Roman Catholic groups on Thursday embarked on a two-week campaign of prayer vigils, rallies and other events to draw attention to what they consider government attacks on religious freedom.
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Monthly Archives: June 2012
Freedom Communications Announces Close of Sale of Texas Publishing Assets
IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Freedom Communications announced today that the sale of the print and online publishing assets of its Texas properties, The Brownsville Herald, El Nuevo Heraldo, The Harlingen Valley Morning Star, The Monitor in McAllen, The Odessa American and The Mid Valley Town Crier in Weslaco, to AIM Media Texas, LLC has closed.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. In conjunction with the transaction, AIM previously announced that all Freedom employees at these publications will continue in their respective jobs and positions with the new company.
This transaction presented an excellent opportunity to provide our shareholders with enhanced value for their investments while also ensuring that the communities involved continue to receive the great service they have been accustomed to receiving from Freedom, said Mark McEachen, Freedom Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP acted as legal advisors to Freedom.
About Freedom Communications
Freedom Communications, headquartered in Irvine, Calif., is a national privately owned information and entertainment company of print publications and interactive businesses. The Companys print portfolio includes approximately 100 publications, including 15 daily newspapers, weekly newspapers, plus ancillary magazines and other specialty publications. The Companys news, information and entertainment websites and mobile applications complement its print properties. For more information, visit http://www.freedom.com.
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Freedom Communications Announces Close of Sale of Texas Publishing Assets
Lawmakers reject eugenics compensation
RALEIGH, N.C., June 21 (UPI) -- North Carolina's failure to approve a plan to compensate victims of forced sterilization has devastated survivors, the head of a victims' organization said.
Republicans in the North Carolina Senate turned down a House plan Wednesday to give $50,000 to each surviving victim of the state's decades-long sterilization program, The (Raleigh, N.C.) News & Observer reported.
The plan hit a dead end during negotiations between the House and the Senate.
Executive Director Charmaine Fuller Cooper of the N.C. Justice for Sterilization Victims Foundation said the Legislature's failure to approve a compensation plan has "really devastated victims."
"Even though they are 80, 90 years old they remember it vividly. They had to reopen old wounds," she said. "They're angry and they have justification in how they feel."
North Carolina began one of the most active eugenics programs in the country in 1929 when a state board ordered sterilization for poor, feeble-minded, mentally diseased or people likely to have disabled children.
The program continued until 1974.
Cooper's foundation estimates 1,350 to 1,800 people were victims of the program
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No money for eugenics compensation in budget, local victim not giving up hope
Submitted by Marissa Jasek on Wed, 06/20/2012 - 10:42pm.READ MORE: No money for eugenics compensation in budget, local victim not giving up hope
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) -- Compensation for victims of the North Carolina eugenics program was cut from next year's budget. Victims of forced sterilization were supposed to get $50,000 each after a panel approved a $10 million compensation package.
A few weeks ago, the first serious proposal to compensate eugenics victims seemed like a done deal. Wednesday, victims learned the Senate chose leave the money out of next year's budget.
In the end House Speaker Thom Tillis simply could not convince his Republican colleagues in the Senate to sign off on the plan to compensate eugenics victims.
"I said if eugenics didn't occur it would be a personal failure, and at this point it is, and it's something Ill continue to work on," Tillis said.
"There was no ability to develop consensus on one path forward with reference to eugenics," Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger said. "So for the sake of the budget deal, the $10 million compensation package that was decades in the making was sacrificed."
Brunswick County resident Elnora Mills was sterilized at age 16 and found out two years later while trying to get pregnant. She was devastated Wednesday after hearing the news, but was too sick to go on camera. She now suffers from thyroid cancer.
"I wanted a boy and a girl," Mills said last week during an interview. "Now I don't have that, and I don't have no grandchildren. Just two little baby dogs and my husband."
The NC Justice for Sterilization Victims Foundation has verified 146 living victims. Many, like Mills, are sick and aging fast. According to the Associated Press, the foundation said Wednesday that they must end its work because its funding expires June 30. Legislators did not include any money in the state budget for the foundation.
WWAY reached out to Sen. Thom Goolsby (R-9th District) for comment. He did not return our calls. Mills says though she is not surprised this happened, she is not giving up hope.
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No money for eugenics compensation in budget, local victim not giving up hope
Eugenics victims must wait even longer for compensation
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Eugenics victims say they will keep fighting for compensation
CHARLOTTE, N.C.
