Jeff has been involved in aerospace journalism since the mid 1990s. Prior to joining Aviation Week, Jeff served as managing editor of Launchspace magazine and the International Space Industry Report. He has been the editor and chief of Aviation Week's Aerospace Daily & Defense Report since 2007 and has been a regular contributor to Aviation Week magazine. He received his B.A. from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) wants to slow purchases of the U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship program, in accordance with recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommendations concerning the troubled effort. LCS is envisioned as comprising more than one third of the Navy’s future surface combatant fleet. The Navy plans to spend $40 billion on 52 LCS seaframes and 64 “plug and play” mission modules designed to be easily swapped on and off the ship, McCain said during a July 30 speech on the floor of the Senate.
Orbital Sciences Corp. reported a drop in revenue for the second quarter of this year — $333.1 million as compared to $371.3 million in the second quarter of 2012.
FOURTH ESTATE: Making good on promises to trim the “fourth estate” of offices, staff and services outside the three branches of the military, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has announced a 20% reduction in funding for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff and the Military Service Headquarters over fiscal 2015-19, amounting to an estimated $1.5-2 billion in savings.