Federal Investigation Finds Corporate Giants Received Billions in Small Business Funds, According to the American Small Business League

Defense News: PETALUMA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The following is a statement by the American Small Business League:

The Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA IG) has released the latest in a series of investigations, which found billions in federal small business contracts have been diverted to corporate giants. The SBA IG investigation found that the SBA itself awarded federal small business contracts to large businesses. (http://www.sba.gov/idc/groups/public/documents/sba_homepage/oig_report_10-08.pdf)

Report 10-08 uncovered that during fiscal year (FY) 2008 the SBA awarded more than 30 percent of its contracts to large businesses, and 92 percent of the contract actions contained blatant errors. Additionally, the report found that during FY 2009 the percentage of misleading data jumped to a record 97 percent.

Since 2003, more than a dozen federal investigations have found the SBA played a key role in the diversion of billions of dollars a month in federal small business contracts to large businesses around the world.

- In Report 5-14, the SBA IG found that the SBA itself awarded small business contracts to large corporations. The report stated, "The SBA awarded four of the six high dollar procurements, reported as small business procurements, to large companies at the time of the procurements." (http://www.asbl.com/documents/05-14.pdf)

- In Report 5-16, the SBA IG found that federal agencies had allowed large businesses to illegally receive federal small business contracts by making "false certifications," and "improper certifications." (http://www.asbl.com/documents/05-16.pdf)

- In Report 5-15, the SBA IG referred to the diversion of federal small business contracts to large corporations as, "One of the most important challenges facing the Small Business Administration and the entire Federal government today." (http://www.asbl.com/documents/05-15.pdf)

President Barack Obama recognized the magnitude of the problem and promised to stop it during the 2008 presidential campaign. (http://www.barackobama.com/2008/02/26/the_american_small_business_le.php)

Despite this series of federal investigations, the SBA has simultaneously claimed that the diversion of federal small business contracts to large corporations was a "myth" and the result of "miscoding." (http://www.asbl.com/documents/sbamythvfact.pdf) The SBA has never been able to explain why, for over a decade, 100 percent of the time the "miscoding" always reports awards to large businesses as small business awards.

"There have now been over two dozen investigations, over the last eight years, which have found a clear pattern of blatant fraud and abuse in SBA managed programs," American Small Business League President Lloyd Chapman said. "It is time for the FBI to step in and get to the bottom of this. To date, the Obama Administration has done nothing to halt these abuses."

Contact:

American Small Business League
Christopher Gunn, (707) 789-9575
Communications Director
cgunn@asbl.com

Northrop Grumman Awarded U.S. Army Joint Fires Training Contract

Defense News: HERNDON, Va., March 25, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC - News), as part of a team, has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Army to provide training development, instruction and analysis to artillery observers and electronic warfare specialists at the Joint Fires Center of Excellence (COE) in Fort Sill, Okla.

Northrop Grumman Technical Services is a subcontractor to Potawatomi Training LLC, Oklahoma City, for the program. The Joint Fires COE contract is an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract with a potential value of more than $250 million over five years.

The Joint Fires COE provides training to all the military services emphasizing planning, coordinating and executing fires support in a joint operations environment. Northrop Grumman will provide training, training development and training analysis for joint fires courses at the COE.

"The Northrop Grumman team is mission-driven and dedicated to the success of the Joint Fires Center of Excellence," said Stephen Mitchell, program manager for the contract. "Northrop Grumman's performance culture ensures that we incorporate the latest proven tactics, techniques and procedures into the planning and execution of world-class training to our warfighters."

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.

Contact:

Jeff Lacap
Northrop Grumman Technical Services
(410) 931-6641
jeff.lacap@ngc.com
Leah Smith
Northrop Grumman Technical Services
(703) 713-4616
leah.smith@ngc.com

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Secretary Michael Chertoff Joins BAE Systems, Inc. Board of Directors

Defense News: ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Honorable Michael Chertoff has joined the BAE Systems, Inc. Board of Directors. As a member of the Board, Secretary Chertoff will provide oversight and strategic counsel, further ensuring that BAE Systems, Inc. is well positioned to meet current and future customer requirements in the defense and security markets.

