Seabees view GP port as trng site

Personnel from Naval Construction Group 2, Underwater Construction Team 1, 22nd Naval Construction Regiment from NCBC Gulfport, Miss., and a Fleet Survey Team from Stennis Space Center, surveyed the Port of Gulfport for suitability as a future Port Damage Repair training site. A highlight of the dive was the partnership established with the Fleet Survey Team to allow hydrographic survey data, collected by Naval Construction Force units, to be used by the fleet for navigational purposes, which will increase fleet navigational capabilities in contested ports around the world. (Source: NSG 2 02/02/22 (4) Naval Construction Group TWO | Facebook

 

Jackson-based movie trailer online

JACKSON, Miss. - A motion picture trailer showcasing Jackson, Miss., is online. The film. “A Day to Die”, stars Bruce Willis and was filmed downtown in April 2021. The features a cameo from Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba. The movie is centered on a bank heist in Jackson with an explosive finale filmed at Hawkins Field Airport. The cast also includes Leon, George Lopez, Frank Grillo, Kevin Dillon and former NFL player Vernon Davis. No release date was given for the movie. (Source: WLBT 02/04/22)

Regional lead exposure draft series

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a series of upcoming public listening and comment sessions, including ones for EPA Regions 4 and 6, on the Draft Strategy to Reduce Lead Exposures and Disparities in U.S. communities. Region 4 includes communities and stakeholders from Mississippi and Alabama (Feb. 24). Region 6 includes Louisiana on Feb. 15 from 6-9 p.m. (CT). Registration is required. Registration links to each regional listening session can be found on EPA’s website at: https://www.epa.gov/lead/draft-strategy-reduce-lead-exposures-and-disparities-us-communities. Exposures to lead in the environment present a health risky. Low levels of lead in children’s blood have been linked to adverse effects on intellect, concentration, and academic achievement. The draft Lead Strategy lays out approaches to strengthen public health protections, address legacy lead contamination for communities with the greatest exposures and promote environmental justice. Virtual public listening will be held in all 10 of EPA’s geographic offices. For details on the draft Lead Strategy, listening sessions, or how to provide public comment, visit https://www.epa.gov/lead/draft-strategy-reduce-lead-exposures-and-disparities-us-communities (Source: EPA 02/03/22) http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.htm

AFS-Columbus nacelle build

Aurora Flight Sciences, as part of a Boeing team, will provide GE Aviation with airplane modification, system integration and flight-testing services as part of NASA’s Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration project using a modified Saab 340B aircraft and CT7-9B turboprop engines. Boeing and Aurora Flight Sciences will provide nacelle manufacturing, flight deck interface design and software, aircraft-level performance analysis, and systems integration. Aircraft systems engineering and testing work will be based at Aurora’s headquarters in Manassas, Va., with nacelle manufacturing taking place in its facilities in Columbus, Mississippi, and West Virginia. (Source: GE Aviation 02/03/22 GE Aviation to partner with Boeing on hybrid electric flight test demonstration program | GE Aviation

LCS 28 commissioning Saturday

 The Navy will commission the future USS Savannah (LCS 28) as the newest Independence variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) during a 9 a.m. CST ceremony on Saturday, Feb. 5, in Brunswick, Ga. Savannah is the 14th Independence Class ship built at Austal USA in Mobile, Ala. The ship’s sponsor is Mrs. Dianne Davison Isakson, wife of the late U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia. Mrs. Isakson, along with the Matron of Honor, her daughter, Julie Isakson Mitchell, will give the first order to “man our ship and bring her to life.” The ceremony will be live streamed at: USS Savannah Commissioning. The link becomes active approximately ten minutes prior to the event (8:50 a.m. CST). USS Savannah will homeport at Naval Base San Diego. (Source: DoD 02/04/22)

DoD regional contract sites in MS

Weston Solutions Inc., Peachtree Corners, Georgia, was awarded an $8,590,275 firm-fixed-price contract to maintain and repair petroleum systems and facilities. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Anniston, Alabama; Fort Rucker, Alabama; Starke, Florida; Columbus, Georgia; Dahlonega, Georgia; Savannah, Georgia; Palmerola, Honduras; Grenada, Mississippi; Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Morrisville, North Carolina; Salisbury, North Carolina; Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina; Southport, North Carolina; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Salinas, Puerto Rico; Guaynabo, Puerto Rico; and Peachtree Corners, Georgia, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 7, 2023. Fiscal 2022 revolving funds in the amount of $8,590,275 were obligated at the time of the award.  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 02/03/22)