Victims of North Carolinas forced sterilization program say they will fight to get compensation that will not be coming from the state legislature.
"They knew. They knew they was wrong, said Janice Black, who was still a teenager when she had the operation.
It took almost 40 years and the encouragement of her friend and legal guardian, Sadie Long, for Black to come forward as the first person in Charlotte say she had been in the eugenics program that may have sterilized thousands of people.
"She didn't realize what she was signing because no one explained to her what the legal papers were," Long said Thursday.
Gov. Bev Perdue had proposed paying victims a lump sum of $50,000 in compensation for their suffering. When lawmakers voted Wednesday on a budget that left that compensation package out, Long was disappointed.
"There are a lot of things in life you cannot change, and a lot of things we can't do anything about and I understand that. But when you have the power to make some differences, you should -- to show the people that you care enough about them," she said.
The vote also took away funding for the state agency that has helped victims of the sterilization program.
The agency has identified 161 victims and said there could be thousands more, but without money, the agency has stopped taking information from new potential victims.
But Black and Long are not giving up.
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Eugenics victims say they will keep fighting for compensation
Eugenics Q&A
Q: Why did it happen?
A: Supporters of eugenics believed that "defective" humans could be weeded out of the population. Scientists discredited the assumption by the 1930s, and most states ceased their programs.
The North Carolina program, however, expanded in the 1950s and 1960s, partly because out-of-state doctors, professors and other eugenics supporters were seeking a testing ground for a new national campaign they hoped would sterilize millions of Americans. Specifically, a Princeton, N.J.-based group known as Birthright formed in the mid-1940s.
The group sought states with low numbers of Catholics, according to documents in the Social Welfare History Archives at the University of Minnesota. The Catholic church historically opposed eugenics and any artificial means of birth control.
One of the leading promoters of the North Carolina eugenics program was Dr. Clarence Gamble, a Boston doctor and heir to the Proctor & Gamble fortune. He helped form Birthright and was the driving force behind the national campaign.
Gamble convinced his brother Cecil Gamble to help, and in December 1944, the Gamble Family Trust made a $10,000 donation to Birthright, which would be the equivalent to about $125,000 today.
Clarence Gamble didn't have a role in Proctor & Gamble, and while Cecil Gamble was on the board, the company said last year the donation was personal and in no way reflected the company's opinion.
Birthright later changed its name to the Human Betterment Association. They had a national office in New York and loosely affiliated chapters in North Carolina, Georgia, Iowa, Arkansas and Texas. Some of the chapters were short-lived, but the one in North Carolina operated for almost 30 years.
Q: How was the eugenics campaign promoted?
A: Gamble hired a New York City advertising firm to help sell the campaign. Leading journalists, along with some doctors and professors, voiced support, too.
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North Carolina Eugenics Compensation Program Shelved
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With Malibu Eco, Chevrolet Earns Top Safety Pick Awards
With Malibu Eco, Chevrolet Earns Top Safety Pick Awards
The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco earned top safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco is the first and only all-new 2013 midsize car to receive double honors for safety, Chevy officials say, including a 5- Star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a 2012 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Both are the highest ratings possible.
The IIHS tests vehicles to determine how well they protect occupants in front and side crash tests, in rollovers via a roof strength test, and simulated rear impacts to evaluate seat and head restraints for protection against neck injuries. The Malibu Eco achieved a good score in all four types of tests performed and has standard electronic stability control, which the IIHS requires for Top Safety Pick designation.
In achieving the 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score, the Malibu Eco was tested under NHTSAs revised New Car Assessment Program. The overall score is based on frontal and side crash tests in addition to evaluation for rollover resistance. Under the rating system, performances in three test segments are combined mathematically into an Overall Vehicle Score.
With the Malibu Eco, Chevrolet has earned seven 2012 Top Safety Pick awards, said IIHS President Adrian Lund. The IIHS and NHTSA results demonstrate GMs commitment to state-ofthe art crash protection.
We are now seeing the results from our commitment to design the highest-rated vehicles in the world in safety performance, said Gay Kent, GM executive director of Vehicle Safety.
The all-new Malibu is designed and engineered to help drivers avoid crashes, while protecting occupants if a crash occurs.
The Malibu Eco is the sixth Chevy model within the 2012 model year to achieve a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score for safety. The others include the Camaro Coupe, Sonic, Cruze, Volt and Traverse. The 2012 Malibu is also is a Top Safety Pick.
