GTRA executive retiring

COLUMBUS, Miss. - Golden Triangle Regional Airport (GTR) Executive Director Mike Hainsey is retiring effective July 1. Hainsey’s aviation career spans more than 45 years, which includes airport and Air Force time. The GTR Airport Authority has selected Deputy Director Matt Dowell to replace him. (Source: WTVA 02/18/22) 

Natchez airport seeks air carrier

NATCHEZ - Natchez-Adams County Airport Director Richard Nelson told Mayor Don Gibson and board of aldermen he’s preparing a grant application from the U.S. Commerce Department for securing commercial airline service. A recent study showed more than 800 locals per week were flying out of other airports that could be flying out of Natchez if the city had an air carrier. The $1M grant requires a 20 percent local match. The grant sets up contingency funds as risk mitigation for a prospective air carrier if the number of passengers projected are not sold after service starts. Fifteen of 61 applicants received grants in 2021 and none pledged the minimum of $200,00, according to Nelson. The county pledged $100,000 from its American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds toward the grant match. Mayor Gibson hopes to convince the county to pony up about $300,000. The mayor has called a meeting of an airport task force for 10 a.m. on March 1. The airport director is attending a conference this coming week to secure a letter from a commercial carrier saying it has interest in Natchez if the airport gets the grant. The airport has to have local contributions to establish a public-private partnership. Nelson also informed the mayor and aldermen about a Mississippi Development Authority grant aimed for communities that have a casino. That grant could be as much as $2.5M but does not require local matching funds. The grant was written for Gulfport and that coastal city “does not have a need this year and Tunica isn’t asking for the money,” said Nelson. Between the two grants and the study, Natchez is in a prime position to capture an air carrier service” said the airport executive. (Source: Natchez Democrat 02/18/22)

Textron-La. 30% of $45M UISS work

Textron Systems, Hunt Valley, Maryland, is awarded a $41,699,951 cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-only modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-14-C-6322) for engineering and technical support, incidental materials and travel for the Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) program. Work will be performed in Hunt Valley, Maryland (70%); and Slidell, Louisiana (30%), and is expected to be completed by April 2023. Fiscal 2022 other Navy procurement funds in the amount of $6,467,712 (66%); fiscal 2022 Navy research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $2,848,058 (29%); and fiscal 2021 Navy research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $444,957 (5%) will be obligated at time of award, of which $444,957 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 02/18/22)

Corn-based ethanol not so 'green'?

Corn-based ethanol, which for years has been mixed in huge quantities into gasoline sold at American gas pumps, is likely a bigger contributor to global warming than straight gasoline, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, on Feb. 14. The study contradicts previous research commissioned by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that showed ethanol and other biofuels to be relatively green. President Biden's administration is reviewing policies on biofuels as part of a broader effort to decarbonize the U.S. economy by 2050 to fight climate change. “Corn ethanol is not a climate-friendly fuel,” said Dr. Tyler Lark, assistant scientist at University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment and lead author of the study. The research, funded in part by the National Wildlife Federation and U.S. Department of Energy, found ethanol is at least 24 percent more carbon-intensive than gasoline due to emissions resulting from land use changes to grow corn, along with processing and combustion. (Source: Reuters 02/14/22) U.S. corn-based ethanol worse for the climate than gasoline, study finds | Reuters

CAFB: 'Wings' & STEM Expo

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. - ‎The 14th Flying Training Wing (FTW) will host the “Wings Over Columbus” Air Show and the first large scale Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) Expo on March 26-27. But there will be a student-only day March 25. More than 540 high school and college students have pre-registered to attend the student-only STEM Expo Day. ‎Thirty-plus STEM exhibitors in the fields of aviation, engineering, robotics, forensics, military sciences unmanned vehicles and cyber will be on display throughout the event. The STEM Expo is an unfunded air show activity and currently does not meet the requirements to receive sponsorships, but the event “has been made possible by the goodwill of the tech companies and industry partners surrounding us,” said Tech. Sgt. Javier Cruz, “Wings Over Columbus” STEM Expo coordinator. Some of the exhibitors are coming from as far away as Eglin and Tyndall AFBs in Florida and Little Rock AFB, Ark. (Source: CAFB 02/17/22) CAFB raises the bar with STEM > Columbus Air Force Base > Article Display

