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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 06/02/2022 Col. Gary Cornn, USAF, director, U.S. Air Force Central, A-6, and the chapter president, asked several questions to stimulate the audience's thinking. A number of other guest participants asked Gen. Powell very complex questions that elicited deep responses. Gen. Powell provided tremendous insight with his years of Army experience and leadership. The conversation helped make this one of the chapter's best luncheons. Not only did everyone enjoy wonderful food, but they also had the opportunity to listen to one ... READ MORE |
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 08/19/2021
In August, the chapter gathered for the third quarter member luncheon and welcomed guest speaker and current chapter president, Col. Gary Cornn Jr. As the Ninth Air Force (9 AF) A-6 director, Col. Cornn chose to speak on 9 AF/A-6 support to Agile Combat Employment (ACE) missions, achievements and future capabilities. Col. Cornn opened with a few accomplishments of 9 AF/A-6 in support of command and control (C2) resiliency. This included standing up a new tactical C2 system at Shaw Air Force Base, re-homing the United States and partner nation radar feeds, and moving information technology (IT) services to DoD 365. When it comes to the ACE mission, Col. Cornn explained that 9 AF/A-6 plans to "support ACE with CFKs [communication flyaway kits] until the communication requirements can be determined and a suitable and scalable solution is developed."Displaying the wide scope of capability that 9 AF carries, Col. Cornn presented the three types of CFK packages providing lapto ... READ MORE |
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 05/20/2021
The chapter hosted its Spring Luncheon at the Carolina Skies Club, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. The guest speaker was Maj. Gen. Todd McCaffrey, USA (Ret.), director of Military Affairs at the University of South Carolina. He spoke on STEM education and the current cyber climate. He also talked about multiple cyber threats and the challenges they bring. The general mentioned a divide between 'digital natives' and 'digital immigrants' and how we can bridge that gap by growing programs in nontraditional markets like online schooling. Additionally, Gen. McCaffrey discussed the threat to national security in the cyber domain and how it could be fought with increased undergraduate/ROTC interest and attracting students to government jobs. The University of South Carolina envisions South Carolina becoming a visionary leader for optimizing the full spectrum of a cyber ecosystem. The goals that drive that vision are: integrating the statewide cyber ecosystem; strengthening cyber preve ... READ MORE
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 12/29/2020
The chapter ended the year on a great note as it was awarded the Model Chapter Award again for the fifth year in a row. The Palmetto Chapter is small and associated with two big Air Force mission commands located on Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. U.S. Air Forces Central (USAFCENT) and U.S. Army Central (USARCENT) Headquarters reside here, and this chapter does its best to hear all the concerns of these two important missions, especially the communications and information warfighters stationed here and deployed to southwest Asia. Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen, USA, (Ret.), president, University of South Carolina, spoke to the chapter at a luncheon in October on the topic of the Cyber Centers of Excellence that the University is currently operating. The goal of the centers is to develop cyber professionals at their campus in Aiken, South Carolina, and to collaborate with the Army Signal Corp Cyber Center of Excellence in Augusta, Georgia. He said they will be developing a similar fa ... READ MORE
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 08/03/2020_Scholarship_Group_shot.jpg)
The chapter handed out two $1,000 Scholarship Awards to Phillip Newman and Christian Hines. Newman will attend the University of South Carolina to pursue a degree in computer science. Hines will enter The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, and will also pursue a degree in computer science. These young men were selected among all the candidates for their academic excellence as demonstrated in their respective high schools. The chapter applauds these young men in their chosen STEM pursuits and wishes them all the best. In addition to their scholarship award, they will receive a one-year subscription to SIGNAL Magazine, plus a student membership to AFCEA Palmetto Chapter.