“We are delighted to have Secretary Chertoff join our Board,” said General Tony Zinni (USMC ret.), Chairman of the BAE Systems, Inc. Board of Directors. “Secretary Chertoff is uniquely well positioned to support the Company as it continues to grow in the global security market. His years of experience in the security domain will be of tremendous value to our businesses as we help our government and private sector customers develop cyber security solutions, combat terrorism and organized crime, and strengthen border and transportation security.”

“I am honored to be joining General Zinni and the other outstanding members of the Board in supporting BAE Systems, Inc.’s strategic efforts to address 21st century security challenges,” Secretary Chertoff said.

Michael Chertoff served as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from 2005 to 2009, where he led efforts to advance our cyber security and to block would-be terrorists from crossing U.S. borders, working closely with global allies. Previously, Secretary Chertoff served as a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third District.

Secretary Chertoff is a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School. From 1979-1980, he served as a clerk to Supreme Court Justice William Brennan, Jr.

Secretary Chertoff joins a distinguished group of outside directors of BAE Systems, Inc. They are:

• General Anthony C. Zinni (USMC, ret.)
  Chairman of the Board
  Former Commander of U.S. Central Command
• Chairman Lee H. Hamilton
  Former Member of Congress, Chairman of the House Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committees, and Co-Chair of the 9/11 Commission
• Richard J. Kerr
  Former Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
• Lt. General Kenneth A. Minihan (USAF, ret.)
  Former Director National Security Agency
• Admiral Robert Natter (USN, ret.)
  Former Commander of Fleet Forces & Atlantic Command
• General J.H. Binford Peay, III (USA, ret.)
  Former Vice Chief of Staff U.S. Army and Commander of U.S. Central Command
• Dr. William Schneider, Jr.
  Former Undersecretary of State for Security, Science & Technology

The company’s Inside Directors are:

• Ian King, Chief Executive, BAE Systems plc
• George Rose, Group Finance Director, BAE Systems plc

The company’s Officers/Directors are:

• Linda Hudson, President and CEO, BAE Systems, Inc.
• Sheila Cheston, Executive Vice President, BAE Systems, Inc.
• Robert J. Fitch, Senior Vice President Government Relations, BAE Systems, Inc.

About BAE Systems

BAE Systems is a global defense, security and aerospace company with approximately 107,000 employees worldwide. The Company delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. In 2009 BAE Systems reported sales of £22.4 billion (US $36.2 billion).

Contact:

Scott Fazekas, BAE Systems
Tel: +1 301-838-6957 Mobile: +1 240-328-3603
scott.fazekas@baesystems.com
www.baesystems.com

Research and Markets: Thermal Conductivity 29/Thermal Expansion 17: Proceedings of the 29th International Thermal Conductivity Conference

Defense News: DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/530eb0/thermal_conductivi) has announced the addition of the "Thermal Conductivity 29/Thermal Expansion 17: Proceedings of the 29th International Thermal Conductivity Conference and 17th International Thermal Expansion Symposium" report to their offering.

This is the 2008 volume in the ITCC/ITES book series on thermal conductivity, devoted to thermal conductivity performance in many types of engineered materials. The book comprises 52 original papers specially selected and edited from the ITCC 29/ITES17 conference, held in June 2007 at the University of Alabama, with support from the Southern Research Institute. New areas covered in this book include thermoelectrics, nuclear and aerospace materials, including the James Webb Space Telescope.

