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ABERDEEN CHAPTER - 01/18/2024
The first monthly luncheon of 2024 brought big things from the chapter, which hosted an engaging panel discussion with leaders from the Program Executive Office (PEO), Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors (IEW&S). Held in January at Water's Edge Events Center in Belcamp, Maryland, the event was co-hosted with the local Association of Old Crows (AOC), Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG)-Susquehanna Chapter.Panelists included the moderator, Brig. Gen. Ed Barker, PEO for IEW&S; Mark Saxon, acting deputy project manager (PM) for Electronic Warfare and Cyber; Robert Zoppa, PM for Defensive Cyber Operations (DCO); and Stu Labovitz, chief engineer for PM Cyber & Space (C&S). Addressing a sold-out room, the panel delivered an analysis of the new IEW&S portfolio, which included the stand-up of PM C&S in Summer 2023 and a major Army reorganization that realigned PM DCO under IEW&S from PEO Enterprise Information Systems in October 2023. Each panelist presented an overview of ... READ MORE |
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NEW YORK - THE FOUNDERS CHAPTER - 03/29/2024
The chapter's Emerging Leaders program held its inaugural event in March in New York City. The chapter had a fantastic mixer, where professionals connected with one another across defense, technology, cyber, international relations and more. Members also discussed what the Emerging Leaders program has in store for 2024, including but not limited to, networking happy hours, mentor matchmaking and civic engagement. There was tremendous interest in how to join and become more involved with AFCEA. The chapter is looking forward to its next mixer in late spring!
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HAMPTON ROADS CHAPTER - 03/12/2024
In March, the chapter welcomed Capt. Benjamin Goff Jr. of the U.S. Coast Guard. Capt. Goff currently serves as the Business Operations Division chief of the C5I Service Center in Portsmouth, Virginia. C5I serves as a critical element of the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security and stands for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, and Intelligence. The U.S. Coast Guard's C5I Service Center provides information and situation-awareness products and services, depot-level maintenance and repair services, resource transparency and total asset visibility for the U.S. Coast Guard.Capt. Goff described the C5I Service Center's focus areas of sustaining U.S. Coast Guard support systems, implementing technology revolutions and ensuring the service center's success through various services, such as navigation, intelligence systems, communications systems, maritime transportation services, human resources and logistics resources. The U.S. Coast als ... READ MORE |
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HAMPTON ROADS CHAPTER - 02/20/2024.jpg)
February's luncheon continued the 2024 momentum, setting the precedent for a packed year for the chapter!The chapter proudly welcomed Capt. Brett "T-Rex" O'Donovan, USN, commanding officer of Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station, Atlantic (NCTAMS LANT). Capt. O'Donovan discussed one of the U.S. Navy's latest and most significant architectural and technological facilities, MB-100, as one of the Navy's most complex buildings with Command, Control, Communications, Computer, and Intelligence systems, developing a modernized cyber weapons platform, complete with multiple watch floors and two commands. The chapter recognized the efforts of the NCTAMS LANT MB-100 Transition Team as the Cyber Team Awardee for February for outstanding performance and lasting contributions toward AFCEA's mission of advancing STEM in partnership with government, military, industry and academia. The Transition Team's devotion and superior professional achievement included int ... READ MORE |
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NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER - 03/25/2024
In February, the TechNet Fort Liberty Symposium and Exposition, along with its recruiting fair, concluded with resounding success, marking a pivotal moment in the convergence of technology, innovation and talent acquisition.Hosted at the Fort Liberty Iron Mike Convention Center, the symposium witnessed an unprecedented gathering of industry leaders, government officials and technology enthusiasts. With a comprehensive agenda featuring keynote speeches, panel discussions and an interactive expo, the event provided invaluable insights into the latest advancements in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure.The recruiting fair, held in conjunction with the symposium, served as a prime platform for employers and active duty, reservist, veteran, coast guard and military spouse job seekers to connect. More than 40 leading technology companies participated, offering diverse career opportunities spanning cybersecurity, software development and network engineering. A ... READ MORE
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GREATER OMAHA CHAPTER - 02/29/2024
In February, Pedro Ramirez, executive technical adviser, Nuclear Command, Control and Communications (NC3) Enterprise Center, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, was the guest speaker for the second Dinner with a Scientist event held at Omaha North High School. Ramirez covered his humble beginnings-how he first became interested in STEM as a child while investigating a computer he used for school. From there he talked about joining the Marine Corps, his interest in radios and computers, and finally coming to HMX-1 (Marine Helicopter Squadron One), the president's helicopter squadron. It was at HMX-1 where he became acquainted with the importance of security and just how serious the threats were to the mission; he began looking into how to protect the computer systems from these threats. At that time, Ramirez started his formal university education in computer science, specializing in what became known as cybersecurity. He began looking into not just how to mitigate threats but also how ... READ MORE
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TURKIYE CHAPTER - 03/21/2024
The chapter would like to express its gratitude to Oguz Tanır on behalf of all participants, as well as the Turkish Defense Industry News Group, for his presentation of the webinar on "New Technologies and Applications in Shipbuilding." The webinar discussed how today's technological innovations, such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality and digital twin, have become effective and even mandatory in the shipbuilding industry, as in all industrial applications. In addition to developing technologies, energy, efficiency, automation and cybersecurity issues, demanding shipbuilding requirements, fuel types to be used in the future, carbon dioxide emission targets set by IMO and restrictions that may be imposed on ports in particular may come to the fore in a radical way. And these will force changes in the shipbuilding methods of the future. So, fleets that do not comply with these restrictions will face difficulty in maritime transportation.
