L-3 Vertex 1-year anniversary

John “Ed” Boyington Jr., Vertex Aerospace’s CEO, talks about the company’s first year in operation since L-3 Technologies sold it to American Industrial Partners - integrating with Crestview and TCS, and expanding internationally and becoming a full services aftermarket sustainment company with more than $1B in revenues. Before the sale, he was president of L-3 Vertex Aerospace. He is a retired Navy flag officer. It's been more than a year for Vertex. So, what's changed? (Source: MRO-Network 08/30/19) https://www.mro-network.com/maintenance-repair-overhaul/fast-5-vertex-aerospace-ceo-first-year-l-3

La. firm's contract for Fort Benning

Tiya Services LLC of Baton Rouge, La., was awarded a $36,622,610 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for base operations support services acquisition. Bids were solicited via the internet with six received. Work will be performed in Fort Benning, Ga., with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2024. FY 2019 Army operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $6,339,755 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command of Fort Benning is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 08/30/19)

Fla. AFBs preparing for Dorian

Air Force bases across most of Florida are preparing for Hurricane Dorian, which is expected to make landfall as a Cat 4 storm Sept. 2. The National Hurricane Center has said that there is an “increasing likelihood of life-threatening storm surge along portions of the Florida east coast,” but that it was too soon to say where the worst damage will occur. Patrick AFB, Fla., declared Hurricane Condition 4, and is expecting surface winds in excess of 50 knots at the base and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. HURCON alerts are on a 1-5 scale, with five being the least urgent. Homestead AFB, Fla., near Miami, was at HURCON 3 on Aug. 29. MacDill AFB, on the west coast of Florida, wsas at HURCON 5 on Aug. 28, and is evacuating some of its KC-135s to McConnell AFB, Kan. The Hurricane Hunters of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Keesler AFB, Miss., has flown several missions into the storm earlier this week after deploying to Curacao, and are expected to relocate to Homestead. In NW Florida, Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field said on Facebook they do not expect to be affected by Dorian. Tyndall AFB, Fla., has not indicated any major storm preparations. Tyndall was devastated last fall by Hurricane Michael. (Source: AF Magazine 08/29/19) http://airforcemag.com/Features/Pages/2019/August%202019/Florida-Bases-Prepare-for-Hurricane-Dorian.aspx

Conrad begins 2nd tow build

Conrad Shipyard of Morgan City, La., has started production on a second 6,000-hp inland towboat designed by MiNO Marine of New Orleans. The vessel measures 166 feet long and will be powered by Tier 4 engines. Conrad has orders from two customers for the vessels, but neither the shipyard nor the designer would release the company names. Conrad’s production line is geared for serial production for multiple customers, and component manufacturing coupled with a modular build strategy results in efficiencies in production, on-time delivery and lower costs to the customer. The new towboats will have an optimized hull form for improved performance, and the design is intended to be flexible to accommodate different propulsion drive-trains. The vessels currently under construction each utilize different engines; one vessel will be equipped with GE engines, and the other will have EMD engines. (Source: Work Boat 08/29/19) https://www.workboat.com/news/shipbuilding/conrad-shipyard-starts-production-on-second-6000-hp-inland-towboat/

LMT-Meridian celebrates 50 years

MERIDIAN, Miss. - Lockheed Martin (LMT) employees and local Meridian community leaders marked the 50th anniversary of the corporation's subassembly plant Aug. 29. LMT’s Meridian facility began production operations in August 1969, initially producing the L-1011 jet airliner's empennage. Since then, the facility has been involved in the production of aircraft components for JetStar, C-5 Galaxy, C-141 Starlifter, P-3 Orion submarine hunter, F-22 Raptor fighter jet, and the C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifter. "While these iconic aircraft have made history around the world, we are proud to say their roots are in Meridian, Mississippi," said Mike Sarpu, VP/GM of Operations at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. "We have relied on the skills and craftmanship of the Meridian team for 50 years - and for many more to come.” There are 150 employees that work in the 110,000 square-foot building that makes 50 percent of the C-130J's fuselage. More than 430 C-130Js have been delivered to date. Final assembly takes place at Lockheed Martin's site in Marietta, Ga. (Source: Lockheed Martin 08/29/19) https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lockheed-martins-meridian-miss-facility-celebrates-50th-anniversary-300909368.html

