VANDENBERG-CENTRAL COAST CHAPTER CHAPTER - Jul 09, 2014 |
Central Coast Space Initiatives and Award Winners |
Col. Keith W. Balts, USAF, 30th Space Wing commander, updated the chapter on the latest space initiatives affecting the Western Range during a meeting in July. Col. Balts first recognized and expressed his appreciation for the important role of technology in improving space operations. He referenced a standardization and consolidation effort of space command and control assets that will lead to greater effectiveness between the space launch ranges at Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg Air Force Base. "The biggest challenge will be modernizing aging space infrastructure," Col. Balts said. He also acknowledged the need to secure against vulnerabilities when converting space systems to an Internet protocol-based architecture. Col. Balts compared the growth of operations in cyber to those of the pre-existing space domain, but with current modernization projects, it appears that this time cyber is leading the way ahead for space. Additionally, Tech. Sgt. Corlena Schramm, USAF, and Riccardo Magni were awarded a $500 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) scholarship and teaching grant, respectively. |
Event Photographs: |
Col. Keith W. Balts, USAF, 30th Space Wing commander, speaks to the chapter in July. |
Nathan Simmons, chapter vice president, awards (l) and Senior Master Sgt. Patrick Hackman, USAF, chapter vice president, Young AFCEAN Affairs, present a science, technology, engineering and mathematics scholarship to Tech. Sgt. Corlena Schramm, USAF. |