Students of Joe Walker Middle School had the honor of a personal visit from Congressman Howard “Buck” McKeon, R-Calif., of the 25th United States Congressional District. The congressman visited 8th grade history students last week at the school to answer their questions about current issues. This visit came as the result of their teacher’s request…

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….

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 unique window of opportunity for humankind will open in January 2018, and the Inspiration Mars Foundation intends to seize it, announcing plans Feb. 27 to pursue a challenging manned mission to Mars and back. This historic 501-day journey around the Red Planet is made possible by a rare planetary alignment that occurs five years…

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…

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…

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,…

Air Force photograph Air Force photograph Members of an aviation engineer battalion construct a heavy bomber airfield near Eye, England, in 1943. As we close the books on February, Black History Month offers us the opportunity to recall the important role black Americans played in providing the worldwide system of bases during World War II…

Air Force photograph by Don Branum Retired Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager, right, talks to Cadet 1st Class Henry Egan after a National Character and Leadership Symposium presentation at the Air Force Academy Feb. 22, 2013. Yeager was the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound, having made the historic flight Oct. 14,…