The annual State of the BES luncheon provides an opportunity for the director of Business Enterprise Systems (BES) to both recognize the past year's accomplishments and, more importantly, articulate where industry partnership is essential to achieving future objectives. During this year's event, attended by a mix of 153 industry and government professionals, Alvin F. Burse, a member of the Senior Executive Service, and program executive officer (PEO) and director, BES Directorate, outlined the BES's most pressing challenges and highlighted how industry can help address them.
Burse emphasized that the Department of the Air Force (DAF) is undergoing a cultural shift in which acquisition is now recognized as a warfighting function. As a result, the BES must deliver rapid improvements to the DAF and Department of War mission outcomes, with speed, efficiency and quality treated as mission imperatives. Additional challenges include increasing competition and responsiveness to operati … Read more

The director of the Program Executive Office-Business and Enterprise Systems at Gunter Annex annually addresses the chapter with activities from the past year and the director's vision for the next year. Both industry and government attendees are interested to catch up on all the systems and projects the director manages and to be the first to hear what priorities the director sees for the next year. This event is the chapter's highest attended luncheon for the year, and 135 folks enjoyed the presentation and the networking following.

The chapter's Education Foundation recently made a generous donation to Wares Ferry Elementary School in Montgomery, Alabama, supporting their robotics and STEM programs to equip students with hands-on learning experiences. Additionally, the foundation collaborated with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity's Omega Iota Iota Chapter and its Project Perseverance initiative to promote Agri-STEM among youth, highlighting the vital role of technology and innovation in modern agriculture. Together, these initiatives aim to inspire and prepare young minds for future careers in critical STEM fields, fostering curiosity, resilience and a passion for learning.

The chapter has received a $100,000 donation from "Sarge," a 92-year-old Alabama native and Air Force veteran. The chapter's Education Foundation will partner with Montgomery Public Schools to provide technology education, equipment and services to nearly 10 schools across the district.

Sarge is from a family of South Alabama sharecroppers. His father, a master carpenter, and his mother, a school teacher, stirred his love for education. He obtained his undergraduate and master's degrees from Troy State University before earning another master's from Auburn University.

Sarge served across the globe in many assignments throughout his 26-year career in the U.S. Air Force, including an assignment at Air University's Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Academy at Maxwell Air Force Base. Through his donation, he hopes to make a lasting impact on STEM education within a defense community's public school system that serves underserved and underrepresented students.

With th … Read more

An awesome AFCEA Education Day was enjoyed by all attendees! In August, students had the opportunity to walk the vendor floor at the Department of Air Force Information Technology and Cyberpower conference held in Montgomery, Alabama. Additionally, the students heard from amazing seasoned and young adults currently working in STEM careers.

The chapter's special guest was Tinesha Ross, rocket scientist/engineer, United Launch Alliance. Ross has been launching rockets for 23 years. A high-school counselor told her that she didn't have the means to go to college and pursue a degree in engineering. That comment fueled her to dream big and achieve her goals.

In August, the chapter co-sponsored with TechMGM and the secretary of the Air Force/chief information officer A-6 for the 2022 InnovateAFITC "Hackathon" and Cyber Challenge Competition. Seven teams made their final pitch in the areas of logistics, education and hospitality.

################

The chapter flawlessly executed a virtual IT Summit featuring over 20 speakers and raising over $130,000 for the River Region Community. This year's theme "Like OODA, Cycle Time is Our Transformational Imperative" brought together senior leaders ranging from Lauren Knausenberger, chief information officer, U.S. Air Force, to Maj. Gen. Michael Schmidt, USAF, program executive officer for Command, Control, Communication, Intelligence and Networks, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. Over 500 registrants had the opportunity to watch keynote addresses and panels that will shape the future digital operations of the U.S. Air Force. These speakers and panelists touched on agile methodologies, digital transformation and the user experience to name a few. Held in conjunction with the IT Summit was the annual golf tournament, raising funds for the Montgomery AFCEA Chapter Education Foundation. This event hosted over 100 golfers and brought in $130,000 through corporate sponsorships, funds … Read more

Upcoming event information:
TO AGILE AND THE CLOUD - ILS-S CCE/Cloud One Self-Migration Overview
Date: September 24 at 11:30 AM