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 02/28/2024
In February, the chapter held a Tech-Xchange at B-Technologies headquarters in Austin, Texas. The happy hour event allowed members and nonmembers to network and exchange ideas about cyber, intel and information technology in and around the federal space.
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GREATER OMAHA CHAPTER - 02/29/2024
In February, Lisa McKee, founding partner, American Security, Dakota State University, Omaha, Nebraska, spent time with the chapter discussing the importance of cloud security. McKee pointed out a number of cloud threats, and companies need to do a better job of protecting themselves and their employees. She relayed that 39% of businesses had experienced a cloud breach in their cloud environment in 2023. She cited the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report of 2023, which indicates the human element is involved in every three out of four incidents. McKee emphasized that cyber threats don't change. With the continued use of the cloud, threats only become greater. She touched on the OSINT Framework, which gathers free tools and makes them readily available. She also talked about compliance: it's one of the hardest jobs out there based on the breadth of knowledge necessary for the position. McKee discussed Core Privacy Rights, where companies need the customer's consent to collect an ... READ MORE
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NORTHERN VIRGINIA CHAPTER - 02/21/2024
The chapter's February Small Business Breakfast featured a keynote from Philip Alcorn, director of the Army Cyber Technology and Innovation Center (ArCTIC) at U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER).Alcorn opened with an overview of ARCYBER's mission to protect and defend Army and Department of Defense network systems. He detailed the interagency collaboration that strengthened their capabilities and pointed to a gap in the rapid acquisition of cyber-specific equipment and capabilities that led to the establishment of ArCTIC. Under Alcorn's leadership, ArCTIC has become a dynamic hub for the fast-tracked development and deployment of cybersecurity technologies. He shared that the center is actively working to increase its limited acquisition authority, which stands at $500,000 for research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) and $2 million for procurement. Alcorn underscored ArCTIC's commitment to pioneering research through strategic alliances with government agencies, in ... READ MORE |
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BELVOIR CHAPTER - 03/01/2024
In March, in conjunction with several Central Virginia area AFCEA chapters, the chapter hosted its annual Code-a-Thon event for the third year in a row! The virtual Code-a-Thon blasted off to nine Virginia-based elementary schools. The fictional Virginia AFCEA Space Alliance, or VASA, once again traveled to Planet X for a thrilling adventure called "Grow the Planet." The goal of this event was to encourage the development of coding, promote interest in science, technology, engineering and math, and raise cyber awareness for the participating elementary schools. This is the only virtual code-a-thon event that connects public schools, Department of Defense Education Activity grant schools and Department of Defense schools in the region. The volunteers supporting the event also were rewarded as they experienced the thrill of making a difference in the young lives of the participants. As some of the teachers have noted, "It is amazing to watch students' excitement around coding and STEA ... READ MORE
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CHAPTER - 02/20/2024
In February, the chapter's STEM Scholarship Committee member, Will Ceglar, presented a STEM Scholarship to Taylor Hanes, a dedicated cyber-intelligence major at the University of South Florida.Additionally, the chapter was proud to present STEM Scholarships to the talented students of the University of South Florida's College of Information & Technology. Congratulations to all the recipients! Your passion and dedication to STEM are truly inspiring. Thank you for being the future of innovation! |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 01/17/2024
The Alamo AFCEA Education Foundation (AAEF) supports San Antonio area STEM organizations and local area STEM educational development opportunities within the Alamo AFCEA region. In January, AAEF leadership participated in the first Alamo STEM Youth Summit.The Alamo STEM Youth Summit, designed by student leaders from San Antonio schools, brought key community leadership together to educate and inform students. The event, pioneered by the Intercultural Development Research Association, which manages the Department of Defense (DoD) Defense STEM Education Consortium, the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology and the CyberTexas Foundation, was hosted at St. Mary's University in San Antonio. The Youth Summit brought 400 local middle and high school students together to participate in scientific demonstrations, learn about STEM career opportunities in San Antonio and hear keynote speakers discussing the importance of STEM careers within the community. The AAEF ... READ MORE |
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CENTRAL MARYLAND CHAPTER - 02/13/2024.JPG)
