200904SIGNALConnections

The Stuttgart Chapter has implemented a mentoring program to reach out to area high school students and encourage the students’ interest in the hard sciences. The chapter’s goal is to increase the likelihood of students pursuing education and careers in the sciences field.

Established in 2008, the mentoring program is a result of the chapter’s successful scholarship program. Tatiaunna Maldonado, chapter vice president for membership, encouraged the chapter’s board members to develop an additional program that would benefit students. To make her case, Maldonado cited success stories from scholarship recipients who majored in the sciences in college and went on to pursue science-related careers.

Col. Michelle M. Fraley, USA, chapter president, liked the idea. “We are always looking for ideas on how to make a stronger impact in the community that extends beyond the [U.S. Defense Department and the military],” she shares.

The program focuses on students at PatchAmericanHigh School, the local Department of Defense Education Activity school. Chapter members provide 30-minute lessons on information technology and science-related technologies to educate students on the value of science and technology and to increase awareness of careers within those fields.

The Northern Virginia Chapter’s (NOVA) Successfully Transitioning from Active to Retired (STAR) program eases the move to private-sector employment by disseminating valuable information to military and government retirees. Founded in 2007, the program offers seminars that supplement the information government transition assistance programs provide.

STAR program events are held before and after traditional work-day hours to enable retiring uniformed military and government employees to network with potential employers and other retirees. They also can ask questions about the transition process; obtain referrals, advice and résumé reviews; and participate in discussions relevant to the transition process.

Kathleen Smith and Col. Kevin Hoey, USMC (Ret.), founded the program during Col. Hoey’s term as NOVA chapter president. He continues to serve on the program’s board to recruit new speakers and as master of ceremonies for the seminars.

Col. Hoey believes his own experience transitioning from the military to the private sector helped him improve on the existing programs. “During my transition process, I sat through a number of lectures and workshops. What was missing was an interactive format focused on developing networking skills,” he says.

Smith agrees. “The purpose of the program is to highlight that networking is a key component to the transition process and that the chapter is a great place to start and continue that networking,” she shares.

The U.S. Defense Department’s networks now are safer and more secure as the result of an upgrade that Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) officials say promises superb end-point security. The department’s client-server Host-Based Security System (HBSS) attaches a management agent to each host—server, desktop or laptop—for end-point security across its enterprise. Local administrators manage the system, which is configured to block known bad traffic using an intrusion prevention approach and a host-level firewall.

The HBSS provides a framework that enables Defense Department components to integrate existing security products and eliminate redundant management processes. The system’s functions and capabilities comprise a centrally managed host-based enclave-level Tier 3 information assurance/computer network defense tool that includes an intrusion detection system. In addition, the HBSS features a robust white-list capability that allows use or execution of only authorized software and hardware, including peer-to-peer software, applications, USB devices and thumb drives. Other attributes of the system include automated support for information operations conditions baselining, robust buffer overflow protection and rogue system detection as well as the ability to detect and report unauthorized computer systems on the network.

Entrepreneurs who focus on military, intelligence, law enforcement or homeland security technology solutions can turn to the dark side for investment capital. While reports about “angel investors” have been scarce in these days of global recession, one organization continues to explore and support companies in these high-growth industries. D’ArchAngels comprises a network of relatively high-net-worth individuals with backgrounds in several different national security areas.

D’ArchAngels is a comparative newcomer to the legion of venture capitalists. Conceived in the spring of 2008, the group took its current form over the past summer; it has since received several hundred business plans. In addition to former members of the intelligence community, the D’ArchAngels comprise former members of the U.S. Defense Department as well as professionals who have been involved in homeland security. Names of the 25 individuals who make up  the group are kept confidential with the exception of those who agree to represent the group to the public. The annual membership fee is $2,500.

D’ArchAngels’ venture capitalists are presented with the cream of the crop of the hundreds of business proposals received through New Vantage Group; the group manages D’ArchAngels as well as early-stage venture funds for several other angel investor groups. In the past nine years, New Vantage Group members have invested more than $45 million in several dozen companies. In addition to obtaining leads from the New Vantage Group, D’ArchAngels receives business opportunity proposals from other venture capitalists aware of D’ArchAngels’ focus.