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 07/08/2020
The chapter says a fond farewell to Col. Richard K. Brown Jr., USAF, its outgoing chapter president. Lt. Col Richard Sharpe, USAF, chapter vice president, presented Col. Brown with the AFCEA International Presidential Certification of Appreciation. Col. Brown served as chapter president from January 2019 to July 2020. During this period, he oversaw completion of two golf tournaments, three luncheon events and three chapter-awarded $500 scholarships to high school graduates headed to college in STEM programs. He initiated a monetary contribution to support the Veterans Endowment at the University of South Carolina - Sumter. This program provides monetary support to deserving veterans seeking degree programs, and the chapter is proudly engaged in yearly support to this program. His position as commander of the 20th Fighter Wing Mission Support Group helped deliver the chapter and AFCEA message to the U.S. Air Forces Central Command, U.S. Army Central and Shaw Air Force Base units, wh ... READ MORE
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 01/16/2020
The chapter attended the Cyber Education, Research, and Training Symposium (CERTS) Military/Collegiate Capture the Flag (CTF) Competition award event. The CTF is a four-hour, Jeopardy-style competition for aspiring and seasoned cyber and cybersecurity professionals. This competition is a learning tool that will measure the participant's current familiarity with various cybersecurity topics and will further sharpen the tools they have learned through education, training or self-learning. The CTF provides opportunities to share ideas amongst team members and with other teams, promoting the concept of continual learning for the soldiers and students. The Jeopardy-style CTF is similar to the actual Jeopardy game. The categories are cryptography, steganography, physical security, reverse engineering, forensics, networking and scanning.
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 01/16/2020
The chapter assisted in the breakout panel sessions at the Cyber Education, Research, and Training Symposium (CERTS) 2020. The United States is falling behind in the race for STEM-related skills to compete in the future. The attendees discussed why the United States is falling behind near-peer competitors and others. The discussion included how skills, knowledge and behavior develop and shape the future of our young men and women. Education teaches young men and women how to think, not what to think. So what tools do we use to coach our youth to move into STEM-related skills? Kindergarten is the starting point, followed by elementary and secondary school. Each individual develops a talent, introductory skills, knowledge and behavior as they grow. Parents, teachers and advisors are key components for young peoples' choices. Are we using the right approach to coach toward a STEM-related career, or is something missing? What are the right curriculums-starting with the building blocks ... READ MORE
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 01/16/2020
The chapter attended the panel discussion of educators assembled at AFCEA's Cyber Education, Research, and Training Symposium 2020 to discuss the following questions: Why has the U.S. ranking in STEM dropped from on top or near the top of STEM leadership over the past 15 years, and is there a correlation between STEM expertise and a failure to attract, train and retain STEM-related cybersecurity talent? Is the student population falling behind? Are the teachers not qualified? Or can it be attributed to something else? In order to attract, train and educate the workforce to meet cybersecurity needs of today, elementary and secondary school children need intelligent guidance into STEM-related fields.
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 10/25/2019 The chapter held their October golf outing at Carolina Lakes on Shaw Air Force Base. Seven sponsors supported the golf outing and provided prizes. The weather was cool and beautiful and new sponsors participated and raised funds for scholarships. All funds will support the scholarships to be awarded to a high school senior entering a STEM-related field in college. |
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 10/24/2019 The chapter's October luncheon featured guest speaker Staff Sgt. David Hill, USA. Hill enlisted in the U.S. Army August 2001 and graduated basic combat at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He currently serves as the Operations Company 1st Sergeant Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, U.S. Army Central (USARCENT) at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. His combat deployment includes Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003 to 2004 and 2005 to 2006; Operation Enduring Freedom 2009 to 2010; Operation New Dawn and Operation Inherent Resolve. Hill discussed the importance and basic necessity of working well together. It is important to know your staff and coworkers. It is also crucial to understand their personalities, their motivation to be productive, and even their personal lives to determine what is affecting their level of work. Sgt. Hill discussed the importance of maintaining a positive working environment. |