New boss of 2nd AF at Keesler

KEESLER AFB, Miss – Major General Andrea Tullos assumed command of the Second Air Force from Major General Timothy Leahy during a change of command ceremony here Aug. 29. Tullos comes to south Mississippi from duty as director of security forces and deputy chief of staff for logistics, engineering and force protection at Air Force headquarters in Arlington, Va. Leahy highlighted how the Air Force will always be a part of his life even after he retires - after 37 years of service – and transitions to civilian life. For those in uniform, it has been “the privilege of my life to stand next to you in formation and defend this great nation" Leahy said. The Second Air Force was reassigned in July 1993 to Keesler AFB. Its mission became conducting basic military and technical training for Air Force enlisted members and support officers at five major Air Education and Training Command training bases in the United States, including two other units at Keesler, the 81st Training Wing and 602nd Training Group (P). (Source: Second Air Force 08/29/19) https://www.keesler.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1947881/second-af-welcomes-tullos-bids-farewell-to-leahy/

EMBDC, military meet for harmony

East Mississippi businesses, active duty military and the national guard gathered Aug. 27 to discuss ways to work together to help grown the local economy. The East Mississippi Business Development Corp. held its first ‘Our Military Family: Operation Information’ get-together at the Key Brothers Hangar in Meridian to bring the groups face-to-face to discuss ways to work in cooperative unison. Archie McDonnell, board chair of EMBDC and CEO/President of Citizens National Bank, said EMBDC has developed a five-year plan that focuses on industries that are already in the area and working on expanding those opportunities. The military and the healthcare industry are two of the largest in East Mississippi, he said. The military accounts for an estimated economic impact of $500M across the region, according to McDonnell said. NAS Meridian Commanding Officer Capt. Brian Horstman says the base is ready to support the community on issues such as collaborating with the state on infrastructure projects, working with a local university and development that will benefit civilians and members of the military. Over the years, NASM has worked to improve the quality of life by focusing on improvement to education, employment, real estate, business and by volunteering in the community, the CO said. Col. Britt Watson, vice wing commander for the 186th Air Refueling Wing at Meridian, said the military as a whole provides training and those skills can be used in business. The 186th ARW has 780 part-time members who work in businesses and who provide ideas used in the 186th's mission. (Source: Meridian Star 08/28/19) https://www.meridianstar.com/news/local_news/meridian-military-business-communities-join-forces/article_e73efb6a-056a-550e-8bc8-8a70395ca15f.html

Hurricane Hunters fly thru Dorian

KEESLER AFB, Miss. - Three WC-103J’s and one C-130J Super Hercules aircraft from the 403rd Wing departed Keesler Air Force Base on Aug. 27 for Curacao to provide weather reconnaissance support for Tropical Storm Dorian. The three weather crews, assigned to the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, have been flying missions as of Monday night, said Maj. Kendall Dunn, 53rd WRS pilot. The tactical airlift crew, assigned to the 815th Airlift Squadron, is carrying extra cargo and aircraft parts to support the weather aircraft, he added. According to the National Hurricane Center website in regards to Tropical Storm Dorian, TS conditions are expected and hurricane conditions are possible in Puerto Rico on Aug. 29 and portions of the Dominican Republic into Thursday. The Hurricane Hunters’ aircrews fly through the eye of a storm four to six times to locate the low-pressure center and circulation of the storm. During each pass, they release a dropsonde, which collects weather data on its descent to the ocean surface, specifically gathering data on the surface winds and pressure. Due to a lack of radar and weather balloons availability over the Atlantic Ocean, the 53rd WRS flies into the storms, gathers the data, and provides this data to the NHC to assist with forecasts and storm warnings via a satellite communication every 10 minutes. (Source: Keesler AFB 08/29/19) https://www.keesler.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1945905/flying-tropical-storm-dorian/

