United States Central Command

Investing in the Electric Aircraft Revolution

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

According to research from MarketsandMarket s, the Electric Aircraft Market is set to achieve unprecedented growth, projecting a remarkable worth of $37.2 billion by 2030.

Key Points:

According to research from MarketsandMarket s, the Electric Aircraft Market is set to achieve unprecedented growth, projecting a remarkable worth of $37.2 billion by 2030.
KULR Technology Group, Inc. (NYSE American: KULR), betting on the electrification of everything, will play a key role in the safety of the electric aircraft future.
From startups like Eviation with their Alice aircraft to major players like Airbus and their E-Fan X project, the race is on to develop viable electric planes.
Some smaller electric aircraft are already taking to the skies for test flights ."

Joby Widens USAF Partnership, Will Deliver Two eVTOL Aircraft to MacDill AFB

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Personnel will test and train with the aircraft based at MacDill AFB, on base and in the surrounding area.

Key Points:

Personnel will test and train with the aircraft based at MacDill AFB, on base and in the surrounding area.
Joby delivered its first aircraft to Edwards Air Force Base in California in September 2023, with a second aircraft expected to be placed on the base this year.
In 2020, Joby became the first eVTOL developer to receive military airworthiness approval for its pre-production prototype aircraft.
Joby will continue to train USAF pilots and maintainers, and other government partners, on this new category of electric aircraft.

Rear Admiral Alan Reyes Joins Academy Securities’ Advisory Board and Geopolitical Intelligence Group

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Academy Securities, a registered broker-dealer, certified Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE), and Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), today announced the addition of Rear Admiral Alan Reyes to its Advisory Board and Geopolitical Intelligence Group.

Key Points:

Academy Securities, a registered broker-dealer, certified Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE), and Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), today announced the addition of Rear Admiral Alan Reyes to its Advisory Board and Geopolitical Intelligence Group.
View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240319551477/en/
Rear Admiral Alan Reyes (Photo: Business Wire)
Rear Admiral Alan Reyes retired from the United States Navy after 32 years of combined service in the active and reserve forces.
“Academy is honored to welcome Admiral Reyes to the firm’s Advisory Board,” stated Academy’s Chairman and CEO Chance Mims, “He is a skilled advisor with impressive experience who will make a great addition to our team.”
Admiral Reyes commented on joining Academy Securities: “I am excited to join the impressive Academy Securities team.
“With his unique background and expertise at the intersection of geopolitical risk and global logistics, Admiral Reyes will add substantial value to our Geopolitical Intelligence Group and enhance Academy’s offering to our clients and partners,” stated Academy’s President Phil McConkey.

The Inner Circle Acknowledges, Patricia Engelhardt as a Top Pinnacle Platinum Professional

Retrieved on:

Monday, February 5, 2024

DELAND, Fla., Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Patricia Engelhardt is acknowledged as a Top Pinnacle Platinum Professional for her contributions to the field of Industrial and Organizational Psychology and the Military.

Key Points:

DELAND, Fla., Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Patricia Engelhardt is acknowledged as a Top Pinnacle Platinum Professional for her contributions to the field of Industrial and Organizational Psychology and the Military.
A highly regarded expert in multiple fields, Dr. Engelhardt has a comprehensive skill set encompassing expertise in mental healthcare, leadership competency, and business development.
She knows what the lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion feels like in daily living and in the pursuit of a professional career.
Aside from her professional pursuits, Dr. Engelhardt enjoys hiking, kayaking, swimming, meditation, music, dance, theatre, reading and writing.

US raids in Iraq and Syria: How retaliatory airstrikes affect network of Iran-backed militias

Retrieved on:

Monday, February 5, 2024

Intelligence, Pressure, Attack, Weapon, Hezbollah, Quds Force, Axis of Resistance, Hamas, United States Central Command, Axis, Command, Death, Islam, Risk, Aggression, Bomber, Popular Mobilization Forces, IRGC, Drug

U.S. bombers struck dozens of sites across Iraq and Syria on Feb. 2, 2024, to avenge a drone attack that killed three American service members just days earlier.

Key Points:

U.S. bombers struck dozens of sites across Iraq and Syria on Feb. 2, 2024, to avenge a drone attack that killed three American service members just days earlier.
The retaliatory strikes were the first following a deadly assault on a U.S. base in Jordan that U.S. officials blamed on Iranian-backed militias.
Sites associated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were among those hit by American bombs.
The Conversation U.S. turned to American University’s Sara Harmouch and Nakissa Jahanbani at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center – both experts on Iran’s relationship with its network of proxies – to explain what the U.S. strikes hoped to achieve and what could happen next.

Who was targeted in the U.S. retaliatory strikes?

