WASHINGTON - NASA is ready to head to a wet dress rehearsal (WDR) countdown of the Space Launch System (SLS) from April 1-4 that will serve as the final key before its first launch to the moon. The event can be streamed online at NASA's website. In the rehearsal, the rocket is filled with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellant and the countdown is taken to just under T-10 seconds, shortly before the core stage’s four RS-25 engines would ignite. The WDR will test fueling and countdown procedures ahead of the Artemis 1 launch this summer. The test will begin around 4 p.m. CDT. If the test goes forward as planned, NASA expects to know quickly how the vehicle performed and how soon it would be ready for launch. NASA plans to hold a briefing April 4 with a first review of the results of the WDR. (Source: Space News 03/29/22) Gulf Coast Note: RS-25 tests were conducted by a combined team of NASA, Aerojet Rocketdyne and Syncom Space Services operators at the Stennis Space Center, Miss. Syncom Space Services is the prime contractor for Stennis facilities and operations.
Thursday, March 31, 2022
MS guv has equal pay bill on desk
Gov. Tate Reeves has received House Bill 770, equal pay for women, and if he signs it, Mississippi will no longer be the only state in the U.S. without an equal pay law on the books. "This is a very historic day for the House, and for the state of Mississippi," said House Judiciary A Chairwoman Angela Cockerham (I-Magnolia), lead author of the bill. But some advocates of equal pay for women say the measure state lawmakers passed is worse than not having a law at all, and are urging the governor to veto the legislation. (Source: Mississippi Today 03/31/22) MS Legislature passes equal pay bill. Advocates say it’s terrible (clarionledger.com)
HII's LHA 8 mod contract $26.4M
Huntington Ingalls Inc., Pascagoula, Mississippi, is awarded a $28,374,837 modification to previously awarded contract N00024-16-C-2427 for the Joint Strike Fighter, and ship’s mast and superstructure engineering change proposals in support of one Amphibious Assault Ship (General Purpose) Replacement (LHA(R)) Flight 1 Ship (LHA 8). Work will be performed in Pascagoula, Mississippi (72%); Chesapeake, Virginia (25%); and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (3%). Work is expected to be completed by July 2025. Fiscal 2017 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $28,374,837 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 03/31/22)
CG suspends search for swimmer
NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard and Alabama partner agencies are searching for a missing swimmer March 31 in Gulf Shores, Ala. The missing swimmer was described as a 20-year-old Caucasian male wearing an orange swimsuit. CG Sector Mobile, Ala., received a call from a good Samaritan Wednesday night of a swimmer entering the water and not resurfacing. The CG launched of two rescue crews - from Dauphin Island and New Orleans - to assist Gulf Shores Police /Fire and Rescue and Alabama Marine Resources Division - with the search. If you have any information call CGS Mobile at (251) 441-6215. (Source: Coast Guard 03/31/22)
UPDATE: The Coast Guard suspended its search at 7:23 p.m. Thursday for a missing swimmer near Gulf Shores, Alabama. Rescue crews searched more than 118 square miles for a combined search time of 8.8 hours. (Coast Guard 03/31/22)
Prez: 1M bbls/day of strategic oil
WASHINGTON - On March 31, President Joe Biden ordered the release of 1M barrels of oil per day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve for six months, a bid to control energy prices that have spiked after the U. S. imposed sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. The president doesn't know how much gasoline prices could decline but suggested between “10 cents to 35 cents a gallon.” Gas is averaging $4.23 a gallon - compared to $2.87 a year ago. The president also wants Congress to impose financial penalties on oil and gas companies that lease public lands but are not producing. (Source: The AP 03/31/22)
Vertex has seat at EWAAC table
The Vertex Company, based in Madison, Miss., was awarded a seat on the Air Force’s Eglin Wide Agile Acquisition Contract (EWAAC). The contract allows Vertex to compete for task orders that use expertise in digital engineering, agile processes and open system architectures to accelerate the deployment of armaments on military platforms. EWAAC is a multiple awardee, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract valued up to $46B. The contract enables new technology demonstrations, software development and manufacturing to develop new armaments and weapons on platforms across the Department of Defense. The contract has a 10-year award period ending in August 2031. (Source: Vertex 03/29/22) Media - The Vertex Company (vtxco.com)
EWAAC is a contract vehicle to support the AF Materiel Command and Special Operations Command to provide system development, rapid prototyping, system integration, open systems architecture and enterprise analytics for Eglin AFB, Fla., and its mission partners. EWAAC serves as the primary pipeline to birth programs that are open, agile and digital with a focus on implementing “digital trinity” in weapons, digital standardization and transformation of efforts across the portfolio.
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
O&G warns of fed revenue bleed
A new report, commissioned by the American Petroleum Institute and National Ocean Industries Association, warns of major production declines in the Gulf of Mexico - and a projected $1.5B loss of federal revenue per year - if the Biden administration continues to delay offshore oil and gas leasing. The Biden administration has not yet revealed steps for releasing a new plan. “It’s fairly clear that there’s not going to be a leasing program in place come July 1,” said Erik Milito, president of NOIA. The longer it goes ... the "more significant the impacts are going to be on the economy." DoI spokesperson Melissa Schwartz did not provide a timeline for the release of a new offshore leasing program. There are more than 11M acres of offshore federal waters already under lease, and more than three-quarters (75.58%) are unused and non-producing. Industry has become increasingly bitter over the Biden administration’s failure to conduct O&G lease sales while pushing the industry to drill more to drive down high global crude prices (Energywire, March 9). (Source: E&E News PM 03/29/21) Oil industry report warns of revenue bleed without new leasing - E&E News (eenews.net)
VP Harris visits Greenville
JACKSON, Miss. - Vice President Kamala Harris is headed to Greenville, Miss., on April 1 to highlight the Biden-Harris administration’s “historic investments in small businesses and communities.” Her visit comes nearly a year after First Lady Jill Biden visited Jackson to promote the coronavirus vaccine. VP Harris’ visit was announced the same day President Biden signed the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act, which makes lynching a federal hate crime. (Source: WLBT 03/29/22) VP Kamala Harris is headed to Mississippi (wlox.com)
UPDATE: VP Harris' visit to Greenville, Miss. (Clarion Ledger) Harris said small business like ones in Greenville deserve support (clarionledger.com)
US News rates WCUCOM #1
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - William Carey University's College of Osteopathic Medicine accepted its first class in 2010. On March 29, U.S. News & World Report placed WCUCOM No. 1 in the United States for producing the highest percentage of graduates who work in rural areas in its 2023 rankings. The college also placed fourth in two other categories: The largest percentage of graduates working in primary care and the highest percentage of graduates working in locations where health professionals are in short supply. (Source: WDAM 03/29/22) William Carey University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine ranked No. 1 by U.S. News & World Report (wdam.com)
9 Freedom LCS decommissioning
WASHINGTON, DC - Nine Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ships currently in Navy service – the youngest of which was commissioned in 2020 – have been marked for disposal as part of the Pentagon's FY 2023 budget proposal, USNI News is reporting. The ships – USS Fort Worth (LCS-3), USS Milwaukee (LCS-5), USS Detroit (LCS-7), USS Little Rock (LCS-9), USS Sioux City (LCS-11), USS Wichita (LCS-13), USS Billings (LCS-15) and USS St. Louis (LCS-19) – are part of the 24 ships the service has chosen to decommission in FY-23 for an estimated $3.6B in savings. The Freedom-class ships had been tapped for the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) mission package. The key component was a towed variable depth low-frequency active sonar that the Navy doesn’t have in its fleet. While VDS showed promise, the Raytheon-built AN/SQS-62 VDS suffered stability and towing issues with the Freedom-class, according to Navy officials. As a result of the poor performance, the Navy announced it had terminated the mission module on March 28. (USNI News 03/29/22) Gulf Coast Note: The USNI article did not mention any Independent LCS, built in Mobile, Ala. LCS 2 (Independence) has already been decommissioned along with LCS 4 (Coronado); along with Marinette (Wis.) Marine-built LCS 1 (Freedom) and LCS 3 (Fort Worth). All Freedom Littoral Combat Ships in Commission Tapped for Early Disposal - USNI News
UPDATE: Navy also identified five cruisers by name for disposal: USS Bunker Hill (CG-52), USS Mobile Bay (CG-53), USS San Jacinto (CG-56), USS Lake Champlain (CG-57) and USS Vicksburg (CG-69). (Source: Military.com 03/20/22)
Tuesday, March 29, 2022
Hackers scanning US energy firms
WASHINGTON - Russian hackers have been scanning energy companies and critical infrastructure across the U.S. These state-sponsored hackings presents a "current" threat to American national security, Bryan Vorndram, FBI cyber specialist, told a House panel March 29. "The threat from Russia in a criminal sense, in the nation state sense, is very, very real - and current," said Vorndran acknowledged. (Source: Reuters 03/29/22) FBI says Russian hackers scanning U.S. energy systems and pose 'current' threat (yahoo.com)
40 MS high schools recognized
JACKSON, Miss. - Forty Mississippi high schools received national recognition for their excellent work in preparing students for college. The schools were named recipients of the 2021 College Success Award from GreatSchools.org, the Mississippi Department of Education announced March 29. (Source: WTVA 03/29/22) 40 Mississippi high schools recognized for college preparation | News | wtva.com
New CTW-5 boss
NAS WHITING FIELD, Fla. - Capt. Jade Lepke relieved Col. Jeffrey Pavelko as Commodore of Training Air Wing (CTW) 5 in a ceremony March 18. Pavelko graduated from Pennsylvania State University and earned his commission in 1994. He attended flight school in Pensacola, Fla., and designated as a naval aviator in September 1997. Lepke enlisted with the South Dakota Air National Guard as an aircraft armament systems specialist and earned a degree from the University of South Dakota in 1996 and attended Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, earning his commission in 1997. (Source: Whiting Field Public Affairs, 03/28/22)
Monday, March 28, 2022
Oxford firm's $145M contract
Olin Winchester LLC, Oxford, Mississippi, was awarded a $145,000,000 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract to manufacture .38 caliber, .45 caliber, and 9mm ammunition. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 27, 2027. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 03/28/22)
Loughman joins MSPA board
