Honoring America’s Fallen Heroes at Arlington

Morning Coffee is a robust blend of links to news around the internet concerning the Naval Air Station Patuxent River economic community. The opinions expressed here do not reflect opinions of the Leader’s owners or staff.

The 3rd Infantry Regiment, also known as The Old Guard, placed American flags at the base of more than 260,000 headstones and more than 7,000 columbarium niche rows at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Thursday, reports Stars and Strips. The tradition has taken place every year since The Old Guard’s establishment as the Army’s official ceremonial unit in 1948.

The 157th National Memorial Day Observance will take place at 11am today, May 26, 2025, in Arlington National Cemetery’s Memorial Amphitheater. The event is free and open to the public. Seating in the amphitheater is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Those planning to attend or visit the cemetery today should click here for information on getting there, security screening and prohibited items, and more guidance to ensure a safe visit. A livestream of the event will be available at dvidshub.net here.

US Army Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Jay has been dutifully guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery for the past two years, reports The Associated Press on MSN. Rain or shine, snow or sleet, for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, Jay and the other guards on watch duty serve as both protectors and commemorators of a national tribute to America’s unidentified and missing service members. With Jay’s final walk scheduled for June 2, this Memorial Day holds special significance for him as the cemetery honors those who paid the ultimate price for their country.

Kimberly Hess has played the organ for US presidents, Supreme Court justices, and military veterans being interred at Arlington National Cemetery. Hess reflected on the service she and the federal government provide to families of veterans at the cemetery in an interview with the Arlington Catholic Herald before this year’s Memorial Day. As assistant organist at the cemetery, she has performed at 1,000 funerals in the past five years. And with her contract renewed for another five years, she expects to continue comforting the grieving.

The contract with Boeing to develop and build the F-47 Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter will give the US Air Force more control than with previous fighter programs, Air Force Chief of Staff GEN. David Allvin told the Senate Armed Services Committee last week, reports Air & Space Forces Magazine. Allvin said the F-47 will be run differently than previous fighter programs and share the same mission systems architecture as the Collaborative Combat Aircraft. That means advances in one will fuel advances in the other.

Military air traffic controllers lost contact with an Army helicopter for about 20 seconds as it neared the Pentagon on the flight that caused two commercial jets to abort their landings May 1 at Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, reports AP News.

The Defense Information Systems Agency expects to lose 10% of its workforce as a result of larger Pentagon cuts spearheaded by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, reports Breaking Defense. LT GEN Paul Stanton, head of DISA and the Joint Force Headquarters for the Defense Department’s Information Network, said the cuts will come from the deferred retirement programs, terminations of probationary employees, and other planned reductions in the workforce.

The Air Force has begun planning modifications to the 747-8 gifted to the US by Qatar into a suitable presidential transport, reports Air & Space Forces Magazine. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink has vowed security as the Qatar-gifted jet is turned into Air Force One, reports Defense News.

North Korea is seeking to arrest those responsible for the failed launch of its second naval destroyer, as it denied the warship suffered major damage, reports The Associated Press. A statement from North Korea on its handling of the botched launch came after leader Kim Jong Un expressed fury over the incident that he said was caused by criminal negligence.

The New Zealand government has allocated $2.7 billion of capital and $563 million of operating funding for priority projects identified in its Defence Capability Plan, reports Defense News. The country is eyeing the purchase of more cargo planes, helicopters, Javelins, and a counter drone system.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his country is in talks with the US to join the proposed “Golden Dome for America” missile defense system, reports The Hill. President Donald Trump’s defense project aims to protect the US from foreign threats. But it has a steep price and has been criticized by China as threatening to increase the risks of militarizing space and a global arms race, reports CBS News on MSN.

The Golden Dome is estimated to cost some $175 billion and be finished within three years, reports The Hill. That timeline is far shorter than what experts have forecast, and they say the price tag could also be far higher.

The Pentagon said it is sending 1,115 more active-duty troops to deploy to the US-Mexico border, adding to the military’s increased role in supporting immigration control, reports Navy Times. The units will primarily assist with engineering, logistics, and construction missions — from medical care to clearing roads.

Acting Coast Guard Commandant ADM Kevin Lunday will be nominated for the permanent command role, filling the service’s top leadership post, reports Navy Times. ADM Thomas Allan Jr. will be tapped to serve as vice commandant.

L3Harris’ Aerojet Rocketdyne is building new state-of-the art facilities for solid rocket motor production in Virginia, reports Defense News. The new site will produce small and medium solid rocket motors – key components for the Javelin antitank weapon.

US Navy sailor John Stea, 35, was taken into custody Tuesday at the San Diego International Airport after allegedly claiming that there were explosives aboard a commercial airliner, reports Military.com. Stea, an electronics technician assigned to Maritime Expeditionary Security Group One, was arrested for allegedly informing a flight attendant that the passenger next to him had a bomb on a Hawaiian Airlines flight about to take off to Honolulu, Hawaii.

A private airplane crashed into a San Diego military housing neighborhood during foggy weather Thursday, reports Navy Times, and multiple people on the plane died. No one on the ground was injured, according to authorities. The music industry agency Sound Talent Group confirmed to the Associated Press that company co-founder Dave Shapiro and two other employees were among six people on board the plane who died, reports ABC10 in San Diego.