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 08/01/2019 In August, the chapter held its third quarter luncheon in celebration of the retirement of outgoing president, Col. Keith Mueller, USAF, director of communications, U.S. Air Forces Central, with special guest speaker, Maj. Gen. John Maluda, USAF (Ret.). Gen. Maluda enlisted in the Air Force, earned a commission and served 34 years bottom to top, caring for every airman throughout his journey. His legacy of strategic vision, applied leadership and matchless mentorship, made an indelible imprint in the DNA of the Airforce's 21st century cyberspace operations and support force. He also defined the mission scope, requirements, and processes to create the Air Force Network Operations and Security Center-the precursor for the current 24th Air Force Cyber Component. Col. Mueller then relinquished the chapter presidency to Col. Richard Brown, USAF, commander, 20th Mission Support Group. The chapter also awarded one-year AFCEA memberships to two airmen. |
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 05/24/2019 In May, the chapter hosted its spring golf tournament at Carolina Lakes Golf Course on Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. The ten participating teams enjoyed a gorgeous spring day in South Carolina and helped the chapter raise $2,400 for the education scholarship and grant fund. |
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 05/23/2019 In May, the chapter hosted a luncheon with speaker Maj. Gen. Scott Zobrist, USAF, commander, Ninth Air Force. Gen. Zobrist highlighted the challenges and achievements in standing up the first Joint Task Force-capable headquarters for the Air Force. Particular to the communications challenges, Gen. Zobrist discussed the procurement and fielding of a flexible, deployable communications package that would allow interoperability across geographic combatant commands with their respective coalition partners. The chapter also awarded a one-year AFCEA membership to one junior enlisted member. |
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 03/19/2019 In March, the chapter held a luncheon with speaker Col. Aaron Drake, USAF, director of intelligence for U.S. Air Forces Central Command. Col. Drake spoke on the growing convergence between cyber and intelligence and the roadmap for the Air Force merger between the two mission areas. He discussed at length the importance of keeping up with the advancing technology in cyber war and the intelligence needed to stay ahead as the future of warfare is increasingly dependent on cyberspace, both as a separate domain as well as an enabler for the other traditional domains of war. The chapter also awarded one-year AFCEA memberships to two junior enlisted members. |
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 04/25/2019
The 2019 University of South Carolina (USC) Spring Tri-Service ROTC Awards ceremony at the USC Capstone Building in downtown Columbia, South Carolina, was attended by the chapter's 2nd Vice President Maj. Vanessa Gonzalez, USAF, deputy chief, United States Air Force Central Command/A-6 Operations Division, and Jim Crawford, chapter director of membership services. Each year, AFCEA International Headquarters requests that the local chapter present their awards at this ceremony, and the chapter has done so since 2012. Maj. Gonzalez presented three AFCEA International Scholastic Awards during the ceremony to the following ROTC students: Midshipman Adam D. Wellner, Army Cadet Peter Leichner and Air Force Cadet Austin C. Horton. All have excelled above their peers in their respective STEM college disciplines. Some will be off to their first duty assignments for their respective branch of service this fall. |
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 03/27/2019
The 2019 Technet Fort Bragg Symposium and Exposition held at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in March was a resounding success. Paul Reimers, president of the North Carolina Chapter, opened the event and laid out the agenda. He introduced Maj. Gen. James Mingus, USA, commander, 82nd Airborne Division. Gen. Mingus discussed issues that concern the warfighter and commanders in the field who need clarity regarding information gathering that gives decision makers timely information to prosecute the contingency. The theme this year was Enabling Mission Command with Emerging Technology. The need to maximize cost effectiveness and intelligently leverage technology is imperative to enabling mission command. TechNet Fort Bragg offered an opportunity for experts and leaders from across the Army and Fort Bragg community to address various sides of the tough, controversial issues facing the U.S. Army Forces Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, Joint Special Operations Command and U.S. Army Spe ... READ MORE
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 11/19/2018
The Gravely STEM Teaching Grant of $1,500 was presented by Lt. Col. Richard Sharpe, USAF (Ret.), chapter vice president, to Danielle Last from Alice Drive Elementary School, Sumter, South Carolina. Last was selected to receive the grant from among many STEM teachers in the Sumter area due to her dedication, long hours and personal funding for many programs at the elementary school. She started a robotics program and provided hands-on teaching for math and science in the classroom settings. She has shown enthusiasm for STEM education above and beyond the average educator. Also present at the awarding of the grant was Lt. Eboni Jackson, USAF, chapter treasurer; Jim Crawford, director of membership; Chip Powell; and Kelly Powell, director of publicity. The grant was named in honor of AFCEA Educational Foundation's first executive director, Vice Adm. Samuel L. Gravely, USN (Ret.).