The Malibu Eco with fuel-saving eAssist technology is Chevrolets most fuel-efficient midsize car ever. It is on sale now in the United States with a base price including destination of $25,995.
Chevrolet is scheduled to roll out an all-new fuel-efficient 2.5L Ecotec engine on the full Malibu lineup this summer. A new turbo model will be available this fall.
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Hernon Manufacturing Introduces Eco-Friendly and U.S. Military Approved Ammunition Sealants
Environmentally friendly sealants, including Hernon's External Ammunition Sealant which meet and exceed the leak tests of the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy, as well as other products and process equipment for the ammunition industry are now featured on the companies specialized website.Sanford, FL (PRWEB) June 21, 2012 Hernon Manufacturing, the innovator in adhesives, sealants and dispensing ...
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Hernon Manufacturing Introduces Eco-Friendly and U.S. Military Approved Ammunition Sealants
CPUC Approves SDG&E's East County (ECO) Substation Project
SAN DIEGO, June 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today approved San Diego Gas & Electric's (SDG&E) East County (ECO) Substation Project, a development that involves two electric substations along SDG&E's Southwest Powerlink transmission line that will help boost electric reliability in the region and accommodate the delivery of wind, solar and geothermal power to utility customers.
In total, theapproximately $435 million venture will include a new 58-acre,500/230/138 kV substation in Jacumba, Calif., and the reconstruction and modernization of an existing fifty year old substation in the town of Boulevard, Calif.The two electric substations will be interconnected by a 14-mile 138-Kilovolt transmission line.Construction is expected to begin later this year.
"The backbone of our electric system is the transmission grid and adding the ECO substation will substantively improve reliability for east county San Diego residents and facilitate the delivery of more clean, renewable energy to our customers throughout the region," said Michael R. Niggli, SDG&E's president and chief operating officer.
There are approximately 1,700 megawatts of proposed renewable energy projects proposed to interconnect at the ECO and Boulevard substations. The initial build out of the ECO substation project will accommodate a total of approximately 1,100 MW of fully deliverable renewable resources.
The electric infrastructure project will improve reliability in Jacumba, Boulevard, parts of the Campo and La Posta Indian Reservations, Manzanita, Bankhead Springs and Live Oak Springs. It will create between 100 and 200 construction jobs over two years.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 850,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The utility's area spans 4,100 square miles.SDG&E is committed to creating ways to help customers save energy and money every day.SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego.
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Hot weather draws crowds to beaches
Many arrived at the state's beaches early to find a place to park and stake out their spot on the beach. They also wanted to soak up some sun before conditions became oppressive with temperatures soaring into the 90s and muggy air creating a heat index of up to 100.
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Cheap Fun: Seattle beaches and wading pools
Should you notice David Hasselhoff kicking up sand in slow-motion this weekend possibly sporting a parka over skintight red trunks try not to panic. Starting Saturday, lifeguards all around Seattle will take to their posts as beach season officially opens along with Seattle Parks wading pools (cue the disclaimer) weather permitting.
Lifeguards will be posted noon-7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays through Aug. 26 at East Green Lake, Magnuson, Madrona and Pritchard Beach parks and through Sept. 3 at Matthews, Madison, Mount Baker, Seward and West Green Lake beaches.
As for wading pools, pick a warm day, any day, and head for Green Lake, Lincoln, Magnuson, Van Asselt or Volunteer park, or three days a week at 10 other locations. (For details, check the hotline, updated daily, at 206-684-7796.)
More information: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/beaches.asp and http://www.seattle.gov/parks/Aquatics/wadingpools.htm.
Sandy Dunham, Seattle Times features staff
Originally posted here:
NE beaches fill as people try to stay cool
GLOUCESTER, Mass. (WHDH) -- Nevermind heading to the beach, everybody is already there. Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester was packed before noon with die-hards like Michelle Pike, who knows the drill.
I worked last night. Got all my beach stuff prepared. Packed it all up. Got up at 6:30 this morning. Got the car ready. Left at 8:30. Off we came," said Michelle Pike. "I didn't think it would be any hotter here than it is at home. We do not have central air so I thought this was a good choice."
Traffic was backed up for a good two miles before 10:00 this morning.
We are regulars and it always fills up. But this is the weekday," a woman said.
The parking lot wasclosed to the public before 10:30. It was good for the city but that is about it.
Lifeguards were also busy dealing with lost children and keeping their eyes on swimmers.
"They are busy. I've seen them running up and down. But they all have their walkie talkies. They're all in communication," said Carole McNair.