Top CAFB airmen recognitions

COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. - Team Columbus celebrated its superior performers at the first 14th Flying Training Wing combined Annual Awards and Dining Out ceremony on Feb. 12. The 14th FTW produced more pilots than any other pilot training wing in the Air Education and Training Command and more pilots in 2021 than any year since 1985. This achievement led to the 14th FTW receiving the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. Wing level award winners will continue on to compete at the Nineteenth Air Force level.

The 2021 Annual Award Winners are:

*Airman of the Year: SSgt Jose Guillen, 14th Operations Support Squadron 

*Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year: TSgt Aaron Wanzer, 14th Comptroller

*Squadron Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year: MSgt Stephanie Tognotti

*14th Student Squadron First-Sergeant of the Year: MSgt Tiona Jones

*14th Mission Support Group Volunteer of the Year: TSgt Sean Weygandt

*14th FTW Maintenance Authority Quality Honor Guardsman of the Year: SrA Aubrey Anderson

*14th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron Company Grade Officer of the Year: Capt Elijah Nicholson

*14th Contracting Squadron Field Grade Officer of the Year: Maj Katherine Murphy

*14th Healthcare Operations Squadron Instructor Pilot of the Year: Capt Matthew Bliley

*49th Flying Training Squadron First Assignment Instructor Pilot of the Year: 1st Lt Blaine Wycoff

*14th Operations Support Squadron Civilian CAT I (Non-supervisory) of the Year: GS-06 Wendy Pennington-Nichols

*14th Healthcare Operations Squadron Civilian CAT II (Non-supervisory) of the Year: GS-09 Jo Spears

*14th FTW Protocol Civilian CAT III (Non-supervisory) of the Year: GS-11 Aaron Lorenz

*14th Student Squadron Civilian CAT II (Supervisory) of the Year: GS-09 Seth Maher

*14th Civil Engineering Squadron Civilian CAT III (Supervisory) of the Year: GS-13 Richard Marra

*14th Communications Squadron Key Spouse of the Year: Amber Thomason

*Team of the Year: Base Operations Services

*Support Flight Innovation Team of the Year: 14th Diagnostics & Therapeutics Flight (Source: CAFB 02/17/22) Outstanding Airmen Recognized > Columbus Air Force Base > Article Display (af.mil)

La. senator blocking 4 EPA noms

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) has placed holds on President Biden’s EPA nominees over his state’s frustrations with the agency on carbon capture projects, his office announced Feb. 16. Cassidy has decided to block all EPA nominees due to “unnecessary delays” by EPA on Louisiana’s application to permit carbon sequestration wells. “We have met the requirements and we have the workers, capacity and resources to begin this process. All that’s needed is the green light from the Biden administration,” Cassidy said. EPA has emphasized its desire to lower emissions and ensure a healthy environment, "yet hinders Louisiana’s ability to do just that.” The president has four pending EPA nominees - Amanda Howe, nominated to lead the agency’s mission support office; Chris Frey, picked for the head of its research office; David Uhlmann, in line to be the top enforcement official; and Carlton Waterhouse, selected for the head of EPA’s solid waste office. At issue is who has regulatory authority over carbon capture wells. Supporters of the technology say it takes EPA too long to permit projects. In turn, energy-producing states are vying for the power. The Biden administration has also been looking at states to take on that authority. Biden presses industry, a climate laggard, to decarbonize - E&E News (eenews.net) Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) also has holds on the four nominees, which stems from a dispute between the agency and Wyoming's regional haze plan for the Jim Bridger power plant. (Source: E&E News PM 02/16/22) Cassidy blocks EPA nominees over carbon capture delays - E&E News (eenews.net)

