Defense Articles

Allegany County hopes to bring defense jobs to business parks in the Cumberland and Frostburg areas, a county official said Friday. Economic Development Director Matt Diaz said the Barton Business Park, about eight miles south of Cumberland along U.S. 220, would make a good location for businesses supporting the Allegheny Ballistics Laboratory, a federal weapons lab in nearby Rocket Center, W.Va., operated by Alliant Techsystems Inc.

Some would be welcome in the military, including a bonus to keep Air Force pilots in the service longer, and a slightly higher pay raise than the 2.3 percent for all personnel already guaranteed. But mixed in with those items is a mandate to cut headquarter and management personnel by 25 percent over five years, and to remove between 10,000 and 25,000 jobs from acquisition departments throughout the military. Some, like Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, preempted potential cuts when it announced two weeks ago that it was eliminating 500 jobs from the headquarters offices at Air Force Materiel Command. That three-year reduction is not part of the cuts envisioned in this defense bill, and a spokesman for the Materiel Command office said they weren’t going to speculate on what might come out of Congress. But some think the cuts could be used to save Wright-Pat, one of the military’s largest air bases, from some of the impact the new law could have. “I think they’re working hard to be ahead of the curve on some of this stuff,” said U.S. Rep. David L. Hobson, R-Ohio, whose district includes Wright-Pat. “One of the problems we face in all this is that we’re redefining what the military looks like in the future. And nobody knows exactly what that’s going to be.” But the question now is, will Clinton sign it? He doesn’t like a key provision in the bill that would prevent him from honoring a campaign promise to privatize military depots in Texas and California. And technically speaking, he doesn’t have to sign it. The Pentagon’s 1998 budget was signed, sealed and delivered when the defense appropriations bill was finished earlier this year. If this budget authorization bill goes unsigned, the dollars spent on defense won’t change much for next year. Authorization bills typically pass in conjunction with, or ahead of, appropriations legislation and deal more with budget policy than accounting numbers. This authorization bill fell behind the appropriations process because of fighting in the Senate over the depots in Texas and California. The compromise on that issue garnered enormous support in both the House and Senate, but with Congress trying to finish today, there isn’t time to override a veto if Clinton decides to use his pen. But these are the cat-and-mouse days at the end of the session. Just after the Senate approved the bill on a 90-10 vote Thursday, the White House moved away from its earlier threats of a veto and shifted to the “undecided” position. Clinton could sign the bill in exchange for congressional support for other things.

Stevenson (Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins U.) profiles ten Secretaries of Defense, assessing their relative successes in implementing their agendas and characterizing their administrative styles. He characterizes McNamara, Schlesinger, Weinberger, and Rumsfeld as “Revolutionaries;” Laird, Aspin, and Cohen as “Firefighters;” and Brown, Cheney, and Perry as “Team Players.” In addition to the profiles, he analyzes the major roles played by the Secretary of Defence in the US government, providing separate chapters on the Secretary as: manager of the Pentagon, war planner, diplomat, and National Security Council adviser.

Defense contractor Aeroflex Inc. will cut additional jobs in the fourth quarter ending June 30 and will take a charge of about $1.6 million, or a penny per diluted shares, the company announced.

We expect to achieve annual savings, consisting primarily of salary and benefits, of approximately $3.2 million, said Michael Gorin, vice chairman and chief financial officer of Aeroflex.

Gorin said that about 30 jobs would be cut worldwide, including one on Long Island.

Hamre has “increased computer security brought better business practices to the department, won increases in defense spending and helped defense contractors and the department adapt to global business conditions,” Defense Secretary William S. Cohen said. “He has had a major impact on the department.”

Cohen recommended President Clinton nominate Rudy de Leon to replace Hamre.

He also has been responsible for overseeing the DOD’s $15 billion-ayear healthcare system, its commissaries and exchanges, the Defense Education Activity, which oversees all educational programs, and the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute.

Cohen recommended Army undersecretary Bernard D. Rostker for undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness to replace DeLeon.

