Tag: Army

Live Updates: Russia-Ukraine-War

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MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Moscow is ready to resume gas supplies to Europe via a link of Germany-bound Nord Stream 2 pipeline under the Baltic Sea which has never been in use.

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline has never brought natural gas to Europe because Germany prevented the flows from ever starting just before Russia invaded Ukraine.

Russia has cut off the parallel Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which has been at the center of an energy standoff with Europe. Russia has blamed technical problems for the stoppage, but European leaders call it an attempt to divide them over their support for Ukraine.

Speaking at a Moscow energy forum, Putin again claimed Wednesday that the U.S. was likely behind the explosions that ripped through both links of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline and one of the two links of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, causing a massive gas leak and taking them out of service.

The U.S. has previously rejected similar allegations by Putin.

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KEY DEVELOPMENTS:

— Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant loses external power

— Belarus army would likely have little impact in Ukraine war

— Bodies exhumed from mass grave in Ukraine’s liberated Lyman

— EU countries turn to Africa in bid to replace Russian gas

— Leak detected in pipeline that brings crude oil to Germany

— Worried UN meets on Ukraine hours after Russian strikes

— Follow all AP stories on the war in Ukraine at https:/ /apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

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OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian authorities say a Russian attack on a market in the eastern Donetsk region has killed seven people and wounded eight.

The deputy head of the Ukraine president’s office says the attack happened early Wednesday morning in Avdiivka.

“The Russian military needs more blood, more death and more destruction,” Kyrylo Tymoshenko said on Telegram. “This is a hunt for the lives of peaceful citizens.”

Photos attached to the post showed dead people lying in line near one of kiosks that had potatoes and bread on the counter.

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KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine government’s energy minister says Russian attacks in the past two days have damaged about one third of the country’s energy infrastructure.

“For the first time since the start of the war, Russia is targeting energy infrastructure,” German Galushchenko said on Wednesday. He says this is because Ukraine is exporting energy to Europe.

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KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s presidential office says Russian shelling in the past 24 hours has affected eight regions in the southeast, while strikes on central and western areas have eased for the moment.

Russian forces used drones, heavy artillery and missiles, according to the presidential office’s Wednesday morning update.

Three people have been rescued alive from the rubble in Zaporizhzhia after over a dozen missiles rained on the city, the report said. A six-year-old girl and two more people were wounded in the shelling of Nikopol, where the attacks damaged some three dozen residential buildings, private houses, kindergartens, a school, two plants and several shops, the report added.

Ukrainian forces say they shot down nine Iranian Shahed-136 drones and destroyed eight Kalibr cruise missiles near Mykolaiv, leaving the southern city without power.

“Russian shelling intensifies and subsides, but doesn’t stop, not for a day the city lives in tension, and the Russians’ main goal appears to be keeping us in fear,” Mykolaiv regional governor Vitali Kim said.

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KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian officials and military analysts say Kyiv’s counteroffensive in the occupied regions in the south and east of the country has slowed down significantly despite Ukraine retaking five towns and villages in the Kherson area.

Russian troops have been re-enforcing the front lines and regrouping following Ukrainian successes, which has forced the Ukrainian forces to ease their advances.

Regional administrator in the eastern Luhansk region says Russian forces there have been building a multi-layered defense line and mining the front line’s first section.

Serhiy Haidai says people in the Luhansk region are moving from the Russia-occupied cities to villages, where they have been settling down in empty houses to “spend the winter in warm.”

Luhansk is among the four region that Russia unlawfully annexed following referendums dismissed as sham by both Ukraine and the West.

“In the south, the Ukrainian army is slowing down the pace of the counteroffensive, because the Russians managed to regroup and put forward paratrooper units, and unexpected issues arose,” Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov told The Associated Press.

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MOSCOW — The Kremlin says there are no plans for Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden during a Group of 20 summit in Indonesia next month.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday said “neither the Russian, nor American side put forward any initiatives about organizing bilateral contacts” during the summit in Bali.

Asked about Biden’s comments in an interview with CNN in which he warned that the use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine would lead to a “horrible outcome,” Peskov said the remarks were part of “harmful and provocative” Western nuclear rhetoric.

Putin has said he wouldn’t hesitate to use “all means available” to protect Russian territory in a clear reference to Russian nuclear arsenals, a statement that was broadly seen as an attempt to force Ukraine to halt its offensive to reclaim control of the four regions that were illegally absorbed by Russia.

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BRUSSELS — A Belarus opposition leader says Russia is now de facto occupying her country by deploying its troops there and using authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko as its puppet.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya urged more support from EU leaders during a two-day visit to European Union headquarters in Brussels. She says “we face an enemy who denies the very existence of our country as a free and independent nation.”

