Brad Graves
Reporter & Special Sections Editor
Phone: 619-366-6627
Recent Stories
CFO of the Year Awards Set for March 24; Tickets Are Still Available
One of the premier business networking events of the season — the CFO of the Year Awards — is this week. Tickets are still available.
Viasat Sees Record Revenue in Q3
Launch of First ViaSat-3 Satellite Now Scheduled for Late Summer
Viasat Inc., the Carlsbad business with one foot in government contracting and the other foot in commercial and consumer businesses, reported a net loss of $6.6 million, or 9 cents per share, on revenue of $719.7 million in the quarter that ended Dec. 31.
Delivery Milestone for Northrop Grumman
First Production Triton Carrying IFC-4 Payload Goes to U.S. Navy
Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE: NOC) announced earlier this month that it delivered its first production MQ-4C Triton aircraft equipped with sophisticated “IFC-4” electronics to its U.S. Navy customer. The company bases its Triton program in Rancho Bernardo.
GA-ASI and U.S. Army Update Gray Eagle Technology
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. is improving satellite data links for a U.S. Army version of its Predator-family unmanned aircraft
ResMed Grows Business Despite Supply Chain Constraints
MEDICAL DEVICES: Revenue is Up 12%; CEO Forecasts Improved Component Availability
Facing what its CEO called “a perfect storm” of circumstances, medical device maker ResMed Inc. (NYSE:RMD) concluded its second quarter with net income of $201.8 million, or $1.37 per share, on revenue of $894.9 million.
NASSCO Gets $48M in Dry Dock Work
USS Curtis Wilbur Returns From Extended Deployment in Japan
The U.S. Navy awarded General Dynamics NASSCO a $47.7 million firm-fixed-price contract for dry dock work on the USS Curtis Wilbur, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer.
Northrop Grumman Aircraft Goes to Work for Navy
DEFENSE: Crews Deploy Unmanned MQ-8C Fire Scout Off Latin America
The U.S. Navy chose a counter-narcotics operation in waters near Central and South America for the initial deployment of an unmanned helicopter called the MQ-8C Fire Scout.
France Asks to Buy GA Tech
Sale of Aircraft Carrier Gear Could Amount to $1.32 Billion
The U.S. government has announced a potential foreign sale of General Atomics’ advanced aircraft handling equipment for aircraft carrier ships.
San Diego Firms Benefit From F-35 Orders
Contract for Long-Lead Items Worth Approximately $17M Locally
The U.S. Navy awarded Lockheed Martin Corp. an $847 million modification to a previously awarded advance acquisition contract for F-35 Lightning II fighter jets.
New Chairman, CEO for Cubic
DEFENSE: Leadership Changes Follows Sale
Stevan Slijepcevic, a former Honeywell Aerospace executive, has taken the CEO’s chair at Cubic Corp. Cubic also named a new chairman, Mac Curtis.
$50.9M Target Drone Contract Goes to Kratos Defense
U.S. Navy, Japan and Saudi Arabia to Split Order for 65 Aircraft
The U.S. Navy awarded Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc. a $50.9 million contract modification to procure 65 BQM-177A Subsonic Aerial Targets.
RF Industries Has $57M Year, Agrees to Buy Microlab
MANUFACTURING: Electronic Component Maker Expects 2022 Sales to Exceed $63M
RF Industries Inc. (Nasdaq: RFIL), the electronic component maker based on Miramar Road, reported net income of $813,000 on net sales of $21.1 million during its fourth quarter, which ended Oct. 31.
Qualcomm Expands in Auto Sector
TECH: Volvo, Honda Projects Made Public
Qualcomm Inc., the $33.6 billion chipmaker and pioneer of 5G wireless, has been putting its energies into automotive work, including projects supporting fully electric vehicles.
TuSimple Achieves Driverless Feat
TECHNOLOGY: Big Rig Negotiates 80 Miles With No Human Intervention
San Diego-based TuSimple (Nasdaq: TSP) displayed the capabilities of its autonomous big-rig truck with an 80-mile nighttime run between two Arizona cities — on public highways, alongside other vehicles, with no human in the cab.
LevitZacks Names 4 New Shareholders
Certified Public Accounting firm LevitZacks has named four new shareholders. They are Anju Agrawal, Bryan Carpenter, Nick Palmer and Steve Root.
Austal to Spend $100M on National City Site
SHIP REPAIR: Company Moving In; Set to Hire More than 200 by 2023
Austal USA, which builds small surface ships for the U.S. Navy, has big growth plans for National City. The defense contractor expects to make approximately $100 million worth of improvements to a newly leased bayfront site south of the 32nd Street naval station.