There is only so much room. There is about a thousand spaces. You put about 400-450 non-residents. The rest are for saved for residents. Its a crap shoot, said Mark Habeland, who works for the city of Gloucester collecting money at the entrance to the beach.
But families familiar with this always have a plan b for staying cool.
Were going to try Wingaersheek we figured, or were gonna go to the hotel and rent a room for the day. Were with the car in front of us to try to rent a room for the day. We will work it out somehow, a woman said.
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Beaches open for swimming
By STACY LANGLEY Tribune Staff Writer
HURON COUNTY With an exceptionally warm kick-off to the summer season underway, officials from the Huron County Health Department report all local beaches are open and within safe limits for swimming.
The results issued for all 13 area beaches tested have revealed they are well below the 300 E. coli colonies per 100 ml of water.
There has only been one beach closure since testing started five weeks ago. That closure was at Port Crescent State Park Day-Use during the third week of testing.
The summer beach testing program is funding by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
This weeks test results are:
Bird Creek County Park 2.2894
Caseville County Park 7.5863
Harbor Beach City Park 3.4028
Jenks County Park 5.6367
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What to make of the Chinese space effort? | Bad Astronomy
[I've been holding off writing about the Chinese space launch due to prior commitments and also because I've been trying to gather my thoughts about it. I'm still not sure where I fall, so here are some of my feelings. They are, of course, subject to change upon better arguments and evidence. I'll note also not everyone thinks crewed exploration of space is important. To be clear: those people are wrong, and I have a list of blog posts explaining why.]
Last week, the Chinese launched a crew of three into space. Their destination: the Chinese space station Tiangong-1, which for now consists of a single orbiting module about 10 meters long by 3 across. The Shenzou 9 capsule carrying the astronauts (sometimes called taikonauts) successfully docked with the station on Monday the first time the Chinese have docked a crewed capsule, making them only the third nation to have achieved this feat (after Russia and the US). Video from the event was posted on YouTube:
Thats pretty amazing the docking was done by remote control from Earth, and appears to have gone pretty well. The crew is now aboard Tiangong-1, getting it set up. Much like the International Space Station which was launched one piece at a time and assembled in orbit, its clear China plans on expanding Tiangong-1. Tiangong-1 is the first in a series of planned space stations by China.
Ive been reading about Chinas space efforts, and I have to say I am uneasy by a lot of it. My first impulse, as Ive written before, is that space is open to everyone, and the more the merrier. Ive also been vocal about the need to avoid a "Space Race" mentality: us versus them doing something first. The problem with that is that it isnt sustainable. Once you win (or lose) youre done. I think its the main reason Apollo scaled so far back after even the first landing, and why we didnt continue on to build a moonbase, or at least the 2001-style orbiting space station.
On the other hand, we also need to avoid the been-there-done-that mentality as well. For one thing, the NASA that went to the Moon is literally no longer the NASA that exists today. We have different rockets, different technology, and most importantly different people, both in political office as well as in the NASA engineering departments. Sure, we went to the Moon in 60s and 70s, but it is literally impossible for us to go back at the current time, and will be for many years to come. Thats worth remembering.
I say this because Amy Shira Teitel has an excellent summary of the Chinese space program on her blog. Its a repost from last year, but it covers a lot of the background of where we are. However, she makes a point I think needs discussing:
It could go two ways. Either China will become an ally like modern Russia, or it could become an adversary like the former Soviet UnionBut China isnt really a threat yet, at least not enough of one that NASA would enter into another space race.
I think we need to have a care here. If we take a snapshot of NASA and China, then this may be true. But looking over time, Im not so sure. China is showing a capability now to do things NASA cannot do: most obviously, launch humans into space. That capability may be back soon, whether through NASAs own rocket system or commercial ventures like SpaceX. But right now, China has far more momentum than NASA does. In the US were arguing over this or that project getting its funding cut, while we make very little progress in crewed exploration. Its worrisome.
Amy goes on:
Thats one thing China has available to its space program that NASA doesnt: money.
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Science Getaways: Dark skies | Bad Astronomy
I got an email recently from BABloggee Mark Sunderland, pointing out this photo to me. It shows the Toronto skyline with the Milky Way and thousands of stars blazing behind it.