Rostker currently is also special assistant to the deputy defense secretary for Gulf War Illnesses. Prior to becoming the Army’s No. 2 civilian in 1998, he served as assistant secretary of the Navy for manpower and reserve affairs.

It couldn’t have gone much better Saturday night for the Utah defense, which set the tone early in the Utes’ 48-6 cakewalk over Utah State. It marked the second straight week the Utes allowed just six points and the victory margin was the largest in the series with the Aggies since a 46-0 victory in 1950.

“Whenever you play defense like we played defense . . . that just demoralizes a team,” said Ute coach Urban Meyer. “A lot of guys got to play and they did a nice job.”

“The ones (first team) were very impressive and they only played a half because the game was essentially over,” said Utah defensive coordinator Kyle Whittingham. “We had a chance to give a lot of guys some reps.”

Against both Texas A&M and Arizona, the Utes made goal-line stands and they did it again against the Aggies. Although the Utes were already up 20, it virtually put the game away, especially when the Utes went down and scored.

“These guys have got a great red-zone mentality kind of like we did in 2001,” said Whittingham. “We have an exceptional red-zone efficiency. We are real stingy when people get inside the red zone.”

Early in the second quarter, with the Utes up 20-0, the Aggies put together a sustained drive of 90 yards, from their own 9 down to the Utah 1. On third down, Travis Cox rolled out to the left side and was stopped just short of the goal by Spencer Toone. Then, despite a 5- yard penalty, the Aggies decided to shun the easy field goal and go for it.

This time Cox rolled to his right and fired for the end zone, only to have linebacker Corey Dodds step in front for the interception. Dodds looked to have daylight, before slowing down and getting hit at the Ute 27-yard line.

“I should have scored,” said Dodds, who used to play tight end in high school. “I thought too much. Instead of trying to be fancy, I should have just run straight ahead.”

A defensive lineman did score later in the quarter on an interception when defensive end Jonathan Fanene picked off a batted pass by teammate Sione Pouha and took off for the end zone.

“Sione came up with the slap and the ball came straight to me,” said Fanene. “I just wanted to take it to the house.”

“He just took off,” said Dodds. “I’ve never seen the big boy run like that.”

“He was flying,” added Toone. “I was really impressed with him.”

That score made it 41-0 right before the half and the Ute starters stayed on the bench in the second half as the Utes went with second and third stringers and some players who weren’t even listed on the roster, including defensive lineman Jess Tessainer, who joined the team after classes started in late August.

Other second-half starters included Malakai Mokofisi, Reza Williams, Tony Castaldi, Kite Afeaki, Kyle Brady, Joe Jiannoni, Martail Burnett and Tim Harris as most of the Ute front-liners sat out the entire second half.

“We had a chance to get a lot of reps for the twos and threes and some of the fours,” said Whittingham. “The mind-set is we want the shutout, but we would have kicked ourselves if we would have lost one of the front-line guys with Air Force coming up. It was good to give these guys reps because they practice all week long and deserve a chance to play.”

A year ago, the Wildcats lost in double overtime to Oswego 28-21 in the 7A title game, and the juniors all vowed to come back and finish the job. Libertyville finished 14-0 and was 27-1 over the last two seasons.

Trailing 7-3 with 5:06 to play, the Trojans (13-1) gambled on a fourth-and-three at their 41. Fontana, a Sun-Times All-Area and All- State defensive back, dragged down Cary quarterback Brian Mitz for no gain.

Then, facing a fourth down at the Cary-Grove 23, the Wildcats lined up for a 40-yard field goal try. But the snap was bad and Fontana took the ball and ran nine yards for a first down.

It was a botched snap,” Fontana said. I took it and ran outside. I saw no one coming so I knew I had it [a first down].”

Then he finished the drive, and the game, with a 14-yard scoring run that capped an eight-play, 42-yard drive and gave Libertyville a 13-3 lead.

Libertyville quarterback Brett Lancaster had 71 yards rushing on 12 carries. Fontana finished with 69 yards on 14 carries.