GULFPORT, Miss. – Hattiesburg native Mark Loughman was to have been sworn in as a member of the Mississippi State Port Authority’s (MSPA) Board of Commissioners on March 24. He is replacing E.J. Roberts and will serve a 5-year term. MSPA is governed by a 5-member board representing a cross-section of Gulfport and Harrison County. The commission sets policy and oversees major expenditures for the Port of Gulfport. Loughman is director of environmental affairs and shared services for Mississippi Power, and responsible for environmental compliance and stewardship, building services, design and construction management, and conference and mail services. Prior to joining Mississippi Power, Loughman worked in environmental compliance at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. He holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from Millsaps College and a master's in Environmental Management from Yale University. (Source: Mississippi State Port Authority 03/26/22)
Sunday, March 27, 2022
Louisiana biz developments
AWN aviation symposium
DALLAS, Texas - Aviation Week Network's Annual Military Aviation, Logistics and Maintenance Symposium (#MALMS) will be held April 27-28 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. The event is co-located with MRO Americas, (#MROAM), the world’s largest aviation MRO event. The forum is for members of the military and commercial aerospace industry. Attendees will hear real-time perspectives into the military’s logistics and aircraft sustainment concerns, current acquisition processes and requirements for modernization from the people leading the charge for innovation from all branches of the military and Department of Defense. Admission is free for all branches or active-duty and reserve members of the Armed Forces and DoD civilian employees. Registration hours are Monday, April 25 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, April 26-Wednesday, April 27 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Thursday, April 28 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Source: EIN Network 03/25/22) Aviation Week Network’s Military Aviation, Logistics & Maintenance Symposium (#MALMS) will be held in Dallas April 27-28 - EIN Presswire (einnews.com)
MSU to host storms symposium
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State University’s Department of Geosciences will host the nation's top meteorologist April 2-3 for the 20th annual Southeast Severe Storms Symposium at the Old Main Academic Center. Meteorologists, students and weather experts will discuss, and learn, how severe weather impacts the region. About 150 participants are expected to attend the event organized by the East Mississippi chapters of the National Weather Association and American Meteorology Society. The symposium will feature four MSU meteorology alumni as keynote speakers: James Spann, chief meteorologist at ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, Alabama; Amy Freeze, meteorologist for FOX Weather Streaming Service; Captain Will Simmons, Air Force 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (Hurricane Hunters); and Jennifer M. Call, an atmospheric analyst at Tennessee Valley Authority and Certified Consulting Meteorologist for the energy sector. Register by April 1 at 5 p.m. at http://www.eastmsnwaams.com/registration.html. On-site registration also will be available April 2. (Source: MSU 03/26/22)
Friday, March 25, 2022
Ala.-born officer earns Biden award
ARLINGTON, Va. - Brig. Gen. Terrance A. Adams, Concepts and Strategy Air Force Futures Military deputy director, Q of the HQ of the Air Force, was awarded the President Joseph R. Biden’s Lifetime Achievement Award during a ceremony in Washington, D.C., March 20. Adams was nominated by the Lowcountry Rice Culture Project, a Charleston, S.C.-based clearinghouse and partnership builder for activities that explore, reveal, and reclaim the shared cultural inheritance of the Southeastern Lowcountry rice industry as a basis for promoting community development and advancing the cause of human dignity. US Air Force 03/24/22) Brigadier General Adams receives the President’s Volunteer Lifetime Award > Air Force > Article Display (af.mil)
Gulf Coast Note: Brig. Gen. Adams was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, and enlisted in the Army as a private after high school. After serving in the Army for six years, he entered the Air Force through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Alabama State University-Detachment 019 upon graduation from Auburn University in Montgomery, Alabama.
Ex-prez to speak at Winter event
Former President Bill Clinton will be among the speakers May 3 in a ceremony at the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson honoring the lives of former Gov. William Winter and First Lady Elise Winter. Clinton’s tenure as Arkansas' governor overlapped with Winter’s term 1980-84. As president, Clinton appointed Winter to co-chair his Initiative on Race that dealt with the issue of racial reconciliation. The William Winter Institute of Racial Reconciliation, now the Alluvial Collective, also was created at the University of Mississippi. Also speaking at the event sponsored by the Foundation for Mississippi History will be Reuben Anderson, the state’s first African American Supreme Court justice, and former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. Winter died in December 2020 at the age of 97 . The former first lady died in July 2021 at the age 95. (Source: Mississippi Today 03/25/22) Bill Clinton to speak at ceremony honoring Winters - Mississippi Today
'Thunderbirds' over Columbus
The Air Force "Thunderbirds" flight demonstration team is back in North Mississippi for this weekend's Wings Over Columbus 2022. (Source: WTVA 03/25/22) Thunderbirds air show returning to Columbus | News | wtva.com
MS CDL test waivers for mil.drivers
JACKSON, Miss. - The State of Mississippi has concluded that military large-vehicle drivers can handle similar jobs in the private sector. Gov. Tate Reeves signed a bill that requires the Commission of Public Safety to offer commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) test waivers for military members and veterans who have established training and experience operating heavy military vehicles. The bill revises Mississippi’s CDL qualification standards to streamline job opportunities to those serving in the Mississippi National Guard, says Maj. Gen. Janson D. Boyles, adjutant general of Mississippi. The issue arose when a Grenada freight company reached out to a National Guard training center regarding 20 vacancies, but not one military man applied. The reason: No CDL. The nation needs some 80,000 truck drivers to keep up with current transportation needs, according to Gov. Reeves. The bill offers job opportunities for military service members, provides a resolution for transportation demands and strengthens supply chains. (WHLT 03/25/22)