I had to chuckle: the picture is obviously fake (and now the caption at Flickr says as much, though it didnt when I first saw it). Theres no way you could see the Milky Way from a city like Toronto. The city lights flood the air with illumination, lighting up the sky and drowning out faint stars. A long exposure photo of the sky over Toronto would make it worse; the sky would be washed out, with only a handful of stars visible. This is called light pollution, and its a serious problem for astronomers. Thats why we build our telescopes far from civilization centers.
To really see the stars, you have to get away from cities, to a place with few lights to to compete with the sky. Thats a big reason my wife and I chose the C Lazy U Ranch for our premier Science Getaways vacation. This is a dude ranch nestled in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, where the nearest large town is Estes Park, 50 km to the northwest, and even thats blocked by the mountains. The skies there are dark.
Science Getaways is a company my wife and I started to add science to otherwise non-sciencey vacations. For this first one we have a geologist, biologist, and me at the dude ranch. Every day there will be science talks followed by short and long field trips (to accommodate different physical abilities) where well check out the local nature, and at night there will be stargazing sessions. Im really exited about that last bit (duh). Its been a while since Ive used a scope under really clear, dark skies I have an 8" Celestron and just seeing Saturn (which well do) is cool enough but unlike that composite Toronto picture, the Milky Way over the mountains will be quite real, and quite spectacular. Well be looking at nebulae, clusters, and other objects, too, and there will be plenty visible just to the unaided eye. Ill have binoculars people can use as well, which to be honest is one of my favorite ways to soak up dark skies. Its amazing what you can see with a decent pair of binocs.
This Getaway is from September 16 20, 2012 just three months from now. We have about 20 spots left open, so if youre on the fence about this, nows the time to decide. The skies are calling.
Related Posts:
- Science Getaways: T- 4 months - Science Getaways: Update - Science Getaways
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AI System Automates Consumer Gripes
By Ben Rooney
From sister blog Tech Europe:
An artificial intelligence service that automatically resolves consumers disputes and can even engage in negotiations was displayed at Le Webin London on Wednesday.
Cognicor, a spinoff company from the Barcelona Institute of Artificial Intelligence, is aimed at businesses that get a huge volume of low-value complaints that need to be resolved.
Some companies receive tens, even hundreds of thousands of complaints a month, according to Cognicor Chief Executive Sindhu Joseph. At the moment, those complaints must be handled by hand, typically offshore, which is slow, expensive and unsatisfactory for both business and consumer.
A typical complaint might be someone has been on vacation and an airline company mislaid their bags for five days, Ms. Joseph said. The customer wants compensation for this.
Using Cognicor, complaints are submitted via a Web interface. The system checks the validity of the complaint the customer is who they say they are, they traveled on the flight they claim, etc. Having established the bona fides of the complainant, it then looks at a number of factors.
Sentiment analysis of the complaint can determine how severe the complaint is. It also looks for context, and it looks to see who is making the complaint and their social influence, Ms. Joseph said. If you take the example of the lost baggage, it makes a difference if you lose your bags going out on vacation, or coming back. That is what we mean by context.
By influence, Ms. Joseph means either the importance of the customer to the company, or their social influence. Measures for determining social influence are being deveoped but include Facebook and Twitter influence.
By using a corpus of existing complaints and resolutions provided by the company, the system can learn how to automate the process. For example, it could offer you cash back or a voucher to offset against another flight.
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Sikorsky Aerospace Services Wins Coveted 2012 Military MRO of the Year Award
SHELTON, Conn., June 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Aviation Week's Overhaul & Maintenance Magazine has presented its prestigious 2012 MRO of the Year Award for military center of excellence to Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS). SAS, which received the award at the recent MRO Americas Conference & Exhibition in Dallas, Texas, is the worldwide aftermarket division of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080904/NETH086LOGO)
SAS was recognized for its Technical, Engineering, Logistics, and Services and Supplies (TELSS) partnership with the Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD) in Texas, which supports the U.S. Army's H-60 BLACK HAWK helicopter repair and overhaul program. The TELSS/CCAD partnership delivered back into service a record-breaking 48 newly refurbished BLACK HAWK helicopters in 2011.
"The BLACK HAWK upgrade program at CCAD represents tremendous cost savings to the U.S. government by updating older aircraft to the latest UH-60L configuration. Retiring these older BLACK HAWK helicopters would compel the government to replenish its fleet with new aircraft at a much higher cost per unit," said David Adler, SAS President. "The TELSS/CCAD partnership is committed to performing quality work that provides commercial best-practices that drive productivity and innovation and ultimately produce safer, more reliable BLACK HAWK helicopters. The benefit of increased aircraft readiness supports our government's ability to execute successful missions throughout the world."
