Search AFCEA Site
 |
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 07/26/2024
Each summer, the chapter hosts a three-day cycling ride from Bonn to Kaiserslautern along the Rhein River. This year marked the 11th annual Cycle 4 STEM (C4S) charity ride. The chapter's Emerging Leaders committee worked throughout the year to train, organize several fundraisers and engage the community in support of local U.S. Department of Defense schools. The funds raised are used to support international competitions, robotics, scholarships and grants. This year's team consisted of five riders who raised over $12,400 and completed 229 kilometers (or 142.3 miles) on some of the hottest days of this summer. Planning for the 2025 ride has already begun, and the chapter is looking forward to another fun and challenging event. |
 |
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 04/17/2024
In April, due to the chapter's generosity, the Ramstein Royal Robotics Team 15527 at Ramstein High School at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, was able to travel to Houston, Texas, for the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) World International Robotics Championship.The robotics team is deeply committed to fostering STEM skills among its members through hands-on challenges within the FTC program. In the 2023-24 season, their dedication bore fruit as they secured an invitation to the International Championships. Following the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022-23 Ramstein Robotics team faced a series of hurdles. With a change in mentors and only one sophomore member returning, the team essentially started from scratch. Despite their enthusiasm, they lacked experience, culminating in a 27th-place finish out of 28 teams at the ONADoDEA Invitationals in Kaiserslautern, Germany. However, as is often the case, experience proved to be an invaluable teacher. Armed wi ... READ MORE |
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 03/26/2024
In March, TSgt. Andrea Rojas Jimenez was the recipient of the chapter's Emerging Leaders Award.
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 03/12/2023
The 2023 SkillsUSA European Championships had a strong STEM presence for the students of the Europe East district. More than 240 high school students registered in one of 12 STEM-CTE (career technical education) contests. Each contest required students to take their skills beyond the classroom and apply them in several industry-relevant challenges.SkillsUSA is the largest nonprofit national education association of its kind, offering quality educational experiences for students in leadership, citizenship and character development. Serving more than 400,000 members, SkillsUSA is committed to producing the world's most highly skilled workforce through education programs and competitions. Students from across the district had an opportunity to win $16,000 in scholarships and prizes courtesy of the chapter. The chapter has hosted SkillsUSA New York Area VII (Europe) for the past six years by identifying top industry and military professionals to design, administer and jud ... READ MORE |
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 02/02/2023
In February, the chapter's Diversity Outreach team hosted a mentorship panel to discuss "What To Do Today To Plan for Your Career Tomorrow." The panel members Anna Boom, engineer, CX Consulting, Cisco; Leonard Goolsby, director, Plans and Resources, 86th Communications Squadron; and Matt Wloczewski, vice president, EITEN Program, GDIT, talked about the various cybersecurity jobs in industry and federal government as well as the certifications and education requirements associated with those positions. The panel was moderated by Col. James Austin, chief, A6 Theater Operations Division, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa.As part of the discussion, the panelists provided insight into the character traits, skills and education hiring managers look for when considering candidates for open job positions. A few of the primary points mentioned were: being a team a player; understanding the importance of reputation and performing to the best of your ability; seeking continuo ... READ MORE |
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 10/13/2022
The chapter's Diversity Outreach team hosted a mentorship luncheon with Stephen Hughes, deputy director for Plans, Programs and Analysis at Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa. This meeting provided active-duty personnel an opportunity to talk to Hughes about leveraging their professional networks to grow and strengthen their careers. The lunch, held in October, was kept to a small number of participants to make it easier for them to have a free-flowing conversation with Hughes. Members were able to ask questions and get his perspective on things that worked and didn't work throughout his career. In his current role, Hughes shares responsibility with the director for managing the full scope of activities of the directorate in their support of Headquarters Air Force, U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command. Born and raised in Ghana, Hughes is a career intelligence and foreign area officer with six overseas tours in Europe, Africa and Asia Minor. ... READ MORE |
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 10/14/2022
In October, the chapter hosted a 1D7 Career Field Management (CFM) All Call. The call allowed airmen to hear from the keynote speaker Chief Master Sgt. Victor Cordero Jr., USAF, the Cyberspace Operation Career Field manager. He discussed the 1D7XX/X transition and other Cyber Enlisted Manning initiatives. During his presentation, he addressed that the threat has increased. Our adversary has evolved. We must adapt and transform our cyber force to face pacing challenges and deter acute threats from our adversaries. As a result, we are optimizing our force and pivoting toward an operational focus. Hence, the enlisted force is moving from nine to four shreds. The upcoming shreds are Enterprise Operations (1D7X1Q), Mission Defense Activities (1D7X1M), Data Operations (1D7X1P) and XCOMM (1D7X1W). Moreover, Chief Cordero stated that the Air Force values what cyber brings to the fight. Today's airmen are digital natives born into a world of innovation and technology ... READ MORE |