The chapter awarded Bethany Jedlicka the "Unsung Hero" award at this month's luncheon. Bethany has been a key member of the Women in AFCEA (WIA) committee since 2022, supporting the event planning and behind the scenes execution of multiple WIA events throughout each chapter year. This chapter year, Jedlicka has provided outstanding planning coordination for several existing and new WIA events including the Women's Speaker Series (Technology focus: AI/ML) last October, the Women's Podcast Spotlight Roundtable last November, and the WIA Game Night Social on February 22. Last year, Jedlicka supported planning and execution of the following events: the Women's Speaker Series Cyber Panel and the WIA-WIIG Women's Leadership Roundtable. In addition to volunteering for WIA, Jedlicka works full time at NiSUS Technologies Corporation, providing business development support and is finishing her bachelor's in software development at the end of this year. Even with her incredibly ... READ MORE |
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PACIFIC NORTHWEST CHAPTER - 02/10/2024.JPG)
The chapter hosted its annual symposium on January 31 and February 1, 2024. More than 400 attendees and 40 vendors attended to hear from 20+ industry experts, military leaders and government representatives. Attendees engaged with speakers and vendors to tackle various challenges facing the armed services in the Pacific theater. Col. Dean Smith, chapter president, and Lt. Gen. Susan Lawrence, USA (Ret.), president and CEO, AFCEA International, provided opening remarks, while Lt. Gen. Xavier Brunson, USA, commander general, I Corps and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, gave the opening keynote.Satellite communications operations and governance, cybersecurity, and the evolution of artificial intelligence and others generated thoughtful discussions. Presentations from military, industry and government experts reinforced the need for partnerships to develop and provide solutions globally. AFCEA Regional Vice President Tim Martin, Northwestern Region, provided the final day's open ... READ MORE |
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ABERDEEN CHAPTER - 01/18/2024
The first monthly luncheon of 2024 brought big things as the chapter hosted an engaging panel discussion with leaders from the Program Executive Office (PEO), Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors (IEW&S). Held in January at Water's Edge Events Center in Belcamp, Maryland, the event was co-hosted with the local Association of Old Crows, Aberdeen Proving Ground-Susquehanna Chapter.Panelists included moderator Brig. Gen. Ed Barker, USA, PEO for IEW&S; Mark Saxon, acting deputy project manager (PM) for Electronic Warfare and Cyber (EW&C); Robert Zoppa, PM for Defensive Cyber Operations (DCO); and Stu Labovitz, chief engineer for PM Cyber & Space. Addressing a sold-out room, the panel delivered an analysis of the new IEW&S portfolio, which included the stand-up of PM C&S in Summer 2023 and a major Army reorganization that realigned PM DCO under IEW&S from PEO Enterprise Information Systems in October 2023. Each panelist presented an overview of their respective are ... READ MORE |
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HAMPTON ROADS CHAPTER - 01/05/2024
January's luncheon was a loaded event for the chapter.The new chapter president, Caitlin Johnson, CEO and founder of Input Technology Solutions, was sworn in. Johnson is the chapter's first female president since Teresa Duvall. Also, many new members were sworn into the board: Chelsey Dolan, vice president of Emerging Leaders; Lt. Kaily Cornick, USN, vice president of communications; Kelly Jenne, executive vice president; Palmer Sims, AFCEA regional vice president; Amy Yendall, vice president of membership; Dennis Garcia, vice president of education; James Tilley, vice president of programs; Teresa Duvall, women's outreach leader; Matthew Umphlet, webmaster; Zeib Parvez, treasurer; Vicci Morabito, vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion; Hillary Boyce, chair, Small Business Committee; Larry Minnick, golf chair; Neil Bourassa, historian; Jenniffer Minks, secretary; and Lt. Col. Clarissa Blair, USN, vice president of military affairs. The chapter had the d ... READ MORE |
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TURKIYE CHAPTER - 02/01/2024
In February, the webinar titled "Quantum Technologies and Intelligence" presented by M. Tuncay Gencoglu, associate professor, Firat University, significantly impacted participants' perspectives on the developments in quantum technologies and the effects of these technologies, especially on the field of intelligence.The rise of quantum technologies also creates an art of storytelling. Starting with the mysterious world of subatomic particles and extending into the depths of global cyber networks, this story will not only increase the information processing capacity of each qubit but will also reweave the fabric of cybersecurity and intelligence. Webinar attendees received answers to questions such as how quantum transformation will shape the future of the cyber world and how intelligence collection and analysis methods will evolve with these new technologies that are hidden in the depths of quantum. |
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SCOTT-ST. LOUIS AREA CHAPTER - 01/18/2024
The chapter hosted Christopher Burton, Cyber Operations Division chief, U.S. Transportation Command/J6, as speaker of the month. He discussed zero trust and the need not only to utilize it but also to meet all of the underlying requirements for compliance. Burton stated that "it is not about doing zero trust; it is about using zero trust."
