Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has successfully test fired its Falcon 9, clearing a milestone toward the inaugural flight of a privately developed spaceship to fly cargo, and possibly astronauts, into orbit, the company said. Saturday’s 3.5-second ‘static’ firing of the Falcon’s nine kerosene and liquid oxygen-burning motors took place on a refurbished oceanside launch pad […] More

This past week saw a number of government contracting executives on the move, highlighted by the nomination of former executive Robert Harding to head the TSA.  Greg Baroni of Attain and Shiv Krishnan of INDUS shared their thoughts on the appointment. Also making news was Jim Garrettson’s report that Admiral William Fallon was named CEO […] More

Since 2008, the government contracting community has seen several billion-dollar protests yield dividends.  Most recently, Boeing’s protest of the Air Force’s KC-X refueling tanker contract seems to have paid off, as Northrop Grumman and EADS have withdrawn their bid leaving Boeing the apparent winner of the contract. It has become much easier since May 2008 […] More

During a town-hall style meeting with Air Force servicemen yesterday, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates commented on the recently-updated RFP for the Air Force“™s next-generation refueling tanker, saying that the RFP was “fair“ and expressing disappointment that Northrop Grumman Corporation has withdrawn from competition for the $35 billion contract.  He also expressed concern over the […] More

Good news for Northrop Grumman this week: the firm landed a $100 million BPA to go along with a $775 million CANES award from the Navy. SAIC turned heads with a $625 million software deal from the Navy and added a BPA through subsidiary R.W. Beck for good measure. Paul Cofoni chimed in on CACI’s […] More

When Northrop Grumman pulled out of the $40 billion competition to build aerial refueling tankers for the Air Force, leaving Boeing as the likely winner, some analysts questioned whether White House acquisition reform efforts are pushing contractors too hard. Loren Thompson, a defense industry expert at the Lexington Institute, told the Washington Post “it shows […] More

The lagging deal values brought on by the banking crisis of 2008 continued into 2009, according to “Mission Control,” PricewaterhouseCoopers annual review of merger and acquisition activity in the global A&D industry. The report finds that while deal values have turned up of late, it’s been smaller deals that make up the biggest portion of […] More

Tom Anderson is the group president of the Wyle’s Information Systems Group. He has held senior positions at several key government information system providers including CSC, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman and Federal Data Corporation. Before coming on board at Wyle, Anderson was president of the Civil and Health Services Group in CSC’s North American Public Sector. […] More

2009 saw two protests of billion-dollar contracts, resulting in billions of potential revenue changing hands.  First: the numerous protests surrounding the design/build contract for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) which will replace the Humvee. Reuters calls the JLTV contract a $10 billion contract, with a total potential value of $70 billion. Most media outlets […] More

Leaders from major defense contracting firms met with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to discuss the importance of fulfilling contracts on time and on budget, while being assured the relationship between the federal government and defense contractors will continue to benefit both parties down the road. Attendees included executives from contracting powerhouses Northrup Grumman, Lockheed […] More

In just a few short weeks, 2010 begins “” the dawn of a new decade. The question now is: Who’ll be leading change in and around government contracting? We’ve got a few suggestions. For the second consecutive year, ExecutiveBiz brings you its annual list of Top 20 People to Watch. From government leaders to CEOs, policy […] More

Northrop Grumman has just announced that Chairman and Chief Executive Ronald Sugar, who’s been in his current role since 2003, will retire June 2010. Sugar will be replaced by Wesley Bush, 48, who joined the company in 1987 and currently serves as president and chief operating officer. Sugar is 61 years old, still below Northrop’s […] More