The Integrated Logistics System - Supply (ILS-S) is one of the largest mission applications in the United States Air Force (USAF) with 20,000 direct users and over 180,000 supported users worldwide operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week at over 280 global locations. ILS-S has transformed over the last two years by moving all development and production environments to the cloud while at the same time transitioning to a fully Agile delivery model with monthly deliveries of new capability. This presentation will look at the processes employed and lessons learned as the USAF moved the largest mission application to date with the largest operational data migration to date to the Cloud One environment using 18 development contractors and a highly collaborative Agile program office. The result was the migration of over 120 server instances wit … Read more

Community service, military-business networking and professional development are the foundations of the chapter. The chapter is the premier information technology organization in the River Region with connections to thousands of people in River Region Cities, U.S. Defense Department, information technology (IT) companies and academia. These municipal and military organizations, companies, universities, colleges and K-12 schools are invested in the River Region, and the organization aims to be one of the primary connective forces to work with these entities to improve STEM education and representation in this area.

For the past 15 years, the AFCEA Montgomery Education Foundation (EdF) has invested a significant amount of time, money and resources to foster STEM education and drive the growth of the Montgomery area's tech ecosystem. With the help of committed corporate sponsorship, the chapter has raised well over $500,000 to grow the next generation of STEM professionals, to i … Read more

In July, the chapter hosted its third virtual luncheon featuring a panel of industry and government experts who discussed the digital divide. The panelists included Dawn Morrison, Alabama Department of Education; Eujon Anderson, Google innovator and Google certified trainer; Tim Lewis, the AUM College of Education; and Justin Hampton, Montgomery Education Foundation. The panel was moderated by Chapter Education Foundation Director Eric Sloan. The panel opened by discussing what the digital divide means for students and families during this global pandemic. Many people take for granted access to broadband Internet and having a device in their home that is capable of connecting, but for many families this isn't a reality. A lack of technology makes keeping up academically more challenging and forces family to increase their exposure risks by having to use devices in places such as libraries or at a friend's house. This isn't only a problem faced by school-aged children, but it also im … Read more

In December, the chapter hosted a cybersecurity event for the Girl Scouts based in Montgomery. The event included five tables of activities to teach the importance of cybersecurity. The girls rotated through tables that included the following topics: How to Use Technology; How Computers Work; How to Protect Something Valuable; Safety Rules Online; and How the Internet Works. The young women learned a variety of Internet safety tips, such as changing/setting up difficult passwords, safeguarding personal information, and how to recognize safe sites that they can use. The event culminated in six girls receiving their Cybersecurity Basics badges.

In December, the Young AFCEAN Advisory Council (YAAC) "Get Fit" program participated in a great event-the Jingle Bell 5K for the Arthritis Foundation. The team consisted of young professionals from the military, government and industry, who met up Saturday morning at the historic Huntingdon College, Montgomery, Alabama, to run/walk for a good cause. The Jingle Bell 5K is sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation, which funds research to find a cure for arthritis and provides advocacy, assistance and life-changing resources to people to help them overcome the everyday challenges of arthritis. The YAACs are proud to support worthy causes and look forward to enjoying more fun and fitness at their future "Get Fit" events!

In December, the chapter's Young AFCEANs hosted a Business over Breakfast seminar featuring guest speaker Master Sgt. James "Guideaux" Crocker, USAF, Business Enterprise Systems Programming Innovation (BESPIN), at the Hilton Garden Inn in Montgomery, Alabama. Crocker opened by discussing how the Air Force is starting to reevaluate the way it treats and trains its cyber warriors. There is an effort right now to better align the way the Air Force develops its coders with industry best practices. Crocker also enlightened the attendees on the Drudonna Project, which is mobile software and platform development. The goal of the Drudonna is to find the talent already in the Air Force and provide collaboration and deliberate development across organizations. Finally, he closed by talking about the path forward for the Joint Information Environment and a charge for all of us to join the digital revolution. Following the presentation, Crocker conducted a brief question-and-answer session, and … Read more

In November, the chapter hosted a luncheon featuring guest speaker Richard Aldridge, program executive officer (PEO) for Business and Enterprise Systems (BES), at Wynlakes Country Club in Montgomery, Alabama. Aldridge spoke to a full house of military, industry and government personnel on the "State of the Next BES." First, Aldridge gave an overview of where the Air Force (AF) is going in the next several years, including a quick overview of AF digital modernization and the ongoing threat of China's cyber capabilities. He then went over BES 2.0 and how those changes align with the bigger Air Force goals. Finally, Aldridge discussed BESPIN [Business and Enterprise Systems Product Innovation] and how it is providing users with the software they need, when they need it. The chapter thanks Aldridge for donating his time to speak.