$75M mod contract at Fort Polk
Valiant Global Defense Services Inc., San Diego, California, was awarded a $75,232,935 modification (P00050) to contract W91247-18-C-0001 to deliver a realistic, high-end collective training experience at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La. Work will be performed at Fort Polk, with an estimated completion date of March 26, 2023. FY 2022 Army operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $45,000,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army 418th Contracting Support Brigade, Fort Polk, Louisiana, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 03/25/22)
Open Ocean's restoration webinar
The Open Ocean Trustees will host an April 22 webinar to highlight updates on two restoration planning efforts: The third Open Ocean restoration plan, and strategic planning for fish and water column invertebrates. Additionally, there will be information about other restoration updates and public meetings. The webinar will begin at 12 noon (CDT) at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7802888097801340684. After the meeting, the Trustees will post the webinar presentation available through the Open Ocean Restoration Area page, and the Open Ocean story archive. Contact us at openocean.TIG@noaa.gov by April 5, if you need special assistance due to a hearing or visual impairment. (Source: Gulf Spill Restoration 03/23/22) Save the Date, Register for the Open Ocean Trustees’ Spring Webinar: April 12 | NOAA Gulf Spill Restoration
MSU 2022 alumnus of year honor
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State University will honor Randy J. Cleveland with its highest alumni honor. At an April 29 ceremony, the longtime Fort Worth, Texas, resident will be recognized formally as the university’s 2022 National Alumnus. A 1983 petroleum engineering graduate and Newton County native, Cleveland was a successful leader in the oil and gas industry for more than 35 years. He began with Exxon in 1984 in New Orleans, where he held technical and planning assignments for the Gulf of Mexico and Gulf Coast region. At MSU, Cleveland is a member of the MSU Foundation board of directors, where he leads the fundraising committee, and serves on the dean’s advisory council for the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering. He was the Bagley College Alumnus of the Year in 2019 and one of the college’s Distinguished Engineering Fellows in 2008. A host of other outstanding alumni will be recognized by the MSU Alumni Association. (Source: MSU 03/25/22) Cleveland honored as MSU’s National Alumnus of the Year | Mississippi State University (msstate.edu)
DDG 125 christening March 26
The Navy will christen the future USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), the first Flight III Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, during a 10 a.m. CDT ceremony on March 26 in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Jacklyn Harold “Jack” Lucas, the ship's namesake, served as a U.S. Marine during WWII and was awarded the Medal of Honor at the age of 17. CNO Adm. Michael Gilday will deliver the christening ceremony's principal address. Other speakers will include U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.); U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.); and Kari Wilkinson, president of Ingalls Shipbuilding. The ship’s sponsors, Ms. Ruby Lucas and Ms. Catherine B. Reynolds, will christen the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow. The ship will be the 73rd Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and is one of 20 ships currently under contract for the DDG 51 program. (Source: US Navy 03/25/22)
CHRISTENING PHOTOS: CLARION LEDGER See photos of Jack Lucas, christening of Naval destroyer (clarionledger.com)
Thursday, March 24, 2022
Hartsell: Sr. civilian of year at NCBC
Dr. John Hartsell, Morale, Welfare and Recreation Youth Programs director was named the 2021 Senior Civilian of the Year at Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, Miss. (Source: NCBC 03/24/22)
DoC deputy in MS to talk broadband
JACKSON, Miss. - Mississippi will hosting U.S. Department of Commerce (DoC) Deputy Secretary Don Graves on March 25. Graves will join Sen. Roger Wicker to highlight the recent $32.7M grant from the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Infrastructure Administration (NTIA) to expand broadband in the state. The grant will provide funding for last-mile and middle-mile broadband deployment projects across the state, bringing broadband to 12,487 unserved households, 256 businesses, and 26 anchor institutions, including schools and libraries. 23% of households in the state do not have an internet subscription, and nearly 18% live in areas with zero broadband infrastructure. Later Friday, the duo will host a roundtable with leaders from Mississippi’s historically black colleges and universities about broadband, technology, and workforce development opportunities available through the Department of Commerce. (Source: WLBT 03/24/22)
Metal Shark $30M NCPV mod
Gravois Aluminum Boats LLC, doing business as Metal Shark, Jeanerette, Louisiana, is awarded a $36,195,438 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N00024-17-D-2201) to establish fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2023 pricing for Near Coastal Patrol Vessels (NCPVs) 7-through-10, and accompanying outfitting, testing, spares, tools, travel, reactivation, crew familiarization, exportation, and transportation. This modification supports Foreign Military Sales (FMS) orders from nations within the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility. Specific FMS sales will be identified as future delivery orders occur. Work will be performed in Franklin, Louisiana, and is expected to be completed by November 2024. No funding will be obligated at the time of award. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 03/24/22)
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
Storms & power outages
Tornado/strong storms & power outages across Southeast. (Source: WVTA 03/23/22) Cars Crushed, College Campuses Hit as Severe Weather Rips Across South | The Weather Channel - Articles from The Weather Channel | weather.com
Tuesday, March 22, 2022
GSSC to host annual event in April