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 10/20/2022
In October, the chapter hosted Brian Zajick during its monthly luncheon seminar. Zajick presented an in-depth yet accessible life cycle of an Air Force procurement. Many Air Force military, civilian and defense contractors are familiar with the flow of the acquisitions process once a requirement is handed over to contracting for procurement. What is a mystery to most is at what level you should engage the original equipment manufacturers, value-added resellers and system integrators, as well as at what part of the process helps make the overall acquisition run smoother. Engaging industry representatives before submission to contracting can and will allow your acquisition to run smoother and quicker in the market research requirements and specifications stage before submission to the contracting office. Industry representatives can also ensure you are requesting the correct stock-keeping unit (SKUs) and whether what you are asking for can be procured by verifying Trade Agreeme ... READ MORE |
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 09/22/2022
In September, the chapter hosted Master Sgt. Darryl Payton Jr., USAF, in its monthly luncheon seminar. Sgt. Payton is a command spectrum manager for U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE)-Air Forces Africa (AFAFRICA), Ramstein Air Base, Germany. He is part of the Spectrum Operations team that led the implementation of the Electromagnetic Spectrum Visualization and Reporting System (EVRS) in the USAFE theater. EVRS achieves electromagnetic superiority with real-time capability to sense, detect and report vulnerabilities to Spectrum Operations in USAFE. There are many advantages that EVRS provides to the command, such as gaining electromagnetic spectrum situational awareness, capturing the electromagnetic spectrum operating environment and verifying U.S. frequencies assignment from multiple host nations.In USAFE, the fixed EVRS sensors monitor radio frequency transmissions using the CRFS RFeye Node 100-18. They have a frequency range of 9 kHz-18 GHz and can 3D geolocate radio f ... READ MORE |
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 07/19/2022
Stephen Hughes, from U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) Plans, Programs and Analyses Directorate, provided insights into the command's requirements, capabilities and challenges on Tuesday, July 19, as part of the Ramstein Tech Expo. For context, Hughes started with a high-level summary of the divisions within the Plans, Programs and Analyses Directorate and their respective missions. During his presentation, Hughes shared insights into the priorities they are focusing on regarding information technology. Those priorities include the eastern flank postures, agile combat employment and data management. While each of these capabilities is imperative to the success of the missions to be executed, it can be challenging to determine which is the most important to allocate funding appropriately, reinforcing why we must plan well to spend money more wisely. Col. Lisa Martinez, USAF, chief, C4 Operations Division at U.S. European Command (EUCOM) ... READ MORE |
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 07/19/2022
In July, the chapter hosted the annual Summer Tech Expo at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, with more than 80 information technology vendors, more than 500 attendees and several other general officers. Over two days, industry partners integrated with Air Force senior leaders to understand U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa's (USAFE-AFAFRICA's) requirements and showcase their cutting-edge technology to help the field warfighting capabilities across the theater.The Tech Expo included: Emerging Leaders Ice Breaker, Headquarters USAFE-AFAFRICA Briefings to Industry by Directorates and Local Units, Breakfast with Air Force Deputy Chief Information Officer and the Annual AFCEA Chapter 158 Golf Tournament. During the Tech Expo Breakfast, the chapter hosted Winston Beauchamp, deputy chief information officer, U.S. Air Force. Beauchamp was the keynote speaker and discussed "Modernizing Enterprise Information Technology and Data in the Department of the Air Force." B ... READ MORE |
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 07/22/2022
Cyclists from the chapter embarked on a three-day bike trip in July along the Rhine River in Germany to raise money and awareness for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education programs. The chapter has been going strong for nine years, making Cycle 4 STEM Germany the longest-running annual STEM ride. This year, the 10-person team comprised active-duty military, contractors, dependents and civilians from the Kaiserslautern military community. With the help of corporate sponsorship, individual donations, and support from local businesses, the cyclists have raised over $250,000, which is directly distributed to Department of Defense Education Activity schools in the local area. In addition, Cycle 4 STEM has provided scholarships and industry certifications for graduating seniors. These events have been able to help teachers by funding grants to purchase equipment and sponsor programs. The chapter has sponsored the RaspberryPI Tournament and Skills USA competition. In c ... READ MORE
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 06/28/2022
In June, the chapter hosted Col. Michael S. Medgyessy, USAF, chief information officer and chief data officer for the Air Force Intelligence Community, and Norman Leach, Air Force Research Lab, ODIN program manager, for a "Cloud Day" Lunch and Learn. During the session, Col. Medgyessy provided an overview of the Air Force Intelligence Community's digital future, particularly as it relates to cloud. Their ability to deliver intelligence, which enables the sensing grid and national intelligence partners, is key to Joint All-Domain Command and Control and the Intelligence Community Information Technology Enterprise. The Lunch and Learn also included a presentation by Leach, regarding the Air Force's premier DevSecOps platform in the classified space and showcasing how the platform can be leveraged to help deliver software at the speed of relevance. Capt. Jia Hedman, USAF, concluded the event with a demo of the ISR Cloud website, as well as sharing of education opportunities ... READ MORE |
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 03/03/2022
In March, the chapter hosted the Winter Tech Expo, which brought in multiple vendors from around Europe and the United States. Considering the backdrop of the current crisis in Ukraine, the Expo highlighted the need that now, more than ever, technological modernization must be resilient, robust, survivable and interoperable with partners and allies to ensure mission success.Col. Brent Skinner, USA, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Europe commander, kicked off the event as the breakfast keynote speaker. DISA Europe manages the European portion of the Department of Defense Information Network, provides information systems and services to operational components throughout NATO and supports U.S. interests in more than 100 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Col. Skinner spoke about the velocity of action required to win today's fight, being ahead of adversaries by being mobile on a whim. Capabilities to enable his thoughts included improved secur ... READ MORE |
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 03/19/2022
The chapter kicked off Women's History Month in March with a panel of women participating in a discussion about the challenges and future direction of tactical communications. The panel, part of the NCSI Winter Exposition held on U.S. Air Base Ramstein, shared challenges related to the ability to securely communicate with mission partners while at the same time transmitting and receiving a clear view of incoming information from the joint community. The participants talked about balancing priorities, being able to pivot quickly and focusing on cybersecurity against mission requirements and identified risks.
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 11/21/2021
In November, the chapter hosted John Pauls, a senior manager for Motorola Solutions Inc. He serves as the area sales manager for the U.S. federal government markets, U.S. Defense Department, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) and the U.S. Department of State. Pauls is responsible for coordinating all facets of Motorola Solutions' business relationship with Defense Department customers in EMEA and Department of State customers globally. He visited this month's luncheon and educated the audience on radio frequency (RF) technology basics and the extraordinary promise this tech provides for future capabilities. Pauls began by introducing the discovery of RF in 1886, then continuing through to today's advancements, such as 4K video and the ability to pilot drones across the planet or even control a rover on a neighboring planet. He also mentioned some of the more common and easily ignored uses of RF, such as sensors on modern vehicles that detect other cars in the area to offer drive ... READ MORE
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 10/18/2021
In October, the chapter hosted Danny Holtzman, cyber technical director, U.S. Air Force, and Matt Phillips, chief data officer, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA), as its monthly guest speakers. Holtzman and Philips visited Ramstein Air Base, Germany, from October 18-22 as part of Operation Vulcan Logic (OVL) to assist USAFE-AFAFRICA in establishing their authorization boundary. These efforts will allow the major command to execute the Risk Management Framework (RMF) process internally through a modernized OVL methodology modeled after the Fast-track Authority-to-Operate process.Holtzman briefed the chapter on OVL capabilities. He stated that the operation is an agile authorization process where the programs and systems seeking authorization have clearly outlined criteria, observables and behavior expectations and templates to leverage when interacting with the authorizing official for authorization determinations. Additionally, the OVL allows t ... READ MORE |
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 07/19/2021
In July, the chapter hosted its annual Summer TechExpo July 19-23 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany-the first international AFCEA event since the pandemic, which was expanded for additional KMC area participants. The chapter hosted Lauren Knausenberger, chief information officer for the Air Force, as guest speaker and senior participant for events. The expo included 37 information technology (IT) vendors, and several more attendees and sponsors-as the chapter overcame COVID hurdles. In all, there were over 319 attendees at the expo and several general officers that came by to learn about spotlighted industry.Throughout the week, industry partners integrated with Air Force senior leaders to understand U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa's (USAFE-AFAFRICA's) requirements and showcased their cutting-edge technology to help the field in warfighting capabilities across the two-continent theaters of Europe and Africa. At the conclusion of the TechExpo, Gen. Jeffrey Harrigi ... READ MORE |
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 04/21/2021
