrews, commanding officer of Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT), called Smith a “truly an inspiring cryptologist and leader, and his legacy within the information warfare community will continue to endure through the thousands of graduates shaped during his tenure here.” McKeehan, a native of Central Point, Ore., comes to Corry Station from duty as executive officer at the Navy Information Operations Command in Hawaii. After the change of command, Smith’s retirement ceremony honored and recognized his 20 years of service. (Source: IWTC 07/11/19)

1st UPT mates return after 50 years

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. - Five classmates from the first Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) class toured their old stomping grounds July 3 at Columbus Air Force Base. The members of UPT Class 71-01 stepped onto base with a sense of familiarity and unanimously agreeing, although the base looked different, it felt very familiar to their time here 50 years ago. The member’s began their journey in UPT on July 17, 1969. Two of the former classmates, Robert Lacey and retired Col. James Donnelly, flew in a T-1A Jayhawk with the 48th Flying Training Squadron. The other three members, retired Brig. Gen. Raymond Franck, retired Maj. William Buchanan, and retired Capt. William Hodges, flew T-6 Texan II, T-1 Jayhawk and T-38 Talon simulators to experience the virtual skies of CAFB. Capt. Jeremy Dunbar, 37th Flying Training Squadron instructor pilot, was the coordinator for the 50th anniversary event. It was an “incredible opportunity for (CAFB) to experience our heritage and hear about what pilot training was like 50 years ago,” he said. (Source: CAFB 07/12/19)

Stud-welder coming to Mississippi

The stud-welding company Image Industries will invest $3M to relocate cold forming manufacturing operations from Illinois to Clarksdale, Miss., and expects to create 50 jobs over the next four years. The Mississippi operation will be at the former Metso facility in Clarksdale. There, the cold forming process will enable the company to economically produce hundreds of custom parts per minute, such as threaded weld studs, shear connectors and concrete anchors, hydraulic weld ports and cable management studs, even at relatively low volumes. The company expects to begin operations this coming fall. (Source: Area Development 07/15/19) Image also offers a wide range of fasteners to meet the shipbuilding industry’s stud welding needs. Image Industries was chosen one of the Top Technologies of the Year by the readers of SAE Off-Highway Engineering Magazine for our Stud Weld Hydraulic Ports.

Miss. trio helped put man on moon

OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. - In September 1962, President John F. Kennedy delivered a historical speech in which he said America would accept the challenge of putting men on the moon, “not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” The task of completing the hard work inherent with sending men to the moon would require the efforts of thousands of people, which stretched between multiple facilities, mostly across the Southeast. Among those people were Michel Streiff, Barry Zuber and Charlie Munn, young men working to make Kennedy’s goal a reality 50 years ago on July 20, 1969, when Apollo 11 delivered. All three now live in Jackson County, Miss. The Mississippi Press spoke with Streiff and Zuber, both of Ocean Springs, about their memories and contributions to the Apollo program. Fresh out of Mississippi State University, Streiff arrived at the Marshall Space Center in Huntsville, Ala., in January 1966, where he would be one of 4,800 Boeing engineers assigned to implement and analyze all procedures necessary to launch the Saturn V rocket and Apollo capsule. A few months after Streiff started with Boeing, Zuber was going to work for the Space Division of the Chrysler Corp. at its Slidell, La., facility. Both men were computer programmers, but Zuber came to Chrysler almost by chance. The Southeastern Louisiana University graduated was working in marketing for the Carnation Co. But, one night sitting in a bar in Mandeville, La., Zuber found himself sitting next to Chrysler’s Director of Space Technology, who asked him to sign up to be a computer programmer. In his role with Chrysler’s Space Division, Zuber worked closely with the manufacturing process taking place at NASA’s Michaud facility in New Orleans East, where the F1 and J2 engines, which powered the Saturn V rocket, were being built with engine testing taking place at the Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Miss. (Source: Mississippi Press 07/14/19)