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CENTRAL MARYLAND CHAPTER - 01/04/2024
In November 2023, four chapter volunteers gave of their time and talent to attend the Sixth Annual Old Mill Middle School South Cyber Defender Expo held at the school in Millersville, Maryland. This was a unique opportunity to showcase the importance of cyber defense and ethical hacking and raise awareness of future careers in the cyber defense industry. Talented professionals, with the help of community volunteers and faculty members, provided a day of learning and fun for more than 300 fifth to eighth graders. Jessica Morgenstern, Applied Insight; Jacob Witlin, chapter scholarship recipient and recent graduate now employed with Jensen and Hughes; Nicholas Jackson, Parsons; and Sean Smith, Parsons, were active participants in the event. Thank you to all who volunteered!
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PACIFIC NORTHWEST CHAPTER - 11/29/2023
The chapter held its 2023 November Luncheon at Camp Murray, Tacoma, Washington, courtesy of the Washington Army National Guard and sponsored by T-Mobile for Government.The luncheon opened with a welcome from Col. Charles D. (Dean) Smith, USA, chapter president, followed by remarks from Brig. Gen. Paul Sellers, ARNG, commanding general of the Washington Army National Guard (WA ARNG). Maj. Sameer Puri, ARNG, chief information officer and director of defensive cyber operations, WA ARNG, spoke on the modernization of information technology (IT) infrastructure and led an interactive discussion on how to mitigate IT-related threats impacting critical communications infrastructure. The luncheon closed with a tour of the Washington Emergency Management Division and the Joint Operations Center. Thank you to everyone for their time and attendance, the Washington Army National Guard for hosting, and a special thanks to Carla Montrose, T-Mobile for Government and chapter v ... READ MORE |
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SILICON VALLEY CHAPTER - 11/09/2023
In November, the chapter held an event at Scott's Seafood in San Jose, California. Guest speaker Halin Garcia-Gordon, from Datasophical LLC, is also the new chapter Emerging Leaders chair.With data breaches and cyber attacks rising, effective security is more crucial than ever for organizations operating in the cloud. This informative talk explored how Python and Amazon Web Services (AWS) services can be leveraged to bolster the security of AWS cloud environments now and in the future. |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 11/13/2023
The chapter would like to thank the guest speakers, sponsors, volunteers, attendees and all those who helped make this year's event a resounding success. The chapter informed the community on military and civilian information technology and cybersecurity topics and benefited the chapter's Education Foundation and the Wounded Warrior and Military Families Endowment Fund. It was a flagship event and the chapter is already looking forward to next year.
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WASHINGTON DC CHAPTER - 11/01/2023
In November, the chapter hosted a luncheon at the Army Navy Country Club to dine and discuss, "Digital Twins for Warfighting." The keynote speaker, Young J. Bang, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army, Acquisition Logistics & Technology, introduced the crowd to ideas and concepts involved with building next-generation digital twins to strengthen warfighting capabilities. A deeper exploration of digital twin history, use cases, benefits and challenges were presented during the engaging panel discussion hosted by Col. Candice E. Frost, USA (Ret.). The panelists, all experts in numerous technological disciplines, included: Joseph T. Hays, Maj. Michael "Orbit" Nayak, USAF (Ret.), and Harry Wingo. The thought-provoking exchanges between the panelists, as well as the Q&A from the audience, clearly yielded a rewarding luncheon experience for all in attendance. Key takeaways: 1) Foreign nations are utilizing this technology today in an attempt to close the gap between their mili ... READ MORE
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GREATER OMAHA CHAPTER - 10/12/2023
In October, John Sahlin, vice president, Cyber Solutions, General Dynamic Information Technology (GDIT), Falls Church, Virginia, spent time with the chapter sharing his thoughts on the prerequisites for successful zero-trust implementation in the federal government. During his discussion, Sahlin revealed five truths about zero trust. First, it is not a product despite many software vendors trying to sell their zero-trust wares as the solution. It is "an evolving set of cybersecurity paradigms that move defenses from static, network-based perimeters to focus on users, assets and resource."Second, the best practices aren't new, but the technology is. It entails cyber teams and adhering to security best practices. Third, saying you have a mandate is the worst reason to move to zero trust. It's important because the challenge faced is cyber adversaries are evolving. For instance, it takes just under 19 minutes on the average to commit a breach, and over 43% of breaches a ... READ MORE |