This term, Islamic Resistance in Iraq, does not refer to a single group per se.
Rather, it encompasses an umbrella organization that has, since around 2020, integrated various Iran-backed militias in the region.
Iran officially denied any involvement in the Jan. 28 drone strike.
In recent months, parts of this network of Iran-backed militias have claimed responsibility for more than 150 attacks on bases housing U.S. forces in Syria and Iraq.
As such, the U.S. retaliatory strikes targeted over 85 targets across Iraq and Syria, all associated with Iranian-supported groups and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

What do we know about the network targeted in the strike?

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq acted as a collective term for pro-Tehran Iraqi militias, allowing them to launch attacks under a single banner.
Over time, it evolved to become a front for Iran-backed militias operating beyond Iraq, including those in Syria and Lebanon.
Today, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq operates as a cohesive force rather than as a singular entity.
Operating under this one banner of Islamic Resistance, these militias effectively conceal the identities of the actual perpetrators in their operations.

What are the strikes expected to accomplish?

The strikes targeted key assets such as command and control centers, intelligence facilities, storage locations for rockets, missiles, drones and logistics and munitions facilities.
The goal is not only to degrade their current operational infrastructure but also to deter future attacks.
The action followed the discovery of an Iranian-made drone used in an attack on Jordan.

How will this affect Iran’s strategy in the region?

It is possible that the cessation was the result of pressure from Tehran, though this has been met with skepticism in Washington.
The U.S. airstrikes – combined with sanctions and charges – serve as a multifaceted strategy to deter further aggression from Iran and its proxies.
The comprehensive and broad nature of the U.S. response signals a robust stance against threats to regional stability and U.S. interests.
The aim is to isolate Iran diplomatically and economically, while squeezing its support for regional proxies.
Yet the impact and repercussions of such sanctions on Iran and the broader regional dynamics is complex.
Editor’s note: Parts of this story were included in an article published on Jan. 29, 2024.

The views, conclusions, and recommendations in this article are the authors’ own and do not reflect those of the Department of Defense or the U.S. government. Sara Harmouch does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Retired Army General Joseph Votel Joins AeroVironment’s Board of Directors

Retrieved on:

Monday, December 4, 2023

AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV) today announced that General Joseph L. Votel recently joined its Board of Directors, following his appointment as a Class III director at a meeting of AeroVironment’s Board on November 29.

Key Points:

AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV) today announced that General Joseph L. Votel recently joined its Board of Directors, following his appointment as a Class III director at a meeting of AeroVironment’s Board on November 29.
The addition of General Votel brings the Board’s current composition to eight individuals, seven of whom (including Votel) are independent.
Following his retirement from military service, General Votel served as President & CEO of Business Executives for National Security (BENS), remains a member of the Defense Business Board and Council on Foreign Relations, and has advised multiple companies and venture funds.
General Votel graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1980 and earned master’s degrees from the U.S. Army Command and Staff College and the Army War College.

Former Pentagon Official and Navy Admiral Victorino “Vic” G. Mercado Appointed as a Special Advisor to the Board of Ocean Power Technologies

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Alternative Energy, Energy, Maritime, Transport, Other Energy, Maritime Operations Centre, Government, Mercado, Strategic planning, National Association, United States Central Command, Chief of staff, NACD, Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Department of Defense Strategy for Operating in Cyberspace, NYSE, Unitary state, Dan Sullivan (U.S. senator), Assistant, N81, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Organizational structure of the United States Department of Defense, Corporation, Peter H. Daly (U.S. Navy), Corporate governance, Rear, Destroyer squadron, DDG, USS DECATUR, USS, Ocean Power Technologies, Growth, Posture, Partner, Joint, Public Interest Declassification Board, National Association of Corporate Directors, Navy, Border Service of the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Rear admiral, Carrier Strike Group 8, Senate, Management, Policy, Defense

Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (“OPT” or the “Company”) (NYSE American: OPTT), a leader in innovative and cost-effective low-carbon marine power, data, and service solutions, today announced that Rear Admiral Victorino “Vic” G. Mercado (Retired) has been retained as a special advisor to the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”).

Key Points:

Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (“OPT” or the “Company”) (NYSE American: OPTT), a leader in innovative and cost-effective low-carbon marine power, data, and service solutions, today announced that Rear Admiral Victorino “Vic” G. Mercado (Retired) has been retained as a special advisor to the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”).
“We are pleased that Admiral Mercado has agreed to share his expertise with us as a special advisor and consultant to the Board,” said Terence Cryan, Chairman of the Board.
From January until July 2019, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Plans and Posture.
Prior to serving in the U.S. Department of Defense as a senior civilian, Mercado served 35 years in the U.S. Navy and retired as a two-star Rear Admiral.

