Daily Business Report — July 23, 2010
Norththrop Grumman Delivers Upgraded Navy Targets
Some of the oldest aerial targets in the U.S. Navy’s inventory can now be used for some of the service’s most advanced training missions thanks to the recent completion of an avionics upgrade of those targets by Northrop Grumman Corp. in San Diego. In late June, the company completed deliveries to the Navy of 25 BQM-34S Firebee aerial targets, each one retrofitted with modern avionics hardware from the service’s primary target system, the Northrop Grumman-produced BQM-74E. As part of this avionics upgrade program, Northrop Grumman also provided updated operational flight program software, training of Navy personnel and flight test support. “This upgrade program converted 25 targets that were nearly obsolete into state-of-the-art systems that will meet the Navy’s most critical training system requirements for many years to come,” said Hans Dall, program manager of the BQM-34 Targets Program. Aerial targets are unmanned, aircraft-like systems used by the military to simulate tactical threats posed by enemy aircraft and missiles. They are typically used to test and evaluate surface ship defensive weapons systems or to train pilots in air-to-air combat techniques.
ViaSat Receives $477 Million Army Order
ViaSat Inc. in Carlsbad has received a $477 million contract to supply the next generation of command and control satellite communication systems to the U.S. Army as part of the Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below Program. ViaSat also received the first delivery order for $37.7 million to fund deliveries of initial production terminals and other ground networking equipment. Armed forces use the tracking system to view regularly updated troop positions on screens in vehicles and aircraft to differentiate between friendly and enemy forces.
Caltrans Director Visits National City
Cindy McKim, director of the California Department of Transportation, will be the guest of honor at a welcoming reception Aug. 3 hosted by the Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce, the South County EDC and the Advancing Women in Transportation(WTS) group. It will be from 4 to 6 p.m. at Buster’s Beach House Restaurant, 740 Bay Marina Drive, in National City. McKim was appointed director of Caltrans in May. Her agency is responsible for the maintenance and operations of more than 50,000 lane miles of roadway in the state highway system, a budget of more than $13.8 billion and more than 22,000 employees. Admission to the reception is $10 form members of the hosting groups and $25 for all others. For more information, call the South County EDC at (619) 424-5143.
Affordable Housing Groups Celebrate
The San Diego region’s affordable housing industry will commemorate 20 years of service to low-income families, seniors and he disabled at a July 27 gathering at the Coronado Community Center, 1845 Strand Way. The event is from 5 to 7:30 p.m. The city of San Diego Housing Trust Fund and the San Diego Housing Federation were both formed in 1990 to launch affordable housing development in the region. The Trust Fund is a coalition of 40 organizations. Federation officials said that since the federation’s inception, the number of nonprofit developers working in the region has grown from six to 24 through support, mentoring, education, conferences, and timely communication among the members about development, financing and regulatory issues. A number of for-profit firms also specialize in affordable housing production in the county. Information and tickets for the event are available online at housingsandiego.org.
Scripps Health Announces Appointments
Scripps Health has announced the appointment of five corporate executives. Named vice presidents were Mikele Bunce (quality), Richard Neale (research operations) and Don Stanziano (marketing and communications). June Komar was named executive vice president of strategy and administration and Barbara Price was named senior vice president of business and service line development. Bunce is responsible for overseeing the system’s efforts to coordinate quality, patient safety, clinical risk management and regulatory readiness. Neale leads the business and administrative functions of Scripps research programs. Stanziano leads all marketing and communications functions across the Scripps system. Komar is responsible for Scripps Home Health Care Services and will have executive oversight for the administration of Scripps Health Administrative Services. Price leads Scripps service line development efforts across the organization and through the full range of patient care.
BluFi Direct Mortage Names Operations Manager
BluFi Direct Mortgage of San Diego, an online direct lender, has named Sandy Simmons as operations manager. Simmons has more than 25 years of experience in the mortgage industry. She worked for First Franklin Financial in San Diego for more than 16 years, holding a variety of positions, including vice president and wholesale regional operations manager.
Aria Homeowners Select Management Company
Aria Homeowners Association has selected MERIT to manage its 24-story high-rise in the Cortez Hill area of Downtown San Diego. Under the agreement, MERIT will assist the board of directors with daily operations. The management company will take over management responsibilities on Aug. 1.
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