The chapter's April Virtual Luncheon was shared with other European chapters and included some members joining in via conference rooms (with social distance spacing). Maj. Gen. Erich Staudacher, GEAF (Ret.), AFCEA Europe's general manager, joined in along with several colonels, commanders and titans of industry.Initiating the luncheon, Lt. Col. Jason "Cueball" Simmons, USAF, chapter vice president, called upon the chapter for volunteers to partner with local Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools for STEM support through the chapter's supported Community Partnership Program (http://AdoptAPro.org). The program unites professionals with local DoDEA schools, to bring their STEM expertise into classrooms. In addition, Col. Keith Repik, USAF, chapter president, gave accolades to the entire chapter for being selected as an AFCEA Model Chapter. He also congratulated Col. Simmons for an AFCEA International Meritorious Service Award, Ken Robinson for an AFCEA Except ... READ MORE |
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 01/10/2021
In January, the chapter sponsored the Raider III Mission, a high altitude balloon (HAB) launch. The Brenner family performed the HAB launch on top of the hills of Winnweiler, Germany. Despite freezing temperatures, limited on-site support, and one very complicated configuration, the Brenner family successfully launched three pods into near space. While COVID-19 social distancing rules threatened the launch date, the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) determined how to adapt their plan by recruiting a single household launch crew. Michael Brenner, a junior at Kaiserslautern High School (KHS) and NTHS president, together with brother Charles Brenner (KHS freshman), performed most of the launch. Their crew, Capt. David Brenner, USN, and Cmdr. Josie Brenner, USN (Ret.), assisted their sons for this very challenging launch requiring as many hands on deck as possible.The Raider III mission is part of KHS's NTHS after-school program. This third mission was the most comprehensi ... READ MORE |
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 12/10/2020
In December, the chapter organized a virtual professional development seminar (PDS) on Leveraging Multi-Cloud and Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) and application to incorporate the Tactical Edge. Matt Waterfield, a data center product specialist from CISCO, led the PDS by addressing that the Software-Defined Data Center (SDDC) provides critical resources enabling modern AI/ML technologies. Modern SDDCs leverage elastic fabric architectures that automatically scale resources based on real-time use and projected demand. These fabrics allow cloud and on-premise resources to present as a single transparent resource with consistent policy management and inherent security. The real value of SDDCs is realized when extended across a Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN). SD-WAN technologies allow access and transport across any transport (SATCOM, MPLS, Fiber, 5G, etc.) Previous distributed computing designs relied heavily on large compute and storage resourc ... READ MORE |
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 06/18/2020
In June, following the graduation of Kaiserslautern High School's class of 2020 seniors, the chapter was honored to present three graduates with individual scholarships as they take flight in pursuit of STEM degrees. The competition was fierce amongst the more than 20 applicants, but the chapter's three winners stood out across the board in categories that included academic achievement, community involvement, STEM aspirations and educational awards received. Each individual received a $5,000 scholarship that will assist with tuition associated with their school of choice, materials and supplies.
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 07/16/2019
The chapter held their Annual Summer Tech Expo in July. The week started with a kick-off party at one of the local Belgian restaurants, allowing AFCEA members and industry partners a chance to have fun in preparation for the upcoming week. The morning of the Tech Expo started with a member breakfast and special guest speaker, Lt. Gen. Steven L. Basham, USAF, deputy commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. He discussed the importance of collaboration between industry and the armed forces, especially in the cyber field. He later commented on the need for industry and military communication, highlighting that there are times when the armed forces are unaware that industry partners own the capability needed, or that industry partners are unaware the armed forces need its capability. Further, Gen. Basham discussed the importance of connecting sensors to establish tactical C2 for the U.S. by, with and through allies and partners in Europe and A ... READ MORE
|
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 06/07/2019 In June, the chapter's Young AFCEAN Council led an appreciation trip for their members to both the Stuttgart Porsche and Mercedes Benz Museums in Stuttgart, Germany. Seventeen members and their guests explored the rich histories of these two German automotive companies, while also previewing the technology and innovation for the future consumer. The Porsche Museum focused on the history they have built and exhibited a simulator for those would-be racers who wanted to try their luck behind the virtual wheel of their most powerful machines. The Mercedes Benz Museum also focused on history but had a wider range of categories of vehicles in their inventory. The later part of the tour highlighted concepts of technology, which tap the potential of solar panels, ergonomic doors, steering wheels and even seat configurations. While some of the concepts may not be seen in production for some time, if ever, members were amazed at the drive for innovation and technology in the automotive market. |
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 04/18/2019
In April, the chapter had the honor of listening to guest speaker, Brig. Gen. Charles Corcoran, USAF, director of operations, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, USAFE-AFAFRICA A-3/10, as he discussed the impact of cyberspace operations in the USAFE AOR. During this presentation, Gen. Corcoran delivered three main takeaways: speed and stance in a warfighting domain; comm-out is not an option; and leadership is key.
