Defense Secretary Robert Gates has appointed Letitia Long to serve as the next director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, replacing Navy Vice Adm. Robert Murrett who has been at the agency’s helm since July 2006. Gates made the announcement on Monday. Long, currently NGA’s deputy director, will assume the leadership position later this year. She will be the first woman to lead a major intelligence agency, Gates said, citing her more than 30 years of engineering and intelligence experience. NGA provides imagery and map-based intelligence products for national security purposes. It is presently headquartered in Bethesda, Md., but is relocating to Ft. Belvoir, Va. (AFPS report by Donna Miles)
The Air Force has embraced new technical approaches like open mission systems and rapid software updates for cutting-edge aircraft like the B-21 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Increasingly, though, the service is also working to apply these to its older, “legacy” aircraft, officials said this week.