Jim Albaugh is president and chief executive officer of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems and serves on the company's Executive Council. This $32.1 billion, 71,000-person business unit is a provider of integrated solutions to meet the enduring needs of defense, space and intelligence customers in the United States and around the world. Headquartered in St. Louis, the organization has concentrated operations in St. Louis; Southern California; Seattle; Houston; Philadelphia; Mesa, Ariz.; Huntsville, Ala.; the Space Coast of Florida; San Antonio and Washington, D.C. Within IDS, the Boeing Military Aircraft unit includes tactical and airlift aircraft; helicopters and weapons; and maritime and airborne surveillance programs. Global Services & Support provides defense and government services; integrated logistics services; maintenance, modification and upgrades; and training systems and services. Network and Space Systems consists of combat systems; command, control and communications (C3) networks; intelligence and security systems; missile defense; space and intelligence systems; and space exploration. Tanker Programs is focused on the continued pursuit of the U.S. Air Force tanker contract as well as the execution and growth of the international tanker business. IDS' Advanced Systems unit works with Boeing's Phantom Works organization to develop the technologies necessary to respond to the needs of Boeing's defense and space customers. Prior to his current position, Albaugh, 57, was president and CEO of Boeing Space and Communications (S&C), headquartered in Seal Beach, Calif., for four years. This unit merged in July 2002 with the company's Military Aircraft and Missiles Systems unit to create Integrated Defense Systems. Before leading Space and Communications, Albaugh was president of Boeing Space Transportation, a predecessor unit that was folded into S&C. He had assumed that position after serving as president of Rocketdyne Propulsion & Power, part of the Rockwell aerospace and defense businesses acquired by Boeing in 1996. A Washington State native, Albaugh joined the company in 1975 as a project engineer at its Hanford, Wash., operations. Albaugh, a Gold-and-Silver-Knight of the National Management Association (NMA), was named NMA's Executive-of-the-Year in 1999. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and an elected member of the International Academy of Astronautics. In 2001, Albaugh was awarded the Bob Hope Distinguished Citizen Award by the National Defense Industrial Association, received the International von Karman Wings Award from the Aerospace Historical Society and was elected a Fellow to the Royal Aeronautical Society. In 2003, he was appointed by President George W. Bush to the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee. In 2006, he was elected a member of the TRW Automotive Board of Directors, received the Semper Fidelis Award from the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation and was elected a member of the Aerospace Industries Association Board of Governors Executive Committee. In 2007, he was elected to the Willamette University Board of Trustees. In 2008, he received the Southern California Aeronautic Association's prestigious Howard Hughes Memorial Award for his extensive contributions to the aerospace industry. He also is a member of the American Astronautical Society, the Air Force Association, a member of the Council of Trustees of the Association of the United States Army and the California Business Roundtable, and sits on the boards of a variety of corporate and charitable organizations. Albaugh holds bachelor's degrees in mathematics and physics from Willamette University and a master's degree in civil engineering from Columbia University.

LANCASHIRE County Council is backing a new scheme to encourage more companies to take on apprentices in the coming months. The campaign, run by the National Apprenticeship Service, is called '100 in 100'. It aims to encourage companies across Lancashire to employ 100 new apprentices in 100 days. County Councillor Geoff Driver, leader of the County Council, said: "The '100 in 100' campaign is a superb idea. "Apprenticeships are a great way to improve your skills, whether you're taking your first steps on the career ladder or moving into a new area of work. "The county council employs hundreds of apprentices working in areas from business administration and schools to lab work and bridge building. "Apprentices are a great way to nurture and grow new talent and I'd encourage organisations across the county to do the same. "Employing apprentices will also create jobs providing a vital boost for Lancashire's economy." Edwin Booth, chair of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, also backed the campaign: "It is vital for Lancashire's future economic wellbeing that our workforce has the right type and level of skills. Apprenticeships offer an affordable way to bring in fresh talent and skills, supported by government funding, and I would urge businesses to find out more about them." The campaign starts as the council welcomed 51 people to its apprenticeship and graduate programmes. These new employees, including transport planners, civil engineers and trainee managers of the future, met council leader Geoff Driver and other cabinet members and senior managers at a special welcome event recently. The council now has nearly 350 apprentices and around 30 graduate trainees, working in all areas of the authority's work, from schools to highways. This year the county council began a new technical trainee programme to add to its range of graduate management development and apprenticeship programmes. These include: The technical graduate programme with eleven new recruits. They will do a two-year work placement programme while studying masters degrees in subjects such as transport planning, civil engineering, road safety, business development and planning. The technical apprentice programme with nine apprentices who are on placement studying HNCs, NVQs and Btec qualifications in civil engineering, lab technician work, sustainable transport, environmental projects and waste management. There are also business and management programmes including: Apprentice programmes with 21 new trainees studying qualifications such as an NVQ in business administration and customer service. The graduate management development scheme with 11 new recruits studying in-house qualifications. They are placed in departments across the authority such as Lancashire Youth Offending Team, corporate policy and performance, and the organisational development team. County Councillor Michael Green, cabinet member for economic development, environment and planning, said: "These new schemes will provide the training required to build a career delivering the services that the public see and use every day. "They'll be going through placements and training to prepare them for a number of technical roles in areas such as planning, road safety, civil engineering, waste management and lab work in the Environment Directorate and across the authority". "These are highly skilled, specialised areas and it's vital that we have a steady stream of talented people coming through in the future."