Industry News
Air Force Awards $1.1 Billion Contract to Lockheed Martin
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a 10-year Aircrew Training and Rehearsal Support II (ATARS II) contract. The US$1.1 billion contract will provide Air Force Special Operations Command crews with training on a variety of weapon systems. The win extends Lockheed Martin's role as the principal mission rehearsal trainer for Air Force Special Operations and Search and Rescue aircrews. The company was awarded the original ATARS contract in 1987.
ATARS II represents the next-generation training system for special operations crews at several locations: Kirtland Air Force Base, NM; Hurlburt Field, FL; Harrisburg Air National Guard Base, PA and Fort Rucker, AL. ATARS II is a distributed, fully-networked environment that provides combat-ready aircrews to support SOF units deployed across the world in support of national requirements.
Lockheed Martin will provide training for the C-130 Talon, Spectre and Shadow, MH-53 Pave Low and MH-60 Pave Hawk and the CV-22 Osprey. Through the ATARS program, thousands of aircrew members are trained each year and offers additional training for flight, naval and ground systems applications.
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General Dynamics Awarded $116 Million for Virginia-Class Submarine Design and Development
The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a US$116.4 million contract modification for Virginia-class submarine lead-yard services, development studies and design efforts. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics
Under the terms of the modification, the company will update and support design drawings and data for each Virginia-class submarine, including technology insertion, before, during and after construction. Electric Boat also will provide all engineering and related lead-yard services necessary for maintenance and support of Virginia-class submarine specifications.
In addition, the company will conduct development studies supporting the submarine's design and design improvements, preliminary and detail component and system design, and integration of design, test, logistics, production and system engineering. The data collected during the studies will be used to identify and evaluate potential technologies for future Virginia-class submarines.
The contract was initially awarded in October 2005 and will be worth $890 million if all options are exercised and funded; the period of performance is through September 2009.
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Nortel CEO Appointed to National Security Telecommunication Advisory Committee
President George W. Bush has announced his intent to nominate Nortel President and CEO Mike Zafirovski to the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC). In its advisory role to the president, the NSTAC provides industry-based analysis and recommendations on a wide range of policy and technical issues related to telecommunications, information systems, information assurance, infrastructure protection, and other national security and emergency preparedness concerns.
As a presidential appointee to NSTAC, Zafirovski would serve as a resource for the President and his national security team in efforts to safeguard critical U.S. infrastructure and telecommunications networks. In this capacity, Zafirovski would participate in discussions on a broad range of policy and technical issues related to telecommunications, critical infrastructure protection, homeland security, and other security concerns.
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Head of IBM Research Paul Horn Retires; John E. Kelly, III to Succeed
Dr. Paul Horn, senior vice president, IBM Research announced his retirement from IBM after 28 years, including 11 leading IBM's labs.
Succeeding him is Dr. John Kelly, III, most recently senior vice president, Technology and Intellectual Property.
Dr. Horn transformed IBM's research and development model into an engine of innovation and growth. Under his watch IBM created the Deep Blue and Blue Gene supercomputers, pioneered the use of copper and "self-assembly" in chip manufacturing, and created new disciplines in autonomic computing and services science.
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Raytheon Intelligence and Information Systems Names Executives to Lead Human Resources and Information Systems
Raytheon Company has appointed John S. Malanowski vice president, Human Resources and James R. McCoy vice president and Chief Information Officer (CIO) of its Intelligence and Information Systems (IIS) business. Both executives report to IIS President Michael D. Keebaugh.
As vice president of Human Resources, Malanowski is responsible for setting the strategic direction for all IIS human resources operations and initiatives, including talent management, leadership development, and diversity. Malanowski, a six-year veteran of Raytheon, brings more than 25 years of human resources management and leadership experience to IIS.
Malanowski most recently served as vice president of talent acquisition and corporate human resources at Raytheon Company's Global Headquarters, Waltham, Mass. Previously he held human resources executive positions with a variety of other companies including Engage Media (a subsidiary of CMGI Inc.), Fidelity Investments, Aetna Life and Casualty, and Phillips Petroleum Co. He holds a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from the State University of New York and a master's degree in Labor and Industrial Relations from Michigan State University.
As CIO, McCoy is responsible for ensuring that IIS has the advanced information systems capabilities, capacity, effectiveness and efficiency to support the IIS business. Prior to joining IIS, McCoy was with Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) headquarters, Tewksbury, Mass., where he most recently served as director of wide area surveillance and space situational awareness programs. With 22 years experience, he has advanced his career through successive positions of increasing responsibility in the company's engineering, operations, supply chain management, information technology, product assurance and program management disciplines. He holds a bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering and a master's degree of Business Administration from Boston University.
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Peter Moore Resigns From Microsoft
On Tuesday, representatives of Microsoft Corp. announced that Don Mattrick, a former president at Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), will lead the Interactive Entertainment Business (IEB), which includes overseeing the Xbox and Games for Windows businesses. Peter Moore, who currently serves as corporate vice president of IEB, has decided to move his family back to the Bay Area for personal reasons and has secured another opportunity in the video games industry.
Mattrick will take over as the senior vice president of IEB at Microsoft, effective July 30. Mattrick was the founder of Distinctive Software Inc., which operated as a private company from 1982 until its merger with EA in 1991. Mattrick held various senior positions within EA, most recently as president of Worldwide Studios, until his resignation in February 2006. In February 2007, Mattrick began working with the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft as an external advisor.
Moore has decided to return with his family to Northern California, where they lived until he took the position at Microsoft. Moore will remain at Microsoft to assist in the transition through August and will then return to the San Francisco Bay area.
Mattrick brings 23 years of games industry and development experience to the strong Microsoft management team, having helped bring to life such celebrated game franchises as the "Need for Speed," "Harry Potter" and "The Sims" while at EA.
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3M to Acquire Rochford Thompson Equipment Ltd.
Representatives of 3M announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Rochford Thompson Equipment Ltd., a manufacturer of optical character recognition passport readers used by airlines and immigration authorities, headquartered in Newbury, U.K. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
As a provider of security document scanning solutions, Rochford Thompson's core skills are in the data capture of identity document information from complex digital images and RFID chips. The majority of Rochford Thompson readers are used by airlines for data capture at check-in desks and self-service kiosks and by immigration authorities for border control. Other users include cruise lines, ferry companies, transport police, banks and other organizations that need to read passports, visas, ID cards or airline tickets.
Rochford Thompson employs approximately 30 people. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter, subject to customary closing conditions.
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Dell Plans to Acquire Silverback Technologies, Inc
Representatives of Dell announced Wednesday it has entered into an agreement to acquire privately-held SilverBack Technologies, Inc., a service delivery platform provider for remote monitoring and management of information technology infrastructure such as servers, storage, networks, desktops and notebooks. Dell plans to leverage SilverBack Technologies, Inc. into its operations as part of its ongoing strategy of IT simplification.
Terms were not disclosed and the purchase will not be final until all closing conditions are met. SilverBack Technologies, Inc. is based in Billerica, Mass.