SSC, Firehawk unique partnership

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - In the last half of 2021, NASA's Stennis Space Center (SSC) and startup Firehawk Aerospace participated in a partnership arrangement that provides a new model for future collaborations. In the typical “service-based” partnership model, SSC conducts a test campaign for or in conjunction with a partner company. With the new approach, Firehawk Aerospace led and managed its own test project at the NASA center. Stennis provided facilities, a dedicated test area and support resources for the company to test its Armstrong 1K rocket engine, using a patented, 3D-printed hybrid fuel and a unique mobile test platform. The company also was able to draw on the experience and expertise of the Stennis propulsion team during the project. "This partner-managed facility concept was the first of its kind for Stennis," said Paul Rydeen, NASA Stennis project manager. "We are trying to extend our activities to reach markets that are requesting such accommodations. Some companies want the proximity to propulsion infrastructure and support resources but wish to operate their test campaigns by themselves." The partnership provided SSC with an opportunity to demonstrate how a “partner-managed facility” arrangement could work, said Kevin Power, NASA Stennis chief of the Propulsion Test Project Management Office. It also provided an example of how companies can benefit from even a short-term partnership with the site as they scale up their own operations. SSC has been partnering with commercial companies for years. In recent years, it has supported or is now supporting commercial test projects for Aerojet Rocketdyne, Launcher, Blue Origin, SpaceX, Relativity Space, and Virgin Orbit. (Source: NASA/SSC. 02/17/22)

Prez signs 3-week CR funding

The US Senate passed a bill to fund the government through March 11, averting a partial government shutdown that would otherwise occur after midnight on Feb. 18. The bill now goes to President Biden for signature. The final vote was 65-27, which included a number of Republicans. The bill, which required 60 votes to pass in the Senate, passed the House last week. (Source: CBS News 02/17/22) House passes bill to fund government through early March - CBS News 

Regional votes: 

Mississippi: Hyde-Smith and Wicker vote "yea" - in favor.

Alabama: Richard Shelby (yea); Tommy Tuberville (nay)

Louisiana: John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy (yea)

Tennessee: Bill Hagerty (yea); Marsha Backburn (nay)

Florida: Rick Scott and Marco Rubio (yea)

Senators note voting: Richard Burn (R-NC); Diane Feinstein (D-Calif); Lindsey Graham (R-SC); Mark Kelly (D-Ariz); Ben Ray Lujon (D-NM); Mitt Romey (R-Ariz)

UPDATE/18 FEBRUARY: President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan continuing resolution bill on Feb. 18 to extend government funding for three weeks to give Congress more time to reach an overdue deal financing federal agencies through the rest of the fiscal year, the White House announced. (Source: The AP 02/18/22)

SAR ends fof overboard passenger

NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard suspended its search and rescue (SAR) at 5:37 p.m. on Feb. 17 for a missing cruise ship passenger 150 miles offshore of Southwest Pass, La. The cruise ship Carnival Valor was returning to port in New Orleans from Cozumel. Rescue crews searched more than 2,514 square nautical miles for about 14 hours. CG New Orleans received a call at 3 p.m. on Feb. 16 reporting a passenger on the cruise ship had fallen overboard. The CG directed the launch of rescue crews to begin searching. “The decision to suspend a search-and-rescue case is never one we come to lightly,” said Chief Warrant Officer Tricia Eldredge, command duty officer at CG New Orleans. “We offer our deepest sympathies to the family during this difficult time.” (Source: Coast Guard 022/17/22)

