Navy Christens 3rd Robot Ship
The latest robot ship to join the fleet is already outfitted with a government-furnished command-and-control system, a virtualized Aegis Combat System, an autonomous navigation system, and more. After a few more upgrades and testing, the USV Mariner heads to California to begin operations in FY23.
Marines Use Games to Recruit
Few events capture raw aggression of the Marines’ boot camp rite of passage as when two recruits try to clobber each other with padded poles as weapons, pugil sticks, to the cheers of onlookers. Now, with graphics out of Star Trek, the Marines are simulating the pugil stick experience as a recruiting tool,
Pax Alum 1st Native Woman to Fly Into Space
NAS Patuxent River alum Nicole Mann will be the first Native woman to fly into space this fall. She is scheduled to be aboard the SpaceX Crew-5 mission to go to the International Space Station.
Clutch Problems Ground CV-22 Ospreys
US Air Force Special Ops grounded its fleet of tiltrotor CV-22 Ospreys last week after discovering “hard clutch engagement” problems. The Marine Corps said it will not ground its MV-22 Osprey fleet over the problem.
Navy Offers $115K to Reenlist
The US Navy promises “life-altering” bonuses to lure veterans back to active duty, with a $50,000 signing bonus and up to $65,000 in student loan repayments. The Air Force’s bonus program seeks recruits into 22 active-duty career fields with bonuses ranging from $3,000 to $58,000 if they sign up soon.
FBI & DHS Warn of Threats to Law Enforcement
The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security are warning of a surge in threats to federal law enforcement after the search of former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence.
Pax River’s Somerville Makes History Again
CAPT Elizabeth Somerville became the US Navy’s first woman to command Naval Test Wing Atlantic at a change of command ceremony last week at NAS Pax River. Somerville relieved COL Richard Marigliano.
State Dept. Ups Reward for Info on Hackers
The US State Department is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identity and location of five hackers thought to be part of the Russia-backed Conti ransomware group. Another Russian hacking group is claiming an attack on Lockheed Martin that knocked the company’s websites offline.
$54B+ for US Semiconductors
Dubbed the Chips and Science Act, and with the president calling it a “once in a generation investment in America,” tens of billions of dollars have been released into the US economy to immediately stimulate the semiconductor industry and further into tech research and development.
Va. OKs Largest US Offshore Wind Farm
Dominion Energy’s 2.6-gigawatt Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind farm will be the largest offshore wind farm in the US consisting of 176 wind turbines to be constructed 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach.