Blue Angels select 2020 team

PENSACOLA, Fla. The Navy’s Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron announced July 15 that a number of new officer personnel will be joining the team for the 2020 air-show season, including Marine Corps pilot, Capt. William Huckeba of Hoover, Ala., one of two pilots of a new version of the ‘Fat Albert’ C-130 aircraft. The Blues selected two F/A-18 demonstration pilots, two C-130 pilots, maintenance officer, and public affairs officer to replace outgoing members of the 2019 team. “We had a phenomenal group of applicants this year,” said Capt. Eric Doyle, current commanding officer and flight leader of the Blues. The 2020 campaign will be the team’s 74th show season. The Blues select finalists for interview annually at its home base at NAS Pensacola during the week of the Pensacola Beach Air Show each year, and make selections at the end of that weekend. The 2020 selectees include FA/18 pilots Marine Corps Maj. Frank Zastoupil of Kingwood, Texas, who is currently flying fifth-generation F-35B Joint Strike fighters at Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University; and Navy Lt. Julius Bratton of Woodlawn, Tenn. He is an F/A-18 Hornet pilot currently assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 106. He is a Naval Academy graduate. C-130 Pilots: Huckeba, currently assigned to Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Va. He graduated from the Naval Academy, and Marine Capt. Rick Rose of Napa, Calif., currently assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152. He graduated from California State University-Sacramento. Maintenance Officer, Navy Lt. Brian Abe of Richardson, Texas, is currently assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 83. Public Affairs Officer: Navy Lt. j.g. Chelsea Dietlin of Detroit, who is currently assigned to Navy Public Affairs Support Element-East. She graduated from Michigan State University. The new CO and flight leader will be Cmdr. Brian Kesselring of Fargo, N.D., who recently was commander of Strike Fighter Squadron 81; and XO Navy Cmdr. Todd Royles of Willow Grove, Pa., who currently is executive officer of Training Squadron 86’s Squadron Augment Unit at NAS Pensacola. The new team members will officially begin training for 2020 season following the Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show at NAS Pensacola on Nov. 9. After that show, the team will depart the Gulf Coast for its winter training season at El Centro, Calif. (Source: Blue Angels media release 07/15/19) The Blues has its first F-35B pilot, Marine Maj. Zastoupil. He's currently assigned to the "Warlords" of the South Carolina-based Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, but will be flying the F/A-18 aircraft for the Blues. "This is the first [pilot] we've had that's been permanently attached to an F-35 squadron," Chief Petty Officer Chad Pritt, the Blue Angels' public affairs chief, told Military.com.

CG rescues 12 from high waters

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard and local agencies rescued 12 people and two pets from flooded areas of Terrebonne Parish, La., on Saturday (July 13) as Hurricane Barry was beginning to make landfall. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received its first call for assistance at 4:30 a.m. CGAS New Orleans launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew, and CG Marine Safety Unit Morgan City boat crew members assisted as on-scene coordinators rescuing 11 people and two pets. Later in the morning, the CG responded to a distress call from a 77-year-old man in Dulac, La., who was trapped in his home in four feet of water. Aircrews responded, hoisted the man and transported him to safety. An area command was established July 12 at CG Base New Orleans and remains fully staffed and operational, and assets had been pre-staged in New Orleans, Houston, Mobile, Ala., Covington and Alexandria, La. (Source: Coast Guard 07/13/19)

Blues' new XO for 2020

PENSACOLA, Fla. - Chief of Naval Air Training Rear Adm. Greg Harris announced July 13 that Navy Cmdr. Todd Royles would become the new executive officer of the 2020 Navy's Blue Angels flight demonstration team. A native of Willow Grove, Pa., Royles attended flight school at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola and was then designated a Naval Flight Officer. He is a Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) graduate, who flew combat missions in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Inherent Resolve. He had previously served with the Blue Angels as events coordinator. Royles will be coming to the Blue Angels from duty as executive officer at Training Squadron 86 aboard NAS Pensacola. Royles will join Cmdr. Brian Kesselring to lead the Blue Angels beginning in November and for the 2020 air show season. “I cannot be more excited to be returning to the team to join Cmdr. Kesselring in guiding this amazing organization through its 74th season,” Royles was quoted in a Blue Angels media release. “I’m humbled to be welcomed back to this extraordinary group and join them in representing all those in our Navy and Marine Corps to the American public.” Royles will assume XO duties following the Blue Angels' Homecoming Air Show at NASP on Nov. 9. (Source: Blue Angels media release 07/13/19) The 2020 season's closest to Mississippi air show will be June 20-21 - Millington, Tenn.