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 12/12/2018
The chapter welcomed Maj. Gen. Earl Matthews, USAF (Ret.), senior vice president and chief strategy officer at Verodin, to its December luncheon. He spoke on blockchain and its impact. Bitcoin's underlying technology, called blockchain, has great potential in the public sector. Blockchain is an open, distributed ledger that can record transactions between two or more parties efficiently and in a verifiable and permanent way. This can include the exchange of money, goods, property, documents or data-anything of value that can be represented digitally. A trusted centralized intermediary such as a bank can enforce terms, and details recorded in the ledger can be used for arbitration. Governments worldwide are equipping themselves with blockchain. One noteworthy example is Singapore, which is using the technology to prevent traders from defrauding banks. It is the world's first application of distributed ledger technology to enhance the overall security of trade finance invoicing, accor ... READ MORE
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 11/07/2018
Anthony Pierce, a CISCO investigator working for the Special Operator Joint Special Operation Command, conducted the chapter's November Lunch and Learn. He talked about how communication is key on the battlefield, whether it is a physical battlefield or in cyberspace. Pierce highlighted common communications techniques in the DOD battlespace that cross boundaries with cyberspace. 'We tend to think everyone speaks our language but we do not, which in cybersecurity would be a gap in our security posture," he said. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we learned that when we started putting translators with the warfighters, we start to understand the culture and the different terms, which is what the cyber warfighter needs in cyberspace, Pierce continued. The luncheon enhanced the attendees understanding of communication key points in cybersecurity that are needed in both battle space areas to execute the mission faster. |
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 09/07/2018
The chapter welcomed AFCEA International's president and CEO, Lt. Gen. Robert M. Shea, USMC (Ret.), who spoke at a September luncheon about global security, emphasizing China. He talked about China's plans to confront the United States militarily and economically and in areas such as education, space, intellectual property and global power influence. The Chinese have acquired many U.S. military and R&D plans to advance their developments and further their grand plan, Gen. Shea said. He also talked about threats the United States faces from several terrorist groups that demand the nation's attention and resources. At the same time, Russia's determination to be an influential world power broker while advancing its own agenda should not be underestimated, the general said. |
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 08/20/2018
The chapter, along with Walker and Associates, provided volunteer support in August to Col. Patricia J. Harrington, USAF (Ret.), AFCEA regional vice president, Georgia region, and the Fort Gordon Chapter for continuing education unit (CEU) sessions at AFCEA's TechNet Augusta conference. Volunteers worked as classroom proctors and at the registration center. The theme of the August 20-23 event was "Cyber Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA) for Unified Land Operations." |
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 08/29/2018
Walter Shenberger, project management professional (PMP) instructor, spoke about preparing for PMP certification at the chapter's Lunch and Learn in August at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. Shenberger's goal is to help demystify the process and set up everyone for success. He explained some of the requirements, including work and education experience. Applications should include project experience, along with the organization, description, references and domain area totals. Shenberger offered helpful hints on applying, such as timeline considerations and wording for project descriptions. He mentioned that veterans organizations such as Onward to Opportunity also can assist with obtaining the PMP. |
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 04/25/2018
The chapter coordinated with North Carolina Chapter President Paul Reimers to send classroom support in April for TechNet Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Chapter representative James Crawford monitored classrooms and took attendance at five classes approved for continuing education units (CEUs). TechNet Fort Bragg allows experts and leaders across the U.S. Army and Fort Bragg communities to address various sides of tough issues facing the Forces Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, Joint Special Operations Command and the Army Special Operations Command. The symposium aims to build solutions and create road maps while providing a unique opportunity to express and debate different opinions. Through an interactive approach, attendees learn about the latest advances in technology. Industry participants displayed products and services to key Defense Department decision makers from the area. |
