Who’s Firing:
Northrop Grumman Cuts Jobs in Southern California and Salt Lake City
Defense Contractor Northrop Grumman announced that defense cuts were forcing it to cut 200 positions in Woodland Hills and Salt Lake City. The lay-offs will happen by March. The Woodland Hills employees are mainly focused on avionics systems and advanced sensor technology.
Body-armor maker KDH Defense Systems will be laying off 280 personnel from its Eden, N.C. headquarters. In the announcement KDH noted that the layoffs were necessary due to defense contracts that end in January, but noted it would rehire some employees if it is able to secure new contracts with the law enforcement community.
Despite a strong push by defense contractor General Dynamics to get the Army to extend a Stryker upgrade program, the company announced plans to layoff approximately 98 employees at its Anniston, Ga. plant.
AM General, a Southbend, Ind. Based company, is laying off approximately 100 salaried employees, the latest in a series of layoffs, some of them temporary. AM General produces military and special purpose vehicles, and is seeing a decline in new business as a result of defense cuts.
Who’s Expanding:
North Carolina Cyber Company Expands Facility
RLM Communications, a cyber security, information technology and information assurance company, is expanding its Spring Lake, N.C. The expansion deal includes a requirement to begin construction on a new 20,000 square foot facility within a year, as well as creating at least ten jobs within the next five years.
Expansion plans on hold in Dayton due to sequestration
For many defense contractors ideas of expansion have been put on hold as they await a decision on sequestration and the defense budget. Even if sequestration is avoided, defense budgets will force many contractors to reevaluate their business processes, according to a recent defense industry forum hosted by the Dayton Business Journal.
Forget Budget Cuts, Focus on Acquisition Reform
As the defense industry deals with the reality of tight budgets many are arguing that more focus should be placed on acquisition reform. While previous efforts have emphasized the need for policy reform and procedural changes, many are arguing that the real focus should be on better personnel.
Who’s Moving:
Lockheed Martin is relocating 560 engineers, schedulers and administrative positions from Marietta, Ga. to Fort Worth, Texas. The announcement is a cot-saving effort as the company wraps up production of the F-22 Raptor. Employees will be offered a relocation package and must decide by Jan. 7 if they’re going to accept the move.