The exiled opposition leader fears that Lukashenko could force the Belarus army to join Russian forces in Moscow’s war against Ukraine. Russia has already used Belarus as a staging ground to send troops and missiles into Ukraine earlier in the war.

Tsikhanouskaya adds the situation has become “dramatic” in Belarus, which has become totally subservient to the wishes of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin and Lukasenko, she says, have “tried to increase and legalize the constant deployment of Russian troops on Belarus territory.”

“It’s an occupation,” adds Tsikhanouskaya. “Our position is clear, Belarus must officially withdraw from participation in Russian war, and the Russian soldiers must leave Belarus unconditionally.”

Tsikhanouskaya fled to Lithuania after Lukashenko claimed victory in disputed August 2020 elections that many thought she won.

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KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine Southern Operational Command says its forces have recaptured five settlements in the Kherson region.

The villages of Novovasylivka, Novohryhorivka, Nova Kamianka, Tryfonivka and Chervone in the Beryslav district were retaken as of Oct. 11, according to the speaker of the southern command Vladislav Nazarov.

The settlements are in one of the four regions recently illegally annexed by Russia.

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MOSCOW — Russia’s top KGB successor agency said Wednesday that it has arrested eight people on charges of involvement in the attack on the bridge linking Russia to Crimea.

The Federal Security Service (FSB) said it arrested five Russians and three citizens of Ukraine and Armenia on charges of involvement in Saturday’s attack on the bridge.

A truck loaded with explosives blew up while driving across the bridge, killing four and causing two sections of one of the two automobile links to collapse.

The FSB charged that the arrested suspects were working on orders of Ukraine’s military intelligence to secretly move the explosives into Russia and forge the accompanying documents.

It said the explosives were moved by sea from the Ukrainian port of Odesa to Bulgaria before being shipped to Georgia, driven to Armenia and then back to Georgia before being transported to Russia in a complex scheme to secretly deliver them to the target.

Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced the attack on the bridge as an “act of terrorism” and responded by ordering a barrage of missile strikes on Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials have lauded the explosion on the bridge, but stopped short of directly claiming responsibility for it.

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KYIV, Ukraine — A Ukrainian official says a Russian attack blew up windows and doors on residential buildings in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia.

City council Secretary Anatoliy Kurtev on Wednesday warned the residents of possible follow-up attacks. There were no reports of injuries from the initial shelling.

Zaporizhzhia, which sits fairly near the front line, has been repeatedly struck with often deadly attacks in recent weeks. It is part of a larger region, including Europe’s largest nuclear power plant now in Russian control, that Moscow has said it has annexed in violation of international law. The city itself remains in Ukrainian hands.

Another powerful blast struck Melitopol, which is in the same region, sending a car flying into the air, said mayor Ivan Fedorov. There was no word on casualties. Also Wednesday, air raid sirens sounded in the capital Kyiv.

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WARSAW, Poland — A leak has been detected in an underground oil pipeline in Poland which is the main route through which Russian crude oil reaches Germany.

Polish operator, PERN, on Wednesday said it detected a leak in the Druzhba pipeline, which originates in Russia, on Tuesday evening about 70 kilometers (45 miles) form the the central Polish city of Plock. It said the cause of the leak wasn’t known.

The Druzhba pipeline, which in Russian means “Friendship,” is one of the world’s longest oil pipelines, and after leaving Russia it branches out to bring crude to points including Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Austria and Germany.

The incident follows leaks late last month in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines running along the Baltic seabed.

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October 12, 2022
As suicides rise, US military seeks to address mental health

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WASHINGTON — After finishing a tour in Afghanistan in 2013, Dionne Williamson felt emotionally numb. More warning signs appeared during several years of subsequent overseas postings.

“It’s like I lost me somewhere,” said Williamson, a Navy lieutenant commander who experienced disorientation, depression, memory loss and chronic exhaustion. “I went to my captain and said, ‘Sir, I need help. Something’s wrong.’”

As the Pentagon seeks to confront spiraling suicide rates in the military ranks, Williamson’s experiences shine a light on the realities for service members seeking mental health help. For most, simply acknowledging their difficulties can be intimidating. And what comes next can be frustrating and dispiriting.

Williamson, 46, eventually found stability through a monthlong hospitalization and a therapeutic program that incorporates horseback riding. But she had to fight for years to get the help she needed. “It’s a wonder how I made it through,” she said.

In March, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the creation of an independent committee to review the military’s mental health and suicide prevention programs.

