'Emerald Flag' coming to Eglin

EGLIN AFB, Fla. - An inaugural joint-service, large-scale exercise, called Emerald Flag, will be coming to Eglin Air Force Base in December. The event will incorporate ground, space, and air platforms and provide operational and experimental exercise scenarios. “Emerald Flag seeks to provide customers a target rich, data driven framework for experimentation and testing,” said Capt. Alexander Hillman of the 46th Test Squadron. The goal of the exercise is to link real-world systems together to demonstrate joint and all-domain operational capabilities, while identifying tangible shortcomings to these systems in a realistic operating environment. Customers interested in participating can bring their specific test needs and requirements to the event for integration into vignettes with experimentation and testing. Another goal of the exercise event is to offer a quarterly event with new customers, scenarios and requirements in the future. For more information contact the Eglin public information office.

61.8%+ Census responses

It has never been easier to respond to the census, whether online at 2020census.gov, over the phone, or by mail. 91.4M households in the country have responded to date. Gulf Coast states’ rankings and percentages of household responses: Alabama (#30) 59.7%; Florida (#32) 59.1%; Mississippi (#39) 56.1%); and Louisiana (#45) 56.1%. Counting every person living in the United States is a massive undertaking, and efforts begin years in advance. Here's a look at some of the key dates along the way, as they are currently scheduled: July 1 - September 3: Census takers will work with administrators at colleges, senior centers, prisons, and other facilities that house large groups of people to make sure everyone is counted. August 11 – October 31: Census takers will interview homes that haven't responded to the 2020 Census to help make sure everyone is counted. December: The Census Bureau will deliver apportionment counts to the President and Congress as required by law. March 31, 2021: By this date, the Census Bureau will send redistricting counts to the states. This information is used to redraw legislative districts based on population changes. (Source: US Census 06/30/20) https://2020census.gov/en.html?utm_campaign=20200630msc20s1ccallnl&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery 

GC restoration fund applications

The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) is taking project applications for the Gulf Coast Restoration Fund. Applications can be found online at mississippi.org/gcrf. The deadline for submissions is 11:59 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28. Representatives from MDA, as well as members of the GCRF advisory board, will review the projects and make recommendations to the Legislature. Legislators will fund selected projects during the 2021 session. The monies will be used to stimulate growth and economic development in Harrison, Hancock, Jackson, George, Stone and Pearl River counties. Those eligible to apply are local governments, non-governmental organizations, colleges and universities, community colleges, ports, airports, public-private partnerships, private entities, non-profit groups and local economic development groups. Mississippi reached a settlement with BP in 2016 for $750M from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in April 2010. (Source: WXXV 07/10/20)

Cozad takes NETC reins

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Navy’s largest shore command held a virtual change of command and retirement ceremony July 9 at the National Naval Aviation Museum aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola. Rear Adm. Peter A. Garvin relieved Rear Adm. Kyle J. Cozad as commander of the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC). NETC saw major changes with the standup of the chief of naval personnel’s MyNavy HR organization and matured the concept of the Force Development pillar. Navy Recruiting Command realigned with NETC for the recruiting aspect of Force Development, and the NETC team continued to make strides with implementing Ready, Relevant Learning, the future of Navy training, as part of CNO’s Sailor 2025 initiative. Cozad retired after 35 years of naval service. “NETC really is a foundational element of fleet readiness in our Navy,” said Cozad. The ceremony’s guest speaker, retired Adm. Bill Moran, who previously served as the 57th chief of naval personnel, commented: “Pete, you and Cheryl (Garvin’s spouse) are stepping into very big shoes, but you two are extraordinary in your own rights and I have no doubt both of you will do a fantastic job.” Garvin, a 1989 Naval Academy graduate, and most recently commander of Patrol and Reconnaissance Group and Patrol and Reconnaissance Group Pacific in Norfolk, Va., became the 20th NETC commander. (Source: NETC 07/09/20) On a side note: The Naval Aviation Museum Foundation at NAS Pensacola will have a new leader this fall in retired Rear Adm. Cozad. The foundation announced Cozad as the successor to the current president/CEO, retired Lt. Gen. Duane Thiessen, in a news release Friday.

