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Gazing into the future
The waterways and shorelines that make up Hampton Roads harbor a historic reputation as ideal hosts for commerce, trade, shipbuilding, military installations and government research. Its beaches and historical sites attract millions of visitors, and the region is home to farms, businesses and universities. We know the past and present, but what about the future […]
Propelling forward
A massive building is rising on the northernmost point of Newport News Shipbuilding on the James River, physical evidence of the shipyard’s ambitious plan to build the Navy‘s next generation of Virginia-class submarines as well as components for a dozen Columbia-class boats. Not as visible, but just as important as the new Multi-Class Submarine Production […]
Gray promoted from Navy Region Mid-Atlantic commander
After less than a year as the Norfolk-based commander of the Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Christopher “Scotty” Gray is being promoted to lead the Navy Installations Command in Washington, D.C., pending U.S. Senate confirmation. Gray, who will be promoted to vice admiral after approval by the Senate, was relieved by his successor, […]
Port cranes: Cause for concern?
The Port of Virginia may have as many as 30 Chinese ship-to-shore cranes that have come under scrutiny from Pentagon officials over national security concerns. Five more cranes are scheduled for delivery next year. Manufactured by state-owned company Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co., known as ZPMC, the cranes are a possible security risk, according to […]
Civilian life
Paul Valentine is on a winding career path. After leaving the Army more than a decade ago, he got his commercial driver’s license at Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave. He was taking classes to try to get an engineering degree as well but quit to take full-time work at trucking companies after his […]
Coming home
As a kid growing up in Virginia Beach, “Scotty” Gray saw military aircraft so routinely that he wanted to become a pilot. Today he is U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Christopher (still “Scotty”) Gray, commander of Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, where he oversees an area that stretches from Wisconsin to North Carolina and includes 14 installations — […]
Full speed ahead
No other region of Virginia moves the entire commonwealth forward like Hampton Roads. Sure, Dee Cee is about technology, government contracting and national politics. And Richmond is about politics that are generally more local. Hampton Roads, on the other hand, is about the military and commerce. The ports, the railways, interstates, tunnels, trucks and air […]
Next stop — civilian life
“About every 15 minutes,” Shawn Avery’s phone at the Hampton Roads Workforce Council rings with an employer calling to find skilled workers to fill vacancies, he says. Avery is president and CEO of the council, which oversees federally funded workforce development programs and links employers and workers. In the present tight labor market, he says, […]
BAE Systems lands $173M contract for Marine combat vehicles
Arlington-based BAE Systems has received a $173 million contract modification for delivery of additional amphibious combat vehicles (ACVs) to the Marine Corps, the Department of Defense announced Friday. The modification, which exercises options to procure and produce 36 ACVs, brings the total value of the contract to more than $1.7 billion, according to the announcement. […]
ODU and IALR to launch manufacturing engineering tech degree
Old Dominion University will launch Virginia’s first four-year degree in manufacturing engineering technology (MfgET) at its Norfolk campus and a satellite campus at The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) in Danville, the university announced Thursday. “This partnership reinforces Old Dominion University’s commitment to workforce development and leadership in the mar[...]
Leonardo DRS names new CTO
Arlington-based Leonardo DRS Inc., a subsidiary of Italian defense contractor Leonardo SpA, has hired a new chief technology officer. Dr. Philip Perconti will lead corporate research and development strategy, accelerate innovation and expand partnerships that result in integrated technology solutions yielding enhanced warfighting capabilities. Perconti most recently served as the Army chief scient[...]
HII taps Northrop Grumman exec as new VP
Huntington Ingalls Industries announced Wednesday it has hired Mike Aldinger as vice president of the live, virtual, constructive (LVC) training solutions department in its technical solutions division. Aldinger joins Newport News-based HII after 22 years at Northrop Grumman Mission Systems. HII is the United States’ largest military shipbuilding company and includes Newport News Shipbuildin[...]
