AFCEA International - The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association

AFCEA International is pleased to announce the creation of the new Baghdad Chapter. The chapter’s presence will help further the establishment of a viable network for Iraqi information technology professionals and will serve as a collaborative forum for Iraqi and U.S. industry, government and military personnel.

The chapter’s formation has been in development for the past six months. AFCEA’s expansion policy committee supported the creation of the chapter and recently submitted a proposal to the executive committee, which approved the chapter’s formation. To establish a chapter in a country where no previous chapter exists, a chapter must obtain a petition of at least 25 members, the recommendation of the expansion policy committee, the recommendation of the president and chief executive officer of AFCEA International, and the approval of the executive committee in order to be granted charter status.

Curt Adams, director of member and chapter services, credits Col. Karlton Johnson, USAF, J-6, Multinational Security Transition Command—Iraq (MNSTC-I), and chapter president, as the “prime mover” behind the chapter’s charter status. Others who played a key role in the chapter’s formation include Col. Brian Moore, USA, vice president; 1st Lt. Ashley Pyles, USAF, secretary; and Capt. Stephen Grundorf, USA, treasurer.

Col. Johnson explains that the MNSTC-I helps the Iraqi government as it develops, organizes and trains its ministries and Iraqi Security Forces (SIGNAL Magazine, July, page 41). “I advise and monitor [the Iraqi government] on C4 [command, control, communications and computers]. I wanted to show them that successful nations partner with industry. I wanted to introduce them to the idea of joining a professional organization to better themselves and to introduce them to industry partners. AFCEA is one of the best [professional organizations] out there [to do this],” he shares.

The chapter’s location offers the potential for U.S. government, industry and military personnel to network with Iraqi government and civilian agencies. The chapter’s focus will be supporting the professional development and training of Iraqi personnel who work in the information technology field. The colonel aims to promote dialogue and the cross sharing of ideas between Iraqi and coalition agencies.

Col. Johnson notes that many U.S. industry and military partners expressed an interest in forming a chapter in Iraq. “Lots of people are interested because they know what AFCEA is about. They ask me, ‘How fast can you get this started?’” he observes.

Col. Johnson says his Iraqi associates have responded positively to the idea of the chapter. “I spoke to them as Karl, not as a member of the U.S. Air Force, and told them [the chapter] would be worthwhile. They accepted the idea well.” He notes that the chapter will keep in tune with industry best practices in C4ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) to help the Iraqi government understand C4ISR potential.

The first official chapter meeting will take place next month, Col. Johnson relates. He plans to develop a chapter strategic plan as well as hold a series of briefings to determine the chapter’s goals. “Hopefully within the next six to eight months, we’ll have the first TechNet show in Baghdad to show what’s possible in [information technology] out here,” he shares. Other plans include information technology forums to help educate both Iraqi and coalition agencies on the challenges they face in country.

“The biggest benefit to this chapter will be opening a dialogue between [Iraqi and coalition agencies] and showing them the benefit of industry partnerships,” the colonel says.

The chapter’s meeting location will alternate between Camp Freedom and Camp Victory in the greater Baghdad area. Additional chapter members who helped form the chapter include Lt. Col. Donald Baker, USA; Maj. Brian Bakshas, USAF; Patricia Chica, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA); Maj. Martin Jennings, USAF; Tech. Sgt. Charlotte Kelly, USAF; Maj. Chris Lundy, USAF; Bruce Morgan, DISA; Lt. Col. Lisa Richter, USAF; Lt. Damian Taylor, USN; Maj. John Weigle, USAF; and Capt. Chris Wiley, USAF.

The Hampton Roads Chapter hosted “Lunch and Learn,” a new outreach event, in August for the staff of the information technology division of the Joint Forces Staff College, a component of the National Defense University. The chapter held the event to introduce information technology professionals to the benefits of AFCEA membership. The agenda included upcoming courses offered through the Professional Development Center to demonstrate the wide variety of course offerings.

