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ALAMO CHAPTER - 03/27/2025
The chapter participated in "AI at the Edge," a competition organized by MotoUP, a San Antonio nonprofit supporting combat-wounded veterans through motorsports. The event united leaders from the U.S. Air Force, industry and the chapter to inspire creativity, share knowledge and showcase artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, enhancing the racing experience and warfighter effectiveness at the Edge.Co-hosted by Dell Technologies and Intel at the Dell Customer Solutions Center in Round Rock, Texas, the competition featured four teams of five to 15 members, both on-site and remote. Each team delivered 30-minute presentations judged on AI implementation effectiveness, relevance to motorcycle racing and federal use cases, audience engagement and solution clarity. The event encouraged cross-disciplinary collaboration and skill-sharing. The chapter's team, Cyber ACES, included U.S. Department of Defense civilians, active-duty military and industry partners from the U ... READ MORE |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 01/16/2025
In the heart of "Cyber City USA" resides one of the largest concentrations of enlisted, officers and civilian cyber and information technology professionals in the Department of Defense. The chapter answered the call and delivered the first-of-its-kind government-centric speed networking event for Joint Base San Antonio's Cyber Community.In January, during National Mentoring Month, the chapter hosted an opportunity for military and Department of Defense (DoD) civilian cyber senior leaders to engage across organizational lines and impart knowledge at the Boeing Center at Tech Port. Master Sgt. Nicho Chung, USAF, a rising AFCEA Emerging Leader and 2025 AFCEA International Meritorious Service Award winner, spearheaded this landmark event, resulting in an overwhelming turnout of 93 attendees across 42 organizations. Mentor biographies were shared in advance to highlight leaders' diverse cyber career paths and foster an intentional mentoring conversation at the event. The ... READ MORE |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 08/20/2024
The chapter hosted Ralph Franco, information technology infrastructure program manager, Defense Health Agency (DHA), during the August luncheon. Franco discussed the military health strategic environment in depth, providing those in attendance with a detailed understanding of several initiatives and upcoming opportunities to collaborate with the DHA.
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The chapter's Wounded Warrior and Military Families Endowment provided a total of $13,000 to the Echo Hill Ranch Gold Star Kids Camp in support of its summer program. Every year, Echo Hill Ranch provides a safe, fun, relaxing and empowering professional summer camp experience for the children of Gold Star families, immediate family members of a fallen service member who died while serving in a time of conflict, or those of first responders. The chapter is proud to partner with this amazing program each year and to spend a day out on the ranch with more than 50 kids as they experience memories of a lifetime.
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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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ALAMO CHAPTER - 02/26/2024
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
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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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ALAMO CHAPTER - 01/23/2024
Col. Jason Turner, USAF, is the Operations and Communications Directorate (A3/6) deputy director for Force Development at Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. Col. Turner leads the four divisions, specifically working Force Development for the U.S. Air Force and Space Force. He directs the implementation of an airman-centric, mission-focused and competency-based approach to developing airmen.Col. Turner expanded on the modernization of the force development enterprise and the need to be mission-ready in the context of great power competition. He noted that "The chief of staff of the Air Force has charged the leaders of all levels to train to make quality decisions at the speed necessary for competition in combat timelines to develop future leaders who can do the same." |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 02/06/2024
In February, the chapter supported the latest U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Software Factory Coalition meet-up in San Antonio. DoD Platform One and Unified Platform played a pivotal role in setting up the two-day event for members of various software factories to get together for an exciting collaboration opportunity, fostering functional innovation for cutting-edge solutions and advancements in the DoD.In the evening, attendees joined chapter members, guests and corporate partners at Bentley's Beer Garden to continue networking and collaborative discussions. The chapter was excited to support DoD partners and live up to AFCEA's mission to connect people, ideas, and solutions globally. |
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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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ALAMO CHAPTER - 10/21/2023
The chapter worked with the local community to provide gift bags and assist with sponsoring the Latinitas Conference in October at the Capital Factory at Boeing Center in Tech Port, San Antonio. The Latinitas Conference holds immense importance for the Latinx community and beyond. This event offers a unique platform for young Latinx girls between the ages of 9 and 14 and women to come together and celebrate their shared identity, culture and achievements. By bringing together a diverse range of experts, professionals and influencers, the conference offers invaluable opportunities for networking, mentorship and learning. The workshops and activities at the event are carefully curated to address the specific needs and challenges faced by Latinx girls and women in various fields, including education, entrepreneurship and technology. The chapter also worked with Youth Code Jam to provide their "Jam in a Box" set, containing multiple activities and materials for kids to learn the fundame ... READ MORE
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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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ALAMO CHAPTER - 09/20/2023
The chapter was honored to welcome Col. Jonathan M. Boling, USAF, commander, 616th Operations Center (616 OC), for an insightful discussion regarding the continuously evolving nature of the 616 OC. Since its inception that began with the merging of the 624th Operations Center with the 625th Operations Center, the 616 OC is at the tip of the spear for commanding and controlling full-spectrum information warfare operations. The 616 OC supports its mission partners with a focus on maintaining a competitive edge amid ongoing global conflict. Col. Boling emphasized the utmost importance of offering the "right opportunities to the warfighter at the right time and place." His leadership team delivers prompt decision-making and actionable intelligence, elements that are essential in today's rapidly evolving global environment.
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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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ALAMO CHAPTER - 02/28/2023
The chapter welcomed guest speaker Col. Richard Erredge, USAF, commander of the 960th Cyberspace Wing (960 CW), Joint Base San Antonio, Chapman Annex. The 960 CW is the only cyberspace wing in the Air Force Reserve Command. There are 11 locations across the continental United States, with roughly 400 airmen headquartered locally in San Antonio. Col. Erredge explained that the 960 CW is an operations-driven force. "We do everything that the 688th Cyberspace Wing does but just on a smaller scale." They are closely aligned with 16th Air Force but differ greatly in the active duty and guard units.When it comes to empowering airmen and their families, the reserves recruit nationally. Col. Erredge explained how the reserves have garnered strong relationships with industry, resulting in excellent training and development. "You're always told you can't recruit and retain in cyber ... but we are." The Air Force Reserves are uniquely utilizing the skill sets and training that airmen r ... READ MORE |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 12/01/2022
The chapter welcomed Col. Lauren Courchaine, USAF, as guest speaker during its December luncheon, the last official luncheon of 2022. Col. Courchaine is the commander of the 37th Training Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. In this role, she leads the largest and most diverse training wing in the Air Force and has the privilege of "producing" 93% of all enlisted airmen. Her focus is on developing multi-capable airmen that are instilled with a mindset and "way of thinking" that can overcome adversity in its many forms. She teaches airmen to understand that they are not responsible for one sole duty but could have many responsibilities that require a positive outcome for the mission to be successful. This mindset is necessary for airmen to compete against an adversary that has continuously changed over the last 20 years. Col. Courchaine also mentioned that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Generation Z airmen began to enter the schoolhouses.Considering their digital lite ... READ MORE |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 10/27/2022
The chapter's Emerging Leaders held its annual Mentor Protégé Night at Top Golf San Antonio. The event brings together leaders in government, industry and academic fields to provide expertise in their respective fields to future leaders interested in information technology careers. The night mirrors a speed mentoring model where each table has two mentors to provide dialogue and answer questions before moving to the next table. This year proved to be another great success with the youngest crowd to date. High school students were in attendance, and it was the first time the chapter had such a large presence of high school students. Emerging Leader Vice President Justin Newell explained that the connections made here could be game-changing for attendees. "We've had people come through that have completely changed their career path or were on the fence about what to do with their careers, but after this night, were able to set off with a mentor that continues to help them today. It's ... READ MORE
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 10/18/2022
The chapter welcomed Col. Kevin Childs, USAF, commander, 26th Cyberspace Operations Group, and director, A5/8/9, 688th Cyberspace Wing, for its October monthly luncheon. As a group commander, Col. Childs leads 700 personnel in operations defending the $14.2 billion Air Force Enterprise Network, and as a director, he oversees the wing's requirements, weapon systems, budget and innovation. Col. Childs' presentation focused on the theme of partnerships. 'Partnerships advance us farther and faster than we can alone,' he explained. Col. Childs recalled partnerships formed during his previous assignments and how that not only helped him but also his unit overcome obstacles and assist in accomplishing future mission requirements. "There are five truths regarding partnerships." Col. Childs said that partnerships help us carry the heaviest of loads, recognize expertise and fully embrace those skill sets. They do not emphasize organizational charts but action. Lastly, partnerships ... READ MORE |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 08/25/2022
The chapter's Emerging Leaders said goodbye to summer with a Tech on Tap networking social at Stella Public House in downtown San Antonio. The chapter's vibrant 40 and under group learns, grows and networks with peers and professionals throughout the city. If you're looking to engage with other folks in industry, academia and government, this is the group for you! Stay up to date with all of the events via the chapter's social media handles and on the chapter website.
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 09/07/2022
The Women of Alamo AFCEA had their second event at Paesano's in Lincoln Heights. The group had a full house of men and women eager to work together to BridgeTheGap that women have long seen and felt in STEM career fields. The group established three committees: Military Mentorship, Education and Business. Each committee will be led by an expert of that particular field. The group will meet the first Wednesday of every month. Chapter Vice President of Diversity Karen Lopez-Rolirad explained that this is just the beginning. The Women of Alamo AFCEA are working to capture all of the diversity that is present within the chapter. "I'm extremely excited about this, and if you're looking to make a difference, you need to come to this."
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 09/30/2022
The chapter welcomed Col. Joshua Rockhill, USAF, at its September monthly luncheon. Col. Rockhill is the director of operations, 16th Air Force, Air Forces Cyber, and Joint Force Headquarters-Cyber, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. His responsibilities span more than 44,000 personnel conducting worldwide operations. Col. Rockhill's Joint Forces Headquarters-Cyber personnel perform operational planning as part of coordinated efforts to support Air Force component and combatant commanders.The 16th Air Force has numerous cyber tasks to support the nation and assist with cybersecurity defense. Col. Rockhill explained the need to push for more assistant forces. As it relates to cybersecurity defense, there is not a lot of time for subjectivity. "And by removing the subjectivity in any given space, we will become better at it." Col. Rockhill explained that the Air Force is good at detection and response but will need recovery support from industry for efficiency with kinetic ... READ MORE |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 07/28/2022
The Emerging Leaders held a Tech on Tap social event and learning experience that was sponsored by Big Bear AI. Guest speaker, Garrett Hall, research engineer with Southwest Research Institute, Defense & Intelligence Solutions Division, discussed how autonomous agents can learn to complete objectives in a video game environment using multi-agent reinforcement learning. Hall broke down a very complex subject providing the background information on how he uses artificial intelligence to train a model and also how it can be applied to future technologies. Hall explained that having this type of technical interchange during a presentation made it quite enjoyable.
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 08/16/2022
The chapter welcomed Jim Perschbach, president and CEO of Port San Antonio, to this month's luncheon. Perschbach led the members and attendees in a discussion on the new innovation and technology hub in the downtown Southside of San Antonio. "No one knew the connectivity we could put into San Antonio," explained Perschbach. The campus provides an opportunity for the community to have access to standardized training tools and technology, research facilities, machine learning and artificial intelligence all in one area. The first ever interservice gaming competition that was held in May at the ForceCon '22 event crowned the Air Force as this year's video game tournament winners. The port has 16,000 employed and growing, allowing all people within the community to intersect. "It's a message to the community that you are worthy."