Mobile Navy Week for Mardi Gras

Mobile, Ala., will host the first Navy Week of 2022 when sailors visit for the longest scheduled season of events from Feb. 21until “Fat Tuesday” on March 1. Navy Week is held in conjunction with Mobile’s peak Mardi Gras season where sailors from across the fleet converge on the Port City and surrounding areas to emphasize the importance of the Navy to Mobile and the nation. Navy units and personnel will include Navy Band Southeast, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2, USS Constitution, United States Ceremonial Guard, Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) New Orleans, Navy History and Heritage Command, Sailors from the namesake ships USS Alabama (SSBN 731) and USS Mobile (LCS 26) - built by Austal USA in Mobile - the Fleet Ambassador Team, Naval Oceanography Mine Warfare Center, and the Fleet Survey Team will participate in community outreach events. The Navy's senior executive host is Rear Adm. Dion English, director, logistics, fleet supply and ordnance for the U.S. Pacific Fleet, will participate in community engagements. There have been 34 ships having been named for Alabama, its cities and people, including the nuclear-powered submarine USS Alabama and the littoral combat ship USS Mobile. Navy Weeks are a series of outreach events coordinated by the Navy Office of Community Outreach designed to give Americans an opportunity to learn about the Navy. Mobile Navy Week is one of 14 scheduled throughout 2022. (Source: US Navy 02/17/22) Navy Weeks 2022 | Mobile Alabama

Navy Week comes to Memphis on June 13-19.

UM prototype headed into space

OXFORD, Miss. – A device that can move liquids without physical contact sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but a prototype device is headed to the International Space Station to test its capabilities. When NASA’s resupply mission to the ISS, Cygnus NG-17, blasts off on the morning of Feb. 19 from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, an acoustic tweezers device conceived and built at the University of Mississippi will be among its cargo. Likun Zhang, assistant professor of physics and astronomy and a researcher at the university’s National Center for Physical Acoustics, and Robert Lirette, a former UM doctoral student in physics and postdoctoral research associate, hope to explore the ability of the device to control fluids in the zero-gravity environment of space. (Source: University of Mississippi 02/17/22) UM Researchers Sending Sonic Experiment to Space Station - Ole Miss News

CG medevacs mariner near Mobile

 NEW ORLEANS - The Coast Guard medevaced a mariner Feb. 16 near Mobile Bay in Alabama. Coast Guard Sector Mobile received notification about 10:30 a.m. of a 31-foot sailing vessel that was in distress due to harsh weather conditions. The CG launched an MH-65 helicopter crew from New Orleans and a 45-foot response boat crew to assist. The helicopter crew arrived and hoisted the mariner aboard and transported him to Gulf Shores International Airport at Jack Edwards Field in Gulf Shores, Ala. The mariner was last reported to be in stable condition. (Source: Coast Guard 02/17/22)

HII #11 in best workplace survey

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) ranked No. 11 among large companies on the list of America's Best Large Employers for 2022, published in Forbes magazine. HII’s ranking represents the biggest jump of any large company on the list, rising from No. 387 in 2021. HII is the only aerospace and defense contractor within the Top 40 large companies on the list. “I’ve always said, and I truly believe, we’re in the workforce development business,” said Mike Petters, out-going president/CEO of HII. “In all my years with this company ... I’ve found that if you take care of employees just about everything else takes care of itself.” The America’s Best Employers list is based on views of 60,000 Americans surveyed anonymously. Respondents were asked to rate companies on factors such as working conditions, development opportunities, compensation, and how likely they’d be to recommend their employer. HII played no role in the survey methodology, identification of respondents or compilation of results. At 44,000 strong, HII’s workforce unites diverse backgrounds and skill sets, from pipe fitters to nuclear physicists to software coders. HII invests in nurturing its talent pipeline, spending $100M a year on workforce development, including the shipbuilding apprentice schools in Mississippi and Virginia and Mississippi, and a tuition reimbursement program that promotes continued education among employees. The company supports the Maritime Training Academy, middle school science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) mentorship and other education-related initiatives in support of the future workforce. HII invests in the communities. In 2021, the company contributed more than $6M to United Way, American Red Cross and American Heart Association, among other nonprofit and charitable organizations.  (Source: HII 02/17/22) https://www.hii.com/

Gautier firm part of $64M Navy pact

CMS Corp.,Bargersville, Indiana (N69450-17-D-0506); EMR Inc.,* Niceville, Florida (N69450-17-D-0507); Leebcor Services LLC,* Williamsburg, Virginia (N69450-17-D-0508); MOWA Barlovento LLC JV,* Gautier, Mississippi (N69450-17-D-0509); Whitesell-Green Inc.,* Pensacola, Florida (N69450-17-D-0510), are awarded a combined $64,800,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contract modification to previously awarded contracts for construction projects located within the Tennessee, Mississippi, Florida Panhandle area of operations (AO) managed by the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Southeast. This modification provides for the new construction, renovation, alteration, demolition, repair work, and any necessary design including:  industrial, airfield, aircraft hangar, aircraft traffic control, infrastructure, administrative, training, dormitory, and community support facilities. The contract modification increases the contract maximum not-to-exceed capacity from $99,000,000 to $163,800,000. After award of this modification, the total cumulative value for all five contracts will be $163,800,000. Work will be performed in Florida (49%); Mississippi (35%); Tennessee (15%); and the remainder of the NAVFAC Southeast AO (1%). The term for all five contracts combined will not exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of June 2022. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Future awards will be primarily funded with Navy operation and maintenance and military construction funds. NAVFAC Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD 02/16/22)

Amtrak, Ala. high stakes battle

MOBILE, Ala. - The return of Amtrak passenger rail service to the Gulf Coast could happen this fall despite CSX slow-walking its approval for use of its train tracks. The high stakes battle pitted Amtrak against freight operators and the Alabama State Port Authority here at a Feb. 15 public hearing before the U.S. Surface Transportation Board. Amtrak and Southern Rail Commission officials also participated. The board heard comments regarding infrastructure improvements needed for the Port City’s leg of the route. Hurricane Katrina devastated the region and rail lines in 2005. “Resumption of the service after more than 16 years would mark the completion of a long recovery from one of the strongest storms on record,” said U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.). “(A)ll the cities along the coast have done an incredible job of rebuilding the beaches, downtown areas, casinos, and businesses,” said SRC Chairman Knox Ross. “The one thing missing is a way to get people to us.” The route would make two runs a day from Mobile to New Orleans with four stops along the coast in Biloxi, Gulfport, Pascagoula, and Bay St. Louis in Mississippi. Ross believes service will be restored during the fall, at the latest. On March 8-9, an evidentiary meeting will be held before the STB. Afterwards, the board will make a final determination. A second day of hearings was to be held Feb. 16. (Source: WLOX 02/15/22) Amtrak rail service expected to begin on Gulf Coast by this fall (wlox.com) The return to the Gulf Coast would lead to negative impacts on the Port of Mobile and economic harm to a key job generator in Alabama, officials within the state almost uniformly testified to the STB. Some advocates for the return of passenger rail service blame freight operators, like CSX and Norfolk Southern, for triggering fear among coastal Alabama officials and for “stonewalling” the project. In November, the Alabama State Port Authority – in a filing to the STB – said the project “would be calamitous” for the Alabama State Docks in Mobile. In that late fall filing, the ASPA urged the STB to deny Amtrak’s Gulf Coast project. (Source: AL.com 02/15/22 & 11/04/21) Alabama officials to feds: Amtrak restoration along Gulf Coast will harm Port of Mobile - al.com

DO charters PSV for GoM work

The subsea services company DeepOcean has chartered Hornbeck Offshore Services’ HOS Warland, a multi-purpose service vessel, to support Gulf of Mexico oil and gas operations. DeepOcean (DO) is a provider of survey, project management, installation, maintenance and recycling services for O&G offshore renewables, deep-sea minerals, and other ocean services. HOS Warland will extend DeepOcean’s capabilities in the construction end of the market through higher specification equipment installed onboard. DeepOcean said the firm charter would help provide support to the requirements of the IMR Market and construction and installation projects managed, engineered, and executed by DeepOcean’s in-house team. HOS Warland and DeepOcean’s expertise will enable the firm to bundle services in a cost-efficient way, according to Tony Stokes, DO’s President-Americas. The versatile vessel will be “well-suited” for installation projects through use of its 250-ton crane and dual work-class ROV set-up. [Work-class ROVs are built with a large flotation pack on top of an aluminum chassis to provide the necessary buoyancy to perform a variety of tasks.] The vessel is designed to meet standards demanded by offshore oil and gas customers. (Source: MarineLink 02/16/22) Deepocean Charters Hornbeck Offshore's 'HOS Warland' (marinelink.com)  