Lt. Cmdr. S. Michelle Layne, USN, the chapter’s military vice president, suggested the Lunch and Learn, noting it would be a new way to implement the chapter’s outreach goals outside of its monthly meetings. The chapter’s board of directors approved the idea, deciding the event would benefit individuals who do not attend the monthly meetings. Chapter members sent out e-mail notifications to colleagues and friends in addition to distributing flyers.

Lt. Col. Curtis R. Fox, USA, chief of the information technology division at the Joint Forces Staff College (JFSC), invited the chapter to help it connect with information technology professionals and armed forces members. Col. Fox also served as the emcee for the event. Col. Joseph J. Frazier, USA, former acting commandant of the JFSC, hosted the lunch. Guest speakers included Capt. Kathy Donovan, USN, commander, Carrier Strike Group Ten/N-6; Col. Earnest E. Hansley, USA, chief information officer, National Defense University; Mark Sinclair, past chapter president; Steve Kelley, regional vice president, AFCEA; and Teresa Duvall, chapter vice president.

The agenda highlighted the benefits of AFCEA membership. Scholarship and networking opportunities were discussed, and the guest speakers shared how their AFCEA memberships benefited their professional development. Attendees also received a copy of the Professional Development Center’s (PDC’s) course catalog so they could search for classes applicable to their career field. The benefits of the PDC’s leadership forum were emphasized as well. The forum offers students the opportunity to learn from senior leaders in the intelligence, command and control, and information technology fields.

Glenda Bluhm, chapter president, shares, “I have received an enormous amount of positive feedback and requests for more activities and events like this.” She comments that military personnel respond well to AFCEA’s military members, who can highlight the ways in which the association benefits them during active duty and retirement.

Whit Ludington, publicity committee chair, agrees with Bluhm, citing his belief that the event’s success was due in part to obtaining speakers with active duty military experience who could share their personal experiences as AFCEA members. “We wanted people the attendees could identify with directly, so we got speakers currently working with the [JFSC] to discuss their personal experiences and [the] rewards from being AFCEA members,” he states.

Capt. Donovan notes that part of the event’s appeal was the relaxed atmosphere. “AFCEA offers so many benefits, from scholarships to networking, and the beauty is that folks can be as active as they desire or be a sponge and soak up the information [from the guest speakers, monthly meetings and technology shows],” she says.

The Lunch and Learn’s success has encouraged the chapter to pursue similar events. The chapter continues to focus on recruiting military members in addition to government and industry personnel.

Col. Joseph J. Frazier, USA, former acting commandant of the Joint Forces Staff College (JFSC), discusses his experience as an AFCEA member with the audience during the Hampton Roads Chapter’s Lunch and Learn in August.

Mark Sinclair, past chapter president, emphasizes the advantages an active AFCEA membership can provide to members’ careers.

Col. Earnest E. Hansley, USA, chief information officer, National Defense University, shares his professional development and how his AFCEA membership benefited him.

The Northern Virginia Chapter’s Young AFCEAN committee raised $22,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project during the chapter-sponsored Army Information Technology Day in July. The committee allocated the funds to military patients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Donations included gift cards to restaurants and mass retailers such as Target in addition to monetary contributions.

Katie Gladhill, Young AFCEAN committee (YAC) chair, and the YAC members contacted Chuck Giasson, Northern Virginia Chapter member and a Wounded Warrior Project representative through the Northern Virginia Roundtable, for help in locating a program that supports returning warfighters. “The Wounded Warrior Project allowed [the YAC] to provide funding…in an extremely fast fashion. This just happened to be an excellent partnership opportunity at the time in our fundraising event schedule,” shares Jeff Li, Northern Virginia YAC member.

The YAC set up a donation booth during the Army Information Technology Day event with an expectation of receiving a few thousand dollars in donations. Master of Ceremonies Chuck Corjay, chapter member and special assistant to the president for chapter affairs, made regular announcements encouraging attendees to donate, helping increase the total funds received.

The YAC selected the Army Information Technology Day as an ideal venue to reach the largest audience for support. Li also notes that the majority of the YAC members work for military contractors or are in the military themselves, so the project was particularly satisfying. “[The Wounded Warrior Project] is a worthy cause that [enabled the committee to] be most helpful in giving back,” he says.