Babel Street's Maj. Gen. Quantock (Ret.) Joins the Prestigious AFCEA Intelligence Committee

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

AFCEA, All-source intelligence, EVP, Intelligence, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Government, Organization, Collection, RET, United States Central Command

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Babel Street, the world's leading technology partner for advanced identity intelligence and risk operations, today is proud to announce that Maj. Gen. Mark Quantock (Ret.), EVP of Strategic Accounts, has been appointed to the AFCEA Intelligence Committee. AFCEA International is a professional association with over 30,000 members worldwide for individuals engaged in defense, intelligence, security, and all related technology disciplines. Its membership comprises military, government, industry, academic organizations, and individuals worldwide.

Key Points:

), EVP of Strategic Accounts, has been appointed to the AFCEA Intelligence Committee.
The AFCEA Intelligence Committee is pivotal in fostering idea exchanges and spearheading initiatives that build bridges between government and industry.
joining the AFCEA Intelligence Committee showcases the essential synergy between military intelligence and modern technology in today's dynamic security landscape," remarked Lewis Shepherd, Chair of the AFCEA Intelligence Committee.
Quantock joins the AFCEA Intelligence Committee alongside Babel Street Board of Advisors member Lt. Gen.

Akima Subsidiary Awarded Contract to Support Ninth Air Force

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Joint Data Network, Duncan Green (priest), Operational definition, United States Army Futures Command, Defence Science and Technology Group, Ninth Air Force, Intelligence, United States Central Command, Air force, Small business, General Dynamics Mission Systems, Management, Operation, A3

HERNDON, Va., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Akima today announced that its subsidiary, RiverTech, has been awarded a contract to provide critical operational planning, systems engineering, global force management, training, and integration services to the Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) Director of Operations, A3, Operational Planning Teams, in direct support of U.S. Central Command requirements. The award has a 5-year period of performance and a total contract value of approximately $11 million if all options are exercised.

Key Points:

RiverTech will provide critical operational planning in support of U.S. Central Command requirements
HERNDON, Va., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Akima today announced that its subsidiary, RiverTech, has been awarded a contract to provide critical operational planning, systems engineering, global force management, training, and integration services to the Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) Director of Operations, A3, Operational Planning Teams, in direct support of U.S. Central Command requirements.
The award has a 5-year period of performance and a total contract value of approximately $11 million if all options are exercised.
"We are honored to partner with the Ninth Air Force to assist them with planning and operational functions as part of their larger, integrated campaign to deter and defeat regional aggressors and global competitors."
The contract was awarded under the OASIS Small Business Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Pool 1 contract.

China's ties to Cuba and growing presence in Latin America raise security concerns in Washington, even as leaders try to ease tensions

Retrieved on:

Friday, July 7, 2023

There is a push by leaders in Washington and Beijing to get U.S.-China relations back on track.

Key Points:

There is a push by leaders in Washington and Beijing to get U.S.-China relations back on track.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with President Xi Jinping in China in June 2023 to reopen the lines of communication between the countries.
And Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is spending four days in China, beginning July 6, 2023, to try to stabilize U.S.-China economic ties.
But work to steady security issues between the two countries, a longtime point of contention, may have a longer horizon.
Such moves reflect efforts by China to grow its influence in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Too close for comfort

China’s planned spy base and military training facility in Cuba would be located near the U.S. naval station in Guantanamo Bay, home to several U.S. military facilities like U.S. Southern Command in Miami and U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command both in Tampa, along with their various component commands.
The facility would allow Chinese intelligence officers to better intercept sensitive military information transmitted between U.S. military commands, track senior U.S. diplomatic and military leaders as they travel across the region, monitor U.S. naval and commercial ship movement and gain details about U.S. military exercises, conferences and training with various Latin American and Caribbean countries.
The facility could also bolster China’s use of telecommunications networks to spy on U.S. citizens.
U.S. officials have long suspected Chinese telecommunications companies Huawei and ZTE of setting up servers and network equipment around the world, including in Cuba, to help the Chinese government collect sensitive information about local government leaders and private citizens.
Chinese companies have also either built or operate 12 space research facilities in South America that can be used for legitimate space research.
But U.S. and other officials have voiced concern that these same sites could be used to spy on U.S. satellites and intercept sensitive information.

Illegal Chinese police

Chinese police forces are a growing presence as well.
In April 2023, the FBI arrested two Chinese citizens for allegedly operating an illegal police station in New York City’s Chinatown.
According to The New York Times, the men allegedly harassed Chinese dissidents living in the U.S. China allegedly operates 100 of these police outposts around the world.
In fact, the U.S. has banned some of these companies out of concern they spy for the Chinese government.

Decades of growing influence

Meanwhile, a major source of conflict between the U.S. and China is the supply of the drug fentanyl.
In April 2023, the Biden administration declared fentanyl an emerging threat to U.S. national security.
The fentanyl global supply chain often ends on U.S. streets, but it begins in various pharmaceutical company labs in China.
The China-Cuba connection is just one example of how the Chinese government and Chinese companies have been expanding their influence on America’s doorstep for decades.