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 04/19/2018
Maj. James Crenshaw, deputy air and missile defense chief, U.S. Army Central/G-39 and chapter secretary, attended the University of South Carolina (USC) Spring ROTC Awards Ceremony in April at the Carolina Coliseum in Columbia, South Carolina. He presented three AFCEA scholastic awards during the tri-service ceremony to the following ROTC students: Midshipman Brooks E. McNeal, Cadet Leon E. Davis and Cadet Aditi R. Tailor. All exceeded the scholastic achievements of their peers in their respective STEM disciplines. Some award winners will be entering their particular branch of service this fall. More than 150 cadets and midshipmen received honors from nearly 50 organizations at the USC ceremony. |
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 04/19/2018
Maj. Jeffrey S. Cashion, USA, U.S. Army Central G-35, chapter golf chairman, coordinated an April tournament at Carolina Lakes Golf Course on Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, to raise scholarship funds and to commemorate the retirement of John DeBerry, a notable chapter member. DeBerry, U.S. Air Forces Central Command A-6, chief of plans and requirements, has been a staunch supporter of AFCEA and was the chapter's April luncheon speaker. Eleven four-person teams participated in the tournament, raising more than $1,900 for STEM scholarships. DeBerry, with help from Eric Wilson, golf course manager, gave the golfers their rules of engagement for the shotgun start that morning. The chapter thanks the tournament's corporate sponsors, Salient CRGT, Network Controls and General Dynamics Information Technology. |
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 04/18/2018
The chapter's April luncheon speaker was John DeBerry, U.S. Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT) A-6, chief of plans and requirements. The theme of the talk was "A Lifetime of Lessons Learned." DeBerry directs the establishment and implementation, including planning and engineering of communications and information systems for AFCENT's area of responsibility (AOR). AFCENT develops contingency plans to support air operations for U.S. Central Command's AOR. DeBerry was chosen to be the combatant command J-6 planner to engineer tactical, strategic command and control (C2) systems and services during Operation Uphold Democracy in 1994 and 1995 in Haiti and in Operation Joint Endeavor, a 1995 peacekeeping mission in Bosnia. His expertise in computer network security expedited the response to the 1998 hacking of Defense Department computers, known as Operation Solar Sunrise. He deployed to Eskan Village, Saudi Arabia, for a year as chief of command, control, communications, computers (C4) ... READ MORE
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 12/04/2017
In December, the chapter recognized Sgt. VonAaron L. Green, United States Army Central (USARCENT) G-6, for his contributions to operational readiness of essential C2 networks in support of the USARCENT mission. Sgt. Green is a Signal Support Systems NCO stationed at Shaw Air Force Base, SC. For his commitment to technical excellence in communications and electronics, Sgt. Green was awarded two tickets to the Carolina Panthers football game on December 10 in Charlotte, NC. These tickets were provided by Walker and Associates, chapter corporate sponsors and Chapter President Lt. Col. Dwyke Bidjou, USA, deputy chief of information operations, USARCENT/G-34. To foster his professional development, he was also presented with a one-year membership to AFCEA International from the Chapter Vice President James Crawford.
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 10/26/2017
There was a great turn out for the CEU class at the chapter's Lunch and Learn in October. Doug Burks, CEO, Security Onion Solutions LLC gave his lecture, "Peel Back the Layers of Your Network with Security Onion," in the Carolina Skies Club Daedalian Room on Shaw Air Force Base. The topic covered Security Onion, which is a Linux distribution for intrusion detection, network security monitoring and log management. It contains best of breed open source tools such as Snort, Suricata, Bro, OSSEC, Sguil, Squert, ELSA, NetworkMiner and many others. The easy-to-use setup wizard allows users to build an army of distributed sensors for their enterprise in minutes. In his one-hour talk, Burks showed the attendees how Security Onion could analyze network traffic and generate IDS alerts.