Li credits Corjay and Giasson for their guidance throughout the project as well. “Giasson was naturally a good candidate to [advise], and we give a lot of credit to [Corjay] in helping to lead this effort,” Li shares. Also essential to the event’s success were YAC members Kristen Klein, Leslie McIndoe, Chris McKee, Allan Pitch, Kelly Stephenson and Jason Stewart, in addition to chapter members Helaine Cooper and Louise Wilson.

The YAC aims to feature similar fundraising events at each of the military information technology days. The next event, Air Force Information Technology Day, is scheduled for December 3.

Fairfax County Public Schools won a regional Emmy Award in June for the second installment of its documentary series Flight School. The documentary series was funded in part by AFCEA’s Northern Virginia Chapter, which donated $350,000 to Fairfax County Public Schools’ multimedia department and its co-producer, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

The series features four interactive electronic field trips designed for students in grades four through eight. It aims to introduce students to the mathematics and science principles involved in the evolution of flight. “Flight School: Higher, Faster, Farther!” is the second installment in the series and won the regional Emmy in the Instructional-Information Program category. The National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences presented the award at the 50th Annual Emmy Awards. In the episode, students are shown the scientific principles that make controlled heavier-than-air flight possible through interviews with curators and discussions of rare artifacts.

Sue Hoffman, AFCEA regional vice president, notes, “[The documentary series] seemed like the perfect way to do an outreach to children in math and science. You can’t go to high school seniors and say, ‘Do you want to be an engineer?’ This is where you have to catch them.”

The documentary project began in 2006, when Hoffman and Maribeth Luftglass, assistant superintendent and chief information officer for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), discussed a potential partnership between their organizations. Hoffman and Luftglass approached FCPS’ Department of Information Technology about producing a national educational outreach project through the Fairfax Network, which produces distance-learning programs that originate in FCPS.

The documentary’s concepts in part stemmed from a previous program the Fairfax Network co-produced with the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center’s education department. The annual program focused on Space Day and provided education features about flight and space travel, proving to be popular across the country. Tracey Jewell, manager of digital media production for the FCPS Department of Information Technology, explains, “We were hoping for a grant that would allow the development of another educational partnership program with similar content. The wonderful facility combined with an educational focus made the Udvar-Hazy Center a natural choice for a partner.”

Heather Daniels, producer of the Emmy-winning installment, agrees. “The amazing backdrop of the museum creates a new world for students to get lost in. And while they are lost in this world, they don’t even realize they are learning history, math, science, technology and engineering.”

Jewell credits Hoffman; Luftglass; Daniels; Donna Franklin, coordinator of the multimedia service center and a founder of the Fairfax Network; Doug Baldwin, chief of education for the Udvar-Hazy Center; and Sandra Brennan, producer of the first installment in the series, for helping fund the project. Luftglass acknowledges Hoffman’s consistent support throughout the project’s stages. “She has been a true champion, providing promotion and content support and enthusiastic encouragement every step of the way,” Luftglass shares.

Daniels also is grateful for the support the Northern Virginia Chapter as a whole provided. She notes, “The resources [the chapter] provided were invaluable and took this program well beyond anything I could have created without them. The Fairfax Network is a better resource because of our relationship with our partners.”

The final installment of the series will air on October 8 at 1 p.m. EDT from the Udvar-Hazy Center on Red Apple 21. Interested parties must register to view the episode.

The Pocono Mountains Chapter enjoyed its inaugural luncheon and official induction as a full AFCEA charter chapter on June 12. Kent R. Schneider, AFCEA International president and chief executive officer, was on hand to help celebrate the former Tobyhanna Army Depot Subchapter’s full-fledged chapter status. Keynote speaker Lt. Gen. Jeffrey A. Sorenson, USA, chief information officer/G-6, gave a presentation titled “Army Transformation and the Future LandWarNet.” The chapter also recognized the U.S. Army’s 233rd birthday by having Gen. Sorenson; Joseph Sincavage, commander, Korean War Veterans Association of Wyoming Valley; and Col. Ron Alberto, USA, commander, Tobyhanna Army Depot, cut a birthday cake decorated in honor of the Army. Schneider presented Terrance Hora, chapter president, with the chapter charter after an insightful account of AFCEA’s history. B. Daniel DeMarinis, regional vice president, officiated at the swearing-in of the new chapter officers, including Hora; Lt. Col. Daniel G. Braun, USA (Ret.), chapter vice president; and William Kelly, chapter secretary and treasurer. After the luncheon, the chapter leadership provided tours of the Tobyhanna Army Depot and presented attendees with an overview of the command. The chapter looks forward to expanding its fall and winter programs, which are being finalized.