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 07/19/2022
The chapter welcomed Col. Thomas Bodnar, USAF, commander, 318th Cyberspace Group, to its latest monthly luncheon in July. Col. Bodnar leads the development of cyber capabilities and tactics, techniques and procedures in support of the Cyber Mission Force. He discussed what cyber looks like today. "We are defining capabilities as we train and equip warfighters to deliver cyberspace superiority." Col. Bodnar explained that there is a focus on improving the readiness of the groups under his command. Three concepts are being looked at to hone in on readiness: conceptual change, policy change and tool change. With a conceptual change, agile capability is needed. A unified requirements process to bring the right tools and capabilities into fruition requires a policy change. Finally, a tool change that moves the current myriad of tools into a common framework where resources can be used currently and over a period of time. "We have too many tools as is. What we need is intellectual capital ... READ MORE
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 06/01/2022
The chapter's new women's group held its first event to discuss how to "bridge the gap" for girls and women in STEM. Vice President of Diversity Karen Lopez-Rolirad led the event's launch. "This initiative has been brewing for quite some time, and I am overwhelmed by the amount of women who need this and want to help push this effort to the next level." The event brought in over 30 women from the community to network and listen to guest speaker, Victoria Washington, explain her journey as a successful female in the technology space. The group is working on the details of the next meeting to be held on September 7th.
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 07/29/2022
The chapter had its annual in-person board of directors meeting in July. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the board had been unable to meet in person over the last two years. The annual meeting is an all-day event where each board member reflects on the current year and forecasts for the next year. During the meeting, the all-volunteer board had a special presentation from the chapter president. Rick Lipsey has been the chapter president for the last six years. Lipsey introduced the chapter's incoming president, Chris Kinne. He also wished a farewell to Executive Vice President Dave Kovach, who has been supporting the chapter for more than ten years. The community welcomes Kinne and wishes the best for both Lipsey and Kovach in their next endeavors. |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 04/21/2022
The chapter's Emerging Leaders hosted a panel at the University of Texas-San Antonio National Security Collaboration Center. The panel was moderated by Bryan Guinn, defense lead at CloudBees, with speakers Lt. Col. Brian Viola, USAF, materiel leader at Platform One, Lt. Col. John Priestly, USAF, material leader, director at LevelUP Code Works, Ell Marquez, senior technical trainer at GRIMM (SMFS Inc.), and Mark Peters, product manager at BrainGu. The panel boasted members of military and industry experts who discussed the threats to their respective supply chains and their organizational responses. |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 04/05/2022
The Emerging Leaders joined in on the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce's Annual Tech Trek this year. Tech Trek and many other events had been postponed due to the pandemic over the last two years. Tech Trek is an official Fiesta event highlighting technology in San Antonio, including new companies, thriving tech businesses and the latest in innovations. The San Antonio Chamber of Commerce partnered with Geekdom, Tech Bloc and CENTRO to host Tech Trek this year. The Emerging Leaders ran the chapter's booth on the eighth floor of the Rand Building, which provided an avenue for attendees to learn about the AFCEA mission and upcoming chapter events. The volunteers greeted attendees that walked by the booth and presented attendees with handouts, AFCEA swag and the Alamo Chapter Emerging Leaders video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb7bPtrjdxE). For those that were not aware of what AFCEA is, the volunteers explained that AFCEA is a nonprofit professional organization that serves ... READ MORE |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 05/13/2022
Virtual connections can never replace the bonds formed through handshakes and meeting together in-person, explained Col. Billy Pope Jr., USAF, commander, 690th Cyberspace Operations Group, and director of intelligence and operations, 688th Cyberspace Wing A2/3, America's first cyber wing. The 688th cyber wing enables connectivity and functionality to secure and defend mission assurance for the Air Force to fly, fight and win. The common theme throughout Col. Pope's discussion with members and attendees of the chapter's monthly luncheon was mission assurance. Mission assurance is having available, reputable, defended and secured information technology infrastructure. Col. Pope explained that available and not secure infrastructure is not enough, just as defended networks that are unserviceable are not enough. Moving away from the prior alignment and focus, synchronizing operations and an intelligence strategy and plans are now the focus and priority. Col. Pope discussed t ... READ MORE |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 03/19/2022
The chapter welcomed guest speaker, Col. Aaron Drake, USAF, to the chapter's monthly luncheon. This was the first in-person event for 2022. Col. Drake is currently the special assistant to the commander, 16th Air Force. He serves as host and executive agent for select Defense Department mission systems, including six data centers, associated real property, and infrastructure, while managing a combined annual budget. "We are four to five years into a massive transition from a counterterrorism-dominated defense strategy to a very necessary refocus on strategic competition." Col. Drake explained how, in refocusing on strategy, there is a pressing need to also re-examine operational concepts within the cyber domain, normalizing the digital integration as a pre-condition and the recognition of the space domain as a warfighting domain with its own set of distinctions and risks. To be successful, the Air Force is looking to move to better systems capable of a high-end fight, but that can a ... READ MORE