Senate to expedite SECDEF hearing

WASHINGTON – The Senate Armed Services committee announced July 11 it will expedite the confirmation hearing for President Trump's choice for Secretary of Defense, Mark Esper, despite Congress not yet having the White House’s formal nomination paperwork. Esper's hearing is scheduled for July 16, according to a statement from committee leaders, which noted that the Executive Branch has provided "pre-nomination paperwork." (Source: CNN 07/11/19)

Berger takes command of Marines

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Gen. David Berger took command of the Marine Corps from outgoing Commandant Gen. Robert Neller in a change of command ceremony July 11 at the Marine Barracks’ Washington parade field with a slew of former commandants, current flag and general officers, lawmakers and other dignitaries in attendance. Neller has served in the Corps for 45 years. (Source: USNI News 07/ 11/19)

More FAA $ for Miss. airports

U.S. Senators Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi said the Federal Aviation Administration is awarding $13.4M to eight Mississippi airports. Hawkins Field in Jackson is getting more than $5M to rehabilitate a runway and runway lighting. Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport in Jackson is getting nearly $5M to renovate part of its terminal and nearly seven miles of service and access roads. Golden Triangle Regional Airport near Columbus will get $1M to expand its building, buy new air traffic control equipment, buy safety equipment and rework a water line. Bobby Chain Municipal Airport in Hattiesburg will get $744,000 for drainage. Airports in Corinth, Moselle, Louisville and Brookhaven will each get from $190,000 to $636,000 for improvements. (Source: The AP 07/10/19)

CAT counting days to new facility

Continental Aerospace Technologies (CAT) officials are counting down the days until its new facility opens at the Mobile (Ala.) Aeroplex at Brookley. The Mobile-based firm is entering a new market. Continental developed an engine – the Continental Prime 10-370-DA3A – for a new line of Piper Aircraft training planes. The 180-horsepower engine will be manufactured in Mobile and Continental will provide customer service and tech support. Florida-based Piper noted in a news release that a “growing demand for professionally trained pilots” is fueling the expansion of its product line. The two companies have an 82-year-old partnership. Continental is also adding a new ignition system kit, Shower of Sparks, to its product line. The technology eliminates recurring mandatory inspections. The company was once known as Continental Motors. It has become an industry leader in new and rebuilt FAA-certified piston engines – both gas and diesel – as well as spare parts and components for small propeller-driven airplanes. (Source: Mobile Chamber 07/2019)

Prez may nominate 3-star as CNO

President Donald Trump will reach into the three-star ranks to nominate Vice Adm. Mike Gilday to be the next Chief of Naval Operations following Adm. Bill Moran's sudden retirement, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. Trump met with Gilday and other Navy officials July 10, according to WSJ. The paper cited three unnamed officials in confirming the president's intended plan to nominate the career surface warfare officer. The move follows the unexpected retirement of Moran, who was confirmed by the Senate and scheduled to take over in Aug. 1. Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer said this week that Moran's judgment was called into question after he maintained a professional relationship with a former Navy officer who'd been accused – but never charged - of sexual harassment. Trump nominated Gilday in May to become director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Before that, he served as the head of U.S. Fleet Cyber Command. Gilday, a Naval Academy grad, holds master's degrees from the Harvard Kennedy School and National War College. Navy analysts speculated this week that the president could nominate a three-star to the CNO post. Retired Navy Capt. Jerry Hendrix, a defense analyst, named Gilday as one of three vice admirals likely to be in the running. "All of these officers have reputations for taking a fresh look at our Navy's problems," he said. Arleigh Burke was a rear admiral when President Dwight Eisenhower nominated him to be CNO. The last two Marine Corps commandants have been pulled from the three-star ranks. (Source: Military.com 07/10/19)

