GovConWire's Government Contracting News 11/1/2022

M&A Activity

Leidos Closes Acquisition of Cobham’s Australia-Based Special Mission Business; Roger Krone Quoted

Leidos (NYSE: LDOS) has completed its purchase of the special mission business of Cobham’s aviation services unit and expects the acquisition to expand the portfolio at Leidos’ Australian arm with the addition of search-and-rescue and airborne border surveillance services. The transaction was first announced in August and the acquired business will operate as part of

News

DOD Acquisition Chief William LaPlante Receives 2022 Wash100 Award From Executive Mosaic CEO Jim Garrettson

William LaPlante, undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment at the Department of Defense, was presented his 2022 Wash100 Award, the most prestigious award in all of government contracting (GovCon), by Executive Mosaic CEO Jim Garrettson during a summit hosted by Potomac Officers Club (POC). Executive Mosaic recognized William LaPlante as a first-time recipient of the Wash100 Award for his visionary leadership

Cybersecurity

CIA CIO La’Naia Jones: Data is ‘Next Big Milestone’ for US Intelligence

Across the globe, organizational leaders are facing a “deluge of data.” In the U.S. intelligence community, in particular, the ability to collect, analyze, understand and leverage this massive influx of data is the key to achieving information dominance and staying ahead of our close competitors — and our adversaries. La’Naia Jones, the Central Intelligence Agency’s

Contract Awards

Kongsberg Lands $1.5B Army Remote Weapon Station Supply Contract

Kongsberg’s defense and aerospace business unit will continue to equip the U.S. Army’s armored vehicles with a weapon system for target identification and engagement under a five-year, $1.5 billion contract. The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract covers the delivery of the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station, which is part of the Kongsberg’s Protector family of remote weapon stations,

M&A Activity

William Lynn: Trading on Stock Market to Give Leonardo DRS Opportunity to Explore Potential Acquisitions

William Lynn, CEO of Arlington, Virginia-based Leonardo DRS, said he believes trading on the stock market will give the company “much more strategic flexibility to build” and an opportunity to generate cash to fund future acquisitions, Breaking Defense reported Monday. In June, Leonardo DRS and Israel-based RADA Electronic Industries (Nasdaq: RADA) agreed to merge in

Executive Moves

Former Kratos Exec Michelle Alcathie Appointed HR VP at Austal’s US Subsidiary

Michelle Alcathie, former vice president of human resources at Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (Nasdaq: KTOS), has taken on the same position at Austal‘s U.S. ship manufacturing division. She will oversee the development and implementation of policies, programs and services related to Austal USA’s HR management and workforce development initiatives, the company said Monday. Rusty

Contract Awards

GE Books $1.1B Navy Aircraft Engine Support Contract

General Electric (NYSE: GE) has secured a five-year, $1.1 billion contract to replace, repair and provide program support for engine components of the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18 aircraft. GE will perform the work on 784 F414 aircraft engine parts under the indefinite-delivery, performance-based logistics requirements contract, the Defense Department said Monday. The contract does not contain options and

News

Q&A With Maximus VP & Defense Market Leader Joe Kehoe on Aligning Business With DOD Priorities

Joe Kehoe, vice president and defense market leader of Maximus, was featured in a recent Executive Spotlight interview published Monday. He discussed how Maximus has positioned its defense business in line with the Department of Defense’s priorities, the company’s efforts to ensure long-term success for its workforce and the most critical challenges as cybersecurity continues

Financial Reports

Report: AEI-Backed Firefly Aerospace Aims to Close $300M Funding Round by Year’s End

FireFly Aerospace, a portfolio company of private equity firm AE Industrial Partners, is aiming to raise $300 million in a new funding round by the end of the year. Bill Weber, CEO of FireFly, said the company would use the new capital to advance a medium-lift spacecraft through a development partnership with Northrop Grumman (NYSE: