Rocket Launches Scheduled between August 12 and September 24 from Wallops

UPDATE: The scheduled launch of a Terrier-Lynx suborbital rocket for the Department of Defense Saturday, Aug. 16, from NASA’s launch range at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia has been postponed. The new launch date is 9 to 11:30 p.m. EDT, Saturday, Aug. 23.

WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. – Two Terrier-Lynx suborbital rockets are scheduled for launch between August 12 and September 24 for the Department of Defense from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
The rockets will be launched on separate days. The second rocket is expected to be launched about two weeks after the first rocket. The launch windows are (all times are EDT):
11:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. August 12/13
10:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. August 16/17
9:00 – 11:00 p.m. August 23
7:30 – 9:30 p.m. August 27
5:30 – 7:30 a.m. September 20
4:00 – 6:00 a.m. September 24
The rockets may be visible to residents in the mid-Atlantic region.

VISIBILITY MAP FOR THE TWO SURROUNDING ROCKET MISSIONS

At the request of DoD project managers, no real-time launch status updates will be available. The launches will not be shown live on the Internet nor will launch status updates be provided on social media once the countdown begins. The NASA Visitor Center at Wallops will not be open for viewing the launches.

Smartphone users can download the “What’s Up at Wallops” app, which contains information on the launches as well as a compass showing the precise direction for launch viewing.

The app is available for download at: http://go.nasa.gov/17veCYT.

AIMM RECEIVES VETERAN INSTITUTE FOR PROCUREMENT CERTIFICATION

October 21, 2013 –  Advocates In Manpower Management, Inc. 20423 State Road 7 – PMB#458,  Boca Raton, Florida 33498 recently completed the Veteran Institute Procurement (VIP), a comprehensive training and certification program that helps veteran-owned businesses strengthen their ability to win government contracts and do business with both military and civilian agencies they once served in uniform.

On October 17, 2013, Advocates In Manpower Management, Inc. was one of 52 businesses from 10 states and the District of Columbia to graduate from the National Center for the Veteran Institute for Procurement. During the program’s graduation, Richard Porter was presented with a congressional citation on behalf of Chris Van Hollen.

The Veteran Institute of Procurement provided my firm some tremendous insight into the federal procurement process as well as providing a review of the processes essential to being a more effective government contractor.  The interaction with fellow participants was extremely valuable.

The first program of its kind in the nation, VIP is conducted by professional subject-matter specialists in the essentials necessary to win government contracts: law, accounting, insurance, human resources, marketing and proposals. It also provides participants with access to Federal and prime contracting executives along with a national network of veteran owned small businesses that they can team with on opportunities.

Since its launch in 2009, VIP has helped 348 service-disabled and veteran-owned small businesses grow.  A survey of 121 of the program’s graduates determined that 1,535 new jobs were created and the size of their businesses increased by an average of 41% within a year of graduating from the Institute. More than 80% of surveyed graduates credited VIP for equipping them to make recent business decisions and avoid unseen pitfalls. Additionally, veteran-owned businesses are more likely to hire, mentor and train other war veterans as they transition to private life, which is a national priority.

“We are honored to give back to the men and women who served our county by providing them with the tools necessary to succeed as government contractors.” said Barbara Ashe, President of the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation. “We hope this training fosters their success as businesses and employers.”

VIP is a three-day, 27-hour comprehensive certification program. Participants must be a C-level leader in a Veteran-owned small business operating for at least two years with a minimum of 3 full time employees, and experience working on government contracts as a prime and/or sub-contractor to a prime. With volunteer instructors and at no cost to participants, VIP is funded by public and private sponsors and run by the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation.

For information:  Richard Porter, 561-479-1649; rporter@aimmfed.com

For information on VIP: Barbara Ashe, 301-738-0015 x215; bashe@mcccmd.com

For additional information, please visit http://www.NationalVip.org or the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation. 

AIMM attends National Veterans Conference

The National Veterans Small Business Conference  was held this year in St. Louis, Missouri.  There were 3800 attendees.  The conference gave veteran business owners the opportunity to meet procurement decision makers in small groups, at lunch, training sessions and in seminars. There were over 400 exhibitors.

Rich Porter, President, AIMM attended all three days of the convention and made some tremendous contacts that should result in new business opportunities.

Rudy Watley, Associate Director, Supplier Diversity Program, Smithsonian Institution and Melissa Hong, Managing Partner, LH Solutions Group share lunch at the National Veterans Conference in St. Louis.  Rudy is a strong advocate for minority business opportunities at the Smithsonian and throughout the federal government.