According to Defense Department data, suicides among active-duty service members increased by more than 40% between 2015 and 2020. The numbers jumped by 15% in 2020 alone. In longtime suicide hotspot postings such as Alaska – service members and their families contend with extreme isolation and a harsh climate – the rate has doubled.

A 2021 study by the Cost of War Project concluded that since 9/11, four times as many service members and veterans have died by suicide as have perished in combat. The study detailed stress factors particular to military life: “high exposure to trauma — mental, physical, moral, and sexual — stress and burnout, the influence of the military’s hegemonic masculine culture, continued access to guns, and the difficulty of reintegrating into civilian life.”

The Pentagon did not respond to repeated requests for comment. But Austin has publicly acknowledged that the Pentagon’s current mental health offerings — including a Defense Suicide Prevention Office established in 2011 — have proven insufficient.

“It is imperative that we take care of all our teammates and continue to reinforce that mental health and suicide prevention remain a key priority,” Austin wrote in March. “Clearly we have more work to do.”

Last year the Army issued fresh guidelines to its commanders on how to handle mental health issues in the ranks, complete with briefing slides and a script. But daunting long-term challenges remain. Many soldiers fear the stigma of admitting to mental health issues within the internal military culture of self-sufficiency. And those who seek help often find that stigma is not only real, but compounded by bureaucratic obstacles.

Much like the issue of food insecurity in military families, a network of military-adjacent charitable organizations has tried to fill the gaps with a variety of programs and outreach efforts.

Some are purely recreational, such as an annual fishing tournament in Alaska designed to provide fresh air and socialization for service members. Others are more focused on self-care, like an Armed Services YMCA program that offers free childcare so that military parents can attend therapy sessions.

The situation in Alaska is particularly dire. In January, after a string of suicides, Command Sgt. Maj. Phil Blaisdell addressed his soldiers in an emotional Instagram post. “When did suicide become the answer,” he asked. “Please send me a DM if you need something. Please …”

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said that while posting to Alaska can be a dream for some service members, it’s a solitary nightmare for others that needs to be addressed.

“You’ve got to be paying attention to this when you see the statistics jump as they are,” Murkowski said. “Right now, you’ve got everybody. You’ve got the Joint Chiefs looking at Alaska and saying, ‘Holy smokes, what’s going on up there?’”

The stresses of an Alaska posting are compounded by a shortage of on-the-ground therapists. During a visit to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska earlier this year, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth heard from base health care workers who say they are understaffed, burned out and can’t see patients on a timely basis. If a soldier seeks help, they often have to wait weeks for an appointment.

“We have people who need our services and we can’t get to them,” one longtime counselor told Wormuth during a meeting. “We need staff and until we get them, we will continue to have soldiers die.”

The annual Combat Fishing Tournament in Seward, Alaska, was formed to “get the kids out of the barracks, get them off the base for the day and get them out of their heads,” said co-founder Keith Manternach.

The tournament, which was begun in 2007 and now involves more than 300 service members, includes a day of deep-water fishing followed by a celebratory banquet with prizes for the largest catch, smallest catch and the person who gets the sickest.

“I think there’s a huge element of mental health to it,” Manternach said.

It’s not just in Alaska.

Sgt. Antonio Rivera, an 18-year veteran who completed three tours in Iraq and a year at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, freely acknowledges that he has serious PTSD.

“I know that I need help. There’s signs and I’ve waited long enough,” said Rivera, 48, who is assigned to Fort Hood in Texas. “I don’t want my children to suffer because of me not going to get help.”

He’s doing yoga, but says he needs more. He’s reluctant to seek help inside the military.

“Personally I’d feel more comfortable being able to talk to someone outside,” he said. “It would allow me to open up a lot more without having to be worried about how it’s going to affect my career.”

Others who speak up say it’s a struggle to get assistance.

Despite the on-base presence of “tons of briefings and brochures on suicide and PTSD,” Williamson said she found herself fighting for years to get time off and therapy.

Eventually, she entered a monthlong in-patient program in Arizona. When she returned, a therapist recommended equine-assisted therapy, which proved to be a breakthrough.

Now Williamson is a regular at the Cloverleaf Equine Center in Clifton, Virginia, where riding sessions can be combined with a variety of therapeutic practices and exercises. Working with horses has long been used as a form for therapy for people with physical or mental disabilities and children diagnosed with autism. But in recent years, it has been embraced for helping service members with anxiety and PTSD.