KAFB med tech among OAY-19

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Air Force Association (AFA) its 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year (OAY) for 2019. AFA began the program in 1956 to honor the exceptional hard work and dedication of the AF’s enlisted personnel. The airmen presented the Outstanding Airman of the Year Award display superior leadership, job performance, community involvement, and personal achievement over the preceding 12 months. Among the 12 recipients is SSgt Gary G. Jeffrey III, Medical Materiel Technician with the 81st Medical Support Squadron at Keesler AFB, Miss. The Tiffin, Ohio, native led the wing’s flu vaccine program by securing 190,000 doses and coordinating with four agencies, ensuring immunizations for three DoD sites five weeks early. He secured a cross-command leech treatment transfer within 24 hours, avoiding a two-week patient care delay, ultimately saving a patient’s limb. He designed training for 29 accounts, briefing three acquisition processes to 96 customers, cutting 1,500 errors and decreasing delivery time from seven days to one. He balanced cost center operations, certifying 44 Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve accounts, worth $670,000, supporting one of three national disaster response teams. (Source: AFA 07/16/19) https://www.afa.org/publications-news/news/2019-08-16/afa-salutes-the-2019-outstanding-airmen-of-the-year. The 12 OAY will be recognized at AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Md., from Sept. 16-18. To register or learn more about the event and the OAY program, click here.

CAFB: Best performance at FAIP

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. - Columbus Air Force Base sent some 65 pilots to this year’s FAIP Flag competition from Aug. 9-11, hosted at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, New Orleans, where they won overall best performance amongst all the competitions held. All three training aircraft - the T-6 Texan II, T-38 Talon and T-1 Jayhawk - were used during the flying competition. “We need to keep doing this kind of competition because it challenges the instructor force to better themselves and refine their skills as both an aviator and instructor pilot,” said Capt. Gared Chapman, 41st Flying Training Squadron instructor pilot at CAFB. After graduating from pilot training the newest aviators are given an assigned aircraft but some aviators don’t immediately go to that aircraft, instead they return to trainer aircraft to teach as instructor pilots. These flyers are termed first assignment instructor pilots (FAIPs). Capt. Maxwell Adler of the 41st FTS won the low-level time over target competition in a T-6 together with other instructor pilots from the 41st. (Source: Columbus AFB 0/619) https://www.columbus.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1940676/team-blaze-triumphs-over-the-competition-at-2019-faip-flag-championship/

Services failing to track base access

The Army, Marines and Navy should be doing a better job of monitoring access to their bases as a way to prevent mass shootings like devastating attack that killed 13 at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009, according to a Government Accountability Office report. In 2013, a Navy contractor killed 12 in a shooting at the Washington (DC) Navy Yard. All branches of the military rely on physical access control systems (PACS) to screen people who onboard those bases - checking identities with FBI and other government databases. The GAO discovered that the Defense Department "didn't know the extent to which its installations were using these systems because the Army, Navy and Marine Corps have not monitored their use," the report states. "The Air Force and (Defense Logistics Agency) monitor their installations' use of PACS, and the Army, the Navy, and the Marine Corps do not." GAO conducted several base site visits to observe the use of the access systems and found that AF and DLA officials routinely collect data, and the number of credentials scanned at their bases, according to the report. The AF uses the data to brief base commanders on the risks associated with not using Defense Biometric Identification Systems (DBIDS), the report states. DBIDS is used by the AF, Navy, Marines and DLA to control access to respective bases. The system uses hardware and software to electronically connect databases using the DoD’s Identity Matching Engine for Security and Analysis to determine an individual's fitness for access, according to the GAO. Army, Navy and Marine Corps officials stated they do not monitor physical access control system use at their installations because the DoD does not require it, according to the report. DoD’s lack of a requirement means the Army, Navy and Marines "do not know the extent to which PACS are being used at more than 100 installations," according to the report. As a result of findings, GAO made five recommendations … (Source: Military.com 08/25/19) https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/08/25/services-failing-track-base-access-years-after-mass-shootings-gao-finds.html