Miss. firm's range pact: $33M

R.C. Construction Co. of Greenwood, Miss., is being awarded a $33,116,313 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of range improvements and modernization at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. This project constructs a new rifle range in the same location as the existing Hue City Range. This range will meet applicable Marine Corps requirements for known distance (KD) ranges as set forth in MIL HDBK 1027.3B, range facilities and miscellaneous training facilities other than buildings, and Marine Corps Orders (MCO) 3570.1C, 3550.9, and 3574.2L. Range support buildings to be constructed include target storage, control house and toilet facilities. All facilities will be concrete or reinforced concrete masonry unit structures with stucco exterior and concrete slab on grade. A target-area berm, retaining walls, safety sidewalls, a safety tunnel and 600-yard range berm will be constructed, and sidewalls with acoustic insulation will also be included. Earth berm structures include a behind-the-target bullet impact berm with side and rear retaining walls as appropriate with flat lead mining equipment maintenance surfaces. Built-in equipment will include the target system benches, target numbers and relocated target lifters, flagpoles and firing line benches. Special costs include post construction award services and geospatial mapping and survey. Work will be performed at Parris Island and is expected to be completed by August 2021. FY 2019 Navy construction contract funds in the amount of $28,326,200 are being obligated at time of this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with three proposals received. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic of Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 07/10/19)

Jackson takes lead of 81st MDG

KEESLER AFB, Miss. - Lt. Col. Norris Jackson became the newest 81st Medical Group (MDG) commander here during a July 9 change of command. Prior to coming to Keesler AFB, Jackson was the 319th Medical Operations Squadron commander at Grand Forks AFB in North Dakota. Outgoing commander, Col. Ryan Mihata credited all personnel of the 81st MDG for its success during his time as commander. “This is about the surgical operators, airmen, active-duty members, reservists, guardsmen, civilian employees and the contractors,” he said. “We all contributed to the success of the 81st.” Mihata’s next duty assignment will be at Ramstein Air Base in Germany where he will be the commander of the 86th Medical Group. (Source: 81st Training Wing 07/10/19) The 81st operates one of the largest medical facilities in the Air Force. It provides health care for more than 25,000 enrollees, including nearly 8,500 active-duty members. In addition, the 81st MDG commander oversees the Gulf Coast Multi-Service Market, which includes five military medical treatment facilities from Mobile, Ala., to New Orleans, coordinating care for 80,000 eligible beneficiaries.

Breakthrough polymer research

STARKVILLE, Miss. – A Mississippi State Bagley College of Engineering and Swalm School of Chemical Engineering faculty member and graduate student are part of a multi-institutional team that is reporting a breakthrough in advanced materials research. Neeraj Rai, MSU assistant professor of chemical engineering, and Md Abdus Sabuj, chemical engineering doctoral student are among authors of “A high-spin ground-state donor-acceptor conjugated polymer,” published in a recent issue of Science Advances. The article is available online at https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/5/5/eaav2336/tab-pdf. Rai said the team designed a polymer that has a triplet electronic state, or two unpaired electrons, as the ground state and is stable under ambient conditions. “This is an important breakthrough as most organic molecules and polymers have a singlet electronic state where all electrons are paired - spin-up and spin-down,” Rai said. The research is relevant because of a growing need “to design materials that deviate from the traditional chemical bonding paradigm” that will revolutionize the field of material science, Rai said. These materials exhibit distinct optical, electronic, spin and excited-state properties, which have structure and dynamics, and that can be optimized for applications in organic electronics, spintronics, nonlinear optics, and energy conversion and storage. (Source: Mississippi State University 07/09/19)