$1.79 Billion Sempra Deal
ENERGY: Abu Dhabi to Ink Infrastructure Pact
Sempra (NYSE: SRE) announced on Dec. 21 that it plans to sell a noncontrolling, 10% stake in its Sempra Infrastructure Partners business for $1.785 billion. The prospective buyer is the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.
RF Industries Has $57M Year, Signs Deal to Buy Microlab
RF Industries Inc. (Nasdaq: RFIL), the electronic component maker based on Miramar Road, has agreed to buy Microlab LLC from New Jersey-based Wireless Telecom Group Inc. (NYSE: WTT) for $24.25 million cash.
Sempra to Sell 10% of Infrastructure Business for $1.79 Billion
Sempra (NYSE: SRE) has plans to sell a noncontrolling, 10% stake in its Sempra Infrastructure Partners business for $1.79 billion. The buyer is the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.
Kratos Defense Building Affordable Jet Engines
Turbojet and Turbofan Models Under Development; C5ISR Program Has Promise
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS) announced on Nov. 26 that it received an initial production order for a new, affordable, high performance jet engine for an aerial vehicle application.
Feeding San Diego Sets Turkey Distribution for Dec. 21
Feeding San Diego announced that it plans to distribute more than 500 turkeys to San Diegans in need during a drive-through distribution event on Tuesday, Dec. 21.
GA-ASI Unveils Special Operations Aircraft
DEFENSE: Poway Co. Sees Unmanned Craft in an Armed Overwatch Role
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. has developed a new version of its Predator unmanned aircraft — one that can operate in environments that don’t easily support other GA-ASI aircraft.
Ship Repair Contracts Go to Six Companies
U.S. Navy Will Place Delivery Orders Up to $655 Million Through 2026
The U.S. Navy awarded contracts to six companies for complex repair, maintenance and modernization of non-nuclear Navy surface combatant class ships — specifically cruisers and destroyers — homeported in or visiting San Diego.
Blue Sky Network Wins Export Pitch Contest
TECHNOLOGY: World Trade Center San Diego Gives Brazil Outreach a Boost
Blue Sky Network, a San Diego business offering advanced satellite communications, won $25,000 to further its international business as part of a recent pitch contest organized by the World Trade Center San Diego.
Jack in the Box Posts Fourth Quarter Revenue of $279M
RESTAURANTS: Net Earnings Are $38.9M; Board Declares Dividend, OKs Stock Buyback
Jack in the Box Inc. (Nasdaq: JACK), the homegrown hamburger chain, generated revenue of $278.5 million in its fourth quarter, which wrapped up on Oct. 3.
GA-ASI Wins $103 Million U.S. Army Aircraft Contract
General Atomics Affiliate to Support Belgium’s Program in $32 Million Deal
The U.S. Army awarded General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. a $103.2 million contract for the production of Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft systems, satellite airborne data terminals and government furnished equipment maintenance.
SD 500 Icons List Never Stays Static
LEADERSHIP: Some Reflect on Legacy, Others Make Changes in 2021
Every member of the San Diego 500 makes a contribution to the region’s economic life. Many work to build or improve the community at large. Then there are those whose work is so influential, and whose contribution so great, that the San Diego Business Journal recognizes them as icons.
Ship Repair Support Contract Goes to QED
U.S. Navy Awards $49.3 Million Deal to Virginia Firm With Local Presence
The U.S. Navy awarded QED Systems Inc. of Virginia Beach, Virginia a $49.3 million modification to a previously awarded contract. Under the deal, QED will support availabilities — that is, periods of time set aside in a ship’s schedule for maintenance, repairs and modernization.
Denver Company to Acquire Majority Stake in Space Micro
TECHNOLOGY: North County Firm Has Contracts With NASA, Military Services
North County-based Space Micro announced on Nov. 22 that Denver-based Voyager Space Inc. has agreed to buy a majority stake in the company.
Sempra Contemplates New LNG Export Site in Mexico
ENERGY: Shipments to Asia Could Pass Through Topolobampo, on the Gulf of California
Sempra (NYSE: SRE) has expanded its plans to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the west coast of Mexico.
Viasat to Buy Competitor
AEROSPACE: Inmarsat Deal Worth $7.3 Billion
Carlsbad-based Viasat (Nasdaq: VSAT) said on Nov. 8 that it has agreed to buy British competitor Inmarsat for $7.3 billion.
Kratos’ Third-Quarter Revenue Reaches $201 Million
Defense Contractor’s CEO Upbeat About Unmanned Aircraft and Other Programs
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS), the defense contractor based in Scripps Ranch, essentially broke even in its third quarter, reporting a net loss of 2 cents per share, or $2.4 million, on total revenue of $200.6 million.
Cox Communications’ Sam Attisha Promoted to National Post
Sam Attisha has been named senior vice president of field operations for Cox Communications nationwide.
Drata Achieves Unicorn Status
SOFTWARE: Receives $100M in Series B Funds
The number of unicorns in San Diego grew by one this fall, as security software specialist Drata brought in its Series B round of venture capital. Drata announced the achievement Nov. 8.
GA-ASI Has New Air Force Project
Receives Contract Similar to Deal Awarded to Kratos Defense
The U.S. Air Force has selected two San Diego companies to design and develop an aircraft it calls Off-Board Sensing Station, or OBSS.
Contracts to Keep Global Hawk Flying
Northrop Grumman Deals Worth Hundreds of Millions of Dollars
The U.S. Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE: NOC) a $298.2 million indefinite-delivery modification to a previously awarded contract supporting the RQ-4B Global Hawk unmanned aircraft. The Global Hawk program is based in Rancho Bernardo.
Veterans Draw Business Lessons From Service
SPECIAL REPORT: Military Careers Shape Knowledge, Attitudes, Soft Skills
Military experience offers a valuable skill set for people in business. Veterans working in the business world continually draw on their personal experience in the service to manage the workings of private companies or run businesses of their own.
Alliance to Support Aircraft Depot Work
Joint Venture to Deliver Services in Coronado, Miramar, Camp Pendleton
The U.S. Navy awarded Aircraft Readiness Alliance LLC, a small business from Anchorage, Alaska, a $57.5 million modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract.
Groove Finds a Fit With San Diego’s Workforce
TECHNOLOGY: Bay Area Software Maker’s Product Aligns With Salesforce
Chris Rothstein is sold on San Diego. The co-founder and CEO of San Francisco-based Groove counts it as a fast-growing second home for his enterprise software company.
Mission Fed Opens 33rd Branch
Mission Fed Credit Union announced on Oct. 27 that it has opened its 33rd branch site, in Oceanside.
Pentagon Spending In Holding Pattern
Congress Has Yet to Decide on 2022 Defense Department Budget
With a new federal fiscal year kicked off Oct. 1, but no Pentagon budget for 2022, the U.S. Department of Defense is operating under stopgap legislation that ends Dec. 3.
Asterra Uses Satellite Data to Solve Engineering Problems
TECHNOLOGY: Detecting Water Underground Helps Authorities Manage Infrastructure
Conserve water. That is the call Californians have heard for years. An Israeli company with its North American office in Rancho Bernardo is taking a technological approach to helping authorities detect and fix pipeline leaks to save resources.
LevitZacks Ranks as Top CPA Firm
LevitZacks, the Certified Public Accounting firm based downtown, has been named the Best Accounting Firm to Work For in the United States for the third straight year.
Ransomware, Data Breaches Put Cos. to the Test
CYBERSECURITY: Events Offer Numerous Lessons About Security, Incident Response
If a baseball team has a losing season, a typical response is to fire the manager. If a company or an enterprise experiences a ransomware attack or a data breach, does the organization do the same for the person overseeing security? Perhaps but not always.
Pentagon Spending Amounts to $35.3 Billion
DEFENSE: DoD Funds Helped Region Weather COVID-19, Study Says
Pentagon spending in San Diego County grew more formidable during fiscal 2021, increasing 5.3% to $35.3 billion.
ASML to Boost Staff, Fine-Tune Tech
CHIPS: Dutch Co. With Local Campus Forecasts Decade of Growth
Seeing fast and steady growth for its technology, ASML plans to grow its staff. With a San Diego workforce of approximately 1,500, the Dutch company that produces equipment for microchip foundries plans to grow its staff 10-15% in the coming year, adding approximately 140 employees in 2022.
More Carrier Work for General Atomics
GA Making Parts for Aircraft Handling Gear in a $9.6 Million Deal
The U.S. Navy awarded General Atomics of San Diego a $9.6 million firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded contract. The deal covers components for the aircraft launch and recovery equipment being built into USS Gerald R. Ford class aircraft carriers.
Plenty of Options to Study Cybersecurity
San Diego Programs Range From Master’s Degrees to Certificates
There is work aplenty in the cybersecurity space, with more jobs than people to fill them. Many people pick up experience in the military or on the job. Would-be workers also expand their knowledge through college.
Sempra Gets Good Marks for Transparency
San Diego-based Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE) has been lauded for its transparency, being named most improved overall in the 2021 U.S. Transparency Awards sponsored by Labrador.
Cybersecurity Field Has a Prime Opportunity to Diversify
TECHNOLOGY: In California, Tens of Thousands of Jobs Go Unfilled
Bad actors continue their assaults on the computer networks of corporations, governments and other enterprises, and the IT world is calling for reinforcements.