The SIGNAL Blog

McLane Advanced Technologies Promotes Blurton to VP

McLane Advanced Technologies, Temple, Texas, has promoted Cathy Blurton to vice president of Program Management Office.

Cool App-titude: America's Army Comics

April 16, 2013

By Rachel Eisenhower

America's Army iPad Android app The America's Army comics from the U.S. Army, designed to highlight the reality of being a soldier, are now available for the iPad and Android tablets. The free app features the first two issues of the comics, which follow the saga of courageous U.S. soldiers deployed to the fictional war torn region of Czervenia.

Readers can enjoy the story through animated panels, authentic sound effects and musical scores.

The app was developed by the same team that created the successful America's Army PC game—the Software Engineering Directorate of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command's Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center. While the America's Army game is more than a decade old, the app is a relatively new offering and will continue to be updated with new issues and features.

"Comic books and the Army have been around for a long time," Marsha Berry, Army Game Studio public game director, explains. Both the game and the comic include the latest Army technology and emphasize that there is more to being a soldier than just guns.

Download the app from the iTunes App Store or Googly Play.

These sites are not affiliated with AFCEA or SIGNAL Magazine, and we are not responsible for the content or quality of the products offered. When visiting new Web sites, please use proper Internet security procedures.

Guest Blog: The Next Generation of Defense IT--Network Modernization

April 15, 2013

By Anthony Robbins

At no time has information technology (IT) modernization and its role in protecting our nation been more important than it is today. The defense IT community has a full plate—from mandated efforts to consolidate data centers by migrating to the cloud by 2015, to improving IT security, to responding to the growing pressures and implications of mobility (not to mention sequestration, budget cuts and political pressures everywhere). The modernization of government IT systems needs to happen quickly.

What often stalls IT innovation has very little to do with technology and a lot to do with leadership. As government leaders need to increase productivity, functionality and return on investment from their IT networks, it is important to look at technology as an enabler of leadership and transformational change. Common challenges include:

Understanding how to invest in IT tools, systems and infrastructure with declining budgets

Managing the increasing cost of current IT infrastructure

Dealing with the high rate of IT systems that miss original intent or service level agreements

And, of course, responding to increasing security threats

The Defense Department spends more than $40 billion annually on IT, more than $250 billion in the last seven years or so. That’s a quarter of a trillion dollars—a lot of money. Modernizing IT systems and infrastructure, like most change or transformational agendas, comes down to leadership. There is an opportunity right now for a more aggressive leadership platform as it relates to the modernization of IT by the Defense Department, especially around the network.

Aggressive thought leadership and action can help in today’s complex environment. Examples of this involve following commercial best practices, the use of open standards, the OpEx vs. CapEx debate and more aggressive training around IT acquisition models.

NASA, Air Force Seek Space Processor for Future Missions

April 12, 2013

NASA and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory are asking industry for solutions to meet future high-performance space computing needs in the coming decades.

The Air Force Next Generation Space Processor Analysis Program is seeking two to four companies to perform a year-long evaluation of advanced space-based applications that would use spaceflight processors for the 2020 to 2030 time frame. The call for research and development proposals came in a broad agency announcement, which will involve a competitive selection process with plans to award a cost-reimbursement contract with approximately $2 million to be shared by the selected companies over one year.

Awardees will begin with three months of studies to determine and define the required computing performance for these advanced applications and to compare their findings with the government's preliminary requirements. During the following nine months, the selected companies will develop spaceflight processing architecture solutions to a set of NASA and Air Force requirements.

A chosen team may develop the spaceflight processor following the initial phase of research. Depending on the availability of funds, that contract award could be roughly $20 million over a four year period.

Holy Robotic Batwings!

April 12, 2013

George I. Seffers

Researchers at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, have developed a robotic batwing that could one day lead to more dynamic, dexterous and sophisticated wings for aircraft. The National Science Foundation, which supports the research, announced the breakthrough in its online publication Science Nation, along with a video. Unlike the wings of birds or insects, batwings are more like the human hand with many joints and skin, allowing bats to change the shape of their wings in-flight, researchers say.

Guest Blog: Lowering Walls and Blurring Lines

April 12, 2013

By Dr. Louis S. Metzger

The latest Incoming column from Lt. Ben Kohlmann, USN, titled “Link Warfighters to Technologists at the Lowest Possible Level” (SIGNAL Magazine, April 2013), resonated with observations I’ve made and conclusions I’ve reached over the years. I’ve been involved with the research and development and acquisition communities for a long time, including serving as the Air Force chief scientist from 1999 to 2001. Perhaps my adding to Lt. Kohlmann’s advice will help it gain additional traction, and stimulate further discussion and activity.