The Gulf States Shipbuilding Consortium (GSSC) will host its annual conference April 27-28 at the Admiral Semmes Hotel in Mobile, Ala. The 2-day conference will focus on labor issues facing the industry in a post-Covid environment. Shipbuilding and repair companies, related suppliers/supply chain contacts, workforce and economic development leaders and manufacturers from across the Gulf Coast are invited to share ideas, challenges, best practices, and a vision for the future. Pete Havel, author of “Arsonist in the Office”, a recent Amazon #1 Hot New Release for Workplace Management books, will headline the conference as keynote speaker. The conference will also host powerful sessions exploring innovative approaches to outreach, training, engaging, and retaining its workforce. Registration is open for the conference. (Source: Work Boat 03/18/22) Gulf States Shipbuilding Consortium announces April conference in Alabama | WorkBoat
Bollinger proposes Stage 2 OPCs
Louisiana-based Bollinger Shipyards has submitted its proposal to the Coast Guard to build Stage 2 of the Heritage-class Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program. If selected, Bollinger would construct and deliver 11 vessels to the CG over the next 10 years. Eastern Shipbuilding Group is currently building the Stage 1 OPCs in Panama City, Fla. Bollinger's proposal indicates construction would at its Houma, La., facilities. OPCs will provide the majority of offshore presence for the Coast Guard’s cutter fleet. In a new economic impact study by the Economics & Policy Research Group at Louisiana State University, should Bollinger be chosen, found that the project could create more than 2,700 direct and indirect jobs and could generate $7.3B in economic output for the state. (Source: Work Boat 03/22/22)
NASM pilots earn CNATRA awards
The Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) named recipients of the 2021 Training Excellence Awards for outstanding achievements and mission support throughout all Training Air Wings, squadrons, flight instructors, student naval aviators and flight surgeons. The awards recognize exceptional individual achievement as well as primary and advanced training squadrons that exceeded mission goals while maintaining the highest standards of safety and professionalism. The Foss Award, sponsored by the American Fighter Aces Association, are awarded to graduates who excelled in the Air Combat Maneuvering during flight training. CNATRA selected Marine 1st Lt. Alex Robertson, who winged with “Eagles” of VT-7 at NAS Meridian, Miss. The Reserve Officer Association Selected Reserve Junior Officer of the Year is Lt. Cmdr. Colby Grelle, with the “Tigers” of VT-9 at NAS Meridian. (Source: CNATRA 03/18/22) DVIDS - News - Chief of Naval Air Training Announces 2021 Training Excellence Awards (dvidshub.net)
Teacher pay raises on Gov.'s desk
JACKSON, Miss. - The Mississippi House of Representatives passed Ha bill March 22 that is designed to give pay raises to teachers. The bill will raise teacher pay by an average of $5,140 beginning in the 2022-23 school year. It also builds in pay increases for every fifth year. Teacher assistants' pay will also increase by $2,000. The Senate passed the bill last week. It now goes to Gov. Tate Reeves for signature and final approval. (Source: WLBT 03/22/22)
Hololab debuts future bases
TYNDALL AFB, Fla. - The Digital Twin Hololab went live at Tyndall Air Force Base on March 17 to showcase the base in a digital model as part of Installation of the Future efforts. The digital base will allow cutting-edge planning concepts and innovative technologies to be integrated and enable numerous capabilities for war-fighters throughout the Air Force. The Digital Twin is a near life-like, virtual representation of the physical world. It's a place where Airmen can interact with the model using virtual reality goggles or computer screen. The Hololab demonstrates how these concepts and technologies have been incorporated to help create a more resilient, efficient and sustainable installation. The model itself is tied to the overall $4.9B rebuild schedule, enabling views of the installation at any given point in time. (Source: Air Force: 03/20/22) Tyndall AFB’s Hololab debuts virtual gateway to Installation of the Future > Air Force > Article Display
Sunday, March 20, 2022
New port proposal for Vicksburg
VICKSBURG, Miss. – The City of Vicksburg and Warren County have initiated eminent domain proceedings seeking to acquire 28 parcels from six owners for a new port. The Vicksburg Post reported the proposed inland South Port is expected to be built off U.S. 61 South along the Mississippi River, south of Entergy’s Baxter Wilson power plant. The parcels total 1,034 acres with a proposed value of $830,000. The city’s Board of Aldermen and county’s Board of Supervisors passed a joint resolution in December to allow them to go to Warren County Court to get the property through eminent domain. Vicksburg-Warren Economic Development President/CEO Pablo Diaz says the properties would provide a levee and flood control measures. The property owners have accepted the proposal, according to Diaz. (Source: WJTV 03/19/22)
Saturday, March 19, 2022
MS plant may land on Superfund
Twelve contaminated sites will get a boost toward cleanup after EPA announced the sites for its National Priorities List, a special designation under the Superfund program that oversees areas that pose significant threats to health and the environment. EPA uses that list as its basis for prioritizing both Superfund spending and additional enforcement options. Among the 12 sites is a 3.7-mile stretch of the Lower Neponset River in the Boston area. Other sites named to the list are in states including Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin and West Virginia, as well as a federal site in Oregon. In addition to the 12 sites formally added, five others are being proposed as candidates for the designation. Their addition is contingent on the outcome of a 60-day comment period. Among the five is the former Hercules chemical plant in the City of Hattiesburg. (Source: E&E News 03/17/22) EPA slates 12 new Superfund sites for cleanup - E&E News (eenews.net)
MSU aircraft to join 'Wings' show
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory will be displaying three of its aircraft, as well as an unmanned aircraft system, on March 26-27 at the Wings Over Columbus Air Show. Gates open at Columbus AFB at 10 a.m. The noon-time air show features the AF’s Thunderbirds The event is free and open to the public. “We’re looking forward to visiting with air show attendees," said Tom Brooks, director of the Raspet flight lab. “While many know us for our unmanned aviation research, we have a long history in experimental aviation, and our manned airplanes play key roles today in our unmanned research.” The Raspet aircraft: A Boeing Stearman PT-17, the centerpiece of Raspet’s manned aircraft fleet, which was used by the Army Air Corps from 1941-1943 as a trainer for WWII pilots; A Cessna L319, a one-of-a-kind experimental aircraft originally built for the Marine Corps as a forward observer aircraft, and which is used by Raspet as a chase airplane during its unmanned aircraft research; and a Grumman AA5B Tiger, the first prototype built of the Grumman American Tigers, which is used by Raspet as a training aircraft for its flight crew. (Source: MSU 03/18/22) Multiple MSU aircraft highlighted at Wings Over Columbus Air Show | Mississippi State University (msstate.edu)
