Von Gardiner (see photos) has been named senior manager for Defense Department programs, and John Wallace VP-market management of Vienna, Va.-based NJVC. Gardiner was director of communications and information with USAF Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field, Fla., and Wallace has been sales director for capital markets and banking corporate accounts, as well as VP-financial services industry at Hewlett-Packard.

Dean Foley has become sales manager of the aerospace division of West Springfield, Mass.-based Atlantic Fasteners. He has more than 25 years of experience in aerospace metals distribution.

Sir Martin Sweeting, executive chairman of Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. and director of the Surrey Space Center at the University of Surrey, England, has received the International von Karman Wings Award for his contributions to aerospace, presented by the Aerospace Historical Society and the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

Careful succession planning is the hallmark of any well-managed company. Chris Kubasik may be taking over as CEO of Lockheed Martin at the beginning of 2013, but the company telegraphed his ascent back in 2010, when he was elevated to president. Louis Chenevert was eased into the position of chairman and CEO of United Technologies over several years. And General Dynamics has long been grooming Phebe Novakovic, who plans to succeed the retiring Jay Johnson as CEO on Jan. 1. Now Rockwell Collins has chosen an heir apparent for its longtime chairman and CEO, Clay Jones.

USAF Lt. Gen. (ret.) Dick Newton has been appointed executive VP of the Arlington, Va.-based Air Force Association, succeeding David T. “Buck” Buckwalter. Newton was assistant vice chief of staff/director of the air staff at USAF headquarters at the Pentagon.

AMAC Aerospace, the Swiss-based provider of corporate aviation maintenance and completion services, has been granted Boeing B747-400 and B747-8 series Part 145 approval with immediate effect. Base and line maintenance services on these types can now be provided to all AMAC customers, with no restrictions.

SR Technics, part of the Mubadala Aerospace MRO network, has signed a long-term contract with Emirates for line maintenance services out of Zurich airport.

Growth in the maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) demands for aero engines has led to UK-based Vacuum Brazing Consultants (VBC) electing to open a new global sales office in Dubai from November.