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 08/09/2017
In August, the chapter along with Walker and Associates provided volunteer support to Georgia Regional Vice President Pat Harrington and the Ft. Gordon Chapter at AFCEA's TechNet Augusta conference. Volunteers served as classroom proctors and at registration. The theme of this year's event was, "Cyberspace and Electronic Warfare Operation in Multi-Domain Battle." This conflict demands the integration of capabilities to ensure friendly force freedom of maneuver while enabling the commander to present the enemy with multiple dilemmas through a mixture of kinetic and non-kinetic fires. Speakers delved deep into the various aspects of this emerging topic. The symposium featured multiple sessions about cyber and electronic warfare, workforce training and doctrine. Experts discussed procurement challenges the military, government and industry face during a time of uncertain budgets during runaway technology advances. Attendees took advantage of continuing education (CEU) sessions and spec ... READ MORE
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 05/25/2017
The chapter held a luncheon in May with speaker Lt. Gen. Ronnie Hawkins Jr., USAF (Ret.), at Shaw Air Force Base. He spoke about cybersecurity and the demands of training required to prepare airmen to live, fight and win in a cyber world. Gen. Hawkins was the first commander of the Joint Force Headquarters-Department of Defense Information Networks, serving commanders, U.S. Cyber Command and the Department of Defense Chief Information Officer. Now president of the Hawkins Group, a service-disabled, veteran-owned business, he provides clients solutions for cybersecurity, strategic planning, risk management and leadership development. The general is an internationally respected subject matter expert on leadership, strategic planning, cybersecurity, information technologies, military matters and Christian discipleship development. He serves on the board of directors and advisers of several corporations and organizations and is the director of Ezra Vision Ministries, which conducts shor ... READ MORE
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 03/30/2017
The chapter held its Crawford-Fuller Scholarship Golf Tournament in March at Shaw Air Force Base’s Carolina Lakes Golf Course. Chapter members and corporate sponsors supported the tournament with contributions to the chapter’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) scholarship and award programs. Scholarships are given to rising high school seniors and service personnel in their freshmen and sophomore years of college pursuing careers in STEM. Ten teams made up of four players each waged a battle of the greens to see who would win first and second place, closest to the pin and longest-drive awards. Lt. Gen. Michael Basla, USAF (Ret.), joined the battle of the greens along with former Chapter President Col. Joseph Sublousky, USAF (Ret.), U.S. Air Forces Central Command (USAFCENT) A6. Corporate sponsors were CDW-G, Intel, CACI, Fidelis Cybersecurity and Walker and Associates. Thanks to all who supported the golf tournament and the chapter’s efforts to promote STEM sch ... READ MORE
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 04/14/2017
Chapter Vice President James M. Crawford attended the University of South Carolina's 2017 Spring ROTC Awards Ceremony at the TRI-Service ROTC Awards ceremony in March. He presented three AFCEA International Scholastic Awards to the following: Midshipman Sandra V. Jordan, Midshipman Thomas D. Kenner and Cadet Shaquille Dixon. All exceeded the scholastic average of their peers in their respective science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) college discipline. More than 150 scholastic awards were given out to ROTC cadets and midshipman during the ceremony.
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 03/29/2017
Lt. Gen. Michael J. Basla. USAF (Ret.) was the guest speaker at the chapter luncheon in March. He is the senior vice president and client executive for CACI International. Lt. Basla maintains an informed understanding of Defense Department requirements in space, cyberspace, business systems, enterprise IT, intelligence services, logistics and material readiness. He uses that understanding to match user requirements against CACI capabilities and provide the user representatives with information for their understanding and consideration of comprehensive alternative solutions. Gen. Basla concluded his Air Force career as the chief information dominance and chief information officer, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force in November of 2014. He spoke about the people in the room being part of a community that represents technologies and the associated capabilities delivered that are changing the world at great speed and offering great opportunities for reward. In the hands of our ene ... READ MORE
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 02/23/2017
Nicholas Clark, Defense Department senior security engineer at Intel Security/McAfee, presented "Commoditization of Encryption and the Military" at the chapter's March Lunch and Learn at the Carolina Skies Club, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. Clark has more than 20 years of experience with software engineering, configuration, policy, regulation and teaching for commercial and U.S. government agencies. Since 2008, he has consulted on Defense Department endpoint security solutions. Clark spoke about data-at-rest solutions becoming ubiquitous, from military to industry, even down to consumers. Thanks to aging encryption solutions and the acquisition of encryption companies, the number of innovative solution providers is shrinking, he said. As a result, hardware manufacturers and operating system companies have taken up the call to provide encryption as a free add-on feature to their products. Clark asked, "What does this do to the efficacy of encryption for the DOD?" The answer w ... READ MORE