• Selected and fully refereed presentations on thermal conductivity
• Thermal conductivity for composites, nanomaterials, ceramics, metals and more
• Sensors, measurement, and modeling
• Insulation, bulk materials, plastics, particles, thin films, nuclear, and aerogels

Key Topics Covered:

CHAPTER 1 - PLENARY SESSION

CHAPTER 2 - BUILDING INSULATION MATERIALS

CHAPTER 3 - ALLOYS, CERAMICS AND COMPOSITES

CHAPTER 4 - PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS

CHAPTER 5 - FILMS AND COATINGS

CHAPTER 6 - FIBROUS AND AEROGEL MATERIALS

CHAPTER 7 - FLUID CHAPTER 8 - EXPERIMENTAL MATERIALS

CHAPTER 9 - THERMAL MODELING

CHAPTER 10 - THERMAL EMISSIVITY

CHAPTER 11 - THERMAL EXPANSION

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/530eb0/thermal_conductivi

Contact:

Research and Markets
Laura Wood, Senior Manager
press@researchandmarkets.com
U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907
Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Clear Align to Present Innovative Technologies at SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing Conference

Defense News: PHILADELPHIA, March 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael G. Bush and Dean P. Kossives of Clear Align, an electro-optic systems company focused on custom imaging, fiber optic and laser sensors for military and aerospace applications, will present papers documenting two novel technologies during the SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing Conference in Orlando, Florida, April 5-9, 2010.

"Inventors Bush and Kossives have done cutting-edge research and development in the quest to find creative and cost-effective solutions to protect our soldiers in the most adverse conditions," said Angelique X. Irvin, President and CEO of Clear Align. "Lock-In Imager™ and Miniature Soldier Sensor Platform (M-SSP)™ are the results of their efforts; both technologies are too early in development for concrete adaptation to current threats, however the solutions they present show great promise for future adaptation to threat detection."

As part of the Imaging and Sensing track at the SPIE Conference, Michael G. Bush will present proof of concept data on a novel low-cost multipurpose imaging architecture that enables high-resolution lock-in imaging. His presentation details the development of Clear Align's Lock-In Imager™, an ultra-high-sensitivity, high-resolution camera platform that is ideal for search and rescue, identification of friend or foe, and covert surveillance. One of the greatest benefits of this technology is that it functions by leveraging the capabilities of standard commercial off the shelf components, providing a lower cost, previously-qualified solution. Bush will present during the Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) Systems and Applications VII on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 from 8:20 AM - 8:40 AM during Conference 7668 in the World Center Marriot Crystal Ballroom L.

As part of the Emerging Technologies track of the conference, Dean P. Kossives will present a newly-patented, novel approach for chemical detection called Miniature Solider Sensor Platform™ (M-SSP). His presentation will detail the M-SSP™ concept, including the identification of improvised explosive device precursors. The technology, although very early in development with high developmental risks, promises a miniaturized device (wristwatch-sized) that delivers real-time, short-range, tactical analysis of chemical threats to soldiers and civilians. Dean Kossives will present during the Photonic Microdevices/Microstructures for Sensing II on Thursday, April 8, 2010 during Conference 7682 from 2:50 PM - 3:10 PM in the World Center Marriot Crystal Ballroom K.

About SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing Conference & Exhibition

SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing is the leading event for scientists and engineers from industry, military, government agencies, and academia throughout the world. The event will assemble key professionals from universities, laboratories, government agencies and commercial organizations to exchange latest innovations. The exhibition will showcase a wide array of infrared, sensing and imaging technologies and contemporary hardware and software. For more information, visit http://spie.org/x6765.xml.

About Clear Align

Clear Align designs, prototypes and manufactures custom electro-optic products used to gather intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information for defense, homeland security, and aerospace applications. Clear Align builds custom imaging solutions spanning the ultraviolet, visible and infrared portions of the optical spectrum with a specialization in night-vision systems. Clear Align's custom fiber optic solutions include optical integration for targeting, laser development, and remote sensing with expertise in low-phase-noise laser development. Clear Align is a certified WOSB, 8(a) SDB, and SB. More information about the company is available at www.clearalign.com.

Government Training Inc. Launches Center for Intelligence Best Practices

Government Training Inc.

Defense News: WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Government Training Inc. today announced the launch of the Center for Intelligence Best Practices and named Kim Lewis as Director for Intelligence Training.