In September, the chapter hosted its Annual Awards Lunch to recognize the outstanding contributions of the chapter's key members. The event took place at Wynlakes Golf and Country Club in Montgomery, Alabama, and drew a full house of military, industry and government personnel. The following individuals were recognized with chapter-level awards: Jacqueline McKinney, TRUSS, Young AFCEAN of the Year; Master Sgt. Jason Silvers, USAF, Barnes Center, Government AFCEAN of the Year; and Lizz Said, Booz Allen Hamilton, Industry AFCEAN of the Year. The luncheon also featured a presentation from Tanya Lambert, chief, business transformation, Business and Enterprise Systems Directorate (BES). Lambert discussed the new BESPIN [Business and Enterprise Systems Product Innovation] initiative at BES. First touching on the importance of building a team with diversity, building software with empathy for the user, and embracing innovation in the form of open seating. Additionally, she discussed the ne … Read more

The chapter's Young AFCEANs partnered with TechMGM and active duty members from Maxwell Air Force Base-Gunter Annex, Alabama, to hold a Counter-Strike: Global Offensive 5v5 eSports tournament during AFITC in the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa at the Conference Center in August. The tournament had a total of 35 players supported by 10 tournament organizers and volunteers and spectated by family members, AFITC attendees and Air Force personnel. Nearly a hundred people attended the event. The players ranged from high school students to active duty Air Force and local talent. Dell graciously supported the tournament with the latest in Alienware hardware to include gaming monitors, CPUs and accessories. After four and a half hours of intense matches, winners were crowned. The chapter looks forward to a continued partnership with local tech organizations to provide great opportunities for airmen and youth in the Montgomery community.

In August, the chapter co-sponsored a regional STEM and cyber collaboration competition called InnovateAFITC with TechMGM and the U.S. Air Force Chief Information Officer's office. The competition drew 74 participants that included students, information technology professionals and airmen with related career backgrounds in network communications, cybersecurity, software development and STEM. Students paired up with service members and industry professionals on 11 teams. The diverse, multiskilled teams selected one of four cyber challenges to create a solution. Teams were judged on their prototype submission, technical writing and pitch presentation. This event helps create a community culture of cyber innovation and collaboration by focusing on work force development and encouraging innovation on smart city initiatives.

In April, The Young AFCEAN Advisory Council (YAAC) "Get Fit" program participated in a second great event: the 17th Annual Walk for Life. The team consisted of young professionals from the military, government and industry, who met up Saturday morning in downtown Montgomery, Alabama, to run/walk for a good cause. The Walk for Life is sponsored by the Joy to Life Foundation, which provides free mammograms and breast cancer screening to medically underserved men and women in Alabama. The YAACs are proud to support worthy causes and look forward to enjoying more fun and fitness at their future "Get Fit" events.

In May, the chapter hosted the 26th annual Montgomery Information Technology Summit (MITS) at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa Convention Center in Montgomery, Alabama. The theme of this year's summit was Revolutionizing the Pursuit of IT. MITS 2019 hosted 840 attendees, and thanks to the generous sponsorship from 46 corporations, the chapter raised nearly $150K to cover event costs and support Education Foundation programs, scholarships and internships. Col. Kyna McCall, USAF, chapter president, opened the conference, followed by a welcome from Todd Strange, mayor, for the city of Montgomery, Alabama, and Chairman Elton Dean, commissioner, Montgomery County. The conference enjoyed an assortment of presentations from many great speakers including Richard Aldridge, program executive officer (PEO), Business and Enterprise Systems (BES), Maxwell Air Force Base, Gunter Annex, Alabama; Brig. Gen. Michael Schmidt, USAF, PEO, Command, Control, Communication, Intelligence and Networ … Read more

