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NEW YORK - THE FOUNDERS CHAPTER - 03/29/2024 Emerging Leaders Host Inaugural Event in NYC 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!

NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER - 03/25/2024 TechNet Fort Liberty Symposium and Exposition Is a Success 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

TURKIYE CHAPTER - 03/21/2024 Webinar Focuses on New Technologies in Shipbuilding and Applications 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.

LEXINGTON-CONCORD CHAPTER - 03/17/2024 MATHCOUNTS Scholarship Event: It All Adds Up! The chapter's Emerging Leaders took charge of the chapter's annual MATHCOUNTS scholarship event, celebrating the achievements of the top four students at the MATHCOUNTS state competition held at the University of Massachusetts Lowell in March. MATHCOUNTS stands as one of the nation's most impactful education collaborations, engaging volunteers, educators, industry sponsors and students alike.This spirited competition fosters middle school math proficiency through engaging coaching and lively "bee style" mathematics contests. Across Massachusetts this year, an impressive 794 students from 121 schools vied in seven chapter competitions, leading to 127 students from 41 schools advancing to the state competition.The Emerging Leaders, namely Alex Swope, Stephanie Shangraw and Lynn Demirbas, played pivotal roles as they proctored the competitions, graded exams and awarded $250 from the AFCEA Education Foundation to each of the four finalists. These finalists, now poised to represent Massa ... READ MORE

HAMPTON ROADS CHAPTER - 03/12/2024 U.S. Coast Guard Leader Presents at March Luncheon 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

LEXINGTON-CONCORD CHAPTER - 03/11/2024 New Horizons Symposium 2024 Fosters Unyielding Vigilance The New Horizons Symposium 2024 embarked on an exhilarating journey, igniting the flames of innovation and collaboration in the realm of national defense. With a meticulously curated agenda, the symposium brought together visionaries from industry, academia and government to explore cutting-edge developments and fortify military preparedness for contested environments. Day 1 set the stage for an electrifying experience, marked by insightful keynote speeches and vibrant panel discussions. Lt. Col. Adam Wallace, USAF, Douglas Schmidt and Lt. Gen. Donna Shipton, USAF, illuminated the path forward, offering invaluable perspectives on innovation, artificial intelligence-enabled futures and strategic decision-making in the Air Force. Panel discussions and innovation pitches further enriched the discourse, shedding light on adversary technology development, Department of Defense innovation priorities and the entrepreneurial spirit driving defense technology forward. Networkin ... READ MORE

BELVOIR CHAPTER - 03/01/2024 Participants Travel to Planet X at the Annual STEM Code-a-Thon 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

GREATER OMAHA CHAPTER - 02/29/2024 Chapter Hosts Second Dinner With a Scientist Event 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

GREATER OMAHA CHAPTER - 02/29/2024 Security and Privacy Controls for the Cloud 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

BELVOIR CHAPTER - 02/28/2024 Chapter Hosts PEO-EIS for Sold-Out February Event In February, the chapter hosted Aric Sherwood, director, Acquisition Innovation Directorate, Program Executive Office Enterprise Information Systems (PEO-EIS). The hour and a half-long presentation was an informative session where industry and other government leaders learned about the Army's agile journey, contracting, testing, SBIRs, maintaining acquisition rigor and industry collaboration. The event also hosted several other government leaders, like Matt Gohil, chief information officer at PEO Soldier, who quoted that Sherwood's presentation had "insights on how the Army continues to drive agile across the acquisition community" and that he was "looking forward to further engagements with PEO-EIS." This was a popular event and the chapter appreciates the continued partnership with PEO-EIS.

ALAMO CHAPTER - 02/28/2024 Tech-Xchange Attendees Gather for Networking and a Night Out 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.

ALAMO CHAPTER - 02/26/2024 16th Air Force Technical Director Lays Out Phoenix Initiative Brian J. Cook, technical director, 16th Air Force, delivered an insightful address at the recent February monthly luncheon event. Cook advises the commander and executive director regarding appropriate levels of effort among the various program areas of the organization, and on the development, acquisition and implementation of technology, procedures and operations necessary to execute the various 16th Air Force missions. As a distinguished speaker, Cook shed light on key developments and challenges while providing valuable insights into the broader landscape of 16th Air Force. He spoke about the Phoenix Initiative, a project that drives modernization and mission resiliency by capturing innovative ideas and new technologies through deliberate engagement with industry, academia and government research and development organizations.The Phoenix Initiative also further connects subject matter experts at the tactical edge to senior leadership within the 16th Air Force. Cook concluded his ... READ MORE

CENTRAL MARYLAND CHAPTER - 02/22/2024 Chapter Members Love the Valentine Gala The chapter held its 17th annual Valentine Gala in February at the Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City, Maryland. With more than 400 industry, government and military attendees, this event is always a huge hit. Guests received individual portraits and delicious food, followed by live music, dancing and fun. This was a can't-miss event and the chapter is already looking forward to next year.

TURKIYE CHAPTER - 02/21/2024 Webinar Addresses Submarine Combat Management Systems In the webinar "Overview of Submarine Combat Management Systems" presented by Omur Hanyali, the operations of submarines, the masters of the depths, the sound of depth and the compilation of a recognized tactical picture by submarines were evaluated. In the webinar, chapter members learned about the need for an integrated structure, especially where acoustic sensors are intertwined with the combat management system, and how it was achieved to meet the needs of submarine systems that differ from surface combatant platforms. Attendees learned the place and functions of these systems, which include the capabilities provided by developing technology, with the network-enabled capabilities in the operational environment.

NORTHERN VIRGINIA CHAPTER - 02/21/2024 Chapter Gathers Insights on Cybersecurity Innovations 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

BELVOIR CHAPTER - 02/20/2024 Chapter Hosts Emerging Leaders Roundtable In February, the chapter's Emerging Leaders hosted their second Roundtable. This event was a conversation with Kaitlin Bulavinetz, associate director, science & technology (S&T) analysis & policy integration within the Office of Strategic Intelligence & Analysis and senior advisor to the principal director for advanced computing and software, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) in Defense S&T Innovation and Policy Integration. This was an insightful evening where the group discussed the latest trends, challenges and opportunities in the ever-evolving world of information technology.

EMERALD COAST CHAPTER - 02/20/2024 Awards Presented for STEM Projects at Regional Science Fair For more than 10 years, the chapter has presented awards to middle school students participating in the East Panhandle Regional Science Fair in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, for STEM projects. This year, chapter members, Glenda Robinson and Luke Colinco were the chapter judges. The awards were the following: First Place and $250: Aurora Mendenhall; Second Place and $200: Elena Henderson; Third Place and $150: Owen Parry; and Fourth Place and $100: Jackson Despard.

HAMPTON ROADS CHAPTER - 02/20/2024 February Luncheon Welcomes Local Naval Officer 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

CENTRAL FLORIDA CHAPTER - 02/20/2024 Celebrating STEM Excellence With Scholarships 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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