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.
Retired Vice Adm. Joseph Dyer, executive vice president and general manager of iRobot, envisions the number of missions undertaken by the company's PackBot multiplying as robots become more important in day-to-day military operations. "I really look at PackBot as the F-18 of ground robots," said Dyer, the former head of Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and current chair of NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel. "That basic platform will take on many payloads, sensors, manipulators, what have you, over time."
The U.S. Air Force wrapped up its first space program managers conference in Los Angeles on Feb. 23, which brought together more than 160 space acquisition personnel to discuss their programs and share best practices. The event was spearheaded by Air Force Undersecretary Ronald Sega, who is leading the military space acquisition community in a "back to basics" reform approach aimed at curtailing the budget overruns and schedule slips that have plagued so many major space programs.
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a $148 million contract to begin work on the fourth satellite in the Wideband Gapfiller Satellite system, the company announced. The contract covers nonrecurring engineering and advanced procurement for the spacecraft, known as WGS F4, which will be based on Boeing's 702 satellite bus. Boeing also is building the first three satellites in the WGS constellation.