Friday, March 18, 2022
AIA: Autonomous aircraft growth
ARLINGTON, Va. - The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and Avascent* released a report detailing with the breakthrough growth in the autonomous aircraft market, which is anticipated to reach nearly $325B over the next 20 years. The “Continuing to Think Bigger: Autonomous Aircraft and the Transformation in Aviation” report explores the next steps for aviation and a potential to transformation of daily life while expanding America’s leadership in global aviation. Since their first “Think Bigger” report, investments in autonomous aircraft have skyrocketed. This latest report finds autonomous aircraft are projected to directly lead to almost 100K jobs by 2040. Spending on autonomous aircraft is poised for dramatic growth and expected to total about $325B from 2022-40 and expand at a nearly 25 percent compound annual growth rate. The report identifies three key policy recommendations:
#Build a comprehensive national policy and regulatory map that prioritizes U.S. leadership in aviation;
#Invest in key infrastructure and technology development areas; and
#Develop performance-based regulations that facilitate innovation while ensuring safety and security. (Source: AIA 03/16/22) [* Avascent is a management consulting firm - with offices in NYC and Washington DC - specializing in serving senior executives in the defense, aerospace, healthcare, homeland security, logistics, technical services and infrastructure sectors.] AIA, Avascent Report: Autonomous Aircraft Market to Reach $325 Billion by 2040 | Aerospace Industries Association (aia-aerospace.org)
$50K JEDA grant for Ellisville site
JONES COUNTY, Miss. - The Jones County Economic Development Authority (JEDA) is receiving "Cooperative Competes" grant of $50,000 grant to finish construction at the Interstate 59 South Industrial Site in Ellisville. The 400-plus acre site is being developed with the goal of bringing in new or expanding industrial businesses. The grant was awarded by Cooperative Energy and Dixie Electric Power Association. (Source: WDAM 03/16/22) Jones Co. EDA receives $50K grant (wdam.com)
CAFB: 'Ready Eagle' med exercise
COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. - After a week of preparation, the 14th Medical Group at Columbus Air Force Base began a “Ready Eagle” exercise March 11 that was aimed to strengthen the readiness of AF medics in hostile situations. There were more than 80 medics participating in "Ready Eagle" from the 14th MDG. Among the simulated training involved a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) attack and medical responses. Booz Allen Hamilton, a business contracted through the AF’s Medical Readiness Agency, led the training exercise. “One of the things we started off with was telling the Medical Group to expect the unexpected during the exercise,” said Matthew Schilling, BAH project leader. The exercise included emergency medical treatment, tactical combat casualty care, patient decontamination, patient tracking, resource tracking, and bioenvironmental. Base clinic personnel don't deal with trauma on a daily basis, said Lt. Col. Kenneth Rosenblum, 14th MDG Healthcare Operations Squadron commander. “We have a dual role" of providing care to beneficiaries and supporting the base during disasters. On top of that, MDG frequently deploys medics globally and these "types of exercises give them the skills necessary for operations downrange,” he said. (Source: CAFB 03/16/22) 14th MDG enhances readiness through Ready Eagle Exercise > Columbus Air Force Base > Article Display (af.mil)
Mobile airport project decisions
MOBILE, Ala. - The Mobile County Commission will decide March 28 whether to dedicate up to $30M for a new international airport project in downtown Mobile. The vote will occur ahead of a Mobile Airport Authority meeting April 6, in which authority members are set to rename the airport, according to MAA's President Chris Curry. This comes in the wake of $162M in federal money dedicated to the $252M airport terminal project at the Mobile Aeroplex, WSW of downtown Mobile. (Source: aldotcom, 03/16/22) The Mobile Regional Airport in west Mobile is the current commercial airport.
MSU awarded $1.5M for VR training
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State University was awarded $1.49M to infuse virtual reality (VR) career exploration and job training into the education-to-workforce pipeline in Clay, Kemper, Lowndes, Noxubee and Oktibbeha counties, The award, from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), is part of a recent $21M package supporting 21 projects serving 211 coal-impacted counties through ARC’s Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative. It targets federal resources to areas affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations and coal-related supply chain industries. Additional support is to be provided by East Mississippi Community College (EMCC) and the Mississippi Department of Education. Under the project, MSU’s Research and Curriculum Unit will partner with TRANSFRVR, an education software company, to enhance career and technical education (CTE) infrastructure in Appalachian Mississippi. VR simulations will introduce students to career pathways. TRANSFRVR will deliver the training through VR to middle and high school students enrolled in Cyber Foundations and CTE courses in six school districts: West Point Consolidated, Kemper County, Columbus Municipal, Lowndes County, Noxubee County and Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated; and CTE students at EMCC, which will house VR labs at Communiversity on its Columbus and Scooba campuses. (Source: MSU 03/17/22) Mississippi State University receives $1.49 million from Appalachian Regional Commission’s POWER Initiative | Mississippi State University (msstate.edu)
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Gulfport officer nominated for flag
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced that the president has made the following flag officer nomination.
Capt. David H. Duttlinger for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Duttlinger is currently serving as commodore, Seventh Naval Construction Regiment, aboard Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, Mississippi. (Source: DoD 03/16/22)
Tuesday, March 15, 2022
DST approved, House/Prez's turn
WASHINGTON - The Senate unanimously approved a measure on March 15 that would make daylight saving time (DST) permanent across the United States next year. The bill, named the Sunshine Protection Act, would ensure Americans would no longer have to change their clocks twice a year. But it still needs House approval and the president's signature to become law. (Source: The AP 03/15/22) Senate approves bill to make daylight saving time permanent (msn.com)
Dow up 600 points; Oil prices fall
Dow jumps nearly 600 points. U.S. stocks close sharply higher as oil prices fall with Fed decision ahead. (Source: Market Watch 03/15/22) Dow jumps nearly 600 points, U.S. stocks close sharply higher as oil prices fall with Fed decision ahead (msn.com)
$18.9M YRBM pact for Conrad
Conrad Shipyard LLC, Morgan City, Louisiana, is awarded an $18,988,990 firm-fixed-price contract for the detail design and construction of the Yard, Repair, Berthing, and Messing (YRBM) craft. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $142,906,420. Work will be performed in Amelia, Louisiana, and is expected to be completed by November 2023. If all options are exercised, work will continue through December 2025. Fiscal 2021 appropriation account shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $18,899,485 will be obligated at time of award. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.sam.gov website, with six offers received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 03/15/22)
Blues on IMAX; Miss. 'Devotion'
The Navy's Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron will star in a new documentary produced by Hollywood director J.J. Abrams. "The Blue Angels," which promises to chronicle a year in the life of the team, is set to be released in IMAX theaters in late 2023. It will mark the first time the newest version of F-A/18 Blue Angels jets will have been filmed in IMAX. Abrams is the only person to make the "Star Trek"/"Star Wars" crossover as director. The film will be directed and edited by Paul Crowder, who co-directed and edited "Once in a Lifetime," the documentary about the New York Cosmos pro soccer team in the 1970s. Actor Glen Powell, a military movie enthusiast, has signed on to produce. "I made two naval aviation films back-to-back" and learned firsthand what it takes to be the best of the best," he said in a press release. Powell will appear as “Hangman” in "Top Gun: Maverick."
Mississippi Note: Powell will also play Naval aviator Captain Tom Hudner in "Devotion," a Korean War movie based on the real-life friendship between Hudner and Hattiesburg, Miss., native Ensign Jesse Brown – the first Black naval viator. Hudner was awarded the Medal of Honor for his efforts to rescue Brown after his plane was shot down and crashed landed on a mountain top near the Chosin Reservoir. (Source: Military Times 03/14/22) Blue Angels Will Star in Documentary from 'Star Wars' Director | Military.com
Is rose off bloom for Ingalls?
WASHINGTON - Over the past three years, the Navy’s long-term shipbuilding plan laid out a stable path for Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Shipbuilding division in Pascagoula, Miss. The Navy planned to buy two or three Arleigh Burke guided-missile destroyers annually, splitting the work with Ingalls Bath (Maine) Iron Works. The service was also set to purchase San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks well into the future - one per year. While the next America-class amphibious assault ship would be stretched over a longer-than-ideal construction time, the Navy eventually would buy one every 3-to-4 years. And though the Coast Guard’s Legend-class National Security Cutter program was coming to an end, there were several options for the Navy to replace that work. But since those three years, the Navy has tightened its budget belt and requirements, making the future look far less rosy for HII-Pascagoula. (Source: Defense News 03/14/22) As US Navy rethinks its fleet, Ingalls Shipbuilding faces uncertain future (defensenews.com)
Sen. lifeline for postpartum benes
For two consecutive years, Mississippi’s House leadership killed an extension of postpartum Medicaid benefits, likely guaranteeing many low-income people to lose health insurance benefits 60 days after giving birth. The Mississippi Senate passed a bill on a 46-5 vote to extend coverage to 12 months. The House had to concur, but instead it died - a victim of politics. The after 60 day postpartum months are the most dangerous. Cutting off care ends diagnostic and treatment interventions. In 2021, the benefit died in a political turf war over a Medicaid Tech Bill, ripped from the legislation at the last minute. In 2022, the bill perished with the assistance of Rep. Joey Hood (R-Ackerman), chairman of the House Medicaid Committee, and Speaker Philip Gunn, (R-Clinton). Gunn told The Associated Press that his decision to kill the bill came from a fear of an appearance of “Medicaid expansion.” He has publicly opposed to Medicaid expansion. Gunn is the current board member of the American Legislative Exchange Council. ALEC is a staunch opponent of Medicaid expansion. Sen. Kevin Blackwell (R-Southaven), chairman of the Senate Medicaid committee, has highlighted that the bill would not have grown the number of Mississippians eligible for Medicaid, but merely extended the length of time for new mothers to access benefits. Between 2013-16, Mississippi’s pregnancy-related maternal mortality rate was 1.9 times higher than the U.S. - 86% of pregnancy-related deaths occurred postpartum, including 37% after 6 weeks, the Mississippi State Department of Health has reported. The bill would have taken aim at an area of racial disparity where Black mothers are three times more likely to die from causes related to pregnancy than whites. Given the margin of support the bill had among Republicans in the Senate, it’s unlikely it would have perished in the House without Gunn and Hood’s opposition. (Source: Jackson Free Press 03/13/22) House Political Games Kill Medicaid Extension For New Mothers in Mississippi | Jackson Free Press | Jackson,
UPDATE: The Senate is ready to throw the legislation another lifeline. Mississippi could renew push to extend Medicaid for new moms - WXXV News 25 (wxxv25.com)
