Europe remains important, even as the United States shifts its strategic focus to the Asia-Pacific region, the commander of U.S. Army Europe and 7th Army said during a Defense Writers Group breakfast in Washington, D.C., Oct. 23. “Europe remains one of our key strategic partners, Lt. Gen. Mark P. Hertling said. “If you take a…

Scholarships help defray cost of commercial pilot, aviation maintenance technician certificates   The deadline is fast approaching for the 18 scholarships that the Helicopter Foundation International will award to students in the helicopter industry. On June 1, HFI began accepting scholarship submissions. The foundation is now more than three quarters of the way to the…

Adm. Mark Ferguson, vice chief of naval operations, headlined the opening of the Office of Naval Research Naval Science and Technology Partnership Conference and ASNE Expo Oct. 22, 2012, and highlighted the importance of innovative science and technology programs being developed by the Navy. He also offered a revealing look at the potential future for…

The Department of Veterans Affairs recently announced the award of 18 grants totaling $47,462,135 to 15 states and one tribal government to establish new Veterans cemeteries and to expand or improve others. “VA is committed to helping state and tribal Veterans cemeteries meet national shrine standards and honor Veterans with dignified burials,” said Secretary of…

Orbital Sciences Corporation announced Oct. 24 that the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate has awarded the company a $32 million contract to develop an experimental maneuverable spacecraft platform that will be capable of hosting multiple payloads and operating in low- and geosynchronous orbit. The five-year contract began in the third quarter of…

The Army will continue to customize its mission objectives based on budget and force structure changes, a senior defense official said in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22 during the 2012 Association of the U.S. Army’s annual conference. Todd Harvey, director of force development for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, said a defense strategy drafted…

Lockheed Martin successfully tested its Joint Air-to-Ground Missile dual-mode seeker in high-speed captive flight tests, demonstrating its ability to track ground targets while flying at tactical speeds. The company-funded tests were conducted on a Sabreliner jet at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz. The data collected from the tests validated the maximum ranges of the seeker’s millimeter…

Early results from a recent U.S. Army test proved the Raytheon produced JLENS can provide target-quality data on swarming boats to a variety of defense command networks in real time. “JLENS gives commanders more time and distance to counter dangers like swarming boats because it can detect threats from hundreds of miles away and upload…

More than 100 volunteers celebrated National Public Lands Day with a native plant restoration event onboard Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Calif., Oct. 20. The event was made possible by a grant from the Department of Defense Legacy Program, intended to improve the wildlife habitat on base and involve the public. “It’s a chance for…

Raytheon has successfully demonstrated the enhanced capabilities of its new CSP HD turret, a high definition electro-optical and infrared version of its Common Sensor Payload. The initial CSP HD system flight test occurred on a U.S. Army Gray Eagle UAS (unmanned aircraft system) platform in September. Built upon the existing CSP system, CSP HD provides…