Levee grant may lead to SAF ops

The Adams County (Miss.) Board of Supervisors and Natchez Inc. have secured $1.8M grant as part of the Select Sites Program of the Mississippi Development Authority to aid in the completion of the Belwood Levee. The Belwood site is a purchase option by Velocys for its Bayou Fuels facility. Velocys is an UK-based international sustainable fuels technology company - with an office in Houston - that is developing a Mississippi plant to create Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for airline transportation in the U.S. It will process waste from the paper and lumber industries - woody biomass forest residue that would otherwise rot on the forest floor or contribute to forest fires. SAF is the only commercially available, permanent alternative to fossil aviation fuels. Once operational Bayou Fuels is anticipated to create 100 new jobs in Natchez. The funds will be applied to levee construction and drainage improvements at Belwood. (Source: Mississippi Live 02/01/22 & Verocys $1.8 million grant brings Mississippi community one step closer to 100 new jobs, revolutionary plant that will turn timber waste into jet fuel - Magnolia State Live | Magnolia State Live

US to deploy 3K more troops

The United States will move about 3,000 more service members to Romania, Poland and Germany in response to Russia's continuing build-up of forces with Ukraine and Belarus, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said Feb. 2 at a news conference. These deployments are in addition to the prepare-to-deploy orders SECDEF gave 8,500 service members in January that included personnel from Fort Polk, La. (See Post: Edit (blogger.com) These new troops are not involved in this movement. Kirby said a 1,000-member Army Stryker squadron will deploy to Romania from Germany. The U.S. is also sending about 2,000 troops from Fort Bragg (NC) to Europe in the next few days. "The 82nd Airborne Division is deploying components of an infantry brigade combat team and key enablers to Poland,” Kirby stated, “and the 18th Airborne Corps is moving a joint-task-force-capable headquarters to Germany. The United States is not the only nation beefing up troop presence in the front-line states. (Source: DoD 02/02/22) U.S. to Deploy 3,000 Troops to Romania, Poland, Germany > U.S. Department of Defense > Defense Department News

1st GC 'Green Marine shipyard'

Hendry Marine Industries’ Gulf Marine Repair in Tampa, Fla., has become the first U.S. Gulf Coast (GC) shipyard to become a participant in Green Marine, the largest voluntary environmental certification program for North America’s maritime industry. (Source: MarineLog 02/01/22) Gulf Marine Repair becomes Green Marine participant - Marine Log

GC students are Patti Grace fellows

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Three Gulf Coast region undergraduate students were among 39 recipients - from 26 colleges and universities across America - of the 2022 Patti Grace Smith Fellowship, a program that connects the nation’s leading aerospace companies with talented Black students. As part of the program’s selection process, each member of the Class of 2022 has earned a challenging summer internship in the aerospace field, in addition to receiving a scholarship worth thousands of dollars, and a pair of personalized mentors. Student selected must be currently enrolled in the first or second year of a bachelor’s degree program or associate degree program seeking their first work experience in the aerospace industry.

Gulf Coast regional selectees are: 

*Chancellor Charles-Halbert, originally of Atlanta, GA, who is a second-year student at Mississippi State University majoring in Electrical Engineering. Mr. Charles-Halbert will work this summer at United Launch Alliance. 

*Jarrett Davis, a native of Mobile, Ala., is a freshman at Alabama A&M majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Mr. Davis will work this summer at ABL Space Systems. 

*Robert Boykin, a native of Mobile, is attending Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University majoring in Aviation Maintenance with a minor in Applied Meteorology. Mr. Boykin will work at Joby Aviation this summer. (Source: SpaceRef 02/01/22) 39 Exceptional Undergrads Earn Prestigious Patti Grace Smith Fellowships, Bringing More Black Excellence to Aerospace (spaceref.com)

MSU vet named to FoMV board

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Brian Locke, director of the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans, has been selected to serve on the board of the Friends of Mississippi Veterans. FOMV is a non-profit organization for the 200,000 veterans who currently reside in Mississippi. Since 2018, Locke has served as director of Veteran and Military Affairs at Mississippi State University, previously serving as military science professor of the Army ROTC program before his retirement after 23 years of active service. (Source: MSU 02/01/22) MSU’s Veteran and Military Affairs Director named new Friends of Mississippi Veterans board member | Mississippi State University (msstate.edu)

Proposed Gold Star Family day

America recognizes troops’ time in service annually in November on Veterans Day, but a bipartisan group of senators wants to set aside a day for Gold Star families in September to better honor their sacrifices. On Feb. 1, lawmakers introduced the new Gold Star Families Day Act, which would make the last Monday in September another federal holiday to recognize families who have lost a loved one while serving in the military. (Source: Military Times 02/01/22) Gold Star Families Day would be celebrated each September under new proposal (militarytimes.com)

DoD structures exceed lifespan

Nearly 30 percent of the Defense Department’s roughly 550,000 structures have exceeded their lifespan, according to a new report released Jan. 31 by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). At the same time, DoD has a $137B “deferred maintenance backlog.” The report was compiled at the request of the Senate Armed Services’ Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, which requested examination of DoD maintenance cost estimates, whether it was receiving enough funding to conduct adequate maintenance, and if it has an established process for managing backlogged maintenance. The report states DoD maintenance estimates … fail to account for sustainment costs associated with aging buildings. An estimated 159,000 facilities maintained by DoD have exceeded their lifespan. As a result, DoD consistently requests and is allocated less funding than necessary to maintain these structures. The Army Corps of Engineers developed the sustainment management system (SMS) in 2013 to replace and standardize multiple DoD methods, with a 2019 target date for completion. DoD now states it will not be fully operational until “at least” 2025, making it difficult for the department to estimate, prioritize and implement maintenance. (Source: GAO 01/31/22) The report does not list all of those DoD structures. Defense Infrastructure: DOD Should Better Manage Risks Posed by Deferred Facility Maintenance | U.S. GAO

Millington duo earn flag noms

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Secretary of the Navy and Chief of Naval Operations announced Feb. 1 the following nominations for appointment to the rank of rear admiral lower half. Dozens of nominations were made, including two regional officers from Millington, Tenn.:

* Capt. Kevin M. Kennedy for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Kennedy is currently serving as director, Surface Warfare Officer Distribution and Career Management Division (PERS 41), Millington, Tennessee.

*Capt. Robert E. Wirth for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Wirth is currently serving as director, Submarine/Nuclear Officer Distribution (PERS 42), Navy Personnel Command, Millington, Tennessee.

(Source: Seapower 02/02.22) https://seapowermagazine.org/secdef-announces-flag-officer-nominations/

Lt. Col. Assaf takes helm of 159FW

NAS-JRB NEW ORLEANS - Lt. Col. Ignacio A. Assaf assumed command of the 159th Maintenance Group (159MXG), 159th Fighter Wing (159FW), of the Louisiana Air National Guard from Col. Brian J. Marbach in a formal ceremony here Jan. 9. Assaf originally joined the Louisiana Air National Guard as an enlisted aerospace propulsion specialist in the maintenance group in 1989, and after 32 years, his career has come full circle now that he commands the maintenance group. Prior to returning to the 159FW as deputy commander of the group, Assaf served as the Chief of the Distribution Branch of the Air National Guard Readiness Center at Joint Base Andrews, Md. He was responsible for developing policy and provided strategic guidance to senior leadership of more than 320 ANG logistics units with about $1.2B worth of assets. Marbach is retiring after 22 years of service. (Source: The Current/NAS-JRB New Orleans 02/2022)

MP prez is 'Spirit of the Coast'

BILOXI, Miss. - The chairman, president, and CEO of Mississippi Power, Anthony Wilson, is the 2022 recipient of the Pat Santucci “Spirit of the Coast” award. The award was presented here Feb. 1 at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting. Wilson has led numerous nonprofit, business and community organizations making a significant impact in economic development, education, and the overall quality of life throughout the region. (Source: 02/01/22)

SECDEF: NG must take vaccine

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III, in letters to seven governors that included Mississippi’s, is reaffirming the need for members of their states' Army and Air National Guards to get the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine or lose their Guard status. These letters have not yet been publicly released, but are nearly identical to those signed last week, according to The AP. Nearly 600 Marines, airmen and sailors have been thrown out of the military or dismissed from entry-level training as of last week. Texas, Oklahoma and Alaska filed lawsuits challenging the military's vaccine mandate, but a federal judge has already rejected an Oklahoma challenge. The Alaska governor was one of five Republican state leaders who sent a letter to Austin asking him not to enforce the mandate on National Guard troops. The other four were governors from Mississippi, Wyoming, Iowa and Nebraska. In the new letters, Austin changed a key word telling the governors that failure to get the vaccine "will" lead to prohibiting members from participating in drills and jeopardize their status. Texas has more t

han 20,000 National Guard members, the largest of any state. About 40 percent are refusing the vaccination, according to the lawsuit filed federal court in East Texas. The deadline for Air Guard members to get the shots has passed, but Army Guard members have until this June. (Source: The AP 02/02/22) Mississippi Army, Air National Guard troops must get COVID-19 vaccine (hattiesburgamerican.com)

Stennis' regional economic impact

STENNIS, Miss. - Stennis Space Center (SSC), NASA's primary rocket engine test facility and key location for other federal and state agencies, has posted a new 2021 Economic Impact Fact Sheet that highlights the site’s impact on the Gulf Coast region and beyond. SSC has a direct global impact of $949,999,000, with 37.2 percent of that attributed to the Department of the Navy, 27.4 percent from NASA, 28.2 percent from "other" agencies, 3.3 percent from the Department of Commerce, and 3.9 percent from construction of facilities. Closer to home, SSC has a direct 50-mile radius impact o $754,294,000. As of Sept. 30, 2021, there were 5,000 employees, the majority of them, 2,018, employed by the Navy and contractors. Another 1,357 are NASA contractors, with NASA itself accounting for 455 civil servants. The employee count includes 1,500 scientific/engineering employees. There are 180 workers with doctorates, 716 with masters, and 1,749 with bachelors. The average salary with benefits is $105,000. Mississippi's Pearl River County provides 23.9 percent of the workforce, Hancock County 19.3 percent, Harrison County 18.4 percent and other Mississippi counties 5.3 percent. Louisiana's St. Tammany Parish supplies 23.9 percent of workers and other Louisiana parishes 5.3 percent. Other states provide 3.9 percent of workers. (Source: NASA/SSC, 01/31/22)

LPD 28 completes sea trials

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced Feb. 1 the successful completion of acceptance sea trials on Jan. 28 for the amphibious transport dock Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28). The San Antonio-class ship, built at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss. shipbuilders will now complete final finish work on the ship in preparation for delivery this quarter. HII-Pascagoula has delivered 11 San Antonio-class ships to the Navy. Three are under construction, includes Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28), Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29), and Harrisburg (LPD 30). Fabrication of the 15th San Antonio-class ship, Pittsburgh (LPD 31), will begin in the spring. (Source: HII 02/01/22)

Airbus-LMT joint AF tanker partners

Lockheed Martin and Airbus announced Jan. 31 that the aircraft-building titans will work jointly to offer a bid on the U.S. Air Force’s next round of the KC-Y generation of mid-air refueling tankers. Airbus would assemble the jets in Mobile, Ala., at Brookley Aeroplex, and then into tankers at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Marietta, Ga. The decision is contingent on who the AF chooses to build the tankers beginning in 2029. Airbus would add a new Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Mobile to build the tankers, if it wins the bid, says Jeff Knittel, CEO and Chairman of Airbus Americas. Airbus builds an A330 military tanker (MATT) in Toulouse, France, and converts into a military equivalent in Spain, but to win the AF contract Airbus would have to offer an American-made contender. Back in 2001, Airbus went up against Boeing to win a wave of KC-46 tankers. Airbus, known as EADS, proposed and won the contract. Boeing successfully appealed and ended up winning it. Airbus went on to build assembly lines for two other families of jetliners in Mobile. The sour taste still lingers. (Source: AL.com 01/31/22) Airbus, Lockheed Martin announce plans to build tankers in Mobile - al.com