Commandos get Cheney Award

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. - Two Air Force Special Operations Command airmen from Hurlburt Field were recognized for receiving the 2017 Cheney Award on June 13. Now-Lt. Col. Matthew Mills and Master Sgt. Michael Wilson displayed extraordinary heroism while providing humanitarian relief after Hurricane Maria left a path of devastation on the island of Dominica in September 2017. Mills served as an MC-130H Combat Talon II aircraft commander and Wilson served as the aircraft loadmaster. Both were assigned to the 15th Special Operations Squadron at the time of the actions. The Cheney Award is an aviation award presented to an airman for an act of valor, extreme fortitude or self-sacrifice in a humanitarian interest, performed in connection with an aircraft, but not necessarily of a military nature. The remainder of the crew consisted of Co-Pilot: Capt. Justin White; Navigator: Maj. Garrett Bridges; Electronic Warfare Officer: Capt. Joseph Madel; Flight Engineer: Master Sgt. Michael Naas; and Loadmaster: Staff Sgt. John Hashman. (Source: Air Force Special Operations Command, 07/31/19)

Delta scolded for buying Airbus

NBC News reported that President Trump, during a meeting with airline officials Monday, scolded U.S.-based Delta Air Lines, whose CEO was not in attendance, for buying billions of dollars worth of planes from Europe-based Airbus, while Qatar Airways is buying jets from Chicago-based Boeing. The comment raised eyebrows, since many Airbus jetliners are built in the United States by American workers. Airbus has an A320 assembly line in Mobile, Ala., and is building a second assembly line for A220 passenger jets. Delta, which also buys Boeing aircraft, is one of Airbus' big customers. In response to Mobile media requests for comment, Airbus in a statement said "We are proud to have Airbus aircraft flying for 13 U.S. airlines, and to manufacture many of those aircraft in Mobile, Ala., where work continues on our second large aircraft assembly line. With our hundreds of U.S. suppliers accounting for 40 percent of all Airbus’ aircraft-related procurement, every customer who invests in Airbus is investing in U.S. manufacturing and supporting American jobs." A few days before the meeting at which Trump made his remarks, Airbus announced it was delivering Delta’s 50th made-in-Alabama jetliner. That was out of 130 the plant had delivered overall. (Sources: WPMI, al.com, 07/30/19) Meanwhile, Airbus is continuing its push to hire workers for the new A220 plant. Airbus recently held job fairs in North Carolina. The company is reaching out into key hubs for aviation professionals and technical professionals. (Source: Spectrumlocalnews, 07/30/19)

NASA opts for SLS green run

After considering canceling a planned full-duration test-firing of the Space Launch System (SLS) core stage in Mississippi ahead of the heavy-lift rocket’s first flight, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced during the week that the agency will press ahead with the eight-minute test next year. He cited safety and reliability benefits for future astronauts riding on the launcher on missions to the moon. The first SLS test flight, carrying an unpiloted Orion crew capsule to lunar orbit, is set for blastoff in 2021 from pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission is designated Artemis 1, the first flight in NASA’s Artemis program to return astronauts to the moon as a stepping stone toward eventual expeditions to Mars. NASA has planned the so-called “green run” test of the SLS core stage since the program’s genesis in 2011. For more than half a decade, workers at NASA’s Stennis Space Center (SSC) in southern Mississippi have modified and outfitted the B-2 test stand — previously used for Saturn V, space shuttle and Delta IV rocket testing — to accommodate the 212-foot-tall, 27.6-foot-wide SLS core stage. Liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen tanks inside the SLS core stage will hold 733,000 gallons of propellant to feed four RS-25 main engines, generating more than 2 million pounds of thrust at full throttle. The RS-25 engines, supplied by Aerojet Rocketdyne, are left over powerplants from the space shuttle program. Unlike full-stage firings of previous rockets, the green run test at Stennis will use the same core stage that will fly on the first SLS launch, and not a ground test article. Once the core stage is finished at Michoud Assembly Facility, a NASA barge will haul the rocket from New Orleans to SSC for installation on the B-2 test stand. The shipment of the core stage to Stennis is scheduled around the end of the year. (Source: Spaceflight Now, 07/27/19)