MS disaster relief for more counties

PEARL, Miss. - Issaquena, Sharkey, Warren and Yazoo counties in Mississippi to a disaster declaration in response to severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in late February. The additional four counties brings the total receiving federal assistance to 29. Among some of the others already covered are Alcorn, Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Leflore, Lowndes, Montgomery, Panola, Pontotoc, Quitman, and Tishomingo. The state awaits word on whether individual assistance will become available in the four added counties. (Source: The AP 08/23/19)

Miss. GCCC expanding campus

PERKINSTON, Miss. - Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, already the second largest CC in the state, is expanding its flagship Perkinston campus, according to a report from WLOX-TV. The college is building a new four-lane access road that will connect to U.S. 49, and broke ground Aug. 21 on a new early childhood education center to train child care workers. The college is also building a new student union, cafeteria, and a 206-bed dormitory. The road is scheduled to be completed later this year. The buildings are scheduled to be finished in 2020. The dormitory will boost housing available on campus to about 1,100. President Mary Graham says new fields of study are also under consideration. Mississippi Gulf Coast has an overall student population of 9,000. (Source: WLOX 08/22/189)

AF suicide prevention standdown

EGLIN AFB, Fla. - Commanders of Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field, Fla., have announced local plans for a mandated AF-wide, day-long stand-down to focus on suicide prevention. The stand-down comes as the AF struggles with a large increase (78 as of Aug. 1 to 50 last year) of suicides. Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright: “We lose more airmen to suicide than any other single enemy," he said in a video message to airmen. In an Aug. 1 letter to all AF commanders, Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein set a Sept. 15 deadline for a “resilience tactical pause.” At Hurlburt Field, the stand-down is scheduled for Aug. 26. Hurlburt Field has lost four airmen to suicide since 2018, according to Lt. Steve Bodovinitz, public information officer for the 1st Special Operations Wing. “We need to take some time, talk to each other, and offer some ideas,” 1st SOW commander Col. Michael Conley said in a message to airmen. For the past two weeks, Hurlburt’s leadership has been soliciting ideas from airmen on suicide prevention. “There’s no one-size-fits-all answer,” Conley wrote, but he trusts wing leadership to pick tools that will be most effective. “I’m not naive. I know one day of talks isn’t going to end suicide,” Conley told Hurlburt Field personnel. Monday’s pause “won’t be a ‘one and done’ event,” he said. At Eglin, Brig. Gen. Scott Cain, 96th Test Wing commander, announced a tactical pause for Sept. 3. Since Goldfein’s mandate, Eglin has educated facilitators to assist airmen in holding conversations about suicide, Cain said in his announcement. In some instances, Cain said, small-group discussions have already begun, and conversations will continue through Sept. 15. (Source: Walton Sun 08/25/19)

Adm. Gilday is new CNO

WASHINGTON - Adm. Mike Gilday relieved Adm. John Richardson as the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) in a ceremony Aug. 22 at the Washington Navy Yard. Gilday is the 32nd CNO, the Navy's senior officer. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the CNO acts as an advisor to the President of the United States, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, and the Secretary of Defense. Under direction of the Secretary of the Navy, the CNO is responsible for the command, utilization of resources, and operating efficiency of naval forces and shore activities assigned by the secretary. Adm. Mike Gilday is the son of a sailor and a surface warfare officer from Lowell, Mass., and a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. As a flag officer, he served as commander Carrier Strike Group 8 embarked aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), and as commander of both the U.S. Fleet Cyber Command and U.S 10th Fleet. (Source: Chief of Naval Operations 08/22/19)