Celebrating the Army’s 233rd birthday in June during the chapter’s official luncheon are (l-r) Col. Ron Alberto, USA, commander, Tobyhanna Army Depot; Joseph Sincavage, commander, Korean War Veterans Association of Wyoming Valley; Lt. Gen. Jeffrey A. Sorenson, USA, chief information officer/G-6; and Alan Bucklaw, chapter president, Association of the United States Army.

At the chapter’s inaugural luncheon, (l-r) Kent R. Schneider, president and chief executive officer of AFCEA International, presents the chapter’s charter to Terrance Hora, chapter president; Lt. Col. Daniel G. Braun, USA (Ret.), chapter vice president; and William Kelly, chapter secretary and treasurer.

B. Daniel DeMarinis (l), regional vice president, swears in the chapter officers.

Bethesda, Maryland – May 22, 2008 – Leaders of the Bethesda Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) today presented a check for $450,000 to The Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The check represents the proceeds from “A Night for the Children,” a charity gala held April 5 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. This year’s gala marked the 10th anniversary of the charity event that has raised more than $2 million since its inception through corporate sponsorships and table sales.

“We are proud of the contribution we make today and of our ongoing relationship with The Children’s Inn at NIH,” said Kenneth Touloumes, President of AFCEA Bethesda. “We want to recognize the generosity of our members and the public sector IT community at large for their continued support of this annual event and worthwhile cause.” Earlier in the week, The Children’s Inn and AFCEA Bethesda jointly announced the establishment of the “AFCEA Bethesda Endowment for the Inn,” created to honor the 10th anniversary of the chapter’s annual gala. In years to come, proceeds from the annual fundraiser will be directed to the endowment.

The Children’s Inn at NIH is a non-profit residential “place like home” located on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Md. Children and their families come from across the country and around the world to stay together in The Inn’s healing environment. Families seek medical treatment at NIH, the world’s leading biomedical research center as their best hope for a healthy future.

“AFCEA Bethesda, its members and its corporate sponsors have become significant contributors to the future of The Children’s Inn,” said Kathy Russell, CEO of The Children’s Inn. “Without their support, we would not be able to provide the housing and support services that are so critical to sick children and their families during this difficult period of time. You are really making a difference in the lives of these children and, through them, in the future of the country.”

Founded in 1998, the AFCEA Bethesda Chapter is a non-profit organization that encourages greater government/industry partnerships and fosters networking among its peers. In 2004, the Chapter formed a Young AFCEAN group whose goal is to foster an environment where young professionals from the private and public sectors can meet, interact, and learn from each other. AFCEA Bethesda has earned the distinguished honor of being awarded “Model Chapter of the Year” by AFCEA International since 2000. For additional information please visit www.bethesda-afcea.org.

The Northern Virginia Chapter has provided $350,000 in funding to the Fairfax County Public Schools and the Smithsonian Udvar-Hazy Center to develop a four part series of “Electronic Field Trips” about the science and technology of aviation. The four episodes will provide a lasting resource to encourage the interest of children in math, science & engineering across the nation.

Flight School: Inspired to Fly, the first of the four electronic field trips for students, is designed to illustrate the principles and practices of early powered flight, as it highlights the careers of men and women who are motivated to make things soar. Through interactive technology and the ability to connect directly with teachers and students across the country, the Fairfax County Public Schools’ production reached over 19 thousand schools making the term “electronic field trip” come alive to 15 million plus students in grades four through eight. The next edition of Flight School airs in the fall of 2007.

