| AFCEA Hawaii is supported by a membership of 600+ individuals from Industry, Education, Academia and the Department of Defense which includes: HQ USINDOPACOM, HQ COMPACFLT, HQ PACAF, HQ USARPAC/311th TSC, HQ MARFORPAC, NCTMS-PAC, DISA-PAC, JIATF-W, DIA, NSA, DODIIS and the 14th Coast Guard District. Various Federal civilian agencies and DOD Reserve units are also represented within AFCEA Hawaii.
AFCEA Hawaii activities include:
(A) TechNet Indo-Pacific (TIP), the oldest conference in Asia-Pacific - postponed from a live October 2020 event and held virtually 1-3 March 2021 due to the pandemic;
(B) The AFCEA Hawaii Chapter and the AFCEA Hawaii Educational Foundation (AHEF) have a long history of supporting STEM education in Hawaii. AFCEA Hawaii and AHEF have awarded over $2,000,000 in college scholarships since the late 1980¿s. We have awarded $370,000 in 145 scholarships over the past five years. AFCEA Hawaii has established scholarships in honor of past AFCEA Hawaii leaders that provide financial recognition of merit excellence in the fields of STEM, pure science, cybersecurity, leadership, volunteerism, technical expertise, communications. We have scholarships to support students who are working to become STEM teachers; an AFCEA chapter member of a family member studying in hard science or cyber; and, attending a Cyber program in the local community college system.
In 2020, AFCEA Hawaii and AHEF awarded $120,500 in 10 named and 31 general scholarships to Hawaii based students attending colleges and universities in Hawaii and on the mainland. Two years ago, we began using ScholarsApp.com which is a clearinghouse type of site where organizations can post available scholarships and students can post their profile and apply for scholarships. ScholarsApp is a non-profit organization started by a then Hawaii college student who wanted to award a scholarship and couldn¿t find a way to do so. Using this service has allowed us to reach 2 to 4 times the number of applicants, improved the quality of applicants, and simplified the review and award process.
AFCEA Hawaii recognizes the importance of encouraging students to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers, and the critical role of teachers in their success. Motivated STEM teachers can spark a lasting enthusiasm for STEM subjects, and provide the foundation for a lifelong and fulfilling career. In 2020, AFCEA Hawaii developed and implemented our inaugural STEM Grants award process to recognize outstanding teachers and advisors who engage students in critical and creative thinking, and demonstrate broad scope and sustainability beyond the application of their program or project. We authored descriptions of named and general STEM Grants, worked with our IT Support Committee to build an online application form, ensured advertising of STEM Grants, and coordinated contact with schools and other non-profits supporting STEM for K-12. We developed review and ranking criteria for and led the awards review committee, coordinated and distributed financial awards, notified all award winners, and implemented a Grant acceptance system for award winners. As a result, AFCEA Hawaii awarded two $5,000 named STEM grants in honor of AFCEA Hawaii leaders, Cynthia Pacheco and Edward Ryglewicz. An additional $25,000 in STEM Grants were awarded, ranging from $500 to $2,000 per grant, to twenty-two K-12 STEM programs in Hawaii schools and non-profit organizations.
(C) AFCEA Hawaii Intelligence Committee, comprised of Local Intel Officers and Professionals that meet regularly to discuss current topics;
(D) Monthly membership luncheons featuring national and international speakers from both the DoD and Industry, presenting topics pertinent to the USINDOPACOM AOR were held live Jan-Mar 2020 and virtually for the remainder of the year due to the pandemic;
(E) At least one member social and two Young AFCEAn Socials annually, open to all members and a guest at no charge to the membership. These were postponed due to the pandemic.
(F) At least four Young AFCEAn Mentor Match-up Events annually. Virtual Speed Dating, Elastic Tech Talk, YAC Advisory Council "What Can AFCEA Do for You?", and Talk Story with Cyber Professionals were held with Young AFCEAN leadership at the helm. |