NASM housing below average

WASHINGTON - The Navy has released additional details from its 2019 Summary of the Navy Public Private Venture (PPV) Housing ‘Out of Cycle’ Survey conducted from April 2-May 9 based on concerns with privatized family housing. The independent surveyor CEL & Associates provided the results for Commander Navy Installations Command, and is available here. In July, the Navy released a redacted version of the “out of cycle” survey to allow PPV partners enough time to develop corrective action plans. The Navy has released the rest of the results to enhance transparency for residents who participated, now that the housing providers have identified corrective actions. Action plans are in progress or will soon begin, once they're reviewed by Navy business agreement managers and Navy region and installation leadership. Each installation action plan is tied to specific concerns raised by residents in the out-of-cycle survey that warrant action by installation property managers. The Navy is the non-managing member. Public Private Venture housing partners are the managing members. The Navy’s six PPV partners are Balfour Beatty (BBC), Clark, Hunt, Landmark, Lincoln, and Patrician. Balfour Beatty manages 11 installations in the Southeast (5 of 6 listed below). Patrician operates about 900 family housing units at NAS/JRB New Orleans. Survey results for six Gulf Coast area bases housing units, and the results, included a No. 15 rating among 42 bases in these results for NAS Whiting Field, Fla., which got a “good” rating at 77.6 percent; No. 18 for NAS/JRB New Orleans, which got a “good” rating at 75.3 percent; No. 25 for NCBC Gulfport, Miss., which got an “average” rating at 71.3 percent; No. 28 for NAS Pensacola, Fla., which got a “below average” rating at 63 percent; No. 37 for NAS Meridian, Miss., which got a “below average” rating at 64.3 percent; and No. 39 for NSA Panama City, Fla., which got a “poor” rating at 62.3 percent. (Source: Naval Installations Command 08/21/19)

Removing vet-debt hurdles

President Donald Trump signed an executive action Aug. 21 that seeks to remove bureaucratic barriers for permanently disabled veterans to qualify for student loan forgiveness, which would save 25,000 wounded warriors an average of $30,000, he said during the American Veterans’ national convention in Louisville, Ky. Trump was joined onstage for the announcement by education secretary Betsy DeVos, and deputy VA secretary James Byrne. The projected savings represent a small fraction of about $1.6T in overall student loan debt in the United States, which has become a point of emphasis by Democrats running for president. While 50,000 permanently disabled veterans are eligible for relief under a decades-old debt forgiveness program, only half (25K) have qualified because of cumbersome requirements by the education and VA departments, according to the White House. (Source: NY Times 08/22/19)

Corvias mil.spouse scholarships

EAST GREENWICH, R.I. - Corvias Foundation, a private charitable foundation dedicated to increasing opportunities for military families, announced 20 recipients of its 2019 annual military spouse scholarships. The recipients, each a spouse of an active-duty service member, will receive a one-time scholarship of $5,000 to be put towards furthering their academic aspirations. “Since getting married to the military and having children, my family has been the driving force pushing me to reorient my life,” said Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., recipient, Aaron Eichstedt. “Becoming a registered nurse will keep me home with my family and give me more flexibility to move with my wife’s career.” This year’s military spouse recipients from Gulf Coast states: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. - LaToya Adams, a high-performing senior at Ashford University where she studies Early Childhood Education-Administration and Business Accounting. Her husband is a Staff Sergeant. They have two children. Adams works as an Educational Lead at the Eglin Child Development Center; Aaron Eichstedt is pursuing an associate’s degree in Nursing from Northwest Florida State College. Previously, he worked as a fisheries field biologist but was inspired by his family to pursue his studies to become an RN. His wife is a Senior Airman. They have two boys. Fort Polk, La. - Jennafer Wood, a member of the Army Reserves, is pursuing a master’s degree in Environmental Science from the Colorado State University’s Global Campus. She wants to pursue work at Fort Polk in NEPA compliance and further ensure that military operations and projects are completed in a manner that supports and benefits the surrounding environment. Her husband is a Staff Sergeant in the Army. Fort Rucker, Ala. - Kristen Cotton, whose husband is a Warrant Officer, is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Information Technology at Western Governor’s University. She is pursuing IT because she knows it will fit with her mobile military spouse lifestyle and for the challenges and professional growth the field has to offer; Megan Green will enter the new school year as a senior to finisher her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Troy University. Her husband is an E-8 and will soon be retiring; Chynna Krustchinsky is attending Lamar University to pursue a Doctorate in Audiology so that she can work in a clinical setting with military and veteran patients. Her husband is a Warrant Officer; LeeAnn Mertens will attend the University of Nebraska this dall as a senior to earn her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. Her husband is a Warrant Officer who is pursuing his goal of graduating from flight school at Fort Rucker. Since 2006, the Corvias Foundation has awarded more than 430 scholarships (nearly $9M) to military children, spouses, and children of Corvias employees across 13 Army and Air Force installations - a private DoD contractor providing military housing management, including Hurlburt Field, Fla.. (Source: Corvias Foundation 08/22/19)