Gulf Coast Note: Eastern Shipbuilding Group of Panama City, Fla., built and launched HOS Warland (Hull #241) in March 2015 from its Allanton facility. It was the first of two 302’x76’x26’ Multi-Purpose Service Vessel’s for Houston-based Hornbeck. The second vessel, HOS Woodland (Hull #242), was launched in summer 2015summer.

La. major role in E-vehicle batteries

BATON ROUGE, La. - A planned $176M expansion of Syrah Technologies' graphite processing plant in Vidalia, La., near the Mississippi River, will give Louisiana a major role in the supply chain for electric vehicle batteries, according to Louisiana economic officials. The Australia-based firm will add 180,000 square feet to its 50,000 square feet facility, where graphite will be made into “active anode material” used in lithium-ion batteries. Electric vehicle maker Tesla signed a contract with Syrah Resources. Tesla will buy material from the Vidalia plant, which sources graphite from graphite mines in Mozambique, reducing the car maker's dependence on China. The expansion will add 36 new jobs to its current 19 workers. Vidalia is about 100 miles north of Baton Rouge. (Source: The AP 02/16/22) Plant expansion gives Louisiana role in battery supply chain (msn.com)

GoM eyeing record year

Gulf of Mexico oil production is expected to cross the 2M barrels per day threshold and reach a new high in this year assisted by three major deep-water developments set to deliver first oil. Wood Mackenzie projects the GoM will average roughly 2.3M barrels of oil equivalent a day (boed) surpassing the previous record of about 2M (boed) that the Department of Energy (DOE) documented in August 2019. Operators closed out 2021 with estimated production of just over 1.76M bbl/d. The damage caused by Hurricane Ida sunk Gulf production to a 10-year monthly low of 1.064 million bbl/d last September. Among new fields: Shell is ready to start production in the Mississippi Canyon Vito field in 4,000 feet of water, which is expected to peak production of 100,000 bbl/d by 2024. In early December, Shell added another discovery to its leading deep-water portfolio with the Blacktip North well in the Perdido Corridor. The prospect is one of 12 deep-water discoveries GoM operators recorded in 2021, according to S&P Global Platts Analytics. Additionally, Phase Two of the BP-operated Mad Dog field at Green Canyon is scheduled to begin flowing this year with peak oil at about 120,249 bpd and 147 MMcfd of gas in 2023. Murphy Oil plans to deliver about 80,000 bbl/d from the its Green Canyon development before the end of June. The trio will be tied into the King's Quay floating production system (FPS) that was installed just before Ida came ashore. New production couldn’t have come at a better time. Oil consumption has outpaced production for more than 12 months, according to DOE. Oil stockpiles have fallen six consecutive quarters. (Source: Work Boat 02/14/22) U.S. Gulf eyeing record year | WorkBoat

RFP: Extracting rare minerals ops

The majority of critical minerals and rare earth elements that help power electric vehicles and wind turbines come from mining operations overseas. But a new initiative spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) is looking for ways to extract them from fossil fuel waste. DoE plans to build the nation's first large facility to extract rare minerals from fossil fuel waste, which will then be used in technologies like electric vehicles. Minerals like nickel and cobalt from waste like coal ash. Those metals could then be used in components for renewable-energy batteries, cell phones and electric vehicles, among other technologies. On Feb. 14, the department released a request for information (RFI) from industry, developers and research institutions on how to build and operate the new facility. FedConnect: Opportunity Summary (Source: Department of Energy 02/14/22) DOE Launches $140 Million Program to Develop America’s First-of-a-Kind Critical Minerals Refinery | Department of Energy