The Air Force and its industry partners successfully launched a modernized Global Positioning System Block IIR satellite built by Lockheed Martin into space March 15 from Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., the company announced. The satellite, designated GPS IIR-19M, is the sixth of eight modernized GPS IIR satellites that Lockheed Martin has built and subsequently upgraded to provide increased signal power for users, along with greater accuracy and resistance to jamming. The mission was the third consecutive successful launch of a GPS IIR-M satellite in less than five months, according to Lockheed Martin. The remaining two Block IIR-M satellites are also scheduled to go into orbit this year.
Matthew Lohmeier, who was fired from a Space Force squadron command just two years ago, took another step in his unlikely journey to the Department of the Air Force's No. 2 job May 1, testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee that his background as an Air Force F-15C pilot…