5 ways to kill bad morale

We’re told Aristotle once said, “nature abhors a vacuum.” It’s the principle of horror vacui in physics. And the same is true of human nature. In the absence of information, people fill in the blanks. Often, they fill in a lack of information with negative rumor and speculation.

Why risk increasing misinformation among your employees? Why not fill the vacuum with the truth?

Is quantum computing the next big thing?

The New York Times reported last week that Lockheed Martin was investing in quantum computing, and would be the first company to use quantum computers commercially.

The company acquired a quantum computer from D-Wave Systems, a Canadian company, in 2011. The New York Times quoted Ray Johnson, Lockheed's chief technology officer, as saying that Lockheed would use quantum computing to create and test complex radar, space and aircraft systems.

Lockheed wins $27.4M to restructure contract options for Navy

Lockheed Martin has won a $27.4 million contract modification to exercise and restructure the fixed-price-incentive options for the Navy’s electronic warfare improvement system to firm-fixed-price options.

The Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program Block 2 System is an acquisition program to upgrade the existing AN/SLQ-32(V) Electronic Warfare System, the Defense Department said in a release.

Airtec wins Navy intell contract

Airtec Inc. has won a $12.5 million single-award task order contract with the U.S. Navy to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance services in support of the Army’s Southern Command.

Under the firm-fixed-price contract, the company will provide these services using two contractor-owned, contractor-operated aircraft, the Defense Department said in a release.

Work will be performed in Bogota, Columbia, and is expected to be completed by January 2014.

Contract funds in the amount of $917,000 are obligated at the time of the award, and they will expire at the end of fiscal 2013.

Alion taps new SVP and manager of acquisitions programs management group

Alion Science and Technology has named Alex Heidt senior vice president and manager of Alion's Acquisition Programs Management Group, or APMG.

As senior vice president and manager, Heidt will head a business unit focused on delivering program, acquisition and operational services, as well as engineering support to Alion's customers, the company said in a release.

Before Alion, Heidt was senior vice president of business development at Harris Corp.'s information technology services area.

Heidt has also held positions at Lockheed Martin, Orbital Sciences Corp., and E-Systems Corp.

Other investors join battle to buy Dell

You’d think that if you are the largest stockholder, and the company bears your name, that a move to take your firm private would be fairly easy.

But not so for Michael Dell, who, along with the Silver Lake Partners, a private equity group, are proposing to acquire the company’s outstanding stock for $13.65 a share, or $24.4 billion.

Lockheed continues diversification push

Lockheed Martin Corp. apparently is in the hunt to buy another Australian IT company.

A Lockheed spokeswoman declined to comment on reports from Australia that the company was attempting to buy a company called ASG; however, ASG filed with the Australian Securities Exchange that Lockheed had made two offers to acquire them.

Is your next BD exec a former journalist?

Rarely has the business development function been so difficult—or its skills so valued.

Tight budgets are shrinking the pool of new government opportunities, while continuing resolutions, sequestration, and battles over the debt ceiling have dramatically increased the uncertainty surrounding agency plans and programs. Companies cannot afford to overlook emerging opportunities, but neither can they afford to chase projects that may never get off the ground.

Booz Allen wins $315M geospatial intell contract

Booz Allen Hamilton has won a $315 million single-award contract to provide technical research and development subject matter expertise to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

Under the contract, Booz Allen will apply this expertise to all facets of the InnoVision Future Solutions Program through November 2017, the company said in a release.

General Dynamics opens space innovation center

The EDGE Innovation Network’s 13th EDGE Innovation Center, that General Dynamics C4 Systems sponsors and houses in the company’s Seabrook, Md., facility is now open.

This space innovation center will connect NASA and other government agency professionals with more than 350 EDGE Innovation Network members from both industry and academia, General Dynamics said in a release.