Contract: Draeger, $9.9M

Draeger Inc., Teleford, Pa., is awarded a $9,945,261 firm-fixed-price contract for anesthesia recording and monitoring devices (ARMD) sustainment services in support of Navy, Army, Air Force, and National Capital Region military treatment facilities inside and outside the continental U.S. Work may be performed at locations throughout the U.S. to include: San Antonio Military Medical Center, Texas (7%); Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Md. (7%); Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Va. (6%); Naval Medical Center, San Diego, Calif. (5%); Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, Va. (3%); Fort Bliss, Texas (3%); Fort Bragg, N.C. (3%); Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii (3%); Lackland Air Force Base, Texas (3%); Eglin Air Force Base Hospital, Fla. (2%); Fort Benning, Ga. (2%); Fort Campbell, Ky. (2%); Fort Carson, Colo. (2%); Fort Gordon, Ga. (2%); Fort Hood, Texas (2%); Fort Stewart, Ga. (2%); Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. (2%); Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton, Calif. (2%); Naval Hospital Pensacola, Fla. (2%); Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. (2%); United States Army Institute of Surgical Research, Texas (2%); Wright-Patterson Air Force Medical Center, Ohio (2%); Andrews Air Force Base Hospital, Md. (1%); Langley Air Force Base Medical Center, Va. (1%); Elmendorf Air Force Base Hospital, Alaska (1%); Travis Air Force Base, Calif. (1%); Fort Wainwright, Alaska (1%); West Point Academy, N.Y. (1%); Fort Riley, Kan. (1%); Fort Meade, Md. (1%); Fort Irwin, Calif. (1%); Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. (1%); Fort Polk, La. (1%); Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Md. (1%); Naval Hospital, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (1%); Naval Hospital, Jacksonville, Fla. (1%); Naval Hospital, Lemoore, Calif. (1%); Naval Hospital, Beaufort, S.C. (1%); Naval Hospital, Twentynine Palms, Calif. (1%); Naval Hospital, Cherry Point, N.C. (1%); and Air Force Medical Operations Agency Lab, Texas (less than 1%). Work may be performed at locations outside of the contiguous United States to include Landsuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany (3%); Aviano Air Base Hospital, Italy (1%); Lakenheath Air Force Base Hospital, United Kingdom (1%); Misawa Air Force Base, Japan (1%); Naval Hospital, Guam, Guam (1%); Naval Hospital, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (1%); Naval Hospital, Naples, Italy (1%); Naval Hospital, Okinawa, Japan (1%); Osan Air Base Hospital, Korea (1%); Naval Hospital, Rota, Spain (1%); Naval Hospital, Sigonella, Italy (1%); Waegwan (Seoul), South Korea (1%); Naval Hospital, Yokosuka, Japan and Iwakuni, Japan (1%); and Yokota Air Force Base Hospital, Japan (1%). This contract has a five-year period of performance and all work is expected to be completed by July 26, 2024. Fiscal 2019 Defense Health Program operation & maintenance funds will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a non-competitive, sole-source procurement in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1(c) issued via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with one proposal received. The Naval Medical Logistics Command, Fort Detrick, Md., is the contracting activity (N62645-19-C-0005). (Source: DoD, 07/26/19)

Contract: UTC, $25M

United Technologies Corp., Pratt and Whitney Engines, East Hartford, Conn., is awarded a not-to-exceed $25,000,000 undefinitized firm-fixed-price modification (P00003) to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00019-19-C-0054). This modification procures milling machines, fixtures and tooling to increase production capacity for critical F135 components. Work will be performed in East Hartford and is expected to be completed in February 2022. Fiscal 2019 defense production act purchases (Defense) funds in the amount of $12,500,000 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 07/25/19) Gulf Coast note: F-35s are powered by F135 engines. Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

Contract: Northrop, $33.8M

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, Calif., is awarded $33,755,229 for firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order N00019-19-F-0272 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-15-G-0026) in support of the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system. This order procures material kits and retrofit labor to incorporate the Integrated Functional Capability 4.0 configuration into retrofit aircraft and ground segments. Work will be performed in San Diego (41.2%); Palmdale, Calif. (30.7%); Waco, Texas (9.9%); Salt Lake City, Utah (2.9%); Newtown, N.D. (2.5%) Verona, Wisc. (1.6%); Sterling, Va. (1.5%); Irvine, Calif. (1%); San Clemente, Calif. (0.7%); and various locations inside and outside the continental U.S. (7.9% and 0.1%, respectively). Work is expected to be completed in January 2022. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Navy); and fiscal 2018 and 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $33,755,229 are being obligated at time of award, $1,719,061 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 07/22/19) Gulf Coast note: Fuselage work on Triton is done in Moss Point, Miss.