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 03/16/2019
In partnership with the Department of Defense Education Activity community and SkillsUSA, the chapter hosted its 2nd Annual SkillsUSA competition in March. Over 120 high school students from the greater Kaiserslautern area signed up to compete in 10 career technical education (CTE) events: engineering technology, information technology services, television video production, TeamWorks, nurse assisting, computer programming, 3D animation, computer applications, advertising design and video game design. The day kicked off with Kaiserslautern High School color guard posting the colors and singing the national anthem. From there, a group photo was taken in front of the Berlin Wall Memorial, kicking off the competition. The students then had four to five hours to work on their individual contests before the judging began. During the judging phase, the Ramstein JROTC Armed Exhibition Team performed their European championship routine for the crowd. Afterwards, the TeamWorks competition, le ... READ MORE
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 02/13/2019
The chapter held its Winter Tech Expo in February, hosting over 40 industry vendors and attracting more than 800 attendees throughout the day! The day started off nicely with a general membership breakfast where Lt. Col. Christopher Bryant, USAF, deputy commander, 435th Air and Space Communications Group, Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany, discussed the 435th Air and Space Communications Group's massive mission set and some of its big ticket items. Then he transitioned into the importance of industry and government maintaining partnerships in order to drive innovation. This set the tone for the start of the Tech Expo! From there, Chapter President Col. Neal Bruegger, USAF, led the tour around the Expo for Ramstein Air Base's leadership.
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 01/17/2019
In January, Col. Dave Olander, USAF, United States Air Force in Europe and Air Forces Africa/A6 was the chapter's first guest speaker of 2019. The colonel described how he and his team overcame communications obstacles in a deployed environment in the fight against ISIS. More importantly, he showed the significance of effective planning, problem solving and willpower to accomplish the mission under any circumstance.
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 07/19/2018
The chapter hosted its biggest annual summer Tech Expo golf tournament in July to raise money for STEM scholarships. The event attracted 99 players, who formed 26 teams competing for a wide range of prizes donated by one of 12 corporate sponsors. All the hard work of the planning team paid off by bringing in $5,437 for the cause. The Women's Committee donated $1,000 for women's category prizes for the Longest Drive and Closest to the Pin. |
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 07/17/2018
Col. William Galbraith, USA, spoke to chapter members and kicked off the Summer Tech Expo in July at the chapter's general membership meeting. The colonel talked about how industry can help government. A senior leader tour of the vendor floor directly followed the meeting.
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 07/15/2018
The chapter kicked off its Summer Tech Expo week in July with a Young AFCEAN social at the Belgian Bistro. The annual event saw its biggest turnout, with 94 attendees, and raised $1,000 for the Cycle for STEM event in August. Cycle for STEM proceeds support the AFCEA Educational Foundation to provide scholarships and grants to deserving STEM students and teachers. Attendees from industry, academia and the military were provided opportunities to network over food and games. Tech. Sgt. Thomas Giddings, USAF, led this year's event and was able to secure sponsorship from Dell, NetApp and Verizon. The Women's Committee is dedicated to reaching out to the community to help promote STEM education as well. It even enlisted the assistance of its youngest volunteers: Senior Airman Sidney Rodriguez, USAF, and daughter Reina, 5, helped raise money for Cycle for STEM during the Tech Expo kickoff. Efforts like these not only support important events but also allow members to network and share kno ... READ MORE
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 04/21/2018
The chapter sponsored its first SkillsUSA competition in April, which was a success among the military community of the Kaiserslautern, Germany, area. SkillsUSA is a national membership association helping middle school, high school and college students prepare for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, and for further education. Seventy students participated in a competition with first-, second-, and third-place prizes ranging from gift cards to Apple Watches, Samsung cameras, JBL Bluetooth speakers and more. Competitions such as SkillsUSA are critical to invigorating the careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupation programs within local schools. They provide an opportunity for students to grow their technical knowledge, to exercise their boundless creativity and to strengthen their problem-solving skills. These skills will serve them well in whatever future they choose. Because of the great participation of students and volunteers, the chapter e ... READ MORE
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 06/05/2018
The U.S. Air Force's deputy chief information officer and deputy chief, information dominance, spoke in June to a full house of AFCEA members and guests. William E. Marion II detailed how the enterprise network is headed for a digital transformation. He outlined the Air Force's digital journey in four phases, reaching from the major command level up to the unified commands. These phases, or waves, encompass improvements to all components, including applications, data storage, network protection and enterprise services. He said he hopes to see a new norm begin to catch fire at all unit levels. Marion emphasized that U.S. cyber warriors know the business, continuously challenge the standard, constant learning and ultimately enjoying what we do. Finally, he took the time to recognize and provide coins to several outstanding airmen. The chapter thanks Marion for visiting and sharing his unique insights.