To celebrate this grant and the success of Flight School, AFCEA NOVA has joined the U.S. Air Force in sponsoring a “Family Day & Aviation Fly-in” at the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, on Saturday, June 16, 10am - 3pm. The event is free for families and all members of the public are invited. Information is available at www.afceanova.org/familyday.

The Lexington-Concord Chapter Young AFCEANs recently dontated time and savings bonds to the 24th annual Massachusetts MATHCOUNTS program. Held March 10 at the Wentworth Institute of Technology, approximately 150 students in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades competed to determine who will represent Massachusetts in the national competition in Fort Worth, Texas May 10-13, 2007.

The Young AFCEANs provided over 15 volunteers to help grade and proctor the competition. In addition, they generously offered four $1000 savings bonds to the top four students. The recipients were: David Field (West Middle School – Andover, MA), Kevin Wen (Diamond - Lexington MA), Elizabeth Synge (Voyagers Home School - Acton, MA) and Carl Lian (Jonas Clarke - Lexington, MA).

The State MATHCOUNTS competitions are sponsored by the Massachusetts Society of Professional Engineers (MSPE), and held in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. They are the culmination of individual chapter competitions for over 125,000 6th to 8th grade students representing more than 6,000 schools. MATHCOUNTS is a nationwide program designed to increase enthusiasm for, and advancement in, middle school mathematics at a crucial stage for developing and sustaining interest and ability in math which fall directly in line with AFCEA's Charter. For more information visit www.mathcounts.org.

The Alamo Chapter is proud to announce that it has officially entered into a scholar agreement with the University of Texas, San Antonio. The Chapter has pledged $100,000 over a four year period to be awarded to students enrolled in technology-oriented degree plans. The first scholarships will be awarded in the 2007-2008 academic year and will continue through 2010.

Cochise College invites Cochise County middle and high school students to participate in the annual Computer Olympics to be held March 2 at the Sierra Vista Campus. Sponsored by the AFCEA Cochise College Sub-Chapter of the Southern Arizona Chapter in conjunction with Cochise College, the Computer Olympics is a chance for students to take part in computer-related contests such as word processing, programming, keyboarding, and web page design. Middle and high school students compete separately, and the event is open to age-appropriate home school and public school children in Cochise County. Computer Olympics includes an optional continental breakfast at 7:40 a.m., a welcome at 8:15 a.m., and competitions at 8:30 a.m. Middle school awards will be at 12:35 p.m., and high school awards will be at 1:15 p.m. Lunch is provided. For more information or to register students as participants, contact AFCEA Advisor Dan Guilmette at (520) 515-5431 or guilmetted@cochise.edu.

The Middle Georgia Chapter is a co-sponsor, along with Northrop Grumman Space Technology, of the Future Scientist and Engineers of America (FSEA) program being held at Russell Elementary School. The after school program has been held for one hour every week for the past 10 years at the school with the same devoted orchestrators. Mr. Keith Lauritsen, Russell Elementary School Principal, is grateful for the commitment this team of engineers has made to this program over the years, and recognizes the demand it has placed on their personal and professional lives.

The team of engineers, led by Mr. Greg Taylor, includes Dr. Doug Moody, Mr. Scott Bennett and Mr. Joseph Barroso. They have been providing an introduction to engineering principles to about 20-25 youth for the past 10 years. The team typically guides the youth through 5-7 projects during the school year. Ms. Vicki Smith, 5th Grade Teacher and FSEA monitor at Russell, said that the children are very lucky to have such wonderful instructors—which is evidenced by the waiting list each year to get into the program.

FSEA supplies kits to develop an interest in science and engineering that are targeted for specific grade levels. The project the children just completed focused on building a tower-like structure out of plastic drinking straws, with the goal of supporting the maximum weight. The children were grouped in teams of 2 and given 50 straws. The parameters of the task that they had to comply with were the structure had to be 18” tall ±1/2”, the top of the structure had to be a minimum of 2 square inches (for placement of the weights) and ½” wide masking tape could only be used at the joints.

The top finishers of this project were: 1st Place – Dallas Johnson, Lacy Stuart, and Lauren Proux, assisted by Ajacia Davis and Haley Dorris, 5 lbs 8 oz; 2nd Place – Christina Hill and Danielle Fee, 4 lbs 0 oz; and 3rd Place – Will Nobles and Garrett Allen, 3 lbs 14 oz.