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 01/19/2017
The guest speaker for the chapter's January luncheon was Maj. Gen. Kimberly A. Crider, USAFR, the mobilization assistant to the undersecretary of the U.S. Air Force. She presented "Leadership in the Digital Age." Gen. Crider assists in organizing, training and equipping the Air Force by contributing to the development of strategy, long-range plans and capabilities-based requirements as well as activities ensuring that the service builds and employs effective air, space and cyber forces to achieve national defense objectives. In her civilian capacity, she is a CEO and partner in a leadership and consulting firm that focuses on developing leaders in the field of information technology. The general has led numerous large-scale information technology and systems engineering initiatives in academia, industry and government. She has expertise in enterprise infrastructure, cloud technology, information technology work force development, cybersecurity, network defense operations and command ... READ MORE
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 11/15/2016
In November, Tim Brown from Network Utility Force gave a class on security virtualization at the Carolina Skies Club on Shaw Air Force Base. The material covered was about new tools available to network and security architects to more deeply secure networks and allow more freedom in design challenges. Brown educated users on the virtual appliances now available (network and application firewalls, monitoring appliances, load balancers and intrusion detection) and described how these appliances can be used to solve emerging problems in the network security space at very high speed. Brown has 18 years of experience in network and security engineering and architecture, with experience at equipment manufacturers such as Cisco Systems, Internet and application service providers, online content distribution services and operational management in network operations and security operations centers. This class has AFCEA Credit Certifications: 1 CompTIA CEU A+, Network+, Security+ and CASP; 1 ... READ MORE
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 11/09/2016
In November the chapter welcomed Lt. Gen. Bill Lord, USAF (Ret.) as its guest speaker. Gen. Lord was the Air Force's chief information officer and chief of warfighting integration from 2009 until his retirement in 2012. He was responsible for 30,000 personnel providing information technology services for the entire Air Force with a budget of $8 billion. He spoke about the value of cyber and iformation technology operations in the USAFCENT area of operations and how, perhaps, those technologies could be pivotal in the Secretary of Defense's third offset initiative. He praised both 9th Air Force and USAFCENT's on-going work in Southwest Asia and opined that the resources necessary for winning that fight ought to be enhanced. Gen. Lord commented on the progress the Air Force has made in professionalizing the career fields dedicated to Air Force and joint cyber work.
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 10/28/2016
Steve Thamasett, security field solutions architect, CDW-G, gave an AFCEA credit certifications course in October on visibility and automation in the evolving security landscape. As cyber attacks become more frequent and sophisticated, the window to identify, process and protect from these attacks continues to shrink. This class covered the need to extend infrastructure visibility and consolidate data to enhance threat identification and increase automated threat response. He discussed the evolution of cyberthreats and the steps organizations need to take to adequately prevent, detect and/or respond to new attacks. The presentation was intended to educate on specific areas of the infrastructure and how different solutions can assist in enhancing the security posture of an organization. It covered infrastructure elements, including: firewalls, data center components, endpoints, DNS, email and the web. All these elements require attention from the security staff and are best viewed ho ... READ MORE
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 10/28/2016
Brig. Gen. Greg Brundidge, (Ret.), USAF, spoke on "Perspectives on the Government: IT Industry Interface" in October. The U.S. Defense Department faces the toughest environment in history, he said. Funding, manning and systems modernization challenges are all taking place in a multithreat, high-ops tempo environment. Decision makers are continually faced with tradeoff decisions and prioritizing focus on multiple "must" missions. Many spend time fighting fires, with little time to plan and think strategically. More important than ever is military agencies and industry partners working together to solve problems faster, better and cheaper by communicating and collaborating clearly and often. Understanding and getting ahead of requirements facilitates faster and more economical solutions. The attitude must be one of dealing with the present and using intellect and ingenuity to shape and prepare for an increasingly demanding future.
