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Welcome to the Monday Morning News Kick Off post from got geoint? As always, we hope you had plenty of time to recharge the batteries over the weekend. Who are we kidding. It’s never enough time for a full recharge. Either way, it is Monday and it’s time to dive into all the actionable news you need to get your week started on the right foot. This week, we have a number of key stories including news of Russia launching a spy satellite, the announcement of the retirement of CIA Deputy Director Stephen Kappes and the latest on defense contracting reform. As we always say, fire up that second cup of coffee and read on.

Russia Sends Military Satellite Into Orbit
A Russian Soyuz-U rocket on Friday successfully delivered a Cosmos defense satellite into orbit, said spokesman for Russian Space Forces Alexei Zolotukhin. The rocket blasted off from the Plesetsk cosmodrome at 7:00 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT), and the satellite reached the designated orbit about eight minutes later. This is the second time for Russia to launch a defense satellite this year. A Proton-M rocket delivered a Raduga military communications satellite into orbit from the Kazakh Baikonur cosmodrome in late January. Read the full CCTV article here.

CIA Chief Announces Leadership Changes
Last week, CIA Director Leon Panetta announced a series of leadership changes at the agency. They include the retirement of Deputy Director Stephen Kappes, who was pushed out of the agency during a tumultuous period five years ago only to return as the agency’s No. 2 official in 2006. Kappes plans to leave in May, Panetta said. “Throughout his life, Steve has put the needs of others first, as he did in returning to the CIA in the summer of 2006,” Panetta said in a memo to agency employees. “He hadn’t planned on so lengthy a stay this time around. So when he told me a few months ago that it was time for him to move on, I understood. Steve has, to put it simply, more than met the highest standards of duty to the nation.” Read the full Government Executive article here.

House Panel Proposes More Defense Contracting Reforms
House Armed Services Committee leaders introduced legislation April 14 that would push for more reforms of the Defense Department’s acquisition system, including workforce management, competition and financial management deficiencies. Named the Improve Acquisition Act, the proposal seeks to fix the remaining 80 percent of the procurement system left untouched by major reforms in 2009, the committee said. The bill aims to overhaul the acquisition system, getting equipment to the warfighter in combat faster and saving an estimated $135 billion over the next five years, the committee said. Read the full Washington Technology article here.

Washington Technology’s 2010′s Top 10 Contracts (So Far)
From huge multiple award contracts to significant awards to single winners, we look at the largest contract awards announced during the first three months of 2010. Contracts announced during January, February and March had values that ranged from $266 million to $2.8 billion. Our rankings are based on the ceiling value of the contract, and not the actual value of any work performed to date. Readers are expected to supply their own drum roll and Lettermanesque quips, so on with the countdown…to get the full countdown list click here.

BAE Systems and Geosemble Integrate Geospatial Technologies
Geosemble Technologies, Inc. and BAE Systems announced today that they have integrated their respective technologies to bring users greater utility and efficiency in geospatial decision making. The companies will demonstrate the technology at the “2010 BAE Systems GXP International User Conference and Professional Exchange” in San Diego, April 19 – 23. Geosemble has developed a text-visualization plug-in for BAE Systems’ SOCET GXP software. BAE Systems’ geospatial-intelligence (GEOINT) tool uses imagery from commercial, satellite, and tactical sources to identify and analyze ground features. With SOCET GXP software, users can automatically measure and store properties such as scale, elevation, latitude, and longitude in a series of images to expedite geospatial production, image analysis, and map creation. The properties data then can be used to perform before-and-after site comparisons, coordinate operational missions, assess navigation safety, and monitor changes over time. Read the full press release here.

3D Laser Mapping Scans Glacial Terrains to Predict Rock Fall Hazards
The latest laser scanning and remote controlled aircraft technology are to be used to monitor glaciers where unstable slopes and rock falls are a continual threat. A special long range scanner, capable of measuring tiny movements over a 2km range, is being supplied by 3D Laser Mapping for the research by the University of Northumbria. Scan data will be used to help create 3D maps using low level aerial photographs captured by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The laser scanner will be used on a range of projects including the monitoring of retreating glaciers in the European Alps and the investigation of rock falls in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. Selected by the University of Northumbria to enhance research, teaching and Enterprise activity in the School of Applied Sciences, the Riegl LMS-Z620 can obtain 10mm accuracies at distances of up to 2km. Read the full press release from Directions Magazine here.

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