The defense held Cary-Grove to 89 yards on the ground, as Kevin Koza had eight tackles and Matt Norcia and Fontana notched seven each. The Trojans were held to six first downs.

Kuceyeski had another reason to be proud. His son, John, was the Wildcats’ strong safety.

Having [John] on the team was the most special moment of my life,” he said.

A blocked punt by Ryne Gavigan, who finished with five solo tackles and three assists, was recovered in the end zone by the school’s single-season interception leader, Kevin Burns, for a touchdown, the only scoring in the first half.

I just came off the end and blocked it,” said Gavigan, who had two sacks in the last two minutes to preserve the victory. And Kevin Burns was there to hop on it. It was my first blocked punt of the year and it came at a good time.

Our defense stepped up and made big plays. that was one of our goals. It was the biggest game of our lives and we stepped up huge.”

The Wildcats defense held Cary-Grove to one first down and 48 yards. The Trojans’ defense were no slouches, limiting Libertyville to four first downs and 110 yards.

Cary-Grove was stopped midway through the third quarter, but got new life with a roughing the kicker penalty that sparked a drive to the Wildcats’ 5.

But a stop by Fontana and a sack by Alec Rahe and Fontana forced fourth down.

Facing a fourth-and-three, the Trojans were assessed an offsides penalty and then a delay of game before Don Hansen booted a 31-yard field goal to close to within 7-3.

We could not execute enough plays and you saw what happened,” Cary- Grove coach Bruce Kay said. Their special teams play was the big key for them.”

The Pirates scored 31 unanswered points in the second half to take control. Glenn Pettis finished with 27 carries for 141 yards — including touchdown runs of 4, 1 and 19 yards — all in the second half. Anthony Corpuz added 94 yards on the ground, as the Pirates ran the ball 63 times for 333 yards.

“Our offensive line did a tremendous job,” Pettis said. “They kept fighting and fighting and pushing.”

The Pirates trailed 7-6 at halftime, despite holding the Dragons to minus-14 yards of offense and having control of the ball for nearly 17 minutes.

San Leandro had to settle for two Jesus Esparza field goals early, then looked as if it was going to get into the end zone after running 13 plays and moving the ball 56 yards to get to the Dragons’ 20.

But Brian Mouton drilled Lewis Belt, forcing a fumble. Mouton scooped up the loose ball and raced 70 yards for the score with 1:53 left in the half. But it was all San Leandro after that.

After holding the Pirates to 124 yards rushing and forcing three fumbles in the first half, the Dragons’ defense finally wore down, giving up 209 yards on the ground in the second half.

The big blow came just two plays after Pettis’ 4-yard score put the Pirates up 14-7 in the third quarter. Dragons’ center Greg Jackson snapped the ball over quarterback John Bowler’s head and out of the end zone for a safety and a 16-7 Pirates lead.

“It seemed that our guys got down and didn’t get back up,” Perenon said. “They didn’t pick themselves back up.”

The Pirates’ offense fumbled the ball five times — losing three - - which was a big concern to coach Brad Bowers.

“There are still a lot of mistakes that we need to clean up,” Bowers said. “Anytime you put the ball on the ground five times you can’t feel good about it.”

What does it take to break into the industry? Do you need a security clearance to jump from dotcom to defense? Here’s our guide for anyone considering employment in this sector.

Understanding Security Clearances

Scan the job listings for defense-related jobs, and you’ll realize these positions often require security clearances. If you’ve got a clearance or had one in recent years, you’re ahead of the game. “The critical need is for people who have had clearances,” says David Tittle, president of Paul-Tittle Search Group, a search firm in the Washington, DC, area.

Receiving a clearance can take a few months to a year or longer. The factors involved include:

The number of government agencies involved. Whether it is a “secret” or a “top secret” clearance. The specifics of the individual’s background.

A lower-level clearance might entail a relatively simple background check, according to Phil Preston, senior vice president of staffing firm Comforce Corp. But work on weapons systems may require a “top secret” clearance. Such clearances take more time to obtain and also involve investigators delving into all areas of the individual’s life, interviews with neighbors and friends, and even a polygraph test. “They know more about you than you know yourself,” Preston says.

