DoD Rescinds COVID Vaccine Mandate
The Pentagon has dropped the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for troops.
It’s Finally Arrived — Election Day
Voters are casting their ballots in the 2020 presidential election in record numbers — here in Maryland, all across the country, and even in outer space.
Service Members Should Expect Pay Hike in January
Service members should see a 3% raise starting in January 2020 under the federal budget plan unveiled by the White House in February. The top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee said the worldwide pandemic won’t change the potential national security threats facing the military, and lawmakers need to make sure that defense funding isn’t compromised.
DoD End-of-Year Contracts Awarded
These are the end-of-year Department of Defense contracts awarded in the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC, region from December 23 through December 31, 2019.
Charges Dropped Against Fitzgerald CO
Former Fitzgerald CO Cmdr. Bryce Benson gives an 18-page rebuttal of charges against him regarding the 2017 collision with a merchant vessel that killed seven sailors. The Navy also dropped all criminal charges against Lt. Natalie Combs.
Cyber Summit Planned Sept. 18
Mark your calendar for The Patuxent Partnership’s one-day Cyber Summit on Tuesday, Sept. 18, at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center.
East Coast on Alert As Florence Nears
The mid-Atlantic region is expecting to be impacted by the approaching Hurricane Florence. Naval Station Norfolk is among the military installation taking precautions. The National Hurricane Center says it is still too early to predict the storm’s exact path.
Navy Eliminates Office Overseeing Warfare UAVs
The Navy’s Office of Unmanned Warfare Systems has been eliminated, and its functions are being distributed to other offices. OPNAV N99 was set up less than two years ago to oversee the warfare development of UAVs by then-NavSec Ray Mabus.
House Partisanship Draws Government Closer to Shut-down
Partisanship drags US toward closure while one Democrat and two Republican governors ally to strengthen their chances for an FAA drone designation..
Netherlands Says Yes to F-35; Insitu Wins $330M UAV Contract
Dutch government calls F-35 purchase “the most future-proof option.” Also, industry advances positive as DoD, law enforcement, and Congress weigh in on tragic events at Washington Navy Yard.