Keesler BMT: Just 1 COVID case

The Air Force is relying on early, and often, testing to curb the coronavirus’ spread at Basic Military Training (BMT), although 60 percent of those recruits were asymptomatic. About 200 Airmen in BMT have tested positive over the last four months, or about 2 percent of the AF’s BMT recruits, 2nd Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Andrea D. Tullos said during a July 10 Pentagon briefing. Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, is the main BMT location. It has trained 8,700 recruits since mid-March. Each are checked upon arrival and regularly throughout boot camp, and are isolated if testing positive. The AF has found most COVID-19 cases in BMT through proactive testing. All infected Airmen have returned to training without hospitalization. Most have completed basic training. The majority of cases have occurred at Lackland, which until this year had been the lone AF boot camp since 1968. Keesler AFB, Miss., became a secondary boot camp early this year. There has been one case since it began hosting basic training due to the pandemic. Keesler’s first formal flight of trainees graduated July 10. The base will continue bringing in 60 recruits a week through Sept. 29. The AF hasn’t decided whether to keep it running there in FY 2021. Splitting BMT has “successfully reduced the stress on Lackland infrastructure while maintaining quality training and enabling us to sustain our production goals,” Tullos said.  (Source: AF Magazine 07/09/20) https://www.airforcemag.com/most-air-force-recruits-with-covid-19-show-no-symptoms/ The 81st Medical Group at Keesler has been a forerunner in the fight against COVID-19 on the Gulf Coast. The Microbiology Department has been testing all of the COVID samples for Keesler beneficiaries. Keesler Medical Center is one of the few hospitals across the AF to have the rapid platform, which  makes it possible for lab technicians to get COVID test results in about 45 minutes. Before the rapid platform became available, patients would have to wait days to see test results.

2021 AF contracting Summit

The 2021 Air Force Contracting Summit will be held Next February at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Destin-Miramar Beach, Fla., close to Eglin and Tyndall Air Force Bases, and Hurlburt Field,. The event will be Feb. 8-9, 2021. View the Previous Year’s 2020 Summit Agenda here: AFCS 2020 – Event Agenda. For more information email us at marketing@defenseleadershipforum.org or visit www.defenseleadershipforum.org/airforcecontractingsummit. The Summit will bring together congressmen, defense officials, military base commanders, contracting officers and experts, and business leaders nationwide. More than 600 prime contractors, subcontractors, military officials, contracting officials, financing experts, and defense agencies from throughout the country registered for the 2020 summit. (Source: Emerald Coast Magazine 07/2020) https://www.emeraldcoastmagazine.com/calendar/air-force-contracting-summit/

Esposito takes reins of VT-3

Training Squadron Three (VT-3) "Red Knights" leadership conducted an in-flight ceremonial change of command over NAS Whiting Field, Fla., on July 9. Cmdr. Michael Gerhart relinquished command to Cmdr. John Esposito. The incoming commander was serving as executive officer of VT-3. Esposito graduated with Merit from the United States Naval Academy earning a Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Economics and was commissioned an Ensign in May 2002. He reported for flight training in Pensacola, Fla., and earned his Wings of Gold in January 2005. (Source: NAS Whiting Field 07/09/20)

Vertex/BAE partner on KC-130J

MADISON, Miss. - Vertex Aerospace has been selected to lead the installation portion for a KC-130J aerial transport and refueling aircraft contract in partnership with BAE Systems Inc. The team was selected as the Naval Air Warfare Center’s Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Aircraft Prototype System Division (APSD) KC-130J Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) contract awardee. BAE is the prime contractor for the program and selected Vertex's Aircraft Integration & Sustainment (AIS) division to lead the installation portion of the contract at its Crestview, Fla. The AIS Crestview site is co-located with the Bob Sikes Airport, which has an 8,000-foot runway providing easy access for all sized aircraft. The facility houses multiple high bay hangars for both fixed and rotary wing aircraft modification and is complemented by over 500,000 sf of manufacturing, production, and assembly buildings servicing major OEMs. Ed Boyington, Vertex Aerospace President/CEO said: "This win is a testament to the trust the aerospace industry places in Vertex for our reputation of providing high-quality, cost-effective services."(Source: Leader-Call 07/08/20) https://www.leader-call.com/news/state/vertex-aerospace-partners-with-bae-on-laircm-contract/article_12725d70-78ca-5c9a-b6f7-06ef9ca3f22f.html

State adds $291M to indebtedness

The COVID-19 pandemic has cost the State of Mississippi huge amounts of capital. Before the Legislature ended its session July 1, it passed a bond bill that will add $291M more to the state’s indebtedness. House Bill 1730, sponsored by state Rep. Trey Lamar (R-Senatobia), is lined with projects for agencies, colleges and universities, and even pet projects. The bill has $86.725M in borrowing for universities, $41.5M for state agencies, and $35.9M for community colleges. Among some projects: • $600,000 for improvements to ballfields in Petal; • $18M for a new bridge on the I-20 frontage road and improvements at the Port of Vicksburg; • $2M for Itawamba County for economic improvements, railroad repairs, port repairs and jail site development; • $1.2M for levee improvements for Vicksburg; • $1M to repair Columbus’ city hall building; • $3M in improvements to dams and spillways at state parks. Out of $25M for community colleges, Hinds would receive the most ($3.9M). Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College ($3.44M). The bill would also expand the state’s borrowing power designed to keep military bases from being closed down. The maximum amount of bonds that can be issued for these projects to $77M. The last time the federal government closed/realigned military bases was 2005. Created a “Mississippi Dam Safety Fund” with $1M to fund improvements statewide. As of last year’s financial report, taxpayers owed $5.792B in bond debt. Lawmakers appropriated more than $464M to pay down on that debt. The non-partisan budgetary interest group, Truth in Accounting (TIA), gave the state a grade of ‘D’, ranking it 31st nationwide for fiscal health. Each state taxpayer’s share of the state’s debts is about $10,000, according to TIA’s study. (Source: Pine Belt News 07/08/20) https://www.hubcityspokes.com/news-hattiesburg/legislators-approve-bond-bill-yearly-session-ends

City to remove namesake's statue

JACKSON, Miss. - Mississippi’s capital city of Jackson, named for former President Andrew Jackson, will remove a downtown statue of him and put it in a less prominent spot. The City Council voted 5-1 on July 7 to relocate the bronze figure that has stood outside City Hall for decades. (Source: Associated Press 07/08/20) Jackson has a population of about 160,600 - about 82 percent of its residents are African-American. Andrew Jackson was the seventh president, serving from 1829-37. In addition to owning enslaved people, he also oversaw the forced migration of Native Americans. https://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=82190 

Big 10 leads 2020 Census

61.8% of households have answered the 2020 U.S. Census. That’s 9.5M households. For you college football fans, the Big 10 is leading the way with five of the top eight states in responding: Minnesota is the only state above 70%. Regionally, among Gulf Coast states, Alabama leads the way at #30 with 59.6%; Florida #32 with a response rate of 59%; Mississippi #39 with 56.9%; and Louisiana at #44 with 56%. Among Mississippi counties Madison and DeSoto are at the top with 68%+; and Lowndes #9. (Source: US Census 07/01/2020) https://public.tableau.com/profile/us.census.bureau#!/vizhome/2020CensusSelf-ResponseRankings/RankingsDashboard

'May we think of freedom ...'

“May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as an opportunity to do what is right.” - Rev. Peter Marshall, pastor, U.S. Senate Chaplain. 

* Additionally, the Air Force’s “Singing Sergeants” band collaborated with Lee Greenwood and Home Free for a special performance of one of America’s most iconic songs – just in time for the 4th of July. (Video source: Military.com 07/02/20) https://www.military.com/video/air-force-teams-lee-greenwood-patriotic-god-bless-usa-performance?ESRC=eb_200703.nl 

- Have a day filled with freedom and opportunity this 4th of July.

Have a day filled with freedom and opportunity this 4th of July.