“The goal of the Center is to provide law enforcement, regional and state fusion centers, and federal, state and local homeland security agencies with best practices developed over many years at the national intelligence level,” said Clara Boothe, CEO of Government Training.

“There has been an increasing use of highly sensitive data, reports and national intelligence by these non-intelligence agencies at federal, state and local level. There is clearly a need to ensure that best practices are adopted and to provide ongoing professional development training,” she added.

“This training encompasses the whole gamut of strategic security which relies on using the latest information from all available sources to determine the most appropriate response to a situation whether it be an act of terrorism, gang organizing and violence, financial crimes, organized crime or a local crime spree,” said Ms. Boothe.

“One of the greatest problems facing decision makers at federal, state and local level is the sheer volume of information that is now available and how to filter and interpret it correctly. The Center will focus on best practices for utilizing and storing this intelligence and how best to act on it,” she said.

Director for Intelligence Training Kim Lewis will provide the experienced leadership needed to identify topics, instructors and training goals in line with the objectives of the Center for Intelligence Best Practices. Ms. Lewis brings with her a distinguished career in national intelligence operations and the development of associated training programs for federal, state and local users.

The Center will “link our physical security training to our intelligence training in order to provide training across the entire threat spectrum – from collecting and reporting intelligence, assessing the threat, monitoring the situation, and responding and defending,” said Ms. Boothe.

Initial courses include:

• Introduction to Strategic Intelligence Analysis
• Open Source Intelligence
• Intelligence Analysis I and II
• Writing Intelligence Reports
• CARVER Threat/Risk Assessments
• Protective Service Details
• Surveillance & Counter Surveillance Techniques
• Tools of Terror: IEDs and Home Made Explosives

Government Training Inc. is a woman-owned, small business with offices in Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., San Diego, Tampa and Orlando.

Contact:

Government Training Inc.
Don Dickson, 301-455-5633

Lockheed Martin and ATK Announce 2nd Generation Athena Launch Vehicles

Athena to fill Critical Niche in Affordable Rockets - Available for Launch in 2012

Defense News: DENVER, March 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT - News) and Alliant Techsystems (NYSE:ATK -News), have entered into a strategic teaming agreement to offer launch services utilizing upgraded and modernized Athena rockets. These vehicles, based on the flight-proven Athena I and II, are designed to provide reliable access to space for small payloads to a wide range of orbits. Lockheed Martin will provide mission management, payload integration, and launch operations, and ATK will provide integrated vehicle propulsion, launch vehicle structures, booster integration and launch site operations.

The two-stage Athena Ic and three-stage Athena IIc launch vehicles incorporate the new CASTOR® 30 upper stage motor and upgrades to electronic systems. Athena is available for launches beginning in 2012, with a payload lift capability that supports a variety of customer mission requirements including NASA, theDepartment of Defense and other space markets.

"The Athena launch vehicle family offers low-risk, reliable launch services at an affordable price," said John Karas, Vice President and General Manager, Human Space Flight, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "Athena combines both companies' heritage and expertise in launch systems, and makes key system upgrades to provide an enhanced product, skill set and performance capabilities to meet market needs."

Athena can carry payloads up to 3,775 pounds (1,712 kg) to low Earth orbit as well as missions to the moon. Utilizing a large 92-inch diameter payload fairing, the vehicle accommodates a wide range of satellites and missions.

The rockets can be launched from multiple locations including Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Kodiak Launch Complex, Vandenberg Air Force Base and NASA Wallops Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport.

"The new Athena family will fill an industry need for lift capability in this payload range," said Scott Lehr, Vice President and General Manager, Strategic and Commercial Systems, ATK Aerospace Systems. "There is a growing need for responsive launch capabilities to serve the Department of Defense, NASA and other customer requirements."

First-generation Athena I and II rockets became operational in 1995 and have flown seven times. Athena II launched the Lunar Prospector to the moon in 1998 and remains the only commercially developed launch vehicle to fly a lunar mission.