Biloxi sues FEMA over Katrina aid

The City of Biloxi, Miss., is suing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for $15.5M that the disaster relief agency refuses to pay for post-Katrina reconstruction of drainage, sewer and water systems. In the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, the city claims FEMA has rejected $8.8M in project management expenses the agency had previously approved and helped develop. FEMA refuses to cover $6.7M Biloxi needs for project management costs going forward. The city said the reconstruction project would take four years, when it started in 2008, but the lawsuit says the work won’t be finished until December 2024 – about 19 years after Katrina. Biloxi filed the lawsuit after losing its FEMA appeal. The lawsuit accuses FEMA of breaching its contract with the city, and violated the Stafford Act - law that authorizes federal emergency assistance after disasters. FEMA awarded the city more than $344M for infrastructure projects that covered 170 miles. The city spent the $8.8M on project management with HNTB Corp., an employee-owned firm primarily based in California. FEMA rejected the costs because of a 2015 Homeland Security audit that concluded the city awarded a $21M project management contract to HNTB without considering cost, instead focusing on the contractor’s qualifications. (Source: Sun Herald 07/10/19)

NAVFAC pact includes SE bases

Cardno-Amec Foster Wheeler Public Works JV of Charlottesville, Va., is awarded a $10,934,892 firm-fixed-price task order N62470-19-F-4093 under a previously indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity contract (N62470-18-D-3009) for inventory existence and completeness of operating materials and supplies at various Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) public works departments. The task order also contains two unexercised options, which if exercised, would increase cumulative task order value to $14,868,095. The work to be performed provides for all management, labor, supplies, equipment, information technology, materials and transportation necessary to perform screen of undocumented materials to include identification, inventory, organization, assigning unique locations, and recommendations for disposal. The options, if exercised, provides for the work to be performed at additional NAVFAC locations including Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Sigonella, Italy, Naples, Italy, and Manama, Bahrain. Work will be performed in San Diego, California (22%); Great Lakes, Illinois (9%); Ventura County, California (9%); Norfolk, Virginia (7%); Kingsville, Texas (5%); Coronado, California (5%); Earle, New Jersey (5%); Washington, District of Columbia (4%); Kittery, Maine, (4%); Lemoore, California (3%); Virginia Beach, Virginia (3%); Seal Beach, California (2%); Indian Head, Maryland (2%); Crane, Indiana (2%); Monterey, California (2%); Fort Worth, Texas (2%); Dahlgren, Virginia (2%); Panama City, Florida (2%); Kitsap, Washington (1%); Corpus Christi, Texas (1%); Everett, Washington (1%); New London, Connecticut (1%); Key West, Florida (1%); China Lake, California (1%); New Orleans, Louisiana (1%); Gulfport, Mississippi (1%); Portsmouth, Virginia (1%); and Yorktown, Virginia (1%). The work is expected to be completed by December 2019. Fiscal 2019 Navy working capital fund contract funds in the amount of $10,934,892 are obligated at the time of this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One proposal was received for this task order. NAVFAC AVFAC Atlantic of Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 07/09/19)

Miss.-assembled MQ-8C operational

The Navy has declared initial operational capability for the Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter on June 28. It clears the way for the unmanned air vehicle to begin fleet operations and training. The MQ-8C is to deploy aboard the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship(s) in FY 2021, and is intended for intelligence, and surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as precision targeting. The airframe is the commercial Bell 407, with seats and other manned avionics equipment stripped out and replaced with remote controls and extra fuel tanks. Over the next few years, Northrop Grumman plans to deliver 38 MQ-8Cs to the Navy. (Sources: Flightglobal, Inside Defense, 07/08/19) Gulf Coast note: Final assembly and flight testing of the MQ-8C is done in Moss Point, Miss.

SECNAV comes to NASM

NAS Meridian, Miss. and Training Air Wing One welcomed Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer to the air station July 3. SECNAV and his wife, Polly, toured NASM and met with leadership to learn more about strike jet fighter training conducted on base with the T-45C Goshawk. (NAS Meridian 07/03/19)

Comfort comes to Peru

CALLAO, Peru – Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) arrived in Callao, Peru, July 8 for its second port visit of a 2019 deployment. While in Callao, U.S. service members and medical professionals will work alongside international partner and host nation medical professionals to provide much-needed medical assistance in communities with urgent health care needs, including local populations and vulnerable Venezuelans who have fled to Peru from the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. “Our team will work side-by-side with hundreds of doctors, nurses and surgeons throughout the region to build medical readiness, disaster capacity and lasting relationships,” said Adm. Craig S. Faller, Commander U.S. Southern Command. Comfort’s team consists of military and civilian personnel from America and partner nations of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Peru, creating a dynamic team capable of delivering a variety of services. “Our team will work together toward a common goal of alleviating stress placed on the country’s medical systems,” said Capt. Brian J. Diebold, commander, Task Force 49. “We’re committed to increasing partner nation capacity to provide medical assistance and disaster relief.” Among the staff is dental officer Lt. Elias Gonzales of Pensacola, Fla. This marks the fourth Comfort visit to Peru and the seventh to the region since 2007. The embarked medical teams will provide care on board Comfort and at two land-based medical sites. (Source: Navy Support Element East 07/08/19)

