January 1
In a long planned reorganization, the company's eleven operating Divisions are formally regrouped geographically into three geographically distinct business regions: East, Central and West, to better serve customers within these areas. In addition, a new Network Systems & Solutions Division (NSS) is established, melding the former National Accounts and Teledata groups. Our businesses with a National footprint, Network Systems and Solutions, Pipeline, and Infrastructure Engineering Group will remain unique, identifiable organizations by virtue of their nationwide charters. The new Regions have greater reach, new synergies and greater administrative effectiveness. To reflect its unique position among all of H&M's lines of business, the Engineering Division is transformed into the Engineering Infrastructure Group (EIG). The Training Services Department, formerly part of the Engineering Division, will become part of NSS…

In other company news, H&M's Pipeline Division completes a 135-mile east-west natural gas pipeline across northern Baja California for San Diego-based Sempra Energy International. The project crosses over the rugged Rumarosa mountains and through inhospitable desert terrain. The pipeline project, known as a Project of Extremes, runs from Algodones, Mexico (a point southeast of Yuma, Arizona) all the way west to Tijuana...Kenneth L. Rose, Ph.D retires as Vice Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer in October and retains a seat on the Board of Directors.

January 24
The newly created United States Department of Homeland Security officially begins operation. The department is headed by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge (left), who steps down as governor to serve.

January
Leaders of Britain, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Hungary, Poland, Denmark and the Czech Republic release a statement showing support for the US position on Iraq, saying that Saddam Hussein should not be allowed to violate UN resolutions.

February 1
Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates over Texas upon reentry, killing all seven astronauts onboard (Michael P. Anderson, David M. Brown, Kalpana Chawla, Laurel Clark, Rick D. Husband, Willie McCool, Ilan Ramon) and leaving a trail of debris from central Texas to Louisiana.

February 5
Secretary of State Colin Powell addresses the UN Security Council on the Iraq disarmament crisis.

February 14
Dolly the sheep, the world's first cloned mammal dies.

February 15
More than six million people protest in over 600 cities worldwide against the looming Iraq war.

February 26
President George W. Bush talks publicly about his vision of a post-invasion democracy in Iraq. Bush says it will be an example to other nations in the area.

March 1
The United Arab Emirates calls for Iraqi president Saddam Hussein to step down to avoid war. Kuwait and Bahrain also ask Saddam to step down.

March 2
Authorities in Pakistan capture Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the suspected mastermind of the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks along with money-man Mustafa Ahmed al-Hawsawi.

March 11
According to Arab news media, Saddam Hussein opens terrorist training camps in Iraq for Arab volunteers willing to carry out suicide bombings against US forces if a US - led attack takes place.

March 12
World Health Organization issues a global alert on SARS, a highly contagious flu-like disease that had originated in Hong Kong and China.

March 12
Zoran Djindjic, the prime minister of Serbia, is assassinated.

March 13
The journal Nature reports 350,000-year-old upright-walking human footprints discovered in Italy.

March 17
George W. Bush delivers an ultimatum to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein: Leave Iraq, or face military action.

March 20
Second Gulf War begins. Following surgical air strikes, a sweeping invasion of Iraq occurs. Saddam Hussein is driven from power and goes into hiding. Many of his former associates are captured.

March 21
British Royal Marines invade and occupy southeastern Iraq. Later, a joint US Marine-Royal Marine force takes Uum Qasar, Iraq's only deep water port.

April 8
British forces enter Basra, in southern Iraq.

April 9
Baghdad falls to US forces. Statues and portraits of the former dictator are dragged down and destroyed by cheering Iraqi civilians. Saddam's fighters melt into the crowds, abandoning military uniforms.

April 10
Kurdish troops take Kirkuk in northern Iraq.

April 13
Tikrit, in central Iraq, is taken by US Marines with little resistance. Tikrit is the home town and stronghold of Saddam Hussein.

May 1
President Bush declares that the major fighting in Iraq is over beneath a huge banner reading "Mission Accomplished" aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln off the coast of southern California.

June 20 to June 29
2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games are held in Dublin, Ireland.


July 22
Uday and Qusay Hussein, sons of fugitive Iraqi despot Saddam Hussein are killed in a firefight with US troops in Mosul, Iraq. Photo: Saddam and Sons.

July 5
SARS epidemic is declared contained by the World Health Organization.

July 30
The last old-style Volkswagen Beetle rolls off the production line in Mexico. Right: an ad from the 1960s.

August 2
Scientists announce that the earth’s ozone layer may be showing signs of recovery following an international ban on chlorofluorocarbons.

August 14
A failure of several eastern electrical grid systems causes the largest blackout in American history. New York City is without power for over 18 hours. The areas most affected center around the Great Lakes: Michigan, Ohio, New York City, Ontario, Quebec, northern New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. The satellite photo at left dramatically illustrates the blackout in the northeastern US and southeastern Canada.

October 24 and November 26
Concorde makes its last commercial flight, bringing the era of airliner supersonic travel to a close. The final flight ever will occur on November 26.