Leveraging technology to provide our military with improved capability requires diverse insights, multiple skills and varied roles. The insights cover current understanding of user needs, the operational environment, and the potential of existing and emerging technology. The skills span science and engineering, contracting, testing and training. And the roles include requirements developer, laboratory investigator, acquirer and support provider. The realities of specialization demand that multiple communities come together to provide all these ingredients. Unfortunately, interpretation of rules, processes and culture have built walls, and suspicion between different communities to the extent that the teamwork and collaboration needed to expeditiously develop and field new capabilities often islacking.

Homefront Help: Pat Tillman Foundation

April 9, 2013

By Rita Boland

Many people are familiar with Pat Tillman’s story. He left an NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals to become a U.S. Army Ranger after 9/11 and was subsequently killed in the line of duty. His family and friends started the Pat Tillman Foundation to provide scholarships for military veterans and their spouses. Eligible parties interested in becoming a Tillman Military Scholar can learn more about the criteria online. The application period for 2013 is now closed, but student veterans who want to gain information before applying next year, as well as learning what programs qualify, can start their research by visiting the site at any time.

One of the best ways to support the organization occurs later this month at Pat’s Run on April 20 at Arizona State University. Registration is open until April 12 or until all spots are taken. Sponsorship opportunities are available by calling 480-621-4074.

People who want to support the foundation in other ways have several options. Team Tillman includes amateur athletes who compete in marathons, half marathons, triathlons, cycling or other athletic events throughout the country to raise money and awareness for the foundation. Or people can give money through more familiar means such as planned gifts, third party fundraisers and straight donations.

Cool App-titude: CanWeNetwork

April 9, 2013

By Rachel Eisenhower

Networking with individuals in your area just got easier with the free CanWeNetwork app for iOS and Android. The program uses geospatial technology and a powerful matching engine to recommend people nearby who you may want to connect with for professional networking and business opportunities.

CanWeNetwork is built on top of the LinkedIn platform, and its recommendation engine uses multiple data sources to identify strong matches among users. Connections are based on location, skillset, experience, shared interests and personality traits.

"The app uses the power of big data and mobile technology to see and capture actionable opportunities that without CanWeNetwork would simply pass you by unknown," explained James Sinclair, vice president of CanWe Studios, in a company press release.

The app is now available in 10 languages in more than 100 countries.

Download CanWeNetwork from the iTunes App Store or Google Play. You can also watch a video about how the app works.

U.S. Navy Announces 2014 Laser Deployment Plans

April 8, 2013

George I. Seffers

Citing a series of technological breakthroughs, Navy leaders announced plans April 8 to deploy for the first time a solid-state laser aboard a ship in fiscal year 2014. The Office of Naval Research released a video of the Laser Weapon System (LaWS), a technology demonstrator built by the Naval Sea Systems Command. LaWS uses commercial fiber solid state lasers and can be directed onto targets from the radar track obtained from a MK 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapon system or other targeting source. Rear Adm. Matthew Klunder, chief of naval research, described directed energy initiatives, especially the solid-state laser as “among our highest priority science and technology programs,” adding that the solid-state laser program is "central to our commitment to quickly deliver advanced capabilities to forward-deployed forces.”

Homefront Help: Quilts of Valor

April 4, 2013

By Rita Boland

The idea that troops and veterans should not come home from war feeling alone or forgotten—especially if they are injured—is a message that many have tried to drive home for years. Quilts of Valor answered the call to action by taking a simple idea and growing it into a huge grass roots effort that has provided tens of thousands of pieces of comfort to returning warfighters and veterans. As the name suggests, these items are large lap quilts that makers offer as a symbol of gratitude from the American people.

The organization has posted requirements for quilters ready to jump in and get started. The group matches up people who can make toppers with longarmers who can use their machine to quilt the pieces; topper makers and longarmers are both in demand. People who have never made a quilt before can try to find coaches on the site who will help them get started. Of course, coaches are needed, too. Anyone who still wants to help out but without trying their hand at sewing can make a donation online.

Homefront Help also has a Facebook page where visitors can gather and share information. If you know of a program that is helping service personnel, veterans or their families please submit that information to Rita Boland, SIGNAL’s senior news editor.

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