FROM THE DESK OF CLEARANCEJOBS.COM
1. Time to find a new boss? Editor Lindy Kyzer explains, “It’s January, the quintessential time to start a diet, quit smoking, check your horoscope and break-up with a boyfriend. It’s also a good time to make a career change. For cleared job-seekers, this is particularly true. The defense industry is finally on the rebound and many cleared contractors say their bottom lines are moving up. . . .”
2. Squirrel spotting. Also from Lindy Kyzer, “They might be secretive, but secret squirrels—those high-level defense industry professionals working across the federal government—leave a few hints of their true identity. We’ve cracked the nut—so to speak—on how to spot a secret squirrel’s resume.”
THE FORCE AND THE FIGHT
1. Houthi gains in Yemen, on verge of coup. Defense News contributor Doug Stanglin reports, “After a day of clashes that a Yemeni minister described as a coup attempt, government troops and Shiite rebels honored a shaky truce Monday in the capital of Sanaa, with little hope it would end a long-simmering conflict. . . . Monday’s fighting was centered on the palace and a military area south of it, marking the biggest challenge yet to President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi by the rebels, known as Houthis, who captured the capital in September.”
2. A-10 Warthog: ’tis a reason for the ‘treason.’ DoD Buzz’s Brendan McGarry reports, “A top U.S. Air Force general warned officers that praising the A-10 attack plane to lawmakers amounts to ‘treason,’ according to a news report. Maj. Gen. James Post, vice commander of Air Combat Command, was quoted as saying, ‘If anyone accuses me of saying this, I will deny it … anyone who is passing information to Congress about A-10 capabilities is committing treason’ . . . . The Air Force is seeking to retire its fleet of almost 300 of the Cold War-era gunships, known as the Thunderbolt II and nicknamed the Warthog, even as pilots fly the aircraft—whose snub-nose packs a 30mm cannon—in the Middle East to attack targets affiliated with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.”
3. Hezbollah, Israel on edge after attack. Christian Science Monitor’s Nicholas Blanford reports, “The Lebanon-Israel border district was on high alert Monday, expecting a retaliatory attack by Lebanon’s militant Shiite Hezbollah a day after an Israeli strike killed six members of the Iran-backed party along with an Iranian general in the Syrian Golan Heights. The raid was carried out by two drones, according to international security sources in Lebanon . . . . Lebanese troops and United Nations peacekeepers intensified patrols along the Lebanon-Israel border. In Israel, the security cabinet convened a meeting to discuss a potential deterioration of security along its northern border with Lebanon and Syria.” See also from The Long War Journal, “Senior Qods Force general killed in suspected Israeli airstrike.”
4. The Army’s way ahead—two views. Breaking Defense editors explain, “The regular Army and the National Guard are increasingly at loggerheads—not because they don’t respect each other, but because both want to protect their funding, their mission, and their people from zero-sum budget cuts. We asked the chiefs of the two leading advocacy groups involved to present their very different views for the way ahead.” Read AUSA’s Gen. Gordon Sullivan’s view.
5. Civil service reform. Federal Times’ Andy Medici reports, “Over the last few years federal employees have weathered attacks—some successful—on their pay, benefits and job protections. But as the new Congress kicks into gear, lawmakers want to take another crack at reforming the civil service. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, the new chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said he will look at reforming all aspects of the federal workforce, from hiring and firing authorities to pensions and pay.”
CONTRACT WATCH
1. Navy’s seeking improved IR for ISR. Defense Systems’ Mark Pomerleau reports, “With an eye toward improving that foundation, the Navy is seeking to upgrade some of its ISR platforms, specifically with regard to imaging. In a presolicitation initially posted in October and updated this week, the Navy said it wants to procure a Combatant Craft Forward Looking Infrared 2 (CCFLIR2) system with improvements in operational range, image fusion, net-centric data sharing, information assurance, laser target designation, and seamless craft and combat systems integration capabilities.” See the solicitation at FedBizzOpps.
2. Navy readies for MQ-4C Triton Broad Area Maritime Surveillance. Military Aerospace Editor John Keller reports, “U.S. Navy leaders are expanding the basing and infrastructure to support the Navy’s future fleet of Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Southern California. Officials of the Southwest Naval Facilities Engineering Command in San Diego awarded a $16.4 million contract Friday to expand Triton UAV support facilities at Point Mugu Naval Air Station . . . .”