“In order to be able to work with horses, you need to be able to regulate your emotions. They communicate through body language and energy,” said Shelby Morrison, Cloverleaf’s communications director. “They respond to energies around them. They respond to negativity, positivity, anxiety, excitement.”

Military clients, Morrison said, come with “a lot of anxiety, depression, PTSD. … We use the horse to get them out of their triggers.”

For Williamson, the regular riding sessions have helped stabilize her. She still struggles, and she said her long campaign for treatment has damaged her relationship with multiple superior officers. She’s currently on limited duty and isn’t sure if she’ll retire when she hits her 20-year anniversary in March.

Nevertheless, she says, the equine therapy has helped her feel optimistic for the first time in recent memory.

“Now even if I can’t get out of bed, I make sure to come here,” she said. “If I didn’t come here, I don’t know where I would even be.”

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Associated Press writer Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report.

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The national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.

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October 10, 2022
Seoul’s reprisal blows up after North Korean missile success

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SEOUL, South Korea — A malfunctioning South Korean ballistic missile blew up as it plowed into the ground Wednesday during a live-fire drill with the United States that was a reprisal for North Korea’s successful launch a day earlier of a weapon that flew over Japan and has the range to strike the U.S. territory of Guam.

The explosion and subsequent fire panicked and confused residents of the coastal city of Gangneung, who were already uneasy over the increasingly provocative weapons tests by rival North Korea. Their concern that it could be a North Korean attack only grew as the military and government officials provided no explanation about the explosion for hours.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said no injuries have been reported from the explosion, which involved a short-range Hyumoo-2 missile that crashed inside an air force base in the outskirts of the city. It said the crash didn’t affect any civilian facilities.

Kwon Seong-dong, a ruling party lawmaker representing Gangneung, wrote on Facebook that a “weapons system operated by our blood-like taxpayer money ended up threatening our own people” and called for the military to thoroughly investigate the missile failure. He also criticized the military for not issuing a notice about the failure while maintaining a media embargo on the joint drills.

“It was an irresponsible response,” Kwon wrote. “They don’t even have an official press release yet.”

South Korea’s military acknowledged the malfunction hours after internet users raised alarm about the blast and posted social media videos showing an orange ball of flames emerging from an area they described as near the air force base. It said it was investigating what caused the “abnormal flight” of the missile.

Officials at Gangneung’s fire department and city hall said emergency workers were dispatched to the air force base and a nearby army base in response to calls about a possible explosion but were sent back by military officials.

The U.S. and South Korean militaries are conducting the joint exercises to show their ability to deter a North Korean attack on the South. During Tuesday’s drills, they conducted bombing runs by F-15 strike jets using precision munitions and launched two missiles each that are part of the Army Tactical Missile System.

Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan was scheduled to return to waters east of South Korea on Wednesday to demonstrate the allies’ “firm will” to counter North’s continued provocations and threats. The carrier was part of drills last week with South Korea and Japan.

The homegrown Hyumoo-2 is key to South Korea’s preemptive and retaliatory strike strategies against the North. Some versions of the missile are similar to Russian-designed Iskander missiles, which are part of North Korea’s arsenal.

North Korea’s successful launch of a nuclear-capable ballistic missile hours before the drills was the country’s most provocative weapons demonstration since 2017 and was its fifth round of weapons tests in 10 days.

That missile has a range capable of striking Guam, which is home to one of the largest military facilities maintained by the U.S. in Asia. North Korea in 2017 also tested missiles capable of hitting the continental United States.

North Korea has fired nearly 40 ballistic missiles over about 20 different launch events this year, exploiting Russia’s war on Ukraine and the resulting deep divide in the U.N. Security Council to accelerate its arms development without risking further sanctions.

Its aim is to develop a fully fledged nuclear arsenal capable of threatening the U.S. mainland and its allies while gaining recognition as a nuclear state and wresting concessions from those countries.

The United States, Britain, France, Albania, Norway and Ireland called for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council over the latest North Korean launch. The open meeting was scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday.

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See more AP Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific

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October 4, 2022
Hoverfly Technologies Names Bill Maesalu as Chief Financial Officer

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Accomplished CFO Hired to Lead Hoverfly’s Rapidly Expanding Global Finance Organization

Press Release
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Jul 7, 2022

SANFORD, Fla., July 7, 2022 (Newswire.com)
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Hoverfly Technologies Inc. is thrilled to announce Bill Maesalu has joined the leadership team as Chief Financial Officer. As CFO, Bill will lead Hoverfly’s global finance organization and financial activities, including accounting and controllership, financial planning and analysis, tax, investor relations, internal audit, and treasury. Maesalu’s hire follows Hoverfly’s successful spring bridge raise and strong first half order intake.