The Middle Georgia AFCEA Chapter is actively supporting an increase in interest in engineering fields in the Middle Georgia area through programs such as this, scholarships, grants and other activities. To find out more about this Chapter go to www.afcea-middlegeorgia.org or email Tim Birdsell at tim.birdsell@mtctechnologies.com.

LAGER AULENBACH, Germany - After two days of fierce winds and driving rain, over 200 runners from many of the 41 nations participated in the Combined Endeavor 2006 exercise enjoyed their day off by participating in a 5 kilometer run on May 21. The run was sponsored by local Stuttgart Chapter.

Although prizes were awarded to top finishers, the event was a fun-run, one of many opportunities for social interaction between the Combined Endeavor participants throughout the two week exercise. The top finisher for the run was Norwegian Army Cpl. Anders Olsen with a time of 19 minutes and 50 seconds. The second place finisher was U.S. Marine Maj. William Conner at 20:26. Coming in third was Norwich University Army Cadet Luke Nabozny of the United States at 20:46 and Belgium Army Cpt. Kristof Debruyne was the fourth place finisher with a time of 21:19.

Runners appeared in all types of apparel showing everything from the latest high-tech sports gear to Slovenian Army Cpl. Moravac Nino who ran the entire 5 kilometers wearing his country's flag like a cape. U.S. Marine Cpl. Elena Parra, from Bronx, NY, was asked if she was ready to run and replied "I'm a Marine, of course I'm running, we run, run, run till the run is done." Later on towards the end of the run on a challenging 1.5K hill climb, the determined Parra re-affirmed her earlier statement as she passed many whom had slowed down to a walk.

The trail ran through mountain forests surrounding the Lager Aulenbach base giving participants a view of the splendid German countryside in springtime. South African Army Cpl. Jomo Segowa said he "enjoyed the beauty of the trail and loved the tall trees and hills although I run on hills at home but not hills as steep as these." The event was organized by U.S. Air Force MSgt. Robert Maldonado. He found a few sponsors including AFCEA for water and sports drinks, t-shirts for all the runners as well as a prize pack for the top four finishers. The prize packs were gift bags with assorted items from the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES).

Lt Col. Joe Angyal, the Exercise Director and a member of the U.S. EUCOM J9 staff, was extremely pleased with the success of the first Combined Endeavor 5K. "The event we held today is building upon the human interoperability element that is so critical in making Combined Endeavor the success that it has become," said Angyal. "Expect to see this run next year but only bigger."

Combined Endeavor 2006 is the world's largest security cooperation and communications and information system military exercise. The U.S. European Command sponsored exercise is being held from May 12 through May 25 and includes 41 partner nations and 1,200 military and civilian experts. The multinational training brings NATO and Partnership for Peace nations together to plan and execute interoperability testing of command, control, communications and computer equipment systems from participant nations to support future combined humanitarian, peacekeeping and disaster relief operations.

Operation Helmet depends on tax-deductible donations. For $75-$100, depending on the manufacturer, added safety and comfort can be provided for a trooper. But donations of any amount are welcome. The donation can be designated for a specific branch of the military, a particular unit or an individual trooper.

Why are helmet upgrades needed? Many of today’s helmets – particularly those worn by the Marines, Airmen, and Sailors – were designed 20 years ago to protect soldiers from gunfire and flying debris. They are effective, but are uncomfortable and offer little or no protection from concussion-causing blasts, which are the biggest killers of U.S. troops in Iraq. The upgrade kits make a good helmet significantly better. Note: the advanced combat helmet (ACH) and modular integrated communications helmet (MICH) come standard with these newer pads kits.

Some branches of the military, such as the Army and Navy Seabees, do provide for the upgrade kits. But the military does not issue the kits to most troops. Service personnel can purchase their own upgrade kits. But the cost – approximately $100 is prohibitive to most – especially young troopers with families to support.

100% of donations go toward helmet kits. There are no administrative costs deducted and the Operation’s books are available for inspection by anyone who wants to see them.