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 09/22/2016
Col. Tony Burris, USAF, director of communications and cyber forces, Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region-1st Air Force, spoke to the chapter at the September luncheon. Col. Burris oversees communications and cyber forces integrated into and supporting four direct reporting units, 10 aligned Air National Guard units, a number of active air defense alert sites (including aircraft and air defense artillery) and up to 15,000 active duty, National Guard, Air Force Reserve and civilian personnel. Col. Burris explained how he integrates cyber operations and defense into contingency plans supporting full spectrum operations and defense of air and space operations in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He is responsible for translating and navigating the cyber-centric requirements through policy guidance, program and resource allocation consistent with Homeland Defense, Defense Support to Civil Authorities and Theater Security Cooperation mission areas.
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 07/15/2016
The chapter, in coordination with Walker and Associates Incorporated, sponsored Brandon Ross of Network Utility Force to speak on Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) at the Carolina Skies Club on Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. Ross stated in his presentation that as the pool of available addresses in the existing Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) run out, IPv6 is well on its way to becoming the new worldwide standard for communications on the Internet. His session highlighted the major differences in the internet protocol introduced by IPv6, as well as brief discussions of deployment experiences. Ross also gave a briefing on new features and functionality of IPv6, the new address format of IPv6, security concerns and best practices. AFCEA members received a Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credit for attending.
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 05/20/2016
The chapter's spring Crawford-Fuller Scholarship Golf Tournament was held in May at Shaw Air Force Base Carolina Lakes Golf Course. The event was supported by members and corporate sponsors with generous contributions to chapter scholarship and STEM awards programs for rising high school seniors and service personnel in their freshman and sophomore years of college who are pursuing STEM careers. Among the 10 four-person teams waging a battle of the greens to see who would win first, second and third place were Col. Stamatis Smeltz, USAF, U.S. Air Forces Central Command A-6 and chapter president, and Col. Joseph Sublousky, USAF (Ret.), former chapter president. Corporate sponsors for this event were Intel; FCN Inc. Technology Solutions; Fidelis Security; Walker Associates; Nimble Storage; Dell; and Proofpoint. Thanks to all corporate sponsors who supported the golf tournament and the chapter's efforts to promote STEM awards.
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 05/19/2016
Col. Dustin "Helmut" Smith, USAF, director of operations, U.S. Air Forces Central Command (USAFCENT), spoke at the chapter's May luncheon at Shaw Air Force Base's Carolina Skies Club. He shared his thoughts on communication from an operator's point of view and how communication architecture is critical to decision makers, shooters and warfighters. The chapter also awarded four of five $1,000 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) scholarships to seniors from Sumter County high schools. Students Lyndsay Krebs, Turner Newman, Sarah Witt, Grace Scott and John Peters could not attend. Among the attendees were Col. Stamatis Smeltz, USAF, USAFCENT/A-6 and chapter president; Col. Donald P. Taylor, USA, U.S. Army Central chief of information/operations; Lt. Col. Caleb Malcolm, USAF, USAFCENT deputy A-6; Lt. Col. Joshua Close, USAF, commander, 20th Communications Squadron; Wayne Thomas, USAFCENT deputy A-6; John DeBerry, chief, plans and requirements, USAFCENT A-6; and Jane ... READ MORE
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 04/28/2016
The chapter sponsored Col. Lou Ramos, USAF (Ret.) to come and talk about Program Management Professional (PMP) Certifications to Shaw Air Force Base professionals in April. Col. Ramos has over 30 years of knowledge and experience directing diverse groups with dissimilar skill sets and a variety of educational levels. His experience encompasses communications engineering; communications and computer technology operations and maintenance; program management; training; financial planning; budget execution; contract management; briefing preparation and delivery; and resource management. In his presentation he covered the following: PMP certification; Project Management Institute (PMI); PMP certification process; PMP eligibility requirements; maintaining credentials; and PMI chapter affiliation. |
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 04/14/2016
In April, Col. Stamatis Smeltz, USAF, commander of the 609th Air Communications Squadron and chapter president along with James M. