Greenwood firm's $45M pact

R.C. Construction Company of Greenwood, Miss., was one of six firms to be awarded a $45 million multiple award task order contract for airfield maintenance and construction with an estimated completion date of Sept. 29, 2020. Funding and work locations will be determined with each order. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah, Ga., is the contracting activity. (Source: DOD 09/29/15)

L-3 earns $57M T-1A pact

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace of Madison, Miss., was awarded a $57,231,214 Air Force contract for logistics support for the T-1A aircraft. The T-1A ‘Jayhawk’ is a medium-range, twin-engine jet trainer used in the advanced phase of specialized AF undergraduate student-pilot training at Columbus AFB, Miss. The ’Jayhawk’ is also used to support navigator training for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and partner-nations at Pensacola. Work will be performed at Columbus AFB, Miss.; Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.; and bases in Oklahoma and Texas. The contract is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2016. (Source: DOD 09/28/15)

EMCC ‘Communiversity’ grant

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), announced Sept. 26 the award of a $6.1 million federal grant to support construction of a workforce training facility – being called a “Communiversity” – to focus on increasing Mississippi’s advanced manufacturing and engineering capabilities in such areas as the aerospace industry. The grant will go to East Mississippi Community College (EMCC) and the training facility will be located at the entrance to the Golden Triangle Regional Global Industrial Aerospace Park in Lowndes County. The nearly 140,000 square-foot-facility is to accommodate EMCC’s Manufacturing Technology & Engineering Division with courses related to training advanced manufacturing workers. It is intended to enhance the region’s manufacturing sector by supporting workforce development for industries such as Airbus Helicopters Inc. and Yokohama Tire that already call the Golden Triangle home. (Source: U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran 09/26/15)

Preparing for fed gov’t shutdown

The Defense Department was preparing this week for a potential federal government shutdown with only days remaining for Congress to approve FY 2016’s federal budget through either full-year funding or periodic continuing resolutions (CR). DOD spokesman Peter Cook invoked hope Sept. 23 that lawmakers would strike a deal before the end of Sept. 30; and insisted the situation wasn’t dire enough to warn federal civilian workers of potential fallout. A shutdown would have a significant impact on DOD and would likely suspend some government services, although DOD declined specific details. The last shutdown was in 2013. It temporarily sent home more than 800,000 federal employees – 400,000 DOD workers - without pay. (Source: Stars & Stripes 09/23/15) Central Mississippi Note: The U.S. Senate was to consider a CR on Sept. 24 that would keep the entire federal government funded through Dec. 11 and provide about $75 billion for the military's overseas war fund. That resolution would give Congress 72 days to come up with appropriations bills, according to Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

UAS leaders meet at MSU

Proponents say Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) will be huge, but first comes safety issues in integrating those drones into an air traffic control system which wasn’t created with UAS in mind. Accomplishing that goal will take more research at places across the nation. Mississippi State University has become the lead for several of those research sites. Leaders of UAS integration research came together Sept. 15 at MSU in Starkville. (Source: Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association 09/22/15)

L-3 earns $160M mod contract

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC of Madison, Miss., was awarded a $160,238,440 modification to a previously awarded contract (N00019-14-D-0011) to exercise an option for the organizational, intermediate, and depot level maintenance and logistics services in support of approximately 200 T-45 aircraft based at Naval Air Stations (NAS) Meridian, Miss.; Kingsville, Texas; Pensacola, Fla.; and Patuxent River, Md. Logistics services to be provided include sustaining engineering, supply and government property management, and procurement of associated parts and materials. Work will be performed in Kingsville (48%); Meridian (44); Pensacola (7); and Patuxent River (1), and is expected to be completed in September 2016. Funds will be obligated on individual delivery orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, is the contracting activity. (Source: DOD, 09/22/15)

Airbus-Mobile officially opens

MOBILE, Ala. - Scores of dignitaries, including corporate officials, politicians and three ambassadors, were on hand Sept. 14 for the formal opening of the $600 million Airbus A320 assembly plant at the Mobile Aeroplex, the aircraft maker's fourth A320 assembly plant and its first in the United States. (Source: GCAC 09/14/15) Central Mississippi Note: The Mobile assembly is a key part of the company’s American and global growth strategy that includes Airbus Helicopters Inc. of Columbus, Miss. The Mississippi plant assembles commercial and military helicopters, including the UH-72A 'Lakota' for the U.S. Army.

L-3 earns $29.4M mod pact

L-3 Vertex Aerospace LLC of Madison, Miss., was awarded a $29,455,331 modification to a previously awarded contract to exercise an option for aircraft maintenance and logistical life cycle support for 53 C-12 aircraft. Work will be performed in Manitoba, Canada (34%); San Angelo, Texas (34); Corpus Christi, Texas (12); and various locations within and outside of the U.S. (20). Work is expected to be completed in March 2016. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (DOD 09/14/15)

MSU, Morocco sign deal

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State University President Mark E. Keenum has been named Honorary Consul to the Kingdom of Morocco in Mississippi by Moroccan Ambassador Rachad Bouhlal, the country’s ambassador to the U.S., at an event Sept. 11 on the Starkville campus. The MSU president will work to help further develop cultural and business relationships between Mississippi and North African nation. Keenum had developed diplomatic and business relationships with key Moroccan officials. Earlier this year, the ambassador gave a speech at MSU and met Gov. Phil Bryant and state economic development officials. Keenum’s appointment was approved by the U.S. State Department. (Source: Mississippi State University 09/11/15) Central Mississippi Note: MSU also signed a memorandum of understanding agreement with the International University of Rabat for implementation of a School of Automotive Engineering on the Moroccan campus.

Madison firm earns Keesler award

Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services of Madison was awarded a $7,023,720 modification to a previously awarded contract Sept. 3 for full food services. Work will be performed at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., and is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2017. The 81st Contracting Squadron, Keesler Air Force Base, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 09/11/15)

MDA accepting biz award apps

MDA accepting biz award apps JACKSON – The Mississippi Development Authority is accepting applications for the 2015 Governor's Awards for Excellence in Exporting. The awards are designed to recognize state-wide firms for success in maintaining or increasing export sales. The awards will honor two companies in the service sector and two companies in the manufacturing sector. (Source: Hattiesburg American 09/08/15)

AHI Columbus helos for Israel

Airbus Helicopters Inc.’s final assembly plant at Columbus, Miss., will build four H125 AStars and two H145s helicopters for Elbit Systems Ltd. to replace an aging fleet of single-engine helicopters for the civilian police force of Israel – the Israel Police. Delivery of the aircraft will “mark the introduction of the H125 and H145 to Israel,” says Sebastien Delmaire, VP of Strategy and Business Development. The H125s will be the first built for a foreign customer at AHI’s Columbus plant. (Source: PR Web 09/10/15)

MSU grad heads Yellow Creek Port

JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Development Authority has announced that Robert Dexter of Tupelo has been named executive director of Yellow Creek Port, a state-owned facility near the confluence of the Tennessee River and Tombigbee Waterway in Iuka. Dexter was to be sworn in Sept. 10. He is the former operations start-up manager for GRAMMER Inc., a German-based manufacturer of seating components to the automotive industry, which set up shop in Tupelo in 2013. Source: Mississippi Development Authority 09/09/15) Central Mississippi Note: Dexter has a master’s degree in business administration from Mississippi State University and holds bachelor’s degrees in accountancy and organizational management from the University of Mississippi and Concordia University.

L-3 earns mod Navy aircraft pact

L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace of Madison, Miss., was awarded a $12,009,064 Navy modification contract for maintenance, repair, and logistics support for Navy training aircraft at the Naval Air Stations Pensacola, Fla. and Corpus Christi, Texas. Sixty percent of the contract work will be performed at NAS Pensacola and is expected to be completed in September 2016. (Source: Defense Department 09/03/15)

L-3 Vertex: $21.3M Navy pact

L-3 Vertex Aerospace LLC of Madison, Miss., was awarded a $21,371,269 Navy contract for the procurement of business jet training services in support of contracted air services’ basic training; and national and single-unit training mission exercises. Work will be performed in Virginia (51 percent) and California (49 percent); and expected to be completed in August 2016. (Source: DOD 08/28/15)

MSU to host UAS public hearing

The Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership, one of six FAA-designated test sites for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), held the first of seven public meetings Aug. 24. The Virginia Tech University-managed partnership announced testing of 338 flights of 13 different platforms. Mississippi State University, which leads an FAA-selected consortium, will host its public meeting Sept. 15 in Starkville. (Source: AIN Online 08/25/15) Additional info via MSU link http://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2015/08/mississippi-state-host-faa-public-meeting/

Alternative energy for Navy MS

With a one-of-a-kind renewable energy agreement signed, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus traveled to California Aug. 21 to celebrate the goal of using that solar power pact to provide half the energy to 14 West Coast Navy and Marine bases. The solar agreement is the biggest in a growing portfolio of renewable energy projects the Navy is counting on to reach Mabus’ goal of generating 1 gigawatt of renewable power. That’s enough to fill half its shore facilities’ electricity needs by late 2016 and ahead, by several years, of the Air Force and Army. On Sept. 10, the Navy will break ground on a 42-mega watt (mw) solar farm – set for operation in late 2016 - at the Kings Bay (Ga.) Submarine Base built on 258 acres by Georgia Power – a subsidiary of The Southern Company. The Navy will also be doing renewable energy projects at bases in Pensacola, Fla.; and NAS Meridian and Gulfport, Miss., said Dennis McGinn, retired vice admiral and the Navy’s assistant secretary for energy, installations and environment. Since becoming SECNAV, Mabus – a former Mississippi governor - has been pressing for clean energy, conservation and alternate renewable energy sources. (US Naval Institute News 08/21/15)

Millsaps grad gets HII promotion

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Huntington Ingalls Industries announced Aug. 24 that 1991 Millsaps College (Miss.) graduate Karen Velkey was promoted to corporate VP of benefits and compensation. Velkey will be responsible for formulating and maintaining competitive benefit and compensation programs for HII. Velkey joined HII in April 2011 and has 20-plus years of experience in human resources. She previously worked at HII's Newport News (Va.) Shipbuilding division and Northrop Grumman. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Millsaps College, a private liberal arts college located in Jackson, Miss., and an MBA from the University of Montana. (Source: HII 08/24/15)

USM, Army helmet liners

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Continued success has been a challenge for Dr. Jeffrey Wiggins, director of University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Polymers and High Performance Materials. But, he and the USM faculty are reaching new levels after garnering positive results with the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, who wore helmets incorporated with technology developed by USM’s research laboratories. USM and the Army recently announced a $4.9 million contract for development and evaluation of a new helmet liner designed to provide enhanced head protection for war-fighters - an extension of NFL helmet research. USM’s Pneumatic Cushion liner system is radically different from traditional foam pads used for decades. USM is also among an elite group of awardees of the inaugural National Science Foundation Research Traineeship Program. The five-year $2.8 million award is designed to encourage development of potentially transformative models for science, technology, education and math (STEM) graduate training. USM’s polymer science education provides an opportunity to engage students with major corporations like GE Aviation, which has two plants in Mississippi, including at Ellisville. Teams have been working in polymer science labs at USM to create composite materials such as aviation fan blades for the global markets. These advanced materials are lightweight and durable, which translates to fuel savings, lower energy costs, and reduced maintenance for sophisticated jet engines. (Source: WDAM-TV 08/19/15)

MSU to open vet-biz center

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Entrepreneurial military veterans will soon have a new resource adjacent to Mississippi State University to help get their businesses up and running. MSU was recently selected to become one of five new locations for a Veterans Business Outreach Center designed to provide counseling, training, and other resources to former service members seeking to launch businesses. The center is designated to serve residents of Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Tennessee. It will be located next to campus in Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Park. The grand opening is set for 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. (Source: Mississippi State University 08/21/15)