CNO vetted flag requests retirement

The 4-star admiral who had been confirmed to become Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) on Aug. 1 will retire, a downfall prompted by what Navy Secretary (SECNAV) Richard Spencer called poor judgment regarding a professional relationship. Adm. William Moran’s sudden retirement may also add to a perception of turmoil among the Defense Department’s senior leadership, coming less than a month after Pat Shanahan abruptly withdrew his name from consideration to be Defense Secretary (SECDEF) after serving as acting secretary for six months. Leaders of the military services, both civilian and uniformed, play lesser roles involving national security than SECDEF. They are responsible for ensuring that service personnel are trained, equipped, and prepared for combat. Adm. Moran had been vetted for promotion to become CNO, nominated by President Trump and confirmed by the Senate in May to succeed current CNO Adm. John Richardson and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Instead, Moran said in a written statement July 7 that he told SECNAV Spencer he decided to decline the appointment and requested retirement. (Source: The AP 07/07/19)

Disturbance bears watching

The National Weather Service issued a Saturday morning message, which on its face was pretty simple: It's hurricane season. It’s time to review action plans, but not time to get worked-up about the possibility of a tropical system forming in the northern Gulf of Mexico next week. Some computer forecast models are suggesting that possibility. A few models are calling for a system over Missouri to make its way into the GoM and develop into a tropical system. This disturbance will begin to draw deep tropical moisture as it slides into the vicinity of the Northern or NE Gulf of Mexico into Wednesday. The GFS and Euro agree on this scenario through Tuesday, but then the models diverge significantly, according to meteorologist Rob Perillo of KATV. The Euro solution will make a beach trip east of Acadiana (Miss., Ala., and Fla.) later next week/weekend a little uncomfortable with some indoor days and active weather. There could be some high rain chances heading Louisiana's way by next weekend ... and that's why KATV will continue to say the weather and this disturbance into next week "bears watch". (Source: KATC 07/05/19)

Safety road show coming to NASM

NORFOLK, Va. - Naval Safety Center subject matter experts kicked off a series of Safety Road Shows in June to roll out significant changes to selected chapters in the Navy’s updated Safety and Occupational Health Manual. During the road show, SMEs are taking safety professionals on a deep dive of the manual’s changes, answering questions and presenting expectations for compliance. A 2018 mishap involving non-compliance with an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirement at a facility that was receiving Base Operating Support and tenant commands “was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” said Jonathan Wilson, NSC’s shore safety programs director. It drove necessary changes to the manual that comes on line Aug. 1. “We were not doing a good enough job for identifying, recording and correcting hazards,” Wilson said. To address this, Navy senior leadership recommended establishing a common standard to evaluate shore safety effectiveness and establishing a single owner of the end-to-end process for identifying, recording and correcting shore safety deficiencies. Here is a list of upcoming road shows across the Gulf Coast region: July 17 NAS Pensacola, Fla. July 23 NAS Meridian, Miss.; July 25 NAS Whiting Field, Fla.; and Sept. 3 Naval Support Activity Memphis. (Source: The Sentinel 07/05/19)