TECH, PRIVACY, & SECRECY
1. Engine ‘eering—private sector leading the way. Aviation Week’s Guy Norris reports, “The coming year promises to see another hectic succession of first flights, initial runs and service debuts for the commercial engine business as overall production numbers continue to accelerate to unprecedented levels. For the military engine market, too many players continue to chase too few opportunities as the focus for most remains on international orders, sustainment and life extensions.”
2. Jobs and degrees in the unmanned sector. National Defense Magazine contributor Sarah Sicard reports, “By 2025, there could be more than 100,000 jobs in the unmanned aerial systems industry, according to a 2013 economic impact report performed by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. This, in addition to the manufacturing, maintenance, sales and operations of drones, is estimated to generate $82 billion by the same year. As interest in military and commercial usage of these systems continues to grow, so too will the need for experienced sensor operators and pilots.”
3. Biometric security across The Pond. The Telegraph’s Sophie Curtis reports, “Three-quarters of 16- to 24-year-olds are ready to ditch passwords in favour of biometric security measures such as facial recognition, fingerprint and retina scanning, research has revealed. In a survey of over 2,000 UK adults commissioned by Visa Europe, 76 per cent said they would feel comfortable making a payment using biometric security and 69 per cent believe this would make their lives faster and easier. Of the biometric payment methods available to consumers, 16- to 24-year-olds are most keen on verification via fingerprint scanning, with 70 per cent predicting that this will be the primary form of identification by 2020.”
4. Robot talk: big in Japan. AP’s Yuri Kageyama reports from Tokyo, “The scientist behind a new talking robot in Japan says people should stop expecting robots to understand them, and instead try to chime in with robotic conversations.”
POTOMAC TWO-STEP
1. POTUS SOTUA G2. “President Obama will deliver his penultimate State of the Union address [tonight], with the White House envisioning the annual speech as an opportunity to parlay promising economic news into momentum for a populist agenda. . . . The president is expected to unveil legislation that would overhaul the tax code, providing credits to middle class families funded by hikes on the rich and big banks. And Obama will highlight or propose plans to expand broadband Internet access, offer free community college tuition and provide guaranteed paid sick and family leave.” See also from AP, “Obama aims to influence 2016 debate.”
2. Cruz control. “Team Ted Cruz is taking shape, and the Senate first-termer’s presidential campaign could start before this spring. . . . In Iowa, Cruz is expected to face stiff competition in the struggle to be king conservative. The likely field includes former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who won the 2008 caucuses; former Sen. Rick Santorum, who won the 2012 caucuses; neurosurgeon Ben Carson; Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker; Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal; Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, and others. In New Hampshire, the top overall contenders could include 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney; former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush; New Hersey Gov. Chris Christie and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky.”
OPINIONS EVERYONE HAS
1. “ISIS (Daesh) vs Taliban: A Nightmare For Afghanistan.” Khaama Press contributor Dr. Florance Ebrahimi argues, “Islamic State push into the region could bring an infusion of guns and money, sparking brutal competition among local militants disenchanted with Mullah Omar’s silence and eager to prove themselves with escalating atrocities. This will only add to the suffering of the common people as seen in Iraq and Syria. So our Government and policy makers should not only focus their counter insurgency operations against Taliban but they should take this Islamic State threat also more seriously and formulate a clear cut strategy to deal with this menace of IS as well.”
2. “The real battlefield against jihadist armies.” Christian Science Monitor’s Editorial Board argues, “Both Islamic State and Boko Haram have been able to advance because of a vacuum in each country in maintaining a peaceful, inclusive democracy. The battlefield to watch is in their quality of governance and a broader and encompassing identity among their citizens.” See also from Rudaw, “Lessons from Africa to Kurdistan in fighting terrorism” and from Reuters, “Nigerians face killings, hunger in Boko Haram’s ‘state.’”
3. GOOD READ: “Joint Strike Fighter Debate Enters New Phase.” Aviation Week’s Bill Sweetman argues, “We have passed at great cost through much of the era of programmatic risk with the F-35. Now, we are looking more at operational risk, with strategic risk on the horizon.” See related from Jane’s Defense Weekly, “F-35 weapons certification on track for this year” and from Defense Aerospace, “UK to Spend £2.7 Billion [$4.1 billion US] for First F-35 Squadron.”