Contract: Northrop, $14.2M

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, Calif., is awarded $14,187,994 for modification P00037 to a previously awarded fixed-price, incentive-fee contract (N00019-15-C-0002) in support of the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system. This modification incorporates integrated functional capability 4.0 into low-rate initial production Lot 2 Aircraft B12. Work will be performed in Palmdale, Calif. (41.6%); San Diego, Calif. (34.2%); Waco, Texas (5.3%); Verona, Wisc. (2.4%); Salt Lake City, Utah (1.7%); Irvine, Calif. (1.5%); San Clemente, Calif. (1%); Saint Peters, Mo. (0.7%); Menlo Park, Calif. (0.7%); Ronkonkoma, N.Y. (0.5%); and Grove, Okla. (0.5%); and various locations inside and outside the continental U.S. (9.8% and 0.1%, respectively). Work is expected to be completed in November 2021. Fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $14,187,994 are being obligated at time of award, all of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 07/22/19) Gulf Coast note: Fuselage work on Triton is done in Moss Point, Miss.

Contract: Lockheed, $34.7M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $34,670,000 undefinitized cost-plus-incentive-fee contract to develop and deliver an engineering change proposal to enable the production cut-in of the Fuselage Station 425 Bulkhead structural modification required for F-35A and F-35C to allow full-envelope internal carriage of aft heavy weaponry. Work will be performed in Fort Worth and is expected to be completed in July 2022. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps); and non-U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) participant funds in the amount of $9,953,400 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). This undefinitized contract combines purchases for the Air Force ($13,787,219; 39.77%); Navy ($6,893,610; 19.88%); Marine Corps ($6,893,609; 19.88%); and non-U.S. DoD participants ($7,095,562; 20.46%). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity (N00019-19-C-0010). (Source: DoD, 07/18/19) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center.

MRO training center gets funding

PENSACOLA, Fla. — The U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration is investing $12.25 million in the city of Pensacola to help establish a new aircraft maintenance training facility at Pensacola International Airport (PNS), officials said Thursday. The money will be matched by more than $36 million in local and state funds. The new facility, a 175,000 square foot hangar, will be used for commercial and technological aviation and will create 400 jobs. ST Engineering says the new facility will have state of the art technology including robotic delivery systems. The building will be able to withstand winds of 170 mph. Mayor Grover Robinson says this is a part of "Project Titan," which will eventually include four hangars, the one already operating, the one announced Thursday and two more at the PNS campus. The new hangar will be similar to the first, but a significant difference will be the attachment of a 65,000 square-foot support services center. “The Support Services Center will enclose all of our customer reps’ offices; it will have our engineering areas, it will have our procurement, our logistics management will be there,” said Bill Hafner, president of ST Engineering in Mobile, Ala. (Sources: WEAR-TV, WUWF, NorthEscambia.com, 07/18/19) Previous

Contract: Lockheed, $23.6M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Fla., has been awarded a $23,637,880 cost-plus-incentive-fee modification (P00004) to previously awarded contract FA8682-18-C-0009 for providing a replacement joint air to surface standoff missile (JASSM) anti-jam GPS receiver with a new JASSM Anti-Jam GPS Receiver (JAGR) due to obsolescence. This contract provides replacement for the current JAGR due to obsolescence. Work will be performed at Orlando, Florida, and is expected to be completed by March 31, 2023. Fiscal 2019 procurement funds in the amount of $23,637,880 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 07/17/19)

General officer assignment

The Air Force chief of staff announced Monday the assignment of Brig. Gen. William G. Holt III, special assistant to the commander, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla., to director, joint exercise and training, J-7, U.S. Space Command. (Source: DoD, 07/15/19)

Blue Angels announce 2020 officers

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, today announced officers selected for the 2020 air show season. The squadron selected two F/A-18 demonstration pilots, two C-130 pilots, a maintenance officer, and a public affairs officer to replace outgoing team members. The selected 2020 officers are F/A-18 demonstration pilots, Marine Corps Maj. Frank Zastoupil, of Kingwood, Texas, an F-35 Lightning II pilot currently assigned to the “Warlords” of Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, and Navy Lt. Julius Bratton, of Woodlawn, Tenn., an F/A-18 Hornet pilot currently assigned to the “Gladiators” of Strike Fighter Squadron 106. C-130 pilots chosen are Marine Corps Capt. William Huckeba, of Hoover, Ala., a C-130 Hercules pilot currently assigned to Officer Candidate School Quantico, and Marine Corps Capt. Rick Rose, of Napa, Calif., a C-130 Hercules pilot currently assigned to the “Sumos” of Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152. Previously selected to join the 2020 team was Commanding Officer and Flight Leader, Navy Cmdr. Brian Kesselring, of Fargo, N.D., who was most recently the commanding officer of the “Sunliners” of Strike Fighter Squadron 81. The new team members will officially begin their training for the 2020 show season following the Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Nov. 9. (Source: NNS, 07/15/19)