USM group raises school in Malawi

The University of Southern Mississippi’s College Panhellenic Council has partnered with the University of Indiana on the ground-breaking and initial construction of a new school in Malawi, Africa. Megan Wilkinson, assistant director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, and four other USM students joined the UI contingent for an official ground-breaking in Kasiya Village in late May. For more than two weeks, the USM group contributed to the initial construction. The school, which will house students in grades 1-8, is expected to be completed by year’s end. Malawi, located in SE Africa, is among the world's least developed countries and a population of about 18M. There are too many children desiring an education, but few locations to host them, according to Wilkinson. “The people there are filled with such curiosity and have big dreams … despite having so many obstacles in their way,” she continued. “Breaking the cycle of poverty and illiteracy will allow the entire community to develop.” Physical school buildings provide shelter for students to learn in a consistent environment. “(E)ducation is the number one way to empower people,” said Hattiesburg native and speech pathology major Callie Crider. But, Wilkinson left with an “unfinished feeling.” These students will not have an easy access to a high school education. There is more work beyond the raising of a school structure that needs to be done, Wilkinson exclaimed. (Source: USM 06/26/19)

Tougaloo College has new prez

Dr. Carmen J. Walters has become the 14th president of Tougaloo (Miss.) College on July 1. She is the second female president of Tougaloo. Dr. Beverly Wade Hogan had held the post since 2002. Walters comes to Tougaloo from the post of executive VP of enrollment management, student success and institutional relations at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. She has also worked at Delgado Community College in New Orleans as executive assistant to the chancellor, and assistant to the vice chancellor for academic and student affairs. Walters has also worked as an instructor for Jefferson Parish (La.) Department of Employment and Training in Louisiana and as a high-school teacher in New Orleans. She received a bachelor's degree in from Southern University in Baton Rouge, La.; master's degree Xavier College in New Orleans; and a PhD in community-college leadership from Mississippi State University in 2009. (Source: Jackson Free Press 07/05/19)

New VP of Hinds’ Raymond campus

Hinds Community College of Mississippi named Dr. Keri Cole as its new VP for the Raymond Campus and the Jackson Campus-Nursing/Allied Health Center. Cole, of Clinton, Miss., is a 1998 Hinds alumna and has been employed by the college since 2005, most recently as district dean of Instructional Technology and eLearning. Cole earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Mississippi State University. In 2017, she received her Doctorate of Education in Professional Studies of Higher Education from Delta State University. (Source: Mississippi Business Journal 07/03/19)

Best Gulf Coast states’ parks

The Discoverer Blog has named the best state parks from all 50 states. Among the four best Gulf Coast states’ parks for Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Louisiana: Fontainebleau State Park is a 2,800-acre outdoor retreat in the Fontainebleau area, and is surrounded by water on three sides, making it an ideal place to soak up the sun in a kayak, canoe, or along the shores of one of its man-made beaches. Highlights: Bike, walk, or horseback ride along one of the state’s most treasured areas, Tammany Trace, an old Illinois Central Railroad turned paved path that traverses portions of the park located 23 miles west of Slidell, La. Mississippi: Nestled in the foothills of the treasured Appalachian Mountains, Tishomingo State Park is an eclectic mix of enchanting fern-filled crevices and large rock formations. Rich in Native American history, archaeological excavations confirm that Tishomingo was once home to Paleo Indian inhabitants dating back to 7000 B.C. Park Highlights: Drive along portions of the famed Natchez Trace Parkway, a national parkway that honors the historic Old Natchez Trace used by Native Americans for centuries. Located 52 miles NE of Tupelo, Miss. Alabama: Sweet home, where the skies are blue and the waterfalls are 104-feet tall. It’s no surprise that when Alabamians want to escape to the woods, they head to DeSoto State Park. Accentuated by rushing waterfalls, vibrant wildflowers, and rustic mountain terrain, DeSoto State Park covers over 3,500 acres, features 25 miles of hiking trails, and is the perfect place for a peaceful weekend away. Located 10 miles NE of Fort Payne, Ala. Florida: How many times can you say you’ve floated through a state park on an inner tube? While Florida may have a reputation for being the go-to state for beautiful beaches, when the weather warms up, you’ll find High Springs locals floating down the 6-mile, crystalline Ichetucknee River. Fed by nine natural springs, the Ichetucknee River flows through shaded hammocks and wetlands into the Santa Fe River. Visitors can enjoy its pristine turquoise waters year-round. 85 miles west of Jacksonville. (Source: The Discoverer Blog 07/2019)