No Clearance?

Lack of clearance shouldn’t stop you from seeking a job in the defense industry. “People should not be discouraged who may not have had a security clearance,” says Michael Patrick, director of workforce recruitment and planning for Northrop Grumman Information Technology, where 60 percent of the positions require some form of clearance. The company plans to hire more than 4,000 individuals within the next year. “Managers tend to prefer a qualified person who already has the clearance,” says Patrick, “but people without the clearances certainly are not excluded.”

The company may hire you without a clearance, begin the clearance process and delay your start date. “We can extend offers and commit to a start date that is several months out,” says Patrick. “That’s a cost-effective way to do it.” Companies also hire the individual and have him work on another project until the clearance is processed.

“Be persistent and perhaps a little flexible,” Patrick suggests.

Process Is Paramount

Don’t expect anything close to the ad-hoc attitude toward project development you may have seen in other sectors. While the technologies may be the same, attention to process is key. The industry seeks disciplined, detail-oriented workers. “It helps if they’ve been on large, complex projects,” says Tittle.

“Once you’re in, the software development cycle is extremely process-oriented,” says Preston. Employers may seek individuals with expertise in concepts such as Capability Maturity Models (CMM), an area pioneered by the Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. For government-related contracts, the process is tracked at every stage, with careful accounting of how workers spend their time. “Renegade software developers don’t really adapt well,” says Preston. “The dotcommers tend not to be attracted to it and don’t have the outlook on the development process to make a successful transition.”

Caveats?

Disciplined workers thrive in the defense industry, but it’s not for everyone. If you’re seeking sudden riches and stock options, the defense industry probably isn’t the place for you.

Defense work doesn’t take place everywhere. Unless you’re in the Washington, DC, area, California, the Southwest or a few other regions, you’ll have trouble finding work.

Once you’re in the industry, be prepared to move — from company to company and city to city — as the contracts and companies change. “The vast majority of technologists that I see in the defense industry move on a fairly regular basis, like every three or four years,” Preston says.

Individuals with a military background may have an easier time finding work. However, foreign citizens may be excluded altogether as many defense jobs require US citizenship.

Leading-Edge Technology

Defense projects may take a while, but the technologies involved are often leading edge. Right now, interoperability is a central goal, with projects aimed at connecting information from disparate agencies, says Tittle. And weapons systems often lead technological development. “Technology is embedded everywhere, right into the ordnance that flies into the enemy building,” says Preston.

“The programs are truly fascinating and are directly related to protecting our national security,” notes Preston. “There’s just a feeling of pride when you’re part of those kinds of programs.”

The Defense Acquisition Regulations System (DARS) Directorate launched the first phase of Procedures, Guidance and Information (PGI), enabling the Department of Defense to more rapidly communicate internal administrative and procedural information to the acquisition workforce. As an online resource, PGI serves as a companion to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to help acquisition professionals more effectively and efficiently do their jobs. Further, PGI will rapidly assist the acquisition community by providing DoD internal procedures and other information not requiring implementation in the formal regulation.
“The PGI site was actually born out of an initiative to redefine and better focus the content of DFARS,” says Ron Poussard, deputy director of DARS. “However, it has really evolved into a solution for rapidly communicating DoD policy and guidance.”

Historically, DFARS contained both mandatory and non-mandatory acquisition procedures, guidelines, and best practices. DoD recently decided the DFARS should focus only on:

* requirements of law

* DoD-wide policies

* delegations of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) authorities

* deviations from FAR requirements and policies

* procedures having a significant effect beyond the internal operation of DoD

* procedures having a significant impact on the public.

PGI will be fully implemented in two phases. The first phase primarily encompasses the non-regulatory coverage removed from the DFARS. In the future, DARS plans to rewrite PGI in non-regulatory language and to create additional content on specific topics of interest to users. The second phase adds:

* training resources

* supplemental background

* reference information to the Web site.