Sustainable fueled A321 delivered

A321 loaded with sustainable fuel. Airbus photo

MOBILE, Ala. - Airbus has delivered to Delta Air Lines its 50th A320 series aircraft produced in the Airbus U.S. production facility in Mobile. This A321 is the first of a total of 20 aircraft being delivered with a blend of sustainable jet fuel over the next year. The jet fuel, supplied by Air BP and loaded into the aircraft by Signature Flight Support (Airbus’ fueling services provider in Mobile), is certified compliant with the sustainability requirements of the European Union Renewable Energy Directive (EU RED) and the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC). Delta is the second U.S customer to have aircraft delivered by Airbus from Mobile using a blend of sustainable fuel. Airbus offers this option to its customers in order to promote a more regular use of sustainable aviation fuels within the industry. In the longer term, Airbus also envisions supporting industrial production of sustainable fuels for aviation in the southeastern U.S. (Source: Airbus, 07/12/19)

Contract: Lockheed, $21.3M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $21,256,902 modification (P00004) to a cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order (N0001919-F-2512) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement N00019-14-G-0020. This modification provides for modification kits, special tooling and installation labor for the modification and retrofit of F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft for the Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, non-U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) participants, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in May 2024. Fiscal 2017, 2018, and 2019 aircraft procurement (Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy); non-U.S. DoD participant funds; and FMS funds in the amount of $21,256,902 will be obligated at time of award, $949,495 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Marine Corps ($6,664,143; 31%); Navy ($6,290,194; 30%); Air Force ($4,651,660; 22%); non-U.S. DoD participants ($2,966,510; 14%); and FMS customers ($684,394; 3%). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 07/09/19) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of an F-35 training center.

Contract: Lockheed, $41.3M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $41,269,021 for modification P00002 to a previously awarded order (N00019-19-F-2474) placed against basic ordering agreement N00019-14-G-0020. This modification exercises an option for the design, procurement and integration of flight test instrumentation and data processing solutions for F-35 Lightning II development test aircraft to support the Tech Refresh-3 and the Follow on Modernization Block 4 mission systems configuration. Work will be performed in Fort Worth and is expected to be completed in February 2021. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) and non-U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) participant funds in the amount of $2,470,993 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Air Force ($16,501,005; 40%); Navy ($8,250,503; 20%); Marine Corps ($8,250,503; 20%); and non-U.S. DoD participants ($8,267,010; 20%). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 07/08/19) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of an F-35 training center.

MQ-8C now initial operation capable

The U.S. Navy declared initial operational capability for the Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter on June 28. It clears the way for the unmanned air vehicle to begin fleet operations and training. The MQ-8C is to deploy aboard the Navy's littoral combat ships in FY2021, and is intended for intelligence, and surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as precision targeting. The airframe is the commercial Bell 407, with seats and other manned avionics equipment stripped out and replaced with remote controls and extra fuel tanks. Over the next few years, Northrop Grumman plans to deliver 38 MQ-8Cs to the Navy. (Sources: Flightglobal, Inside Defense, 07/08/19) Gulf Coast note: Final assembly and flight testing of the MQ-8C is done in Moss Point, Miss.

Contract: Rockhill Group, $12.2M

The Rockhill Group Inc., Molino, Fla., has been awarded a $12,211,850 firm-fixed-price contract for Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) aircrew instruction instructor support required by the 492 Special Operations Wing and operational wings. This contract provides for critical flying training unit support instruction (platform, simulator and flight) to all students going through AFSOC's initial and mission qualification school and continuation training for combat aircrews. Work will be performed at Hurlburt Field, Fla.; Duke Field, Fla.; Cannon Air Force Base, N.M.; and Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2019. This award is the result of sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $12,211,850 are being obligated at the time of award. The 765th Specialized Contracting Flight, Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Hurlburt Field, is the contracting activity (FA0021-19-C-A003). (Source: DoD, 07/03/19)

Year later, A220 sales strong

Airbus Canada Limited Partnership marked its first anniversary on July 1, one year after Airbus became the majority partner in the A220 aircraft program. Highlights of this first anniversary include orders and commitments signed for more than 230 A220 aircraft, the ground-breaking for a new A220 manufacturing facility in Mobile, Ala., and expansion at the Mirabel manufacturing facility in Canada. Airbus Canada has delivered more aircraft in its first year than the total delivered up to July 1, 2018, when it took the lead of the program. In total, the A220 ends the first year of Airbus leading the program with a firm order book of over 500 aircraft, plus 80 additional commitments announced at this year’s Paris Air Show. In 2019, Airbus is also celebrating the 35th anniversary of its presence in Canada. (Source: Airbus, 07/02/19)

Contract: Lockheed, $348.2M

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $348,223,161 for modification P00019 to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-17-C-0001). This modification is for production non-recurring, special tooling and special test equipment in support of low-rate initial production Lot 12 F-35 Lightning II aircraft for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, non-U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) partners and foreign military sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Fort Worth (23.80%); El Segundo, Calif. (23.86%); San Diego, Calif. (17.03%); Samlesbury, United Kingdom (7.65%); Orlando, Fla. (6.63%); Cedar Rapids, Iowa (3.44%); Nashua, N.H. (2.71%); Clearfield, Utah (2.15%); Marietta, Ga. (1.77%); East Aurora, N.Y. (1.59%); Palmdale, Calif. (1.40%); Cheltenham, United Kingdom (0.96%); Turin, Italy (0.81%); Clearwater, Fla. (0.79%); Melbourne, Fla. (0.60%); Irvine, Calif. (0.58%); Kongsberg, Norway (0.53%); Arlington, Texas (0.48%); Rolling Meadows, Ill. (0.46%); Tempe, Ariz. (0.38%); Inglewood, Calif. (0.33%); Papendrecht, Netherlands (0.28); Garden Grove, Calif. (0.21%); Montmorency, Australia (0.20%); Marion, Va. (0.17%); Independence, Ohio (0.14%); Amesbury, Mass. (0.13%); Rome, N.Y. (0.13%); Los Angeles, Calif. (0.10%); Hot Springs, Ark. (0.10%); Lystrup, Denmark (0.09%); Grand Rapids, Mich. (0.09%); Owego, N.Y. (0.07%); Sharon, Mass. (0.06%); Wichita, Kan. (0.06%); Boulder, Colo. (0.05%); Carlsbad, Calif. (0.04%); Ontario, Calif. (0.04%); Delta, British Columbia, Canada (0.03%); Long Beach, Calif. (0.01%); Lindenhurst, N.Y. (0.01%); Eskisehr, Turkey (0.01%); Saint Peters, Mo. (0.01%); Santa Fe Springs, Calif. (0.01%); and Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (0.01%). Work is expected to be completed in August 2022. Fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement (Navy and Marine Corps); fiscal 2018 and 2019 aircraft procurement (Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps); non-U.S. DoD partner and FMS funds in the amount of $348,223,161 are being obligated at time of award, $17,899,115 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Air Force ($129,642,270; 38%); Navy ($69,738,685; 20%); Marine Corps ($61,001,500; 17%); non-U.S. DoD partners ($60,840,706; 17%) and FMS customers ($27,000,000; 8%). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity. (Source: DoD, 07/02/19) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of an F-35 training center.

State launches space initiative

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. - Mississippi is starting a new economic development effort to lure companies connected to space exploration. The announcement came less than a month after California-based Relativity announced it would build its Terran 1 space rockets using 3D print technology at Stennis Space Center, where it has already been testing rocket engines. Gov. Phil Bryant announced the Space Initiative Monday during an event at Infinity Science Center, near Stennis Space Center in coastal Hancock County. SSC is where NASA and many commercial space companies test rocket engines. The leader of the economic development effort will be Patrick Scheuermann, former head of Stennis Space Center and Marshall Space Flight Center. Bryant also announced formation of a Mississippi National Guard Space Directorate. Its commander will be Col. Billy Murphy of the Mississippi Air National Guard’s 186th Air Operations Group. Relativity co-founder Jordan Noone was on hand for the Monday announcement. (Sources: multiple, including Sun Herald, Clarion Ledger, AP via Local Memphis, WLOX, 07/01/19) Previous related