In May, the chapter hosted its annual Education Foundation luncheon to recognize and reward 11 outstanding students from the Montgomery, Alabama, River Region. The luncheon took place in conjunction with the chapter's annual Montgomery Information Technology Summit (MITS), at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa at the Convention Center in Montgomery, Alabama. The luncheon drew a full house from industry, government and military. Eric Sloan, chapter Education Foundation director, presided over the luncheon with the assistance of Chapter Vice President Ray Perry, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center/Business Enterprise Systems (BES). The chapter was honored to have Richard Aldridge, program executive officer (PEO) for BES, Maxwell Air Force Base, Gunter Annex, Alabama, to not only attend the luncheon but also assist in handing out awards during the ceremony. The chapter awarded $10,000 in scholarships as part of its High School Information Technology Summer Internship program. … Read more

In April, the chapter's Young AFCEAN Advisory Council (YAAC) "Get Fit" program participated in the Centerpoint Half Marathon and 5K. The team consisted of young professionals from the military, government and industry, who braved the rain to meet up early on Saturday morning at the YMCA in Prattville, Alabama, to run for a good cause. The Centerpoint Half Marathon and 5K is an annual event hosted by the Centerpoint Fellowship Church in which all proceeds go to local and international missions. This year's Centerpoint's Student Missions are expected to send volunteers to Atlanta, Honduras, Peru, Mexico, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds goes to support Stella's Voice, an organization that seeks to provide housing, education and hope for orphans in Moldova to prevent them from becoming victims of human trafficking. The YAACs are proud to support worthy causes and look forward to their future "Get Fit" events!

In March, Col. Kyna McCall, USAF, chapter president, represented women in AFCEA as a chaperone and mentor at the Eyes Above the Horizon event presented by Legacy of Flight Academy and the Red Tail Scholarship Foundation. The event took place at the legendary home of the Tuskegee Airmen, Moton Field in Tuskegee, Alabama, and provided 105 youths with an opportunity to be exposed to STEM programs and the field of aviation. Students received the chance to be mentored by Lt. Gen. Anthony Cotton, USAF, commander and president, Air University, and Col. Charles McGee, USAF (Ret.), one of the last living Tuskegee Airmen. Students were also given a chance to fly in various aircraft. Many of the participants came from an underprivileged background, and the opportunities provided by Eyes Above the Horizon inspired them to recognize the sky is the limit. Finally, all participants were furnished information on colleges, scholarship and employment opportunities in both civilian and military aviati … Read more

In May, the chapter's Young AFCEA Advisory Council (YAAC) and TechMGM hosted their first esports competition, Gump Goes Gaming. Participants from across the city gathered at the new MGMWERX facility to enjoy a night of video games and an opportunity to network. Students from St. James School, Park Crossing High School, Alabama State University, Troy University, and airmen from the Maxwell-Gunter Annex Air Force Base spent the evening competing in the popular games of Call of Duty and Super Smash Bros. Fueled by pizza and soda, players strategically eliminated each other round by round, hoping to win the top cash prize and trophy. At the end of the night, emcee DJ Squared announced a team of airmen as the overall winners. Montgomery YAAC and TechMGM have plans to host more esports competitions. Montgomery, Alabama, is rapidly advancing technologically, and these events provide ample opportunity for high school and college students to network and gain exposure to careers in the inform … Read more

In March, the chapter's Young AFCEAN Advisory Council (YAAC) 'Get Fit' program participated in the Enlisted Heritage Hall (EHH) 5K and Montgomery Half Marathon. The team consisted of young professionals from the military, government and industry, who met up early on Saturday morning in downtown Montgomery, Alabama to run for a good cause. The EHH 5K is an annual event that provides funding to maintain and create new exhibits for the Enlisted Heritage Hall at Maxwell Air Force Base, Gunter Annex, Alabama. Their efforts are critical to preserving enlisted history. The YAACs are proud to support worthy causes and look forward to their future Get Fit events. The next YAAC Get Fit events will be the Centerpoint Half Marathon and 5K on April 6, followed by the Walk for Life on April 27.

