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.
DDG AWARD: The U.S. Navy on Feb. 14 awarded Northrop Grumman a $1.4 billion cost plus incentive fee contract for the construction of a Zumwalt-class destroyer, DDG 1001, as well as major components for the DDG 1000. The award enables construction of DDG 1001 to begin in the fourth quarter of 2009, with an expected delivery date of 2014. The contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, a newly-formed company sector comprising the former Ship Systems and Newport News shipbuilding divisions.
In observance of Presidents’ Day, Aerospace Daily & Defense Report will not publish an issue on Monday, Feb. 18. The next issue will be dated Tuesday, Feb. 19.
NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover mission has run into problems with the development of its thermal protection system (TPS), along with other issues that could jeopardize its targeted September 2009 launch date. NASA Administrator Michael Griffin told House lawmakers in Washington Feb. 13 that while he still hopes the team can launch in 2009, the agency also is looking at options in 2010 or 2011.
