Air Force photograph The B-17F “Memphis Belleís” engine primer knob from the co-pilotís side panel. Young Airman Ralph Barrett had no idea what that strange looking part he had found in Memphis was, but it looked interesting so he picked it up and decided to hang onto it. The part eventually made it to his…

U.S. military deaths in Afghanistan at 2,047 As of Feb. 26, 2013, at least 2,047 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan as a result of the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to an Associated Press count. At least 1,707 military service members have died in Afghanistan as a result…

The VR-12 Ka-band satellite antenna system from ViaSat Inc. has passed industry standard DO-160G testing that meets FAA and international regulations covering electrical and electronic equipment installed on commercial aircraft. This standard applies to virtually every aircraft, ranging from general aviation and business jets, helicopters, and commercial jets, to civilian aircraft modified for government use….

DOD photograph by PO1 Chad J. McNeeley Chuck Hagel is sworn into office as the 24th defense secretary by Michael L. Rhodes, the Defense Department’s director of administration and management, as Hagel’s wife, Lilibet, holds a Bible at the Pentagon, Feb. 27, 2013. Just before his private swearing-in ceremony as the 24th secretary of defense,…

AAR and its joint venture partner have completed the sale of 10 Boeing 737-400 aircraft to Malaysian Airline System Berhad, which the company announced in November 2012. The sale is consistent with the companyís stated goal to reduce its investment in aircraft leasing. AAR’s portfolio now includes four aircraft held in joint ventures and two…

Northrop Grumman has appointed Timothy Harrington as vice president of finance and controller for the company’s Linthicum-based Electronic Systems sector, effective immediately. In his new position, Harrington will be responsible for all sector financial functions, including financial planning, reporting and analysis, rates and budgets, government liaison, accounting, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, tax, international finance, program planning and…

The O’Gara Group, Inc., a global provider of security and defense products and services, announced Feb. 25 that it has completed the purchase of BAE Systems Commercial Armored Vehicles LLC and has renamed the business O’Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt Armoring Company LLC. This acquisition greatly expands the capacity of O’Gara’s Mobile Systems division, which currently designs,…

A living legacy to women who served in all branches of the U.S. military honors their service and sacrifice inside the Women’s Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. The museum in the memorial depicts the “duty, honor and pride” of the 2 million women who served to defend the United States, from the beginning of the…

Dr. Steven H. Walker, Deputy Director for DARPA, has received the 2013 Clarence L. “Kelly” Johnson Skunk Works Award from the Engineersí Council. Established in 1992, the annual award honors an individual with outstanding professional qualities and a top reputation for engineering accomplishments and leadership. Recipients embody the model of excellence Johnson established for future…

Aerojet announced March 1 , a that it hosted NASA and Lockheed Martin program leadership at its Redmond facility on Feb. 27 to recognize Aerojet contributions to the Orion program and to discuss progress on America’s next-generation spacecraft. More than 100 employees gathered in Redmond to hear NASA Orion Crew and Service Module Manager, Charlie…