12 The Hampton Roads Messenger


Volume 8 Number 9 Around Hampton Roads Chesapeake’s Bond Rating Lt Gen Bill Rew, USAF (ret)


Upgraded City Manager James E. Baker has announced that Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has raised the City of Chesapeake rating on General Obligation bonds to AAA from AA+. This is the City’s second Triple-A rating from a nationally- recognized rating agency; Fitch has rated the City’s bonds AAA since 2010. The City also holds a rating of Aa1 from Moody’s.


S&P cited the City’s very strong, “…budgetary flexibility, reflected by the consistent maintenance of strong reserves…liquidity, providing strong cash to cover debt service and expenditures…and financial management practices and policies.” They also noted the City’s strong economy, which benefits from its participation in the regional metropolitan statistical area.


Chesapeake Mayor Alan P. Krasnoff welcomed the upgrade news. “I want to thank and recognize our Finance Director, Nancy Tracy, and her staff and City Manager Jim Baker for their strong management practices,” Mayor Krasnoff said. “I am grateful to Chesapeake’s City Council for their commitment to strong financial discipline. All of this helped in receiving a Standard and Poor’s Triple A rating.”


“As Mayor, I have said since 2008 getting our financial house in order and ensuring that taxpayers get a reliable return on their investment is extremely important,” Mayor Krasnoff added. “Exercising fiscal discipline will be critical, and lowering taxes and fees is one piece. The other is to create more opportunities by supporting a first-class school system and doing more to keep Chesapeake safe. Get that done, and businesses and families will come and stay in Chesapeake with confidence, knowing they can prosper and succeed together.”


Standard & Poor’s also raised its rating on the Chesapeake Economic Development Authority’s appropriation debt, supported by the City, to AA+ from AA. In addition, the firm assigned its AAA rating and Stable outlook to the City’s series 2014A General Obligation Public Improvement refunding bonds and series 2014B taxable General Obligation Water and Sewer refunding bonds.


Standard & Poor’s has been a world leader in market intelligence for more than 150 years. They have offices in 23 countries, providing credit ratings, research and thought leadership for investors. Additional information about the firm may be found at www.StandardAndPoors.com.


Northrop Grumman Locates Employees in Hampton’s New


Joins ATAC Team Company Provides Commercial Air Services Supporting Airborne Fighter Requirements for DoD


NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- ATAC (Airborne Tactical Advantage Company), the U.S. leader in outsourced tactical airborne services for over 18 years announces the addition of Lieutenant General Bill Rew, USAF (ret) to the ATAC Team. Most recently serving as the Vice Commander, Air Combat Command, located at Langley AFB, Virginia, General Rew assisted in overseeing more than 1,200 aircraft and 105,000 personnel until his retirement in 2014. After commanding at the squadron and group levels, General Rew commanded two F-16 wings and two composite wings at stateside and overseas locations. With his tactical acumen as an F-16 Weapons School instructor, his operational level combat experience and his fluency within senior military staff arenas, General Rew will assist ATAC's vision to be "the recognized industry leader for tactical aviation training to US Air Forces and allied militaries worldwide," delivering cost-effective, and continually advancing training capabilities supporting air power employment in contested, degraded and operationally-constrained environments. General Rew graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in human factors engineering, and also holds a Master of Science degree in human resources management from Golden Gate University. He is a Command Pilot with over 4000 hours in the F-16 and various other fighter and bomber aircraft.


Navy Seaman Shanelle Keyes, Graduates from U.S. Navy


Training included classroom study and practical


May 2014


Basic Training Navy Seaman Shanelle Keyes, daughter of Sonya Keyes, of Norfolk, Va., graduated from U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, IL.


instruction on naval


customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness.


Science Park Northrop Grumman Corp. recently located approximately 30 employees to Hampton's Research and Science Park in Hampton Roads Center North. As part of the Air Operations Center Weapon System Modernization program, the employees at the Science Park are working on modernization efforts for the U.S. Air Force’s “essential operational-level command and control centers,” under a contract valued at $513 million.


"We are very pleased that Northrop Grumman has chosen to locate this operation in Hampton,” said Mayor George Wallace. “The Research and Science Park being developed in Hampton Roads Center


North - in proximity to NASA Langley, Langley Air Force Base and the National Institute of Aerospace - is an excellent site for a program run by a leading global security company.


“We believe many more companies of this caliber will choose Hampton because of its workforce readiness, and its capacity to quickly ramp up additional training programs tailored to specific needs of a new business. A committed and talented economic development staff is available with resources and expertise to assist as needed,” said Wallace.


The Air Operations Center is managed by the U. S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, located at Hanscom Air Force Base near Bedford, Mass., and reports to Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton. The new science park facility complements personnel at Langley’s Ryan Center. Both locations provide critical development, integration and testing capability.


Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company that specializes in a range of areas, including advanced electronics, commercial and military aviation, and homeland security. The company is working with the Air Force to develop a secure, streamlined computing environment for current and future applications.


The approximately $500,000 investment at 300 Exploration Way transformed the new area to accommodate the work environment necessary for their mission. “Craig Davis Properties, on behalf of the landlord, Federal Partners, provided a turnkey solution in less than 120 days, on time and on budget,” said Steve Mallon, executive vice president for Craig Davis Properties.


EFFORTS TO INTENTIONALLY SABOTAGE THE PRINTING, DISTRIBUTION OR REPUTATION OF THIS PUBLICATION IS A VIOLATION OF THE US CONSTITUTION’S PROTECTION OF FREEDOM OF THE PRESS AND MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF ANTITRUST LAWS. IF YOU KNOW OF ANYONE PARTICIPATING IN SUCH ACTIONS, PLEASE REPORT IT TO THE US JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.


The capstone event of boot camp is "Battle Stations". This exercise gives recruits the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the fleet. "Battle Stations" is designed to galvanize the basic warrior attributes of sacrifice, dedication, teamwork and endurance in each recruit through the practical application of basic Navy skills and the core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. Its distinctly ''Navy'' flavor was designed to take into account what it means to be a Sailor. Keyes is a 2013 graduate of Booker T. Washington High School, Norfolk, Va.


Health & Wellness Information


Center at Portsmouth Library “I’m sorry, but you have cancer.” The doctor has just told you that you have an illness or disease that you were not expecting. How do you react? Do you remember anything else that the doctor tells you about the disease after you hear those initial dreaded words? Many of us don’t. In fact, studies have shown that 80% of people forget what a doctor told them as soon as they leave the office, and nearly 50% of what they do remember is remembered incorrectly. “At 28 years old, I was told I had breast cancer. I remember the day very well, but I don’t remember anything after he said, you have breast cancer,” said Jessica Mullen, health educator for the Portsmouth Health Department. “I raced home and tried to look up everything I could on my type of cancer, but that was a bad idea. I found myself more confused and lost than when I left the doctor’s office.”


Have you thought it would be nice to have a place you could go and talk to someone about your diagnosis and get reliable and accurate information? The Portsmouth Health Department, Portsmouth Public Libraries, and partners have created the Health & Wellness Information Center (HWIC) at the Main Library in Portsmouth to help you do that. The mission of the center is to help Portsmouth residents find information about their health concerns and connect them to health resources within the community.


The vision of the center is that every person in Portsmouth is empowered to invest in their health through quality health resources and services. HWIC will be opening its doors officially on May 1, 2014 at Portsmouth Main Library. Our “Band-Aid” cutting ceremony to inaugurate the city’s new health resource center will be at 10:00 am at 601 Court Street. We will be inviting the other city and community agencies leaders who have been part of this planning process to also be involved in this ceremony. HWIC will be a safe place where anyone, regardless of background or literacy level, will be able to find accurate information about their health concerns. It will also serve as a hub where physicians can refer their patients for additional health information. “The providers at EVMS Portsmouth Family Medicine see a multitude of patients from diverse backgrounds,” said Dr. Margaret Baumgarten, a Family Practice physician and attending physician at Bon Secours Maryview Hospital. “We have firsthand experience in understanding how difficult it is for our patients to access information about their medical questions. It is hard to identify resources that are reliable


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