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 04/19/2018
The chapter honored several award winners and welcomed a guest speaker during its April luncheon at the Ramstein Officers' Club, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Tech. Sgt. David Kimbrough, USAF, received the chapter's Young AFCEAN Emerging Leader Award. Two other chapter members earned recognition from AFCEA International. Master Sgt. Amanda Bradley, USAF, received the Meritorious Service Award, and 2nd Lt. Dillon Andrews, USAF, accepted the Meritorious Rising Star Award for Achievement in Information Technology. Col. Neal Bruegger, USAF, chapter president, introduced guest speaker Derek Sedlack, associate professor of cybersecurity, University of Maryland University College. Sedlack touted the importance of higher education as reliance on information security increases. He warns that understanding of the topic has decreased and cautions against digitally connecting everybody and everything. Sedlack ended by reminding everyone to keep reading and talking to each other.
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 03/15/2018
The chapter gathered for a March membership luncheon at the Ramstein Officers' Club on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Chapter Vice President Lt. Col. Steven Brummitt, USAF, commander, 86th Communications Squadron, presented Airman 1st Class Mekhi Witherspoon, USAF, the chapter's Young AFCEAN Emerging Leader Award for his contributions to the squadron and its efforts during the Windows 10 transition. The airman also received a one-year AFCEA membership. Col. Brummitt was introduced guest speaker Maj. Joseph Maguadog, USAF, of the 693rd Intelligence Support Squadron (ISS). Maj. Maguadog illustrated what his unit brings to the fight to support intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance throughout the European theater. One highlight of the 693rd ISS is its fusion of operation analysts with cyber technicians to drive mission innovation. As an example, the squadron took an operation that once required 11 machines six hours to complete and reduced it to just one machine and 10 seconds. |
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 01/18/2018
The Ramstein Officers' Club, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, hosted the chapter's January luncheon. Col. Neal Bruegger, commander, NATO Communications and Information (NCI) Agency Communications and Information Systems Support Unit (CSU) Ramstein, was the guest speaker. Col. Bruegger began with a brief history of NATO and the NCI Agency that was founded as part of a NATO reform. He described how the agency is organized and why cyber and information technology are an important aspect of the NCI Agency's mission. The agency's job is to provide customers in NATO with information technology solutions to meet mission needs. The agency accomplishes this through 24/7 on-site support and a one-hour restoral policy for any critical mission system. Col. Bruegger finished by sharing that one of this year's priorities for the agency is implementation of a virtual desktop environment throughout NATO.
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 12/07/2017
The chapter held a membership luncheon in December. After a meal provided by the Ramstein Officers' Club, Col. Robin Gibson, USAF, chapter president, opened the event by presenting awards to Airman 1st Class Ian Spaulding, USAF, Young AFCEAN Emerging Leader; Rashmi Patel, Outstanding Cycle 4 STEM Sponsorship; 1st Lt. Joel Stiffler, USAF, Distinguished Young AFCEAN; and Tech. Sgt. Nathaniel Juarez, USAF, Meritorious Rising Star. Guest speaker Lt. Col. Brad Bowyer, USAF, commander, 313th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron (313 EOSS), introduced AFCEA members to the unit's mission. The 313 EOSS provides global reach through passenger and cargo transportation as well as aeromedical evacuation. The EOSS relies on the Global Decision Support System (GDSS) II enclave. The $5.5 million system is the squadron's primary means of logistics command and control. Cyber technicians such as Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Cissna, USAF, are essential to ensure that the mission continues uninterrupted. Sg ... READ MORE
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 06/03/2017
The chapter played host to a "Raspberry Pi" contest in June that saw the final five student teams reaching for the gold. Each team was tasked to design an innovative idea by programming an open source microcomputer. The competition was staggering and included a robotic prosthetic hand; a thumbprint-operated lock system; an American Sign Language to brail translator; a smart traffic system; and educational word- and image-recognition software. The students worked exceedingly hard and engineered spectacular products. The judges deliberated long and hard to ensure they recognized the most deserving team. The runner-up teams included "Pi-Traffic," with Ridge Barney, Matthew Pollmiller and Scott Rustenhaven, and "Robotic Hand," with Ken Robinson, Mai Brown, Jose Feliciano and Chris Gray. Team "Talky Blocky" (Noah Bresler, Austin Brindowski and Julia Nakamoto) took home the bronze and three UE Boom 2 speakers. Second place went to Team "DATA" (David Miller, Amanda Agustin, Theresa Boulos, ... READ MORE
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 05/11/2017