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PACIFIC NORTHWEST CHAPTER - 09/13/2023
In September, Benjamin Schuppel, chapter member, U.S. military veteran, president of Zero Delta 365, and a leader in the advanced information technology industry, moderated a "fireside" chat with Sean Watts, professor, Department of Law, U.S. Military Academy at West Point and co-director of the Lieber Institute for the Law of Land Warfare, regarding international cyber law and policy. More than 50 chapter members and guests attended at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. Watts noted that international cyber law and policy are gaining attention from a broad range of nation-states, generally divided into two camps: "wait and see" and "enthusiast." The former feel cyberspace is still developing, not yet needing regulation, where the latter wish to control cyberspace as a matter of sovereignty. |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 08/16/2023
In August, the chapter came together for an exhilarating San Antonio FC game at Toyota Field. This event brought together over 75 people, including 30 AFCEA members, and was elevated by the sponsorship of Valiant-X Enterprise Corporation. Valiant-X is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business company providing cyber, cloud, DevSecOps, information technology operations and professional services. A special shoutout to Valiant-X leadership, Yves Vazquez, CEO, and John Melcher, chief operating officer, for their support.More thanks go to organizers from the chapter's Small Business Committee, Emerging Leaders and Membership team. A special thanks goes to Caroline Cunningham of CMP Management for her impeccable handling of the event logistics. Additionally, it was great to have the Semper Valens Solutions team in attendance. If participating in these events interests you, check out the chapter events page, Facebook and LinkedIn for more information. |
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GREATER OMAHA CHAPTER - 08/31/2023
In August, Gary Sparks, program director, Metropolitan (METRO) Community College Cybersecurity Center, Omaha, Nebraska, spent time with the chapter discussing METRO's Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) efforts. Sparks pointed out that the CAE community consists of universities and community colleges nationwide working through Homeland Security and the National Security Agency to earn their CAE designation. Currently, 400 schools have CAE designation. It is common practice for CAE institutions to share their assignments, classes and best practices. Above all, this promotes ethical standards and standardized requirements for CAE certification. Sparks talked about providing the local community with support for grades K-12 through training and providing relatable content. Sparks commented that the local community often turns to educators to understand the cyber threats around them.He elaborated on the CAE designation process and clarified that CAE begins after the program of st ... READ MORE |
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ROME CHAPTER - 07/11/2023.png)
In July, the chapter organized an event titled "The Cyber Capabilities in Multidomain Operations," to explore the innovations shaping the development of cyber warfare and the impact of technologies developed for high availability, encryption and cybersecurity solutions.After a welcome by Lt. Gen. Antonio Tangorra, ITAF (Ret.), chapter president, and Lt. Gen Angelo Gervasio, general manager of Teledife Directorate, various military and industry speakers gave remarkable speeches. Maj. Giuseppe Amodio, Teledife Directorate, presented "Tools To Counter the Cyber Threat." He outlined the directorate's activities to provide operational entities with technologically advanced tools for use in countering the cyber threat. Nicola Grandis, Digital Platforms, discussed "Multi-Domain Scenarios: Multidomain Resilience: Artificial Intelligence (AI) To Defend Yourself in Multi-Domain scenarios and Counterattack Effectively." She provided an overview of the contribution of AI i ... READ MORE |
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HAWAII CHAPTER - 08/24/2023
In August, the chapter co-sponsored a Tech Talk at Fort Shafter with corporate sponsor Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). More than 125 local industry and defense leaders gathered for the 2023 "U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Theater AI & ML Battlespace Tech Talk: Force Behind the Fight." Subject matter experts Brig. Gen. Mark Miles, USA, J6, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command; Bill Burnham, chief technology officer, HPE; Mike Martinez, director, Cybersecurity, U.S. Army Pacific; and Steve Oberlin, Nvidia, discussed artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) technology, tools and architectures needed to extract value from data, enable new capabilities and drive digital transformation. The speakers explored and shared a variety of aspects of AI/ML, including AI model development and training, machine learning operations, data labeling, DevSecOps, drones, computer vision, high-performance computing and other new and innovative tools, techniques and products.