In March, the chapter's Education Foundation and the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce-TechMGM hosted CampIT for over 200 eighth-grade students from 11 schools in the Montgomery area at Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama. CampIT featured keynote speakers from the community and industry for the morning session. In the afternoon, the students engaged in hands-on demonstrations and breakout sessions, which allowed them to learn, participate and engage in STEM and Information Technology activities. Volunteers from Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Business Enterprise Systems Division, assisted with and led many of the sessions, providing students with real-life applications for the activities. CampIT gives students a great opportunity to see how STEM is used in everyday life. It also promotes awareness of the academic programs around STEM and opportunities for students to become more involved in the Montgomery community and explore additional opportunities in STEM.< … Read more

The chapter's Young AFCEAN Advisory Council, in partnership with Google Veterans Network, sponsored a resume writing workshop in February at the Hilton Garden Inn in Montgomery, Alabama. The event was attended by a full house of military, civilian and industry members. The session opened with introductions and a brief presentation about Google and the veteran community. Then they discussed hiring from the viewpoint of the staffing agency, followed by tips for writing your resume and highlighting your experience. Finally, attendees sat with resume counselors to receive one-on-one assistance and left the workshop with an updated resume.

In November, the chapter hosted its Annual Awards Lunch to recognize the outstanding contributions of the chapter's key members. The event took place at Wynlakes Golf and Country Club in Montgomery, Alabama, and drew a full house of military, industry and government personnel. The following individuals were recognized with chapter-level awards: Master Sgt. Brandy Silvers, USAF, Young AFCEAN of the Year; Herb Hunter, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Government AFCEAN of the Year; James (Jim) Dendis, Industry AFCEAN of the Year; and Charisse Stokes, Montgomery Chapter Life-Time Achievement Award. Additionally, the following individuals were recognized for their recent awards from AFCEA International: Jason Frye, AFLCMC, and Master Sgt. Brandy Silvers, USAF, 40 under 40 Award. The chapter also recognized Chief Master Sgt. Tom Gwaltney, USAF (Ret.), for all his contributions to the Montgomery Chapter by naming the Chapter Young AFCEAN Award in his honor. Finally, the lun … Read more

In October, the Montgomery Chapter Education Foundation invested in STEM education and development in the River Region. This included more than $35,000 for three Robotics Awards, two Science Teaching Tools Awards and two Chapter Initiative Grants. Wetumpka High School's Robotics Club, Macon County Public Schools and Montgomery Public Schools were recipients of robotics grants, which will enable their programs to purchase hardware, software and travel needed for robotics competitions. The recipients of the Chapter Initiative Grant were Montgomery Public Schools and Macon County Public Schools. These grants will enable the schools to provide professional STEM development for their teachers and fund a computer lab project. Montgomery Public Schools and Macon County Public Schools also received the chapter's Science Teaching Tools Awards. Montgomery Chapter Education Foundation is invested in growing the next generation of STEM professionals and looks forward to continuing to inspire mo … Read more

The chapter's Young AFCEAN Advisory Council (YAAC) participated in the Capitol 10 Miler and Turkey Burner 5K in November. The team consisted of young professionals from the military, government and industry, who met up on a brisk Saturday morning in front of the Alabama Capitol Building in Montgomery, Alabama to run/walk for a good cause. The Capitol 10 Miler and 5K were sponsored by the Centerpoint Fellowship Church. The proceeds from the races went to charities that support first responders, firefighters, police and military members. The YAAC's participation in the event was part of their "Get Fit" program, which encourages healthy lifestyle habits via Team YAAC's participation in local runs and other athletic-related events. The YAACs are proud to support worthy causes and look forward to enjoying more fun and fitness at their future "Get Fit" events.

The chapter hosted its annual membership mixer in October at a local venue, the Alley Bar, in Montgomery, Alabama. The event drew a full house of industry, government and military personnel. The mixer provided a prime opportunity for members to network and served as a great learning experience for nonmembers who were looking to join the organization. Attendees also had the opportunity to network with various community leaders. Finally, the event provided an opportunity for the chapter to present the officer nominees: Col. Kyna McCall, USAF, president; Ray Perry, vice president; Tija Brown, Young AFCEA Advisory Council president; Eric Sloan, director, Education Foundation; Candace Akerson, secretary; and Cheryl Brown, treasurer. Overall, the evening was a success, and the chapter looks forward to working with new and existing AFCEA members on future events.

Participants in the Young AFCEAN "Get Fit" program took on the Nitty Gritty 5K in October to run or walk for a good cause. The race was sponsored by the Prattville YMCA in Alabama, which focuses on youth development, healthful living and social responsibility. The chapter's Young AFCEANs are proud to support worthy causes and look forward to enjoying more fun and fitness at future "Get Fit" events.

The chapter's Young AFCEANs hosted a breakfast in September with Col. Alvin Burse, USAF, senior materiel leader/system program manager (SPM), and chief, Air Force Legacy Logistics Sustainment Division, who shared insights about information technology management with service members, civilians and industry representatives at the Hilton Garden Inn in Montgomery, Alabama. He began the Business Over Breakfast event by pointing out that increased Defense Department spending on information technology is a good indicator of its importance. But with increased emphasis on information technology comes increased emphasis on solid information technology management. He went on to talk about some of the benefits of managing information technology at a single location, including consistency, economy of scale and interoperability. Col. Burse also mentioned some of the challenges that the Air Force's aging information technology systems present: for example, dwindling expertise for old programming l … Read more

The chapter co-sponsored a regional STEM and cyber collaboration competition called innovateAFITC in August with TechMGM, CoWerx46, HackMGM and the U.S. Air Force Chief Information Officer's office. The competition enables students, CyberPatriot participants, information technology professionals and airmen with related career backgrounds in network communications, cybersecurity, software development and STEM to quickly collaborate, share skills and experience, and bond. Students paired up with service members and industry professionals on nine teams. The diverse, multiskilled teams worked through a series of information technology and cyber-based challenges, including lines of code troubleshooting; website attack; network communications; server hardening; and mobile application pitch and build. Overall, the event encourages a community culture of cyber awareness and collaboration between government, industry and academia.

The chapter's Education Foundation hosted a High School Education Day in August, providing students a wealth of opportunities to learn about information technology careers in the military and industry. As part of the day, 600 high school students were escorted around the vendor floor of the Air Force Information Technology and Cyberpower Conference. Students also watched a video about successful women in STEM professions who are working in the local community. The video highlighted diversity in STEM fields and the many opportunities in the region. The Education Foundation thanks Isobar, 1Sync, MGMWERX, Datum Software and Booz Allen Hamilton for their sponsorship. Without their donations, this event would not be possible.

The chapter hosted its annual Education Foundation luncheon in May to recognize and reward nine outstanding students from the Montgomery, Alabama, River Region. The luncheon took place in conjunction with the chapter's annual information technology conference, the Montgomery Information Technology Summit (MITS), at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center in Montgomery. The luncheon drew a full house from industry, government and the military. Charisse Stokes, director of the chapter's Education Foundation, presided over the luncheon with the assistance of Chapter Vice President Col. Kyna McCall, USAF. Richard Aldridge, program executive officer for Business and Enterprise Systems, Maxwell Air Force Base, Gunter Annex, Alabama, not only attended the luncheon but also helped hand out awards during the ceremony. The chapter awarded $7,500 in scholarships as part of its High School Information Technology Summer Internship Program. Three graduating high school sen … Read more

The chapter hosted the 25th annual Montgomery Information Technology Summit (MITS), themed "Capability @ Speed of Need," in May at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center in Montgomery, Alabama. Brian Knott, chapter president, and F.R. Schnell, U.S. Air Force Business and Enterprise Systems (BES) and MITS government liaison, opened the conference. A welcome from Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange and Montgomery County Commission Chairman Elton Dean followed. The conference featured assorted presentations from speakers such as Richard Aldridge, program executive officer (PEO), BES, Maxwell Air Force Base, Gunter Annex; Brig. Gen. Michael Schmidt, USAF, PEO, Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence and Networks (C3I&N); Maj. Gen. Sarah Zabel, USAF, director of information technology acquisition process development in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition; William Marion, Air Force deputy chief information dominance and deputy c … Read more

The chapter's Young AFCEANs hosted a Business Over Breakfast seminar in April featuring guest speaker Tom Wojszynski, Southeast regional manager for Google Cloud, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Montgomery, Alabama. Wojszynski discussed machine learning in the Google Cloud with a diverse audience of service members, civilians and industry professionals. He opened by providing a brief overview of his experience in the military and at Google. Wojszynski credits his success in part to his natural curiosity, and Google, he noted, appreciates curiosity as it lends itself to innovation. He discussed how Google uses innovation within the company for improvement. For example, Wojszynski said Google has the best big data processing because its cloud environment enables Google to expose big data platforms to world. This gives businesses the ability to process data in ways they never could before. He went on to discuss how Google is using machine learning in many of its consumer products, such as … Read more

In April, the chapter's Education Foundation and the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce's TechMGM hosted Camp IT for area 8th-grade students at Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama. The students engaged in hands-on demonstrations and breakout sessions and activities on STEM and information technology. Volunteers from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's Business and Enterprise Systems (BES) Directorate assisted with and led many sessions providing students real-life applications for their activities. Camp IT also featured keynote speakers from the community and industry. Business, community and civic leaders recognize that for Montgomery to stay on the leading edge of innovation, they need to invest in young people. Having an opportunity to expose middle school-age children to STEM careers and possibilities is just a start. Camp IT also is a great opportunity for students to see how STEM is used in everyday life, academic programs around STEM and how they can bec … Read more

The chapter's Young AFCEAN Advisory Council "Get Fit" program participated in the eighth annual Centerpoint Half Marathon and 5K in April. The team of young professionals from the military, government and industry braved the rain on an early Saturday morning in Prattville, Alabama, to run for a good cause. All proceeds from the event support local and international student missions hosted by Centerpoint Fellowship Church. This year, students are expected to volunteer in Honduras, Peru, Mexico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Atlanta. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds supports Stella's Voice, an organization that seeks to provide housing, education and hope for orphans in Moldova to prevent them from becoming victims of human trafficking. The Young AFCEANs are proud to support worthy causes and look forward to future "Get Fit" events.

In March, participants in the chapter's Young AFCEAN Advisory Council "Get Fit" program completed the Enlisted Heritage Hall (EHH) 5K and Montgomery Half Marathon. The team consisted of young professionals from the military, government and industry, who met early on a sunny Saturday morning in downtown Montgomery, Alabama, to run for a good cause. The annual event provides funding to maintain and create new exhibits for the EHH at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, Alabama. The EHH houses exhibits and artifacts honoring the contributions of enlisted airmen throughout aviation history. The Young AFCEANs are proud to support worthy causes and look forward to future Get Fit events, including the Centerpoint Half Marathon and 5K in April.

The chapter hosted a January luncheon with guest speaker Col. Kyle Reybitz, USAF, deputy program executive officer (PEO) for Business and Enterprise Systems (BES), at Wynlakes Country Club in Montgomery, Alabama. Col. Reybitz spoke to a full house of military, industry and government personnel on the state of the BES. First, he gave an overview of the BES and highlighted some successes. He then discussed plans to update strategic goals. Col Reybitz also covered some of the guidance that has come down from headquarters about cloud migration and the push for agile development that will drive change across the enterprise. The luncheon also served as an opportunity to formally install this year's elected chapter officers: Brian Knott, president; Col. Kyna McCall, USAF, vice president; Tija Brown, Young AFCEA Advisory Council president; Charisse Stokes, director, Education Foundation; Candace Akerson, secretary; and Cheryl Brown, treasurer. The chapter welcomes all new and returning offi … Read more

In January, the chapter's Young AFCEANs hosted a Business Over Breakfast seminar with guest speaker Maj. Kevin Deibler, USAF, commander, 689th Network Operations Squadron, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Montgomery, Alabama. Maj. Deibler opened by sharing that cyber is the mesh that connects other domains. He provided a brief overview of the Air Force Space Command organization chart as it pertains to cyber and explained the day-to-day operations in the squadron. Maj. Deibler closed by talking about the path forward for the Joint Information Environment. A question-and-answer session and networking followed the presentation.