VA pathologist indicated in 3 deaths

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Federal prosecutors charged a former Veterans Affairs pathologist Aug. 20 with the deaths of three veterans and a scheme to cover up years of drug and alcohol use on the job that caused him to misread thousands of fluid and tissue samples of ill and non-ill patients. Robert Morris Levy was indicted on three counts of involuntary manslaughter and 28 counts of mail fraud, wire fraud and false statements to officials. The Department of Veterans Affairs has told members of Congress and investigators that Levy’s misdiagnoses, which amounted to more than 3,000 cases, were responsible for at least 15 deaths. During his dozen years as chief pathologist at the Fayetteville VA hospital, and leadership roles on multiple oversight boards and medical committees, Levy read nearly 34,000 pa­thol­ogy slides of some 24,000 veterans, but his alcohol addiction, and attempts to cover up alleged mistakes, amounted to dangerous practices even after the VA paid for a lengthy impaired physicians treatment program in Mississippi in 2016. The unsealed charges mark a rare criminal case against a any physician in a profession where alleged negligence are most often addressed in civil court through malpractice claims. VA officials called Levy’s alleged misdeeds isolated. But it’s already prompting questions of oversight from investigators, veterans groups and Congress for the nation’s largest medical system - a network of 1,200 hospitals and smaller clinics that serve nine million veterans annually. To avoid detection of alcohol abuse, Levy took 2-methyl-2-butanol (2M2B) to mask the alcohol level in his blood. The substance, not approved for individual use, cannot be detected in routine tests for drugs and alcohol. It can be lethal if too much is taken, said Duane Kees, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Arkansas. The masking intentionally misled the Mississippi state medical license board into believing he was clean, the indictment said. Prosecutors described a sinister disregard for veterans’ lives as Levy knowingly entered false diagnoses for three veterans whose biopsies he read, one in 2009 and two in 2014, allegedly led to their deaths. One patient was wrongly diagnosed and prescribed wrong treatment and died in months. Another patient died of squamous cell carcinoma after Levy entered a wrong diagnosis. The third received a benign test result for prostate cancer and as a result was not treated, and died in 2016. In two of the cases, Levy falsified records. VA fired Levy last year after an arrest for DUI. The termination followed a tumultuous tenure during which his colleagues in the pa­thol­ogy lab complained they witnessed erratic behavior from him while on the job. Their complaints went unheeded, the indictment alleges. Trial date is set for Oct. 7. Levy was returned to the county jail in Fayetteville. (Source: Washington Post 08/20/19)

AHI delivers 200th Lakota to Army

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. – Airbus Helicopters Inc. (AHI) of Columbus, Miss., has built more than 550 aircraft for the U.S. government since 2006. On Aug. 19, AHI delivered its 200th UH-72A Lakota to the Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker, Ala., for initial helo pilot training. AHI VP Mike Spears said the delivery was a major achievement. “We started from scratch and now we’re up to 200” in support of the Army and defense of the nation. The UH-72A comes with all bells and whistles, according to program manager Mike Arrington. “The great thing about it is it’s versatility,” he continued. Spears added that the Lakota allows pilots to transition to more advanced helicopters with less time and effort. AHI also builds UH-72s for the National Guard. (Source: WCBI 08/19/19)