“Bill’s extensive experience as a CFO for both large and small manufacturing firms makes him an ideal fit for this critical period of rapid growth at Hoverfly,” said Hoverfly President and COO Steve Walters. “We are extremely happy to welcome him to the team and look forward to his contributions in financial leadership and management during this exciting time as we transition out of start-up mode and begin to scale our operations to meet the high order demands from our DoD customers.”

Bill, a CPA, graduated from Bentley University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. His career started as a cost accountant at Texas Instruments in Houston before moving to Coopers & Lybrand (now PWC). After leaving Coopers, Bill moved to the Stanley Works where he spent time as an Internal Auditor before moving to the corporate accounting group where he supervised financial reporting. Next, Bill moved to Rexam PLC and had multiple roles leading to VP of Finance for a major international division. After Rexam, Bill spent the past 25 years as a CFO for multiple capital equipment manufacturing companies. Most recently he was the CFO of an environmental equipment supplier.

“I’ve admired Hoverfly’s team and technology, and I’m excited to join a company that has not only been successful but also has the potential for considerable growth in the near future,” said new CFO Bill Maesalu. “I look forward to working with a talented team to continue to build on the great success Hoverfly has seen in recent years.”

Press Contact:

Tyler Marple

tyler.marple@hoverflytech.com

hoverflytech.com

407-985-4500

Source: Hoverfly Technologies, Inc.

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July 7, 2022
Hoverfly Technologies Surpasses 300 LiveSky Sales to U.S. Government

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Over 300 LiveSky Tethered UAS Sold To The U.S. Government With New Order For 43 Systems

Press Release
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Jun 8, 2022

SANFORD, Fla., June 8, 2022 (Newswire.com)
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Hoverfly Technologies Inc. announced today another order for 43 LiveSky systems for the US Army, now surpassing over 300 LiveSky tethered drones sold to the U.S. government. LiveSky is a turnkey tethered UAS platform with infinite flight time, offering on-demand persistent ISR capabilities and communications relay solutions. National defense, intelligence, and homeland security customers have all benefited from LiveSky solutions as a force multiplier in mission-critical situations.

LiveSky Sentry and LiveSky Defender, often referred to as the Variable Height Antenna (VHA) for network range extension, have been deployed both domestically and internationally in all-weather environments. Hoverfly’s new LiveSky HL Spectre caught the eye of DoD and USG agencies in recent months due to its multi-payload capability. LiveSky HL Spectre can carry up to three payloads, offering both persistent ISR and broadband network communications relay solutions at the press of a button.

All LiveSky platforms are payload agnostic, allowing integration of a variety of third-party payloads. USG customers employ Silvus, Trellisware, Persistent Systems, and other tactical radios on LiveSky platforms for broadband network range extension, giving our troops unparalleled situational awareness on the battlefield. Equipping LiveSky with ISR payloads provides live full-motion video streams that can be viewed locally, by operators using Tactical Awareness Kit (TAK), and over networks anywhere in the world. LiveSky does not operate using any radio frequency (RF) signals, making it impossible for the data within the system to be jammed, hacked, or intercepted. Additional payloads are available for integration, to include 5G, C-UAS, and EW systems that are more effective at 200′.

USG customers have identified the ability to seamlessly integrate into any network as a key differentiator for Hoverfly tethered drone solutions. LiveSky platforms have been an integral part of multiple ground vehicle programs, enhancing both manned and unmanned on-the-move capabilities. Hoverfly President and COO, Steve Walters, explains, “Various surveillance, radio, and network achieve maximum performance at elevation. Hoverfly LiveSky systems continue to prove that seeking the high ground can be achieved in seconds. Hoverfly’s culture is entrepreneurial and encourages innovation and disruption to the legacy methods of achieving payload elevation, and we are proud to provide capability to the U.S. government, first responders, and foreign partners. “

More and more USG procurement requirements are including tethered UAS, and Hoverfly remains the industry leader with hundreds of units deployed to USG customers. More information on the different LiveSky platforms can be found at hoverflytech.com

Press Contact:

Tyler Marple

tyler.marple@hoverflytech.com

407-985-4500

hoverflytech.com

Source: Hoverfly Technologies, Inc.

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June 8, 2022
Hoverfly Technologies Announces Grand Opening of New Facility

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Press Release
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Apr 25, 2022

SANFORD, Fla., April 25, 2022 (Newswire.com)
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Hoverfly Technologies, Inc. is excited to announce the grand opening of its new state-of-the-art headquarters in Sanford, FL. The transition to the new stand-alone facility has optimized R&D, flight testing, and engineering to continue to improve LiveSky tethered UAS for federal, security, and commercial customers. The grand opening of the new office in Sanford, FL, comes on the heels of the grand opening of the Product Verification Test Facility (PVTF) in Wright City, MO, and the Maritime Facility in Virginia Beach, VA.