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NORTHERN VIRGINIA CHAPTER - 08/23/2023
The chapter hosted the AFCEA NOVA Small Business Breakfast with guest speaker Lt. Gen. VeraLinn "Dash" Jamieson, USAF (Ret.), in August at the Oracle Auditorium in Reston, Virginia. Gen. Jamieson dedicated an impressive 37 years to the military. Her career included leadership roles at various levels, leading to her position as director of the U.S. Air Force's Intelligence Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Cyber Effects Operations. During the event, she shared many fundamental principles she has successfully applied in her business endeavors and personal life since transitioning from the military.Gen. Jamieson explained that listening is key and good business leaders should listen to their customers, business segments and intuition. She also emphasized the importance of continual learning and embracing emerging technologies to expand one's knowledge to stay ahead of the curve. Additionally, she stressed how critical it is to choose strategic partners wisely, invest in relatio ... READ MORE |
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HAMPTON ROADS CHAPTER - 06/22/2023
In June, the chapter awarded scholarships to students enrolled for the 2023/2024 academic year as full-time students in one of the STEM disciplines. These majors will prepare the students for a professional career supporting AFCEA's focus on military communications, cybersecurity, electronics, information technology, data and intelligence systems.
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CENTRAL FLORIDA CHAPTER - 08/04/2023
The chapter hosted its 6th Annual Bowling Tournament with 135 bowlers representing 27 different companies. The event raised close to $14,000 for the chapter's High School Cyber Outreach Program.
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ROME CHAPTER - 06/22/2023
In June, the chapter organized an event titled "Resilient Communications for Operating in a Complex Multi-domain Environment" to present the state-of-the-art and crucial new technologies delivering resilient communications essential for operating in a complex multidomain environment comparing different operational needs with the capabilities offered by new technologies.After a welcome by Gen. Antonio Tangorra, ITAF (Ret.), chapter president, Gen. B. Davide Pilatti, commander of the Italian Army Transmission Department, stated that the conference's framework was related to the 70th Anniversary of the Italian Army Transmission Corps. Therefore, various military and industry speakers spoke at the event with remarkable speeches. Capt. Stefano Principe, Italian Army Transmission Department, presented "The Continuity of Tactical Radio Communications in Anti-RCIED Jamming Situations." Giuseppe Prinzivalle, IES Srl, illustrated the "Waveform Protection and Analysis Sys ... READ MORE |
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ABERDEEN CHAPTER - 02/28/2023
At the February luncheon, the chapter hosted a special panel featuring the women leaders of the U.S. Army's Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center. Moderated by Kim Ploskonka, principal deputy director of the center's Engineering & Systems Integration (ESI) Directorate, this panel featured discussions from four of the center's key female leaders: Beth Ferry, assistant director of C5I engineering; Jami Davis, deputy assistant director for ground combat sensor systems at the Research & Technology Integration (RTI) Directorate; Marnie Bailey, division chief of the Power Division at RTI; and Denett Rose, division chief of program integration & engineering at the Prototype Integration Facility.This guided discussion focused on the unique perspectives and challenges women face in the STEM and defense contracting arenas. Each panelist shared their thoughts on what it means to be a woman in a leadership posit ... READ MORE |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 07/18/2023
The chapter was honored to welcome Brig. Gen. Mitchell Butikofer, USAF (Ret.), vice president of workforce digital services at USAA, as the keynote speaker for the July Monthly Luncheon. Gen. Butikofer shared his plan of attack for automating processes and saving USAA nearly $37 million in fiscal year 2022.Right from the start, one of Gen. Butikofer's primary initiatives was to ensure that his team fully understood the needs of the military members they were serving. To achieve this, he took his executive team to Nellis Air Force Base for nearly a week to meet with military personnel and gain insights into their day-to-day lives and challenges. As he emphasized, "At USAA, we're focused on increasing efficiency and effectiveness to help members maintain financial security." This vision translated into optimizing end-user experiences through simplified artificial intelligence (AI) service desk messaging and enhanced mobile experiences. His team achieved this by implementing in ... READ MORE |
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AUGUSTA-FORT GORDON CHAPTER - 06/27/2023
In June, the chapter continued its dynamic Lunch and Learn series with two dynamic speakers.
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ROME CHAPTER - 06/06/2023
The "Physical and Digital Identities, Uncompromising Security! Encryption and Its secrets: How To Manage Them and Make Them Inviolable" conference, organized by the chapter and member N.I.D.O., was held in June at the Casa dell'Aviatore in Rome.Lt. Gen. Antonio Tangorra, ITAF (Ret.), chapter president, gave the welcoming remarks. Stefano Penna, sales director for Italy of the Cyber Security Division, N.I.D.O., illustrated the offerings of the Cyber Security Division with particular reference to securely using the normal mailboxes by adopting an SSL (secure sockets layer) certificate for each user, increasing security from phishing, spoofing and "man in the middle" attacks. This allows the identification of the sender, the possibility of being able to choose with a single click whether to communicate in plain text or end-to-end encrypted mode and the transfer in encrypted mode of any file (even large ones) by defining at the time of sending which recipients will be able to re ... READ MORE |
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EL PASO CHAPTER - 06/21/2023
In June, the chapter hosted a successful luncheon highlighting the latest cyber threats the community faces. The event's keynote speaker was FBI Computer Scientist Tommy Armendariz, who shared his extensive expertise on current cyber scams, the impacts and basic cybersecurity strategies. Attendees gained valuable insight into cyber criminals' techniques and actionable strategies to safeguard their organizations against ever-evolving cyber threats.Andrew Hair, chapter president, expressed his appreciation to Armendariz for sharing his presentation, valuable insights and expertise on a topic of immense interest to everyone. Hair also mentioned that the attendees learned a great deal about the FBI's role in defeating cyber adversaries. The luncheon also served as a platform for professionals to connect, exchange ideas and cultivate meaningful relationships. The chapter aims to fortify El Paso's industry, academic and military communities by fostering professional connect ... READ MORE |
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GREATER OMAHA CHAPTER - 05/25/2023
In May, Ethan Cole, deputy regional director, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Region 7, Kansas City, Missouri, spent time with the chapter discussing the CISA role. Cole pointed out that CISA was formed in 2018 with an overall mission to lead the national effort to understand, manage and reduce risk to the nation's cyber and physical infrastructure. He clarified that CISA areas of responsibility mirror the Federal Emergency Management Agency's eight-region breakout. Cole covered CISA's core capabilities relating to critical infrastructure and talked about their four primary mission lines and how CISA is carrying out these missions. Cole talked about how they work out of integrated operations divisions and try to provide information and resources ahead of the curve before it is requested. With limited resources, focus remains on assessing to maximize current assets to stay effective. Cole concluded by emphasizing that CIS ... READ MORE
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PORTUGAL CHAPTER - 05/30/2023
In May, the chapter participated in the IV International Cybersecurity Conference, held at the Polytechnic Institute of Guarda, in the northern interior of Portugal.Rear Adm. Carlos Rodolfo, PRT N (Ret.), regional vice president of AFCEA International's Atlantic Region, spoke in a face-to-face presentation on the theme, "AFCEA and Its Action in the Areas of Cybersecurity and Cyber Defense" as a forum for debate on these topics. Following Adm. Rodolfo's presentation, Jose Borges, chapter vice president and professor of the Portuguese Military Academy, held a videoconference on "Cybersecurity Skills." Adm. Rodolfo took the opportunity to present Francisco Brigas, president of the Polytechnic Institute of Guarda, with a commemorative book about the association and its activities. |
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ROME CHAPTER - 05/03/2023_Tangorra.jpeg)
In May, the chapter organized the conference "Artificial Intelligence in the Military: New Solutions and Evolutions of Use" in Rome to offer an update on this topic, bearing in mind that artificial intelligence (AI) also is beginning to revolutionize military operations. From supporting command and control tools and contributing to decision-making processes to training military personnel and spanning from logistics to strategic planning, AI is making an impact.Maj. Francesco Corso, Segredifesa, presented "Artificial Intelligence in Defense: Research and Technological Innovation Activities," focusing on the guidelines of military technological innovation defined in NATO and the European Defense Agency, which are also guidelines for Italian NAD's technological research projects. Col. Fabio Zanichelli, Italian Air Force (IAF) Logistics Command, introduced "The New Air Force Infologistics System," framed in the digitization process of the IAF. In this framework, Logistics ... READ MORE |
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CZECH CHAPTER - 06/01/2023
The chapter organized another security seminar dedicated to current trends in the field of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. The seminar took place on the premises of the Police Academy of the Czech Republic in Prague with the participation of experts from the state administration, the army, the private sector and the academy.
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CZECH CHAPTER - 05/13/2023
Members of the chapter in cooperation with the Czech CyberSecurity Center and representatives of CIMIB again took part in the Army Day event, where they prepared a fun, sports-educational game called CYBERTHLON for children and adults. Several hundred participants took part in the event and gained a lot of new information in the field of cybersecurity, defense and cryptography. This event also allowed the attendees to familiarize themselves with current trends in the military fields.
