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refueling tanker, saying that the RFP was “fair“ and expressing disappointment that Northrop Grumman Corporation has withdrawn from competition for the $35 billion contract.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

As the need for increased cybersecurity is acknowledged, universities across the United States are looking to help fill the gap with well-trained graduates. Each of the following universities are certified National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security. Schools must meet a number of […] More

Lockheed Martin and other members of the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) Acoustic Commonality Team have received a Commander’s National Award from the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR).  The Commander’s National Award is presented in honor of technical, business and leadership excellence to NAVAIR’s teaming partners. Lockheed Martin’s award was in the research, development, test and evaluation […] More

Since the new administration took office in January of this year, an emerging trend of large government contractors acquiring cybersecurity firms has come to light. In case you missed it, here is a quick recap of top cyber firm acquisitions over the last few months.  April: Harris Corporation acquires Chantilly, Virginia-based Crucial Security, Inc. Crucial Security Inc. sells offensive […] More