IN DOE
The Department of Energy’s Integrated Support Center-Oak Ridge has awarded Black Box Corporation $33.4 million for “operations, maintenance and upgrades to the Oak Ridge Federal Integrated Communications Network,” the company announced this week. The Pennsylvania-based company will provide integrated telecommunications support for sites that include Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Y-12 Security Complex, the statement says. The five-year contract consists of “a two-year base and three one-year options” and the company’s transition period began at the beginning of this month, according to the statement. Black Box has conducted similar work at various government locations for over 30 years, the statement says.
IN THE NAVY
Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Thursday announced the President has nominated Navy Rear Adm. Richard P. Breckenridge for appointment to the rank of vice admiral and for assignment as deputy commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Va. Breckenridge would replace Vice Adm. Nora W. Tyson, who has been temporary deputy commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command since November 2014. Breckenridge is leaving his current post as Director of the Navy’s Warfare Integration Division (OPNAV N91), a post he has held since January 2014. Breckenridge is a career submariner. Previous assignments include special assistant to the secretary of defense; special assistant to the director, Naval Reactors; chief of staff, Force Structure, Resources and Assessment Directorate (J8) on the Joint Staff; deputy director, Submarine Warfare Division (N87); and director, Undersea Warfare Division (N97) on the staff of the chief of naval operations.
IN NNSA
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has designated new leadership for its Weapons Program and Operations divisions, according to an announcement released last week. Robert Webster will become the Weapons Program’s Principal Associate Director in charge of LANL’s “primary mission, assuring the safety, security, and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear deterrent,” the notice says. He previously held the position of Associate Director for Weapons Physics, “served as the Science Advisor to the [National Nuclear Security Administration] Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs,” and “is highly regarded across the National Nuclear Security enterprise for his expertise in simulation, theory and experimental programs,” the notice says. Craig Leasure will take on the role of Principal Associate Director for Operations, putting him in charge of a $900 million operations budget, according to the announcement. Leasure, who has served in various leadership roles at LANL for 20 years, “will work to enable mission delivery through driving productivity and innovation in all aspects of operations, business systems, and information systems,” the notice says.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has named Randy Young the acting project manager for the Federal Facilities Agreement in Oak Ridge. The state’s former FFA chief Roger Petrie recently left TDEC to take a job with UCOR, the Department of Energy’s cleanup manager in Oak Ridge. TDEC spokeswoman Kelly Brockman said the agency will follow state guidelines for filling the position on a permanent basis. She said TDEC hopes to have that done by the end of the year.
IN INDUSTRY
Vencore this week announced that it was awarded a $10 million sole-source indefinite-quantity/indefinite-delivery (IDIQ) program with Sandia National Laboratory in Albuquerque to include mission-critical support for the nuclear detonation detection system, according to a Vencore press release. More broadly, the contract will support the development and testing of military-use applications, including radar, satellite and telemetry software. Vencore has provided Sandia “highly specialized services” for more than 30 years, according to the release. “This award solidifies our relationship and demonstrates the confidence we have earned in developing highly complex, unique solutions that solve the most difficult challenges our customers face,” said Vencore President and CEO Mac Curtis.
Boeing’s Board of Directors elected Dennis Muilenburg to be the company’s next CEO, a position he will assume on July 1, according to a Tuesday company press release. Muilenburg will succeed current CEO Jim McNerney, who has held the position for the past 10 years. The board will retain McNerney as its chairman and will add Muilenburg as a member. Muilenburg has served as Boeing president and COO since 2013, and has worked 30 years with the company. "Dennis is an extremely capable, experienced and respected leader with an immense passion for our company, our people, and our products and services," McNerney said. "As CEO, Dennis will bring a rich combination of management skills, customer focus, business and engineering acumen, a can-do spirit and the will to win. With a deep appreciation of our past accomplishments, and the energy and skill to drive those to come, he is well suited to lead our very talented Boeing team into its second century.”
