The Insider

Cost Estimating
By John Liang
December 12, 2014 at 9:00 PM

The Government Accountability Office in a report released today is giving the Missile Defense Agency a pat on the back for "improving its cost-estimating practices."

Among the things MDA has done that have created this GAO applause are issuing "an internal cost estimating handbook," doing "internal cost reviews," setting up "an independent cost assessment team" and getting independent cost estimates from the Pentagon's cost assessment and program evaluation office, the report states.

But GAO says MDA shouldn't just stop there:

However, continued evaluation over time by MDA's internal cost review and its independent cost assessment teams will provide more confidence in the agency's ability to identify areas where the cost estimate follows its guide and where correction is needed. Making these corrections will do the real work to improve the quality of the estimates.

GAO Report On MDA's Cost Estimating Practices
By
December 12, 2014 at 8:55 PM

The Dec. 12, 2014, Government Accountability Office report gives the Missile Defense Agency a pat on the back for "improving its cost-estimating practices."

GAO Report On MDA's Cost Estimating Practices

Open For Bids
By Sebastian Sprenger
December 12, 2014 at 8:29 PM

The Army today issued a long-awaited request for proposals for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program.

After three rounds of drafts, the final version formally kicks off the race between contractors Lockheed Martin, Oshkosh and AM General to begin producing an initial batch of 17,000 vehicles for the Army and Marine Corps.

"The final RFP ensures clarity in the program's request, incorporating updates primarily related to clarifying expectations about the delivery of specific requirements, while still allowing vendors to propose tradeable options in some areas," a service statement reads.

BAE To Buy Eclipse
By Marjorie Censer
December 12, 2014 at 6:15 PM

BAE Systems said this week it has agreed to buy Eclipse Electronic Systems for about $28 million.

The business, based in Texas, has about 90 employees and specializes in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance products and services for defense and intelligence agencies.

The deal is expected to close early next year.

Subcommittee Chairmen
By John Liang
December 11, 2014 at 5:34 PM

Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), who will be taking over the chairmanship of the House Armed Services Committee next year, today announced his subcommittee chairmen.

"Our subcommittees have an immense responsibility," he said in a statement. "We are fortunate to have a talented group of subcommittee chairmen. They share a wealth of policy and congressional expertise. All are up to the challenge of providing for the common defense, and meeting the high expectations of the U.S. taxpayer."

According to the statement, the new subcommittee chairmen -- all Republicans -- next year will be:

Intelligence, Emerging Threats and Capabilities -- Rep. Joe Wilson, South Carolina

Seapower and Projection Forces -- Rep. J. Randy Forbes, Virginia

Military Personnel -- Rep. Joe Heck, Nevada

Tactical Air and Land Forces -- Rep. Mike Turner, Ohio

Strategic Forces -- Rep. Mike Rogers, Alabama

Readiness -- Rep. Rob Wittman, Virginia

Oversight and Investigations -- Rep. Vicky Hartzler, Missouri

Senators Approve Authorization Bill
By John Liang
December 11, 2014 at 4:16 PM

The Senate this morning approved the fiscal year 2015 defense authorization conference bill by an 84-15 vote, according to a statement issued by Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-VT).

House lawmakers approved the compromise bill last week.

Today's Senate vote paves the way for signature by the president.

The final major piece of defense legislation on the docket before lawmakers break for the holidays is the FY-15 omnibus spending bill, the explanatory statement of which was issued today.

Senate Close To Approving Policy Bill
By John Liang
December 11, 2014 at 4:16 PM

The Senate this morning neared final approval of the fiscal year 2015 defense authorization conference bill by invoking cloture via an 85-14 vote to end debate on the legislation. A final vote is scheduled for tomorrow, paving the way for signature by the president.

House lawmakers approved the compromise bill last week.

The final major piece of defense legislation on the docket before lawmakers break for the holidays is the FY-15 omnibus spending bill, the explanatory statement of which was issued today.

Laser Beam
By John Liang
December 10, 2014 at 9:41 PM

The Navy today officially announced the use of a shipboard laser in the Arabian Gulf. Inside the Navy reported on this event back in October:

The deployment is part of a new overall strategy [Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan] Greenert has called for that involves better understanding of and leveraging of the electromagnetic spectrum for both offensive and defensive capabilities.

The primary threat being looked at is the swarm threat, either a swarm of small drones or fast-attack craft in the water. Laser weapons and high-power radio frequency weapons can help knock out the swarm more cheaply, saving more expensive ordnance for whatever larger threat may follow.

The cost of the fuel it takes to produce the laser beam is on the order of one dollar per engagement once the system is onboard the ship, Capt. Michael Ziv, railgun and laser program manager for NAVSEA, said during a March 13 interview.

Transition into a program of record will be sometime in the fiscal year 2018 timeframe, Ziv estimated, with initial operational capability (IOC) around FY-20 to FY-21.

Slotkin Delayed
By Tony Bertuca
December 9, 2014 at 5:15 PM

Despite approving other recent nominees, the Senate Armed Services Committee is delaying the confirmation of Elissa Slotkin, President Obama's nominee to serve as the Defense Department's next assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, according to a statement from the committee.

The committee did not report Slotkin's nomination to the Senate floor today, according to a statement from Tara Andringa, a committee spokeswoman.

"Her nomination was not considered," Andringa wrote in an email. "It is not the practice of the Senate Armed Services Committee to schedule a nomination for a vote when there are still open questions from members that have not been responded to."

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) grilled Slotkin during her Dec. 2 nomination hearing regarding her views of the U.S. “surge” in Iraq, while Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) attempted to get Slotkin to admit that Russia had invaded Ukraine when it annexed Crimea.

Among those nominations that did go to the floor were that of Adm. Harry Harris to be chief of U.S. Pacific Command; Robert Scher to be assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans, and capabilities; David Berteau to be assistant secretary of defense for logistics and materiel readiness; and Alissa Starzak to be the Army's general counsel.

SAIC Profits Grow
By Marjorie Censer
December 9, 2014 at 3:19 PM

Defense contractor Science Applications International Corp. reported today that its sales and profit grew in the most recent quarter.

The company said sales in the three-month period ended Oct. 31 jumped 2 percent to hit $993 million. Profit surged to $37 million, up about 68 percent from the same period a year earlier.

Tony Moraco, the contractor's chief executive, said in a call with analysts this morning that the company benefited from significant task order renewals. SAIC, he said, continues to see many new solicitations, but the government remains slow to make new awards.

"Even with contract scope and funding adjustments, we have not seen a decline in contract proposals," he said. But "the award cycle continues to be elongated."

UTC Names New CFO
By Marjorie Censer
December 9, 2014 at 3:18 PM

United Technologies Corp. announced today it has named Akhil Johri as its chief financial officer, beginning Jan. 1.

Johri joins from Pall Corp., but previously spent 26 years at UTC in several positions, including serving as chief financial officer for UTC's proposulsion and aerospace systems business.

Lockheed Promotes Rangel
By Marjorie Censer
December 9, 2014 at 3:00 PM

Robert Rangel has been named senior vice president for Washington operations at Lockheed Martin, starting Jan. 1, the company said Monday.

Rangel is set to succeed Greg Dahlberg, who has been named senior vice president for strategic enterprise initiatives and will retire in August 2015, according to the contractor.

Rangel serves as vice president of Lockheed Martin programs and global security policy. He previously served as special assistant to the defense secretary and as staff director of the House Armed Services Committee.

Northrop Names New CFO
By Marjorie Censer
December 8, 2014 at 9:46 PM

Northrop Grumman announced today that Kenneth Bedingfield will take over the chief financial officer position from James Palmer after the contractor files its 2014 annual report in February 2015.

Bedingfield, who serves as vice president for finance in Northrop's corporate office, came to the company in 2011. He has also served as vice president for business management and chief financial officer for Northrop's aerospace systems unit.

Before joining Northrop, he spent 17 years at KPMG.

In February, Palmer is set to continue as corporate vice president. He will retire in summer 2015, according to the company.

ATK, Orbital Merger Deal Advances
By Marjorie Censer
December 4, 2014 at 11:43 PM

Alliant Techsystems and Orbital Sciences said today that their proposed merger has been cleared by the Justice Department, moving it closer to final approval.

The agreement, under which ATK's aerospace and defense groups would merge with Orbital, still requires the approval of both company's stockholders at special meetings set for Jan. 27. The companies said today they expect the deal to be complete in February.

Wright Out
By John Liang
December 4, 2014 at 10:14 PM

The Pentagon's personnel chief is resigning, according to a Defense Department statement issued late this afternoon.

Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Jessica Wright, a retired Army National Guard major general and the former head of the Pennsylvania National Guard, has submitted her resignation letter to President Obama and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel "to spend time with her family and enjoy her retirement," according to DOD. She will remain at her post until March 31, 2015, the statement reads.

Wright began working as the personnel chief on Jan. 1, 2013, and the Senate confirmed her position on June 25 of this year, according to Wright's official Pentagon bio.