At the chapter's May lunch, attendees said their heartfelt goodbyes to Capt. Matthew Streett, USAF, 86th Airlift Wing chaplain, as he continues on his military journey. Capt. Streett has moved many with his technology-driven invocations and will truly be missed. The chapter then had the opportunity to learn about the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) from Lt. Col. Matthew Taylor, USAF. The agency includes nearly 6,000 civilian employees; more than 1,500 active-duty military personnel from the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps; and approximately 7,500 defense contractors. DISA's mission in Europe is to provide, operate, maintain and defend the Department of Defense Information Network (DODIN), ensuring the success of enterprise solutions and capabilities while executing unified command and control (C2) throughout the full spectrum of operations supporting U.S. European Command, U.S. Africa Command and other partners. This is achieved through theater, operational and prog ... READ MORE
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 01/11/2017
Maj. Eddie Edwards, USAF, commander of the 1st Air and Space Communications Operations Squadron (1 ACOS), took to the mic in January to promote three things: Take ownership, build partnerships and demand excellence. He encouraged the audience of roughly 50 at the chapter luncheon to "own your small piece of the world" by owning their responsibilities and how they help the mission. Being confident in your area of expertise lends itself to networking with customers and providing other services. By understanding the customer's business, a technician can anticipate the customer's needs better. Maj. Edwards' three focus areas form a foundation for the 1 ACOS five-year mission goals and projects. Tasked with delivering, operating and defending command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) missions, the 1 ACOS employs key secure systems to ensure the flow of information. It supports missions at 14 sites in seven countries, which amounts ... READ MORE
|
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 12/08/2016 Lt. Col. Steven P. Brummitt, commander of the 86th Communications Squadron, introduced Eric "The Red" Helgeson from World Wide Technology at the chapter's December luncheon. He offered three simple descriptions: red-haired, left-handed and born on Christmas. Helgeson is a consulting systems engineer responsible for engineering information technology solutions for all Defense Department components in Europe. After donning his Green Bay Packers sweater (receiving various amounts of jeers and cheers from those attending), Helgeson went on to introduce and explain a new wave of technology that could greatly improve operations in the future. He opened with an introduction to hyper-converged infrastructure, which aims to create consolidated virtual desktops with better server visibility and connected management tools. He also explained the Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) Program, a National Security Agency program that makes equipment used for encryption and wireless networks m ... READ MORE |
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 12/10/2016 The chapter's Young AFCEANs have created several unique opportunities. In December, as a part of the chapter's Historic Series event, 18 Young AFCEANs participated in the Bastogne Battle of the Bulge Memorial Walk. Each year, the event is held to commemorate the Battle of the Bulge and pay tribute to the thousands of soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice. Three routes wound through terrain that only 70 years ago was home to some of the most violent battlefields Europe has seen. Staged re-enactments throughout only strengthened participants' appreciation for some of the bravest soldiers the planet as seen. The opportunity was not lost on any of the Young AFCEANs who attended, as their respect for World War II veterans only grew. This is a trip the Young AFCEANs will look forward to in the years to follow. |
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 11/10/2016
November chapter guest speaker Master Sgt. James Philpott, USAF, from the 693rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Group provided attendees a deeper understanding of the ISR mission and Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS). Sgt. Philpott began by posing the question, "Do you know how you impact AF ISR?" DCGS, also referred to as the AN/GSQ-272 SENTINEL Weapon System, is the Air Force's primary ISR collection, processing, exploitation, analysis and dissemination system. Collecting data from multiple types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), DCGS reach is global. The 693rd Group is aligned with EUCOM and AFRICOM and is the primary group executing ISR operations for USAFE-AFAFRICA. Relying on its partners worldwide, the 480 ISR WG pushes 700 gigabytes of information daily. At Ramstein Air Base, 86 CS and 1 ACOS play an integral part in data dissemination in helping meet ISR mission objectives. Sharing information within the DCGS network is easy; however, sharing wit ... READ MORE
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 10/05/2016
The chapter held Cisco Mini-Live in October as part of its Young AFCEAN Mentorship Series. There were 44 individuals signed up for the event from both the Kaiserslautern area and the Spangdalem chapter. Cisco invited the Young AFCEANs to the company's European offices in Eschborn, Germany. The discussion focused on five tracks: data centers, security, collaboration, switching and routing. Cisco flew in experts from the United States to conduct these seminars for the chapter. Every individual who attended left with a greater understanding of these five main points and technology in general.
