Entries by Bud McLaughlin

MAC Global Promotions celebrates five years with launch of MAC Growth Partners

When Melissa Chavez cut the ribbon at Thursday’s celebration of the five-year anniversary of MAC Global Promotions, it wasn’t necessarily about the past but more about the future. The event at the company’s office at 2204 Whitesburg Drive launched MAC Growth Partners, the company’s strategic advisory division. “This isn’t about the last five years,” said […]

Huntsville named ‘Best Place to Live in 2026’

When a report about Huntsville begins “3, 2, 1…Take off to an excellent life in Rocket City!”, you know it’s good. In fact, this list by livability.com is to the moon. Citing affordability and quality of life, the national publication has ranked Huntsville the nation’s most livable small to mid-size city. “Livability.com is very engaged […]

Boeing, Lockheed Martin to turbocharge Patriot seeker production in Huntsville

Boeing’s Huntsville facility will triple production of its PAC-3 missile seekers following an agreement on a seven-year deal with the Pentagon.  Under the agreement, Boeing, the Department of War and PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement prime contractor Lockheed Martin will immediately begin production ramp-up and negotiate toward a multi-year contract award later this year. “This agreement […]

Artemis II crew, including Space Camp alum, ready; Rocket Center hosts viewing party

“Hey, let’s go to the moon!”  Astronaut Reid Wiseman’s comment reflects the excitement of all of NASA as the space agency and nation prepare for the historic Artemis II launch. “I think the nation and the world has been waiting a long time to do this again,” Wiseman said last Friday after he and his […]

Krispy Kreme launches Artemis II Doughnut to celebrate historic NASA mission

T-minus 1 day and counting. It’s one small bite for … nah, there won’t be any small bites Tuesday when Krispy Kreme launches its Artemis II Doughnuts. One day ahead of the planned historic launch of Artemis II – the first crewed test flight on NASA’s journey toward a long‑term lunar presence – Krispy Kreme […]

Cummings Aerospace’s Hellhound combines affordability, utility and lethality

“We’re really trying to give maximum utility to the soldier at a price that is highly affordable.” That’s how Sheila Cummings, CEO of Cummings Aerospace, describes her company’s latest product for American and allied soldiers – the Hellhound S3. The Hellhound S3 drone is 3D-printed at the company’s 46,000 square-foot facility at Redstone Gateway. “We’re […]

‘Amazon for the soldier’: Army launches online marketplace to revolutionize drone acquisition

Imagine a digital one-stop shop that will allow Army units, government partners and allies to buy drone systems. Well, there’s no need to imagine. It is reality. Nicknamed “Amazon for the soldier,” the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Marketplace was launched this week at the AUSA Global Force Symposium & Exhibition in the Von Braun Center. The […]

$5 a shot vs. $4M a shot: AeroVironment’s LOCUST X3 laser makes battlefield math easy

It’s simple battlefield math but not quite 1+1=2.  It’s more like a $50,000 drone>$30 million aircraft and a $4 million missile shot<the $50,000 drone. Enter the economics of AeroVironment: A $5 laser shot<$4 million missile shot, therefore the $5 laser shot>the $50,000 drone. This cutting-edge development by the Huntsville company was showcased this week at […]

Sigma, America’s most advanced mobile tactical cannon rolls into the Von Braun Center

Shoot and scoot. That’s the strategy behind the newest self-propelled howitzer in the U.S. arsenal. And it’s all made in the U.S.A. Elbit Systems, partnering with Oshkosh Defense, unveiled Sigma in a rare public appearance at this week’s AUSA Global Force Symposium and Exhibition. “We’re launching the Sigma howitzer with our friends at Oshkosh,” said […]

Ground is broken for ‘next chapter’ of ServisFirst bank

Citing the vision of Andy Kattos, ServisFirst Bank Regional CEO Jim Holtkamp celebrated the bank’s new Huntsville location during a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday. “Andy drove by and saw a for sale sign and got on the phone,” Holtkamp said with Kattos, the bank’s director emeritus, among those in the audience. “Without Andy’s leadership over the […]