In October, members of the chapter's Young AFCEANs (YACs) "Get Fit" program participated in the Nitty Gritty 5K. The team consisted of young professionals from the military, government and industry, who met up Saturday morning in Prattville, Alabama to run/walk for a good cause. The Nitty Gritty 5k was sponsored by the YMCA of Prattville, which focuses on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The YMCA also provides opportunities to give back and support its neighbors. The YACs are proud to support worthy causes and look forward to enjoying more fun and fitness at future "Get Fit" events.

In October, the chapter's Young AFCEANs hosted a Business Over Breakfast seminar featuring guest speaker Teresa Macalolooy, CEO of Macalogic, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Montgomery, Alabama. Macalolooy discussed three things to consider if you want to start your own business. The first thing she talked about was knowing what you want to do. She emphasized that it is best if you can align what you know with what people want. The second thing you should do is plan. Macalolooy mentioned that she sets aside time every Sunday to plan her week. She said you should consider the largest issue you have and then consider every item linked to that all the way down the line. A good plan will help you envision the path to achieve your goals. Third, Macalolooy told the YAACs you need to ask. Ask people you respect what their thoughts are, what else might be useful. Then you need to be willing to let them help you, even when you don't think it will be helpful. Finally she reminded the audience to … Read more

In September, the chapter's Young AFCEANs hosted a Business Over Breakfast seminar featuring guest speaker William Walski, lead scrum master, Array Information Technology Inc., at the Hilton Garden Inn in Montgomery, Alabama. Walski discussed agility versus rigidity in shaping the development environment. He opened by explaining how agile development differs from traditional waterfall development. For example the waterfall methodology puts a lot of value in the planning upfront, while the agile methodology is about taking measured risks that are influenced by customer needs. The advantage to taking small measured risks is the understanding that some will fail, but the impact of failure will be smaller and the team will learn from them. Walski emphasized that part of the problem is these small failures leading to future success rarely get support. This is a cultural problem within management and teams that needs to be addressed. Getting through the failures and seeing the success is … Read more

The chapter's Education Foundation hosted two events with Women in AFCEA in August to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and career choices for young men and women. The first event was a Diversity in STEM Educators Forum featuring Essye Miller, the Defense Department's deputy chief information officer for cybersecurity as the guest speaker. The breakfast was held at Embassy Suites in Montgomery, Alabama. Government, military, industry and community leaders and educators attended. At the event, Miller discussed the importance of diversity in STEM and the need to draw more diverse people into the field. The Education Foundation also held a High School Education Day, inviting more than 700 local high school students to the Air Force Information Technology Conference and escorting them around the vendor floor to learn about careers in information technology in the military and industry. As part of Education Day, there was also a special Women in ST … Read more

The chapter hosted its annual awards banquet in August to recognize the outstanding contributions of key members. The event took place at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel at the Convention Center in Montgomery, Alabama, and drew a full house of military, industry and government personnel. The following individuals were recognized with chapter-level awards: Tech. Sgt. Joshua Hinshaw, USAF, Young AFCEAN of the Year; Cynthia Crews, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Government AFCEAN of the Year; and Tija Brown, Copper River Information Technology, Industry AFCEAN of the Year. Additionally, the following individuals were recognized for their recent awards from AFCEA International: Master Sgt. Carlton Young, USAF, Meritorious Service and 40 Under 40 awards; Master Sgt. Brianna Oberg, USAF, 40 Under 40 Award; Tommy Pope, Sumaria Systems Inc., Meritorious Service Award; and Jason Frye, AFLCMC, Regional Distinguished Young AFCEAN of the Year. The chapter also was the recipien … Read more

In August, the chapter hosted a luncheon featuring guest speaker Arthur G. "A.G" Hatcher, director, cyber capabilities and compliance, Office of Information Dominance and Chief Information Officer, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force at the Arrowhead Country Club, Montgomery, Alabama. He spoke to a full house of military, industry and government personnel on mission, challenges and opportunities. He opened by discussing an overview of the nine major areas he is responsible for including IT budget reporting, IT system compliance, contracting, innovation and more. He then went on to discuss the challenges, such as the need to modernize on a limited budget and the need to be more agile. Finally, Hatcher talked about the opportunities industry and government have to improve, for example finding ways to simplify cybersecurity implementation without compromising the rigor of system security. The luncheon also served as an opportunity for the chapter to recognize some outstanding achi … Read more