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 02/19/2022
The chapter was pleased to support the first in-person San Antonio Mayor's Cyber Cup since the pandemic. The chapter sponsors this Cyber Texas Foundation event, and this year it was able to present three big-check scholarship donations to the winners of the Best All-Female Middle School, Best All-Female High School and the Service Division awards. Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh, USAF, commander, Sixteenth Air Force, and commander, Air Forces Cyber, explained to the teams and attendees that the military has a vested interest in this competition as the vulnerabilities faced today will continue. Today's Airmen are doing the same things by providing secure networks for every element of the Air Force's network. "We have seen that you all are able to do that as well, so continue to be curious. Whether or not you stay in cyber, what you've learned here with regard to teamwork and communication will set you up for success in other challenges." Lt. Gen. John Evans, USA, commanding general, Army Nort ... READ MORE
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 02/24/2022
The chapter addressed diversity within the military during its monthly luncheon with an all-star panel. As moderator, Col. Lamont Atkins, USAF, director of operations, Sixteenth Air Force, Air Forces Cyber, opened the discussion with explaining how diversity and inclusion are of operational importance to capitalize on the talent within the Air Force and Department of Defense. Col. Atkins was joined by Col. Lauren Courchaine, USAF, commander, 67th Cyberspace Operations Group; Col. Christopher Robinson, director of communications, Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber); and Col. Omar Velasco, USAF, vice commander, 67th Cyberspace Wing."I view (diversity) as a foundation, a force multiplier...the way to pull together a group of individuals to do things we may be limiting ourselves if we don't open up our aperture," explained Col. Robinson. Col. Courchaine responded that we are all powered by people and even on days when people disagree with each other, maintaining open line ... READ MORE |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 01/15/2022
The chapter welcomed Col. Tim Helfrich, USAF, the senior materiel leader for Cyber Systems, program executive officer (PEO), Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence and Networks (C3I&N) Directorate, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Air Force Materiel Command, as its first monthly luncheon guest speaker of 2022.After explaining a breakdown of the Cryptologic & Cyber Systems Division (known as HNC) and its branches, Col. Helfrich established that he has a specific focus within his acquisition role of what cyber is doing to enable air power or air superiority. There are different customers and different requirements for each of these branches. Each one requires a different strategy and methodology for acquisitions. "Depending on the program, depending on what's going on, different acquisition approaches are applied to deliver those capabilities." A few common themes have emerged over the last year and a half, Col. Helfrich explained. The new DoDI 5000.87 is ... READ MORE |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 12/22/2021
The chapter closed out its last luncheon of the year at the Scobee Education Center. The chapter recognized the 2021 Chapter Award winners in various categories, from the Distinguished Award for Excellence in Information Technology awarded to Joshua Bladen to the prestigious General James M. Rockwell AFCEAN of the Year awarded to Rick Lipsey, chapter president. We also recognized Rob Licciardi, former chapter vice president of programs, for his dedication to one of the most demanding board positions as he passed the torch on to Col. Lamont Atkins, USAF, the new chapter vice president. The chapter's guest speaker was no stranger and was welcomed by members and attendees alike. Alexander Smith, A1 Digital Transformation Activity, Department of the Air Force, explained how any new technologies that the Air Force considers will go through his office. As data centers faced shutdowns, Smith's office had quite a few hard decisions to make. "We were the first ones to do somethin ... READ MORE |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 11/15/2021
The Alamo Conference Event, or Alamo ACE, kicked off with the annual golf tournament on Monday and ended with an Acquisition Day on Thursday. The chapter was happy to see all who attended after spending over a year in a pandemic. This year's ACE was the biggest to date and did not disappoint with the first Women in AFCEA event. Brand-new Chapter Vice President of Diversity Karen Rolirad introduced the guest speaker, Diane Janosek, Senior Executive Service, the National Security Agency National Cryptologic School commandant. Janosek explained that although the school had to overcome the challenges of training in a hybrid environment due to the pandemic, they still did it. Over four million hours of training with 50,000 people worldwide were logged.Cyber doesn't sleep. Brig. Gen. Brad Pyburn, USAF, deputy commander, 16th Air Force, explained that to achieve digital dominance in cyber, the United States must stop playing checkers and start playing chess. With response time a cr ... READ MORE |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 08/24/2021
The chapter was pleased to present the Dr. Ralph W. Shrader Graduate Diversity Scholarship on behalf of the AFCEA Education Foundation to Sean Garnsey. Sean is a University of Texas at San Antonio student currently working on his Ph.D. in electrical engineering. He accepted the scholarship graciously as he explained a bit about the history of the Chamorro people of Guam and their strong ties to the military culture. A hearty congratulations, Sean!
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 08/21/2021
In August, the chapter's Emerging Leaders hosted its summer Tech on Tap. Around 25 people took over the five bowling lanes and their respective tables at Bowl & Barrel in the popular San Antonio Rim area, bringing together both members and newcomers. The caliber of attendees ranged from University of Texas San Antonio students, active-duty and reserve Air Force airmen, defense contractors and recruiters to industry professionals. With a generous selection of food and beverages, most participants stayed well after the event was over. Some major highlights from the night came from acquiring new member commitments and additional volunteers for the upcoming October 21st Mentor Protégé Night and the Alamo ACE Conference held November 15th through the 18th. Shawn Cressman, chapter vice president of Emerging Leaders, recalls the best part: "It was coming together to network with our ambitious local Emerging Leaders to make connections and forge some lasting relationships." |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 08/24/2021
The chapter held its first in-person luncheon of 2021 at the Randolph Air Force Base Parr Club. Brig. Gen. Robert Lyman, USAF, assistant deputy chief of staff for Cyber Effects Operation, Air Force A-2/6, was the guest speaker. As the Cyberspace Operations and Support Career Field functional manager, Gen. Lyman is responsible for the development of 36,000 officers and enlisted personnel. He balances costs and risks for Air Force Cyber Effects programs. Additionally, Gen. Lyman is responsible for integrating the U.S. Air Force's air, space and cyberspace effects operations capabilities into the joint fight by informing policy, synchronizing relevant efforts and advocating for resources to provide secure, reliable and timely information to joint warfighters.Gen. Lyman provided some of the recent highlights of the A-2/6. A few major changes include a new chief of staff and a new secretary of defense along with the standup of the U.S. Space Force. "Increasing sophistication, ... READ MORE |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 07/29/2021
The chapter's Emerging Leaders hosted its first in-person event, a "Welcome Back" gathering on the Fiesta Deck of the Nelson Wolff Municipal Stadium, home to the San Antonio Missions baseball team. The Missions took on the Springfield Cardinals while the group of around 20 attendees watched, networked and caught up over fajitas, hot dogs and cold beverages. "It was a great showing for our first event back in-person", explained Shawn Cressman, vice president of Emerging Leaders. The attendees were a mix of military, nonprofit partners, government agencies and a few industry and academia members. Even an Austin member made the trip down. The Emerging Leaders group hopes to see everyone again soon.