Hub City's awards of historical merit
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - VISITHattiesburg and the historic Eureka School were recipients of the Award of Merit from the Mississippi Historical Society for its outstanding contributions to the preservation and interpretation of local history. The VISIT Hattiesburg award was highlighting the Freedom Summer Trail - a 16-stop driving tour that showcases the role Hattiesburg played in the civil rights movement. The Eureka School in Hattiesburg was designated as a Mississippi landmark in 2005 and serves as a focal point of history and heritage for African Americans in the community. When it opened in 1921, it was one of only two brick high schools for African Americans in the state. Home - Eureka School Museum (hattiesburgeureka.com) (Source: WDAM 03/14/22)
Opinion: Ukraine ag fuel crucial
OPINION PIECE - TIME magazine
Europe’s breadbasket farmers, and delivery truck companies, in the Ukraine are out of diesel fuel. Two weeks into the Russian assault supply chains are disrupted and critical shortages of fuel is pushing Ukraine’s agricultural sector toward collapse. If it does not secure diesel soon, Europe could face massive price spikes for agricultural commodities and challenging food shortages. Russia is scaring off diesel deliveries Black Sea ports while Ukraine is having to divert some of its fuel to the military. To be clear, Ukraine’s diesel shortage is not due to sanctions on Russian oil and gas. It will not improve by more sanctions. Ukrainian agricultural fuel suppliers are ready to make a deal through European rival traders. Numerous rivals have joined to increase their purchasing power and have logistics prepared for diesel deliveries to Polish or Romanian ports. Suppliers elsewhere in Europe or Americas could also deliver for Ukraine. Or … foreign governments could supply Ukraine with diesel. NATO could tap its Support and Procurement Organization (NSPO) network of 50,000-plus contracting firms to help. The U.S. could release some of its 1M barrels of diesel at its Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey. Other countries also keep some diesel in reserve, but specific numbers of stockpiled refined petroleum products versus crude oil are hard to come by. Getting Ukraine diesel for the agricultural sector should be a priority for other countries and the U.S. Food prices are already at global record highs - wheat in particular. If Ukraine’s farmers miss this planting season food prices will rise enough to trigger global hunger to vulnerable populations and even more than the 8 percent inflation on U.S. consumers. (Source: TIME Opinion by Suriya Jayanti 03/15/22) Ukraine’s Growing Fuel Crisis Will Cause Global Hunger and Worsen Inflation (msn.com)
Opinion writer’s background: Jayanti, born in Los Angeles in November 1982, is an American diplomat at the U.S. Department of State who served as the Energy Unit Chief at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, from 2018-202d. She is considered an international energy legal and policy expert on Eastern Europe. Her geopolitical focus is on energy and strategic energy policy. Currently based in Washington, D.C., Ms. Jayanti served in the U.S. Diplomatic Corps for almost a decade, with tours in Kuwait, the Bahamas, Iraq, Ukraine and Washington. Before joining the Foreign Service, Jayanti worked as a freelance reporter for the Daily Star in Beirut, Lebanon.
Monday, March 14, 2022
HII delivers LPD 28 to Navy
PASCAGOULA, Miss. - The Navy accepted delivery of the future USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28), the 12th San Antonio class-amphibious transport dock ship, from Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls (HII) in south Mississippi on March 11. Delivery represents the official transfer of the ship from the shipbuilder to the Navy. Prior to delivery, the ship successfully conducted a series of at-sea and pier-side trials to demonstrate its material and operational readiness. (Sources: US Navy 03/11/22)
Decision time for STB on Amtrak
The federal Surface Transportation Board is getting close to making a decision on whether the Gulf Coast gets its Amtrak route back - from Mobile, Ala., to Mississippi and on to New Orleans and back. The STB issued an order March 11 spelling out questions it wants Amtrak, and freight rail companies, to address at an April 4 evidentiary hearing. Following the latest set of hearings, the board is expected to make a final decision. CSX Transportation has been at odds with Amtrak over the proposed train route for years. Amtrak once traveled along the Gulf Coast but never returned after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Last year, Amtrak filed a petition with the STB to operate the route along the freight-owned railways after failing to reach agreements with freight companies. Alabama leadership and Port of Mobile largely sided with CSX. Mississippi leaders said Amtrak’s return to the Gulf Coast has been delayed too long. The hearings will be held virtually on April 4-5 with the option of extending to April 7-8 if needed. The board’s decision will likely set a precedent for other passenger train access cases across the country. (Mississippi Today 03/14/22) Gulf Coast Amtrak route closer to learning its fate - Mississippi Today
Stennis drones a go-to resource
At NASA's Stennis Space Center near Bay St Louis, Miss., piloting unmanned drones has become a go-to resource for potentially dangerous jobs, reducing risks and helping save time and costs. NASA's trained drone pilots are imagining new advantageous ways to put the UAVs to work. It's simply a tool for the toolbox with purpose and limitations, according to Jason Peterson, NASA's range/aviation operations manager at Stennis. NASA is using drone technology for a variety of reasons, such as aerial imagery, inspections, and mapping. They've recorded live imagery from the RS-25's latest test on Feb. 24. The information gleaned from the video will be instrumental in future tests. Drones are also used for construction progress and record for historical purposes. Innovative Imaging and Research also flies drones over the skies of Stennis. As NASA integrates drone mapping operations into existing software, future scanning is expected to allow the creation of 2D or 3D real-time maps and models. Each could be able to reach accuracies down to two centimeters. This capability can reduce time and cost compared to traditional surveying. (Source: NASA 03/14/22) NASA’s Stennis Space Center Employs Drones as New Go-To Resource | NASA