Blues opt out of beach airshow

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Navy's Blue Angels have decided to opt out of the July 8-11 Pensacola Beach (Fla.) Air Show. Usually a two-day event, it was spread out over four days to allow for more social distancing. Organizers say the flight demonstration team canceled due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19. The Santa Rosa Island Authority said it had received a statement from the Blue Angels that said in part that "canceling our flights during the Pensacola Beach Air Show is the only way we can ensure the safety of our community we love so much." (Source: al.com, 07/02/20)

FAA grants for 22 Miss. airports

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded more than $15.5M in grants to 22 Mississippi airports., include $4.97M for the Louisville-Winston County Airport and $3.86M for the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus. The two airports were funded through supplemental congressional funding appropriated in 2018. (Source: Y’all Politics 07/03/20) https://yallpolitics.com/2020/07/02/wicker-hyde-smith-praise-award-of-15-57-million-for-improvements-to-local-airports/

AF extends EFMP components

The Department of the Air Force stood up a new division at the Air Force’s Personnel Center to integrate three Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) components: Medical, family support and assignments. The new Exceptional Assignment Program division will provide Airmen/families with a singular point of contact to be more responsive and expedite their requests. There are plans to add more EFMP core components to the division, such as legal support, special education liaison and TRICARE support in the future. (Source: AF Personnel Center 07/01/20) https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2242858/air-force-stands-up-new-division-to-enhance-customer-service-for-efmp-families/

AFSOC pact for C-130 systems

Aircraft Services Alliance LLC, Anchorage, Alaska, has been awarded a $17,550,227 firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursement, no-fee-requirements contract for on-site depot support. This contract provides on-site depot support (OSDS) program for labor services to accomplish on-site depot level maintenance and modification work on all Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) C-130 weapons systems and sub-systems. OSDS supports multiple AFSOC customers to provide timely and high quality active weapon system maintenance worldwide. Work will be performed at Hurlburt Field, Florida, and is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2025. This award is the result of a competitive small business set-aside with a basic solicitation and four offers were received. Fiscal 2020 through 2025 operations and maintenance funds; and fiscal 2020 through 2025 Air National Guard funds will finance this contract. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 07/01/20) AFSOC HQ is located at Hurlburt Field.

No Miss. budget, depts shutter

This coming weekend is likely the biggest on the water in South Mississippi, but on July 1 – the start of a new fiscal year - the state Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is shut down while legislators at the Capital fight over funding. Without a designated appropriations bill, DMR cannot operate. Gov. Tate Reeves tweeted June 20: “The legislature is locked in a fight over the Dept of Marine Resources. No budget. I support Senate position! House leaders are dug in on earmarking favored projects with recovery funds - huge change. New fiscal year starts now. With no budget, DMR can’t operate. It has shut down.” The absolute worst scenario that could happen is there would be a boating accident today and no DMR or its assets available to respond to it, he surmised. (Source: Sun Herald 07/01/20) https://www.sunherald.com/article243935032.html#storylink=cpy

Mil.aviation mishaps drop in 2019

The total number of major military aviation mishaps - defined as Class A though Class C, depending on the extent of damage or injury caused - dropped slightly in 2019. The Defense Department reported 1,005 major mishaps in 2019, down from 1,036 in 2018, according to a Military Times analysis of DoD data. For the specific services, the mishap data showed the Air Force saw a 7 percent drop in overall mishaps; the Navy’s numbers plummeted 20 percent. The Army reported a more than 30 percent decline. The Marine Corps was the only service that saw a rise of 30 percent. Pentagon leaders continue to prioritize the need to reduce the rate of serious aviation mishaps and crashes involving aircraft across the force. (Source: AF Times 06/30/20)

Airbus to cut 10%+ workforce

Airbus plans to cut 15,000 jobs, more than 10 percent of its workforce, over the next year. Cuts will be mostly in Europe, as Airbus struggles with the financial hit of the coronavirus pandemic. “With air traffic not expected to recover to pre-COVID levels before 2023 and potentially as late as 2025, Airbus now needs to take additional measures,” the company said in a statement. Airbus, with 134,000 workers worldwide, plans to trim 5,000 workers in France, 5,100 in Germany, 1,700 in Britain, 900 in Spain and 1,300 others at Airbus facilities elsewhere. The company said it would try to reduce the number of layoffs through voluntary departures, early retirement and long-term partial employment programs. (Sources: multiple, including Airbus, Economic Times, CNN Business, 06/30/20) The company's worldwide operations include China, where it builds A320s, and Mobile, Ala., where it builds A320 and A220 jetliners at the Mobile Aeroplex. Airbus Military has a maintenance, repair and overhaul operation and component repair facility at Mobile Regional Airport. Airbus also builds helicopters in Columbus, Miss. It is unclear what impact might be felt in Airbus operations in this region, but they are among the "other worldwide sites" mentioned in the press release.