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.
SOFTWARE AWARD: NASA has awarded an enterprise architecture services contract to Information Dynamics of Elyria, Ohio. The company will perform business and data architecture, technical architecture, architecture integration and governance, and compliance reporting services across the agency. The firm fixed-price blanket purchase agreement has a base period of two years, with three one-year options giving it a total potential value of $40 million.
PULSE PRODUCTION: Boeing is adopting a new “pulse line” process for satellite manufacturing at its El Segundo, Calif., plant that the company says will shorten the assembly process for its upcoming GPS IIF spacecraft for the U.S. Air Force. The length of the assembly line is being cut from 12,000 to 10,000 feet, and parts will be moved through 13 “pulse stations” featuring new work cells, tooling, and lean manufacturing processes. All of the company’s satellite production lines eventually will adopt the new process.
IED JAMMERS: ITT Corporation has received a follow-on contract from the U.S. Navy valued at up to $1 billion for its CREW 2.1 Vehicle Receiver Jammers (CVRJs), which are mounted on vehicles to prevent the detonation of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Under the contract, ITT will build and deliver up to 15,000 additional CREW 2.1 devices, plus spares and related equipment.