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 07/12/2021
The chapter's Wounded Warrior and Military Families Endowment Fund Committee had the honor of attending the last day of Echo Hill Ranch Gold Star Kids Camp Session II. Echo Hill Ranch's mission is to provide a safe, fun, relaxing and empowering professional summer camp experience for the children of Gold Star families, immediate family members of a fallen service member who died while serving in a time of conflict or those of first responders. Marcie Friedman, the daughter of Echo Hill Ranch founders Thomas and Minnie Samet Friedman, now runs the camp with her brother, Kinky Friedman. The camp seeks to foster a community and a connection among children and families who have had similar life experiences and are taking similar life journeys, Marcie explains. Jeff Kendall, chapter vice president, Veteran Support and Military Family Outreach, presented a $6,500 check to support their efforts. "This camp enables children from all over the nation to bond with one another despite t ... READ MORE |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 03/16/2021
The chapter was pleased to welcome a distinguished panel of Enterprise Information Technology-as-a-Service (EITaaS) professionals. Larry Shade, Air Force Chief Information Office (SAF/CN) representative to the Tri-Chaired Enterprise Information Technology-as-a-Service (EITaaS) Integrated Program Office (IPO); Col. Brenda Oppel, USAF, Air Combat Command's representative to the Tri-Chaired EITaaS IPO; and Col. Bobby King, USAF, senior materiel leader for the Enterprise Information Technology (IT) and Cyber Infrastructure Division, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, met up virtually with the chapter's members and attendees to offer a glimpse into methodologies, pain points and the way forward for EITaaS. The challenge has been to ensure the total force has access to information that can be understood and transmitted quickly to the consumer to shorten the decision cycles and produce correct and coordinated warfighting effects, explained Shade. The strategy of EITaaS is readi ... READ MORE |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 04/02/2021 The aftermath of Winter Storm Uri that hit Texas in February left many in the Lone Star State without power and water. The nonprofit organization WISH for OUR HEROES (W4OH) is a national 501(c)(3) dedicated to assisting the men and women of the U.S. active-duty military, and in some cases, veterans. W4OH started with the goal of providing one wish for every deserving military member. There are no requirements. Military members simply need to be on active duty at the time the wish is submitted. The organization's priority has always been to grant basic needs or emergencies first. When Winter Storm Uri left many military members and their families without essential resources and dealing with the storm's damages, W4OH stepped in. On behalf of AFCEA International, the chapter's Wounded Warrior and Military Families Endowment Fund, Jeff Kendall, endowment fund chair and chapter vice president, veteran support and military outreach, presented Jeff Wells, CEO and founder of W4OH, w ... READ MORE |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 02/23/2021
The chapter had the pleasure of welcoming Col. Michael Winter, USAF, chief, Future Operations (J-35), 16th Air Force, at this month's virtual luncheon. Information warfare convergence and its associated challenges were the topics of discussion. According to Air Force Doctrine Document 2-5, information warfare is information operations conducted to defend one's own information and information systems or attacking and affecting an adversary's information and information systems. "It is the employment of military capabilities in and through the information environment to deliberately affect adversary and system behavior and to preserve friendly freedom of actions during cooperation, competition and armed conflict," explained Col. Winter. Throughout history, theorists have been using information warfare to bring about an intentional change with information and strategic messaging. Back then, there were only the domains of land, sea and human domains. In contrast, today, our mili ... READ MORE |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 01/19/2021 The chapter opened up its January virtual luncheon this month to chapter members and attendees, focusing the discussion on the implications of deterrence. Given the recent headlines on the SolarWinds breach, the topic of cyber espionage has escalated to include understanding what it is, where it comes from and how incidents like SolarWinds can be mitigated in the future. Guest speakers Jacquelyn Schneider, Hoover fellow at Stanford University, an affiliate at Stanford's Center for International Security and Arms Control, and Erica Borghard, resident senior fellow, New American Engagement Initiative - Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security at the Atlantic Council, addressed the recent breach in an open dialogue of their thoughts and opinions. "This was not a cyber attack; it was cyber espionage," explained Schneider. 'When it comes to differentiating between attacks and espionage, it's not just about taking information. There is violence or destruction or harm to people,' ... READ MORE |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 01/21/2021 The chapter's Young AFCEANs along with AFCEA Hawaii and the San Antonio IT Networking Group held a joint networking event and happy hour. Guest speaker, Randy Rose of the Center for Internet Security, spoke about the SolarWinds/SolarStorm breach and how the incident has put a stark focus on cybersecurity and future efforts to mitigate cyber incidents. After a question and answer session with Rose, the group mingled within the breakout rooms where old friends connected and new members were introduced. The joint event was sponsored by Thycotic. |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 12/10/2020
The Alamo and Tidewater Chapters came together for the last event of the year. The two chapters co-hosted a virtual luncheon featuring guest speaker, Col. Kyle Stevens, USAF, the commander of the 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. She discussed the next generation transformation initiatives for artificial intelligence and machine learning. The virtual luncheon concluded with a Zoom networking session that allowed participants to network with others. A chat room function was utilized to keep the conversation going among each room lead. We look forward to more networking (hopefully in person) in 2021!