"We are very proud of the recognition that this award bestows upon our CCAD team. Over the past 10 years, we have done tremendous work to increase the technical capability, share industry best practices, and streamline the depot," said George Mitchell, SAS Vice President of Military Customer Support, who accepted the award. "Our support of the Army's BLACK HAWK fleet continues to show our commitment to this battle-proven product."
Formed in 2003, the TELSS partnership between SAS and CCAD supports all facets of the U.S. Army's H-60 BLACK HAWK helicopter repair and overhaul program. The Army's BLACK HAWK UH-60A fleet is upgraded to the UH-60L model, which includes a new, more powerful transmission, engines, upgraded airframe and enhanced safety features. Since the formation of the partnership, several hundred Sikorsky Aircraft process improvement recommendations have been submitted to CCAD, resulting in a savings of $3.8 million. Implementation of these processes also has increased production by more than 300 percent with only a 30 percent increase in manpower.
"Our partnership with Sikorsky has allowed us to do many things that before were considered undoable," said Col. Christopher Carlile, Depot Commander. "It's in the best interest of our soldiers, and we look forward to maintaining a partnership that's a win-win as much as possible."
Through TELSS, Sikorsky provides the depot with technical, engineering, and logistical support services for BLACK HAWK and HH-60G PAVE HAWK helicopters. SAS is able to leverage Sikorsky's manufacturing efficiencies and extensive supply chain to provide material support for the aircraft and component overhaul. As a result of the partnership with Sikorsky, the depot is currently able to maintain a 93 percent fill rate on aircraft requirements. SAS provides a 30-person on-site team including embedded engineers who continually relay Sikorsky's best manufacturing practices to CCAD and provide engineering analysis for repair procedure changes that reduce overall material costs. Throughout the overhaul and repair process, SAS is able to interpret aircraft documentation, quickly solve any technical questions and keep production moving.
In recent years, partly in response to tightening Department of Defense budgets, Sikorsky has been exploring innovative ways for its customers to realize their mission readiness goals in a more cost-effective manner. Sikorsky has a stated enterprise-wide goal of reducing the operating costs of its platforms by 10 percent annually. In addition to CCAD, Sikorsky has received recognition for its Performance-Based Logistics Program in support of more than 500 in-service H-60 U.S. Navy SEAHAWK helicopters. That program won the Defense Logistics 2011 Award for Best PBL Implementation and was the largest contract ($1.4 billion) ever awarded by the Naval Systems Supply Command.
Sikorsky Aerospace Services, a Sikorsky company, provides comprehensive support to rotary- and fixed-wing operators around the world. It offers its military and commercial customers a full portfolio of support services, including material distribution, maintenance, overhaul & repair, aircraft modifications and life-cycle support. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture and service. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., provides a broad range of high-technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide.
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Sikorsky Aerospace Services Wins Coveted 2012 Military MRO of the Year Award
TECT Aerospace, Inc. Hires Colin Strain as Vice President Sales and Marketing
WICHITA, Kan., June 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --TECT Aerospace, Inc. announced the hiring of Colin Strain as vice president sales and marketing.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120621/CG28669)
Before joining TECT Aerospace, Colin was the vice president sales and marketing for seven years at GKN Aerospace, Engine Products where he was responsible for all global sales and marketing activities. Prior to GKN Aerospace, he worked at ThyssenKrupp as the director of sales and marketing.
"Colin Strain brings an in-depth knowledge of business development, sales, marketing and operations to TECT Aerospace," said Pete Knapper, president of TECT Aerospace. "Colin's experience and knowledge will provide leadership and direction for our sales team and enable TECT Aerospace to meet and exceed ambitious growth objectives."
Colin earned his undergraduate degree in management studies from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland.
Colin will relocate from Cincinnati to be based out of TECT Aerospace headquarters in Wichita.
About TECTTECT is a family of privately held, independently managed aerospace companies currently consisting of the TECT Aerospace and TECT Power business units. With more than 115 years of continuous operations, the TECT businesses have a unique blend of business processes, equipment, and proprietary manufacturing capabilities that have earned them leading positions in many of their product niches. TECT's philosophy of utilizing a fully integrated supply chain allows them to deliver precision components and assemblies to customers worldwide with unmatched quality and speed. To learn more, visit http://www.tectcorp.com.
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TECT Aerospace, Inc. Hires Colin Strain as Vice President Sales and Marketing