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BONN E.V. CHAPTER - 05/10/2023
The 36th AFCEA Exhibition, held in May at the World Conference Center in Bonn (WCCB), set a record for exhibitors and visitors. Two hundred fifty companies and organizations exhibited at one of Germany's most important information technology trade shows for defense and security. More than 4,100 participants came to the WCCB."We have turbulent times. We need to shake Germany up!" said Brig. Gen. Armin Fleischmann, German Air Force, chapter chairman and sub-department head, Cyber and Information Technology Department (CIT) 1 at the Federal Ministry of Defense, in his opening remarks on the current relevance of the exhibition, which this year was themed "(Artificial) Intelligence and Innovations - Concrete Uses." This look at concrete uses is more urgent than ever: modern wars are digitally supported and digitally waged, notes Lt. Gen. Michael Vetter, German Air Force, head of CIT Department at the Federal Ministry of Defense, in his welcoming speech at the opening. "Let ... READ MORE |
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SOUTH FLORIDA CHAPTER - 05/21/2023
The chapter held its second annual Scholarship Luncheon in May and recognized three scholarship awardees.Each awardee received a check for $300 and one-year AFCEA membership: Private First Class Leeane K., USA, Hollywood, Florida, is majoring in computer and electrical engineering at Norwich University's School of Cybersecurity, Data Science, and Computing. Angela L. of Sunny Isles, Florida is completing her senior year of high school in advanced academics at Florida International University. She has been accepted to Norwich University's College of Engineering, where she plans to study biomedical engineering. Briana R. of Weston, Florida, is a cybersecurity management major at Nova Southeastern University's College of Computing and Engineering. The chapter's keynote speaker Maj. Garnett Lias, USA, chapter second vice president, commander, U.S. Army Network Enterprise Center-Southern Command, gave a phenomenal speech on the importance of STEM Scholarship ... READ MORE |
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GREATER OMAHA CHAPTER - 04/27/2023
In April, Douglas Rausch, director, Cybersecurity Education, and program director for Undergraduate and Graduate Cybersecurity Programs, Bellevue University, Bellevue, Nebraska, spent time with the chapter discussing workforce pathways. Rausch talked about initial STEM exposure for middle school students coming in the form of GenCyber Camp supported by the National Science Foundation and activities like Dinner with a Scientist and Internet of Things-type courses through the university. The objective is to open the students' eyes to STEM. After they know what STEM is, they must decide what to do with it. Rausch continued by discussing high school engagements geared to tweak students' interests like CyberPatriot competitions and VEX Robotics events. Rausch commented on instruction assistance methods like RING, where high schools engage in cybersecurity curriculum, labs and developing faculty by certifying them in computer education. Rausch next talked about college, where stu ... READ MORE |
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HAWAII CHAPTER - 05/21/2023
The chapter's STEM Grant Program for teachers and community organizations has awarded 71 STEM grants to $128,000 in just three years. The chapter's Education Committee continues the STEM Scholarship Program efforts that the AFCEA Hawaii Education Foundation managed until it was disestablished. The Education Committee developed a grants program for K-12 STEM teachers and community organizations such as ISC2, Girl Scouts of Hawaii and the Boys & Girls Club. This year, the chapter had the honor of receiving invitations to witness the impact of the grants on schools and the community.In March, chapter board members were invited to Assets High School, Honolulu, for its robotics showcase with Team Waffles and Team Metal Engineering Assets Flamingos. The robotics demonstration was attended by ReShonda McKee, chapter vice president of education programs; Vincent DiRienzo, chapter vice president of cyber programs; and Yogi Fong, chapter secretary. Assets High received two grant award ... READ MORE |
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PACIFIC NORTHWEST CHAPTER - 05/10/2023
In May, the chapter installed the chapter officers for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. Tim Martin, regional vice president, led the ceremony and presented the AFCEA Chapter Flag to Col. Charles D. (Dean) Smith, USA, as the chapter president. Col. Smith thanked Col. Liz Casely, USA, the outgoing chapter president, for her leadership over the past year. Col. Smith previously served as the vice president for membership. Martin also presented the chapter with the Albert J. Myer Award for Individual Member Recruiting for the past year. Also, during this annual meeting, Morgan Zantua, executive director, City University of Seattle's Center for Cybersecurity Innovation, a National Security Agency/U.S. Department of Homeland Security designated Center of Academic Excellence, provided the keynote address to the more than 30 attendees.
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HAMPTON ROADS CHAPTER - 05/07/2023
Congratulations to the 2023 AFCEA International Spring Awards winners presented at the annual TechNet Cyber Conference in Baltimore in April. Larry Minnick won the Leadership Award; Hillary Boyce won the Meritorious Service Award and Matthew Umphlet won the 40 Under 40 Award. Congratulations again to the devoted AFCEA Hampton Roads Award winners! And thanks to the chapter members who attended the Awards Dinner and Conference: Neil Bourassa, Palmer Sims and Teresa Duvall. It was a great evening of awards, fun and fellowship.
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