Two Navy SEALs based at Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Hampton Roads, Virginia, are facing disciplinary action for racist conduct, and several of their platoon and team leaders are being disciplined for leadership failures, reports Navy Times. The SEALS are being punished for developing racist memes targeting a Black sailor in their platoon and circulating them in a group chat with other team members.

The US Mint will stop making pennies once its final stock of penny blanks is used up, reports Fox4 KDFW in Dallas. While no specific end date was given, the decision effectively marks the beginning of the end for the 1-cent coin.

Blue crab abundance in the Chesapeake Bay this year was at its second-lowest level since winter dredge surveys began in 1990, reports Maryland Matters. But the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is holding strong on the current harvest regulations. Scientists at DNR say that a harsh winter may be to blame, with cold snaps capable of killing off crabs bedding down for the season. The numbers of male, female, and juvenile crabs all declined in 2025’s survey, conducted from December through March. The total figure was 238 million crabs — compared to 317 million crabs the year before, according to the Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey.

Contracts:

Corvid Technologies LLC, Mooresville, North Carolina, is awarded a $10,421,576 modification to previously awarded contract (N6339425C0003) for the design, manufacture, and delivery of short/medium range sub-orbital vehicles configurations, including provision of ground test hardware, special test equipment, materials and required engineering support, and launch support services. Work will be performed in Moorestown, North Carolina (37%); White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico (24%); Glen Burnie, Maryland (20%); Benbecula, Scotland (6%); Las Cruces, New Mexico (4%); Woomera, Australia (3%); Conroe, Texas (2%); Huntsville, Alabama (1%); San Nicolas Island, California (1%); Kekaha, Hawaii (1%); and Wallops Island, Virginia (1%), and is expected to be completed by May 2026. Fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $6,440,652 will be obligated at time of award, of which $6,440,652 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme, White Sands Detachment, Port Hueneme, California, is the contracting activity.

East Coast Repair & Fabrication LLC, Portsmouth, Virginia (N3220525D4053); Fairlead Boatworks Inc., Newport News, Virginia (N3220525D4049); Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corp., Port Arthur, Texas (N3220525D4050); GMD Shipyard Corp., Brooklyn, New York (N3220525D4051); and Rhoads Industries Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (N3220525D4052), have been issued a $120,035,122 contract modification, increasing the contract ceiling from $128,728,618 to $248,753,750. The contract is a firm-fixed-price, multiple-award contract with an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity ordering type for a five-year base period to provide lay-berthing services to Military Sealift Command Expeditionary Fast Transport vessels. The contract is performed in Newport News, Virginia; Port Arthur, Texas; Brooklyn, New York; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, beginning on Feb. 28, 2025, and will conclude on Feb. 27, 2030. This base contract was a competitive small business set aside with proposals solicited via the Government Point of Entry website; five timely proposals were received. No other changes to the contract are being made at this time. Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity.

Atlantic Diving Supply Inc., doing business as ADS, Virginia Beach, Virginia (SPE8EJ-25-D-0501); Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, Illinois (SPE8EJ-25-D-0502); Berger Cummins JV, Greenville, South Carolina (SPE8EJ-25-D-0503); Inglett & Stubbs International LLC, Atlanta, Georgia (SPE8EJ-25-D-0504); and Texas Power & Associates LLC., Palm Harbor, Florida (SPE8EJ-25-D-0505), are sharing a maximum $980,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract under solicitation SPE8EJ-23-R-0001 for the third generation of the Defense Logistics Agency Federal Emergency Management Agency generator program. This was a competitive acquisition with 14 responses received. These are five-year contracts with no option periods. The ordering period end date is May 22, 2030. Using customer is Federal Emergency Management Agency. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2025 through 2030 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

GP Strategies Government Solutions Inc., Columbia, Maryland, was awarded a $10,766,515 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for logistics support, facilities operation services, and technical training. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of May 23, 2026. US Army Contracting Command, Rock Island, Illinois, is the contracting activity. (W519TC-25-F-0230)

Above Group Inc., Melbourne, Florida (W912HP-25-D-A001); Alliance Steelhead JV LLC, Alexandria, Virginia (W912HP-25-D-A002); Apogee Consulting Group P.A., Cary, North Carolina (W912HP-25-D-A003); Spees-Davenergy JV, LLC, Kent, Washington (W912HP-25-D-A004); and Spur Design LLC, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (W912HP-25-D-A005) will compete for each order of the $20,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for multi-discipline, architect-engineer services. Bids were solicited via the internet with 20 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of May 22, 2030. US Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston, South Carolina, is the contracting activity.

Curtin Maritime Corp., Long Beach, California, was awarded an $8,628,228 firm-fixed-price contract for maintenance dredging at the Thimble Shoal Channel. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of March 14, 2026. Fiscal 2024 civil operation and maintenance funds, and fiscal 2025 Virginia Port Authority funds in the amount of $8,628,228 were obligated at the time of the award. US Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (W91236-25-C-5013).

