Gates: No to direct military involvement in Syria Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he thinks direct U.S. intervention in Syria’s civil war – particularly direct military involvement – would be a mistake. Gates, who served both President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama, says he oversaw wars that began with quick regime change…

Army photograph Casket teams carry the engraved urns with the unclaimed cremated remains of the first service members to be placed in newly dedicated Columbarium 9 at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., May 9, 2013. Though the six veterans whose service era spanned the Civil War to Vietnam had no known relatives to see them rendered…

Honeywell has won a three-year, $72.4 million maintenance and training contract from the U.S. Army for Total Package Fielding Army Modernization Training to provide mission-capable vehicles and requisite training to safely operate and maintain heavy tactical vehicles. The award is a component of the ongoing support that Honeywell Technology Solutions Inc. has been providing to…

Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Djiboutiís minister of foreign affairs, agreed to establish a bilateral strategic and defense forum May 11 during a meeting in Djibouti City, Djibouti. ìThe forum will provide a formal and enduring structure for discussing and coordinating issues of mutual concern between the two nations,î according to…

Missile Defense Agency photograph A prototype of the Missile Defense Agencyís air-launched Extended Medium-range Ballistic Missile target, developed by Lockheed Martin, is released from a C-17 aircraft over Yuma Proving Ground in a successful test. Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency have successfully tested a prototype air-launched Extended Medium-range Ballistic Missile target at…

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company has announced that Roderick ìRodî McLean has been selected vice president and general manager of the F-16/F-22 Integrated Fighter Group. Michael Cawood has been selected to serve as vice president and deputy for IFG. Both appointments are effective immediately ìRodís most recent special assignment as vice president and program manager for…

NASA has unveiled plans for its 2013 Summer of Innovation project, which challenges middle school students across the United States to share in the excitement of scientific discovery and space exploration through unique, NASA-related science, technology, engineering and mathematics opportunities. Summer of Innovation leverages the expertise and reach of NASA’s 10 field centers, national academic…

U.S. military deaths in Afghanistan at 2,083 As of May 7, 2013, at least 2,083 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 1,725 military service members have died in Afghanistan as a result…

NASA astronaut Rick “CJ” Sturckow has left the agency and accepted a position with Virgin Galactic as pilot on their Commercial Flight Team. A veteran of four space shuttle flights, Sturckow served first as pilot on STS-88 in 1998 and STS-105 in 2001 and later as commander on STS-117 in 2007 and STS-128 in 2009….

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – Boeing will build four more 702MP satellites for Intelsat S.A., furthering its role as the initial manufacturer of Intelsatís new high-performance satellite fleet, Intelsat EpicNG. The 702MPs will deliver reliable, affordable and high-capacity data transmission that Intelsat customers can tailor to their needs. “Intelsat became our first customer for the 702MP…