These second-generation Athena launch vehicles use the same flight-proven ATK CASTOR 120® for Stage I and Stage II. The modernized launch vehicles benefit from the latest technology of a newly-developed and ground-tested CASTOR® 30 for their upper stage, and Lockheed Martin's modernized electronic systems. Both solid rocket motors are in production and are being used on other launch vehicles in the industry.

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2009 sales of $45.2 billion. News and information about Lockheed Martin can be found at www.lockheedmartin.com

About ATK

ATK is a premier aerospace and defense company with more than 18,000 employees in 22 states, Puerto Rico and internationally, and revenues of approximately $4.8 billion. News and information can be found on the Internet at www.atk.com.

Media Contacts
Joan Underwood, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, office (303) 971-7398; mobile (303) 594-7073;
e-mail joan.b.underwood@lmco.com
George Torres, ATK, office (801) 251-2819: mobile (801) 699-2637;
e-mail george.torres@atk.com Related Headlines Lockheed Martin and ATK Announce 2nd Generation Athena Launch Vehicles - PR Newswire Denmark delays fighter jet purchase by 2-4 years - AP Aerospace group spent $160K lobbying in 4Q - AP Lockheed Martin and Itron Provide Demand Response-Ready Smart Grid Solution For Utilities - PR Newswire Lockheed Martin Demonstrates Distribution Management-Enabled Demand Response Solution for Utilities - PR Newswire

ViaSat Awarded $21.5 Million MIDS-LVT Lot 11 Delivery Order

Defense News: CARLSBAD, Calif., March 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ViaSat (Nasdaq:VSAT - News) has received a delivery order valued at approximately $21.5 million for Multifunctional Information Distribution System – Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVT) from the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), MIDS Program Office (MPO) in San Diego, California. MIDS-LVT terminals provide greater situational awareness in combat for U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and for U.S. defense partners by gathering information into a digital view of the battlefield. The secure, high capacity, jam resistant wireless (non-satellite) system connects users with both digital data and digital voice communications. Delivery of the Lot 11 MIDS-LVT units is expected to begin in March of next year and continue through February of 2012.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091216/VIASATLOGO)

The MIDS-LVT Lot 11 order includes LVT(1) airborne and LVT(2) ground-based terminals under a new five year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. This new award includes LVT(1) terminal variants for F/A-18, P-3, E-2D aircraft and MH-60R/S helicopters, along with terminals for the BACN program and otherU.S. Navy applications. The MIDS-LVT Lot 11 order also includes LVT(2) terminal variants for various U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and Joint Forces applications as well as terminals for Germany, Australia, and Korea.

About ViaSat (www.viasat.com)

ViaSat produces innovative satellite and other digital communication products that enable fast, secure, and efficient communications to virtually any location. The company provides networking products and managed network services for enterprise IP applications; is a key supplier of network-centric military communications and encryption technologies and products to the U.S. government; is the primary technology partner for gateway and customer-premises equipment for consumer and mobile satellite broadband services; and owns WildBlue, the premier Ka-band satellite broadband service provider. ViaSat also offers design capabilities and a number of complementary products including monolithic microwave integrated circuits and modules, DVB-S2 satellite communication components, video data link systems, data acceleration and compression, and mobile satellite antenna systems. ViaSat is based in Carlsbad, CA, has major locations in Duluth, GA, Germantown, MD (Comsat Laboratories), and Greenwood Village, CO (WildBlue), along with additional field offices and service centers worldwide.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements that refer to expected deliveries. ViaSat wishes to caution you that there are some factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include: contractual problems, product defects, manufacturing issues or delays, regulatory issues, technologies not being developed according to anticipated schedules, or that do not perform according to expectations; and increased competition and other factors affecting the telecommunications industry generally. In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in ViaSat's SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including ViaSat's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.

Comsat Labs and Comsat Laboratories are trade names of ViaSat, Inc. Neither Comsat Labs nor Comsat Laboratories is affiliated with COMSAT Corporation. "Comsat" is a registered trademark of COMSAT Corporation. All additional products are trademarks of their respective owners.

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• VIASAT INC Files SEC form 8-K, Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet - EDGAR Online
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