Austal USA LLC, National City, California (N0002425D4212); BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair Inc., San Diego, California (N0002425D4213); General Dynamics-NASSCO, San Diego, California (N0002425D4214); Continental Maritime of San Diego LLC, San Diego, California (N0002425D4215); Fincantieri Marine Repair LLC, Jacksonville, Florida (N0002425D4216); Delphinus Engineering, Inc., Newtown Square, Pennsylvania (N0002425D4217); East Coast Repair & Fabrication LLC, Chesapeake, Virginia (N0002425D4218); Epsilon Systems Solutions Inc., Portsmouth, Virginia (N0002425D4219); Pacific Shipyards International LLC, Honolulu, Hawaii (N0002425D4220); Southcoast Welding & Manufacturing, LLC , Chula Vista, California (N0002425D4221); Standard Inspection Services, National City, California (N0002425D4222); Propulsion Controls Engineering LLC, San Diego, California (N0002425D4223); Bay City Marine, Inc., National City, California (N0002425D4224); Life Cycle Engineering Inc., Charleston, South Carolina (N0002425D4225); Integrated Marine Services Inc., Chula Vista, California (N0002425D4226); Neal Technical Innovations, LLC, Daphne, Alabama (N0002425D4227); and Q.E.D Systems, Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia (N00024254228), are each awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award contracts utilizing both firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery orders for repair, maintenance, and modernization requirements of Littoral Combat Ships homeported in San Diego, California, with a total combined value not to exceed $2,647,482,126. Each awardee will be awarded $10,000 (minimum contract guarantee per awardee) for an initial funding of $170,000. All other funding will be made available at the delivery order level as contracting actions occur. Work will be performed in the San Diego, California, homeport area and is expected to be completed by May 2030. Fiscal 2025 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $170,000 will be obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively awarded via the SAM.gov website, with 28 offers received. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity.

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Rolling Meadows, Illinois, is awarded a $86,215,298 modification (P000022) to a previously awarded fixed-price incentive (firm-target) contract (N0001922C0042). This modification procures the necessary hardware and systems engineering technical support, analysis, and studies to install the Department of Navy (DON) Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure (LAIRCM) system onto Department of Defense aircraft for DON and other customers. Hardware for this procurement includes the following weapon replaceable assemblies: 120 advanced threat warning sensors for the Navy and 22 for the Air Force; three control indicator unit replaceable replacements for the Navy and 27 for the Air Force; 62 DON LAIRCM processor units for the Navy and 26 for the Air Force; 26 guardian laser transmitter assemblies for the Navy; six high capacity cards for the Navy and 68 for the Air Force; 17 smart connector assemblies for the Navy and 23 for the Air Force and 36 battery kits for the Navy and 46 for the Air Force. Work will be performed in Rolling Meadows, Illinois (36%); Goleta, California (16%); Longmont, Colorado (10%); Verona, Wisconsin (7%); Ashburn, Virginia (6%); Apopka, Florida (5%); Boulder, Colorado (5%); Salt Lake City, Utah (5%); Blacksburg, Virginia (4%); Carlsbad, California (2%); Tipp City, Ohio (2%); Lewisburg, Tennessee (1%); and Amherst, New York (1%), and is expected to be completed in January 2027. Fiscal 2025 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $62,476,075; fiscal 2025 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $10, 258,606; fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $40,000; fiscal 2024 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,429,074; fiscal 2024 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $1,273,091; fiscal 2023 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds in the amount of $4,607,892; and Navy working capital funds in the amount of $4,130,558, will be obligated at the time of award, $4,607,892 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

National Security Innovations Inc., Natick, Massachusetts, is awarded a $64,714,214 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-with-no-fee pricing for research and support services for the Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA) program. SMA is a Department of Defense initiative designed to provide decision-makers with a deeper understanding of complex global challenges garnering input from a variety of fields to analyze problems and develop potential solutions. Work will be performed in Washington, DC (30%), and additional locations nationally and internationally. Work is expected to be completed in May 2030. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued utilizing operations and maintenance and research, development, test and evaluation funds. This contract was awarded as a sole-source acquisition pursuant to 10 US Code 3204(a) (1). Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-25-D-0012).

Solute Inc., San Diego, California, is awarded a $41,382,793 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-with-no-fee pricing to provide engineering support for Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services, including technical and programmatic services for networking, communications, and computer systems, as well as certification and information assurance for current operations, planned upgrades and new developments. This three-year contract includes two, two-year option periods which, if exercised would bring the overall potential value of this contract to an estimated $102,557,997. Work will be performed in San Diego, California (76%); Pearl City, Hawaii (4%); Washington DC (3%); Charleston, South Carolina (3%); Norfolk, Virginia (4%); Yokosuka, Japan (4%); Santa Rita, Guam (2%); Manama, Bahrain (2%); and Naples, Italy (2%). Work is expected to be completed by May 2032. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders and will be issued using other procurement (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy); research, development, test and evaluation (Navy); shipbuilding construction (Navy), and Navy Working Capital Funds. This contract was competitively procured via the SAM.gov website and the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command E-Commerce Central website, with two offers received. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-25-D-0029).