“Hoverfly Technologies continues to grow as customer orders increase year over year. The new facility in Sanford presents great opportunity for our workforce and our customer for the years to come. This facility and the Sanford community was a natural fit for our culture that is based on fostering an environment that encourages innovative ideas across the organization,” Steve Walters, President and Chief Operating Officer.

The rapid expansion of the Hoverfly footprint is largely in part due to the rapidly growing customer base in the defense and security industries. Hoverfly LiveSky remains the premier tethered drone option for both stationary and on-the-move operations, allowing integration for both manned/unmanned vehicles and maritime vessels. Now with over 60 employees, the new facility gives the company adequate space to continue to grow to support its increasing order backlog.

“For this locally-rooted company, remaining in the Central Florida technology corridor was a big priority and proof that technologies born out of the University of Central Florida incubator program can achieve successful transition into early-stage start-up and beyond,” Kevin S. Cochie, Chief Strategy Officer, UCF College of Engineering ’94 & ’05.

Press Contact:

Tyler Marple

tyler.marple@hoverflytech.com

hoverflytech.com

407-985-4500

Source: Hoverfly Technologies, Inc.

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April 25, 2022
Hoverfly Technologies Elevates Kevin S. Cochie to Chief Strategy Officer

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Retired Army Officer, Former Special Operations Aviation Pilot and Acquisition Officer Promoted

Press Release
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Apr 19, 2022

SANFORD, Fla., April 19, 2022 (Newswire.com)
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Hoverfly Technologies Inc. is pleased to announce Kevin S. Cochie has been promoted to Chief Strategy Officer. Kevin is now responsible for Hoverfly’s internal and external strategy, including fundraising, business development, and marketing priorities. He will provide ongoing support of Hoverfly’s LiveSky product line, the worldwide leader in the tethered drone industry, for a growing number of defense, security, and commercial customers.

“It’s an honor and privilege to join a quickly growing company composed of entrepreneurial teammates sharing a common goal of delivering new technology and capability to the warfighters I once served beside. This company and technology will serve many purposes across the commercial and government landscape,” Cochie said.

Kevin S. Cochie joined Hoverfly in October and is the former VP & GM of FLIR systems’ airborne sensor business. Prior to his tenure at FLIR, Kevin was VP & GM of Erickson Helicopter’s Defense business. Kevin is a retired Army officer, where he served in multiple capacities in Army Special Operations Aviation from platoon leader to acquisition director. He holds a BS and MS in Engineering from the University of Central Florida and an EMBA from the Georgetown McDonough School of Business.

“We are delighted to elevate Kevin to CSO as he has made an immediate and very positive impact in several key areas, since joining in October. He is an integral part of our leadership team and we believe he will continue to propel Hoverfly into a dominant position in our market space in the coming months and years,” said Hoverfly President and COO Steve Walters.

Press Contact:

Tyler Marple

tyler.marple@hoverflytech.com

hoverflytech.com

407-985-4500

Source: Hoverfly Technologies, Inc.

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April 19, 2022
Veterans Supporting Veterans Phoenix Patriot Foundation Cycling Leadville 100 MTB Saturday, August 15th, 2015

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Phoenix Patriot Foundation Veterans Cycling To Benefit Fellow Veterans In Leadville 100 MTB Race, Coached By Pro-Athlete Rebecca Rusch, PPF Cycling Ambassador

Press Release
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Aug 13, 2015

Temecula, CA, August 13, 2015 (Newswire.com)
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Rebecca Rusch will be riding with the Phoenix Patriot Foundation (PPF) Cycling Program team, military veterans, as they participate in one of the most challenging ultra-endurance mountain bike races in the world, the Leadville Trail 100 Saturday August 15th. Rusch will ride with the PPF athletes, share her race expertise and support their efforts to shatter limits, as the Phoenix Patriot Foundation Cycling Program veterans ride in support of their fellow warriors. Rebecca is a Gold Medal winning mountain bike racer and works as a firefighter and EMT with the Ketchum Idaho Fire Department. Rebecca observed the PPF Cycling Program team members and was inspired by the courage and tenacity of the veterans. This year she will ride with PPF veterans sharing her race expertise and support their efforts to complete this grueling race.

The Phoenix Patriot Foundation cyclists are riding to help raise funds for adapted bicycles and PPF jerseys for current and future members in the program. One athlete, U.S. Army veteran Matt DeWitt, lost both arms in combat, and has been racing with the team using an adapted bike. Not every wounded veteran has that opportunity and adapted bicycles can cost anywhere from $4,000 to $10,000 depending upon their complexity. A team outfit with logo-branded jerseys and bike shorts costs approximately $110. Donations fund these expenses and allow Phoenix Patriot Foundation to provide these items to wounded veterans who want to participate but cannot afford adapted bicycling equipment.

“As a member of a military family, I have a deep understanding of the sacrifices that the military make and also how the bike can be an essential tool for therapy and recovery. This fueled my desire to work with the Phoenix Patriot Foundation. Riding with this veteran community will allow me to strengthen my understanding of what our soldiers go through. In return, I will be sharing my bike racing expertise to support of their goal to reach the finish line.”

Rebecca Rusch, Professional Endurance Athlete

A custom- built tandem bicycle designed by PPF Cycling Program members and built by Da Vinci Designs, will be tested by the Cycling Program Director, former U.S. Navy SEAL Guy McDermott. Guy will be riding with a fellow former U.S. Navy SEAL, Bo Reichenbach, a double above the knee amputee. Using this custom built tandem bicycle allows Bo to participate using hand-cycle adaptations to independently provide power on the tandem cycle. Bo, a Patriot who has received aid from Phoenix Patriot Foundation, recently completed his second season as a member of the U.S. National Developmental Sled Hockey Team.

Phoenix Patriot Foundation is looking to grow the Cycling Program in order to support wounded veterans who want to enjoy an activity that provides fellowship, sport and physical activity positively affecting their well-being. The Leadville 100 MTB race is a one of a kind event in the cycling community that will bring attention to the organization’s Cycling Program and enable the foundation with a platform to fund adapted bicycles for more wounded veterans.

PHOENIX PATRIOT FOUNDATION CYCLING PROGRAM

The Phoenix Patriot Foundation Cycling Program serves post-9/11 severely wounded and injured veterans enabling their cycling ambitions by providing them with a welcoming community of support. Program members help to bring attention to the needs of veterans and support fundraising activities to provide cycles for combat wounded veterans including custom adapted cycles, hand-cycles and recumbent cycles in addition to team jerseys so that veterans can participate in our program. The program members are veterans training veterans, and riding as a group in the community provides a method of reintegration, builds endurance and provides strong methods for reconditioning.

PHOENIX PATRIOT FOUNDATION MISSION

The Mission of Phoenix Patriot Foundation is to provide direct support to post 9-11 severely wounded and injured veterans enabling them to fully Recover, Reintegrate, and Remain Engaged in serving America while pursuing their passions. We aid each Patriot by developing and implementing an individually-tailored program to ensure independence and lifelong sustainability. This, in turn, enables our heroes to return to service within their communities and nation.

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August 13, 2015
Pro-Athlete Rebecca Rusch Joins Phoenix Patriot Foundation for the Leadville 100MTB Race

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REBECCA RUSCH, SIX TIME MULTI-SPORT WORLD CHAMPION, FOUR TIME LEADVILLE 100 RACE CHAMPION, AUTHOR AND FIREFIGHTER TO REPRESENT PHOENIX PATRIOT FOUNDATION AS CYCLING AMBASSADOR AT 2015 LEADVILLE 100 MTB RACE

Press Release
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Jul 29, 2015

Temecula, CA, July 29, 2015 (Newswire.com)
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With a record-breaking four Leadville championships under her belt, mountain bike icon Rebecca Rusch is now giving back to help military veterans in the Phoenix Patriot Foundation Cycling Program. She hopes to help veterans as they empower themselves by crossing the Leadville Trail 100 finish line. Rusch, also known as the “Queen of pain,” is a professional endurance athlete and spokesperson.

As a member of a military family, she has a deep understanding of the sacrifices that the military make and also how the bike can be an essential tool for therapy and recovery. These personal ties are what fueled Rusch’s desire to join forces with Phoenix Patriot Foundation at the 2015 Leadville Trail 100. This iconic race is known as one of the toughest ultra endurance mountain bike races in the world. This year, Rusch will ride with the Phoenix Patriot Foundation athletes, share her race expertise and support their efforts to shatter limits and reach the finish line on August 15th.

“As part of a military family, I feel strongly about supporting the great efforts of Phoenix Patriot Foundation and the American heroes who are racing in Leadville. My father was an Air Force pilot in Vietnam and never returned home. My sister is currently a Colonel in the Air Force. I have recently embarked on a quest to connect with my father on a deeper level. Being immersed in the Phoenix Patriot Foundation community will allow me to strengthen my understanding of what our soldiers go through. In return, I will be sharing my bike racing expertise in support of their quest to achieve this lofty goal.”

Rebecca Rusch, Endurance Athlete

RED BULL ENDURANCE ATHLETE

Rebecca Rusch is an inspirational Red Bull endurance athlete with an international award winning career encompassing adventure racing, white water rafting, rock climbing, and endurance mountain bike racing. Eight years ago, Rebecca reinvented herself as a mountain bike racer while working as a firefighter and EMT with the Ketchum Fire Department. Rebecca’s long anticipated autobiography, “Rusch to Glory” details her experiences with empowering stories that are meant to inspire people to rise above self-doubt and find their true potential. Aside from racing, Rebecca is the force behind the SRAM Gold Rusch Tour and her namesake race, Rebecca’s Private Idaho, which gives back to a variety of organizations including the International Mountain Bike Association, World Bicycle Relief, PeopleForBikes.org, the National Interscholastic Mountain Bike Association, and the Wood River Bicycle Coalition.

CYCLING AMBASSADOR

Phoenix Patriot Foundation is pleased to announce that Rebecca Rusch will be joining the Phoenix Patriot Foundation as a Cycling Ambassador for this year’s Leadville 100 MTB. Leading up to race day, Rebecca will be holding rides and clinics geared to share strategies and techniques to help riders reach their own personal race goals as part of her event, “The Leadville Experience.” For this year’s event, Rusch will don the Phoenix Patriot Foundation jersey and pedal alongside the American heroes of the cycling team, offering inspiration, motivation, and expertise all the way to the finish.

WARRIORS SUPPORTING WARRIORS

LT Guy McDermott, former Navy SEAL and Phoenix Patriot Foundation Board Member Emeritus and himself a VA disabled veteran, is currently the Program Director of the Cycling Team. In 2011, the Phoenix Patriot Foundation Cycling Team partnered with the So Cal Endurance race organization and its founder, Jason Ranao, to bring the Phoenix Patriot Foundation’s message to a large, diverse, and passionate regional audience of racers, family members, and patriotic Americans. The team members motivate and inspire veterans by providing them the equipment, guidance, coaching, and infrastructure to catalyze their journey.

Juan Carlos Hernandez, member of the Phoenix Patriot Foundation Cycling Team, has personally witnessed how veterans through Phoenix Patriot Foundation programs that make a difference in the quality of the lives of veterans. Juan joined the United States Army in July 2006. In Dec. 2008 Juan deployed as a gunner on Chinook Helicopters and his aircraft was hit with an RPG flying over Afghanistan. The resulting crash landing Juan was injured causing an amputation to his left leg. Using cycling as rehabilitation for physical and mental therapy Juan gives back and helps other veterans achieve many of the same goals using cycling as a way to bridge the gap between military to civilian life. Juan is currently in training to participate in the Leadville 100 race with the Phoenix Patriot Cycling Team.

CYCLING PROGRAM

The Phoenix Patriot Foundation’s Cycling Program works to inspire, galvanize, and empower wounded and injured veterans to reach their own finish line and become a source of motivation and guidance for their communities, peers, and veterans nationwide. The Phoenix Patriot Foundation’s Cycling Program’s Mission is to serve post-9/11 severely wounded and injured veterans in realizing their cycling ambitions by providing them with a welcoming community of support.

PHOENIX PATRIOT FOUNDATION MISSION

The overall Mission of Phoenix Patriot Foundation is to provide direct support to post 9-11 severely wounded and injured veterans enabling them to fully Recover, Reintegrate, and Remain Engaged in serving America or pursuing their passions. We aid each Patriot by developing and implementing an individually-tailored program to ensure independence and lifelong sustainability. This, in turn, enables our heroes to return to service within their communities and nation.

Phoenix Patriot Foundation recognizes the value of “Warriors Supporting Warriors” and sharing lessons learned. The veterans Phoenix Patriot Foundation works with are asked to give back in serving other veterans with the Phoenix Patriot Foundation community by sharing some of their time and talents. Phoenix Patriot Foundation programs are based on ‘Quality not Quantity’, and rely upon your donations to support veterans on their individual journey. Your donation will be used to assist post 9-11 wounded and injured veterans by providing scholarships and programs to foster independence and empowerment. Your partnership and support can make a difference!

http://phoenixpatriotfoundation.org/donate/

Phoenix Patriot Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) public charity organization; Tax ID 27-3074476.

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July 29, 2015