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 11/20/2020
"Disruptors are essential for our Air Force bureaucracy to see where opalescence chokes the innovation spirit... to enable us to fly, fight and win in air and cyber space," stated Lt. Gen. Chris Weggeman, USAF, deputy commander, Air Combat Command, during the chapter's virtual ACE conference. This year's theme of Achieving Information Superiority - Enabling Decisive Action Across All Domains rang through the sessions and briefings as speakers engaged with attendees on data; who has it, how to protect it, and how to interpret it. Lt. Gen. Mary O'Brien, USAF, deputy chief of staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Cyber Effects Operations, Headquarters United States Air Force, asked, "Is information superiority achievable, and if so, what are the means to achieve it?" Gen. O'Brien explained that the U.S. Defense Department and the United States must change to meet the threat of great power competition. Over the last twenty years, the United States has profited from be ... READ MORE
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 10/20/2020
The dramatic shift to remote work due to the pandemic has caused the U.S. Department of Defense to rethink how to sustain a remote workforce and what it will take to maintain operations. The chapter had the pleasure of welcoming a distinct group to their monthly luncheon to discuss how the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) is adjusting to the Defense Department's current challenges. DISA was represented by a panel consisting of Maj. Gen. Garrett Yee, USA, assistant to the director; Carlen Capenos, director, Office of Small Business; Chris Paczkowski, senior technologist, Executive, Infrastructure, Directorate; Llewellyn "Don" Means Jr., executive, Nation Leadership Command Capabilities; and Stephen Wallace, systems innovation scientist, Emerging Technology Directorate.Capenos discussed how small businesses can learn more about doing business with DISA by attending the monthly DISA Small Business 101 virtual meetings. "With regard to other transaction authority (OTA), ... READ MORE |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 10/15/2020
The chapter's Young AFCEANs hosted its annual Mentor Protégé Night in a virtual venue for the first time. The event was held on the Zoom platform after a brief introduction of mentors to include a self-introduction by the one-and-only Maj. Gen. John Maluda, USAF (Ret.). Shawn Cressman opened and thanked the group for joining this special night online. Keynote speaker, Tiffany Tremont, a former Young AFCEA vice president, told an inspiring story of her journey from Air Force member to president and CEO of San Antonio-based cybersecurity company, SiloTech Group Inc. Interspersed with her thoughts on the benefits of mentorship, Tremont discussed the roadblocks that many young professionals from a variety of backgrounds often face in search of success and how to overcome them and succeed.Mentors were well-prepared with thoughts and advice for the Young AFCEANs, relaying stories of past challenges and successes as well as how they may have or have not done things differently. Long- ... READ MORE |
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ALAMO CHAPTER - 09/15/2020
Brig. Gen. Bradley Pyburn, USAF, deputy commander, 16th Air Force (Air Forces Cyber), Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, opened the chapter's September virtual luncheon with a celebratory salutation recognizing the efforts of our young Airmen today and those that have paved the way before us. Gen. Pyburn took us back with a little history lesson as he explained how Sun Tzu used and defended information and disinformation to confuse the adversary. "Information warfare is not new and is not dead. What's new is the technology, global connectivity, and the speed with which you can counter and maneuver in and through the information domain to generate effects." That Information Warfare perspective looks at how to affect the adversary through the way operations are conducted. The way in which you conduct those battlefield effects may be either kinetic or nonkinetic to take down an adversary. Gen. Pyburn went on to explain Operation Fortitude as a key example that weaved history into what th ... READ MORE
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