|
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 07/19/2016 The chapter held its annual summer tech expo in July. The first-ever Industry Day kicked off the tech expo week. This event was held for senior military leaders in communications and intelligence to brief industry partners on what is truly being accomplished to help them determine beneficial products. The expo attracted more than 60 vendors and featured seven tech talks, all for continuing education units. |
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 03/18/2016 As part of the chapter's Young AFCEAN, "Social Series," members and guests had a chance to view a historical landmark in March. Dug 82 feet under a hillside in 1938, the Kindsbach Cave stood as an ammo storage depot for the Wehrmacht. This facility would later be utilized during the Cold War as a key player in the deterrence of nuclear war. Today, this cave stands as a monument to an air war victory by America and its Allies. Members were able to tour the facility as well as receive a synopsis of its past operations from Wolfgang Wuermell, the grandson of the original owner of this historic structure. Also in March, Kaiserslautern and Eifel Young AFCEANs traveled to Hannover, Germany for CeBIT 2016, the world's largest and most internationally represented technology expo. There they met up with Young AFCEANs from the Bonn E.V. and Tri-Border chapters. Jochen Reinhardt from Bonn E.V. scheduled tours of IBM, Unify and T-Systems where they were able to experience some of the ... READ MORE |
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 02/24/2016
The chapter's Young AFCEANs (YACs) kicked off their events for February by giving members the opportunity to participate in a live event at the Cisco office in Eschborn, Germany. The chapter teamed up with the Eifel Chapter to provide 25 YACs of both chapters a tour of the Cisco office. They were able to preview some of the latest technology that has hit the industry. Following the tour, the YAC members worked with some of the industry's finest in the realms of network security and data center systems. Vital tips of the trade and lessons learned were provided, giving members information they could share with their networks. The second event the Young AFCEAN committee brought to the area was the first "Adventure Series" where members met at the Ramstein Outdoor Rec climbing wall to have a little fun. Communicators from around the base were brought out of their comfort zones to enjoy the challenges and teamwork that comes with rock climbing. The unique opportunity provided members to ... READ MORE
|
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 01/14/2016 During the chapter's January luncheon, members had the privilege of hearing Kevin Kaufman of CommScope talk about the future of physical layer network infrastructure. He stressed the importance of the physical layer, which is the first layer of the Open System Interconnection (OSI) model. With the growth of big data, the need for higher bandwidth has risen over the years. Kaufman dug into the details of the technology standards based off location. The three types of data transfer mediums he talked about were copper, fiber optics and wireless. Each one has its pros and cons, but is really based off of the customer's needs. This has forced CommScope to stay on its toes and think of hybrid solutions to stay ahead of emerging technologies. This was the first luncheon held by the chapter. By attending monthly meetings, members will benefit not only from inspirational speakers, but will also earn continuing education units towards professional certificates that they hold. |
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 10/21/2015
In October, the chapter networked with Army Signal Community members at an “Orange Call" session hosted by the U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pflaz S-6 office. More than 100 Signal soldiers and civilians in the region attended to discuss transitional and professional development topics of interest. Col. Jimmy Hall, USA, commander, 5th Signal Command, Europe G-6, delivered the keynote address. Col. Hall discussed developments in the area of information technology and cybersecurity as well as the ongoing G2/3/6 integration. Breakout sessions focused on civilian, officer and enlisted professional development and career progression topics. The chapter set up an information table to inform the Army Signal professionals about the benefits of membership.
|
|
KAISERSLAUTERN CHAPTER - 05/26/2015.jpg)
The chapter distributed $23,000 to graduating seniors from both Ramstein and Kaiserslautern high schools in Kaiserslautern, Germany, who will be pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) degrees. The accomplishments of these students were reflected in their GPAs, school club participation, volunteer work and after-school activities. Scholarship recipients include Melanie Hughes ($6,000); Anna Langholz ($6,000); Bradley Lemon ($3,500); Lacey Peace ($3,500); and Ivy Griffin, Brett Smith, Antonio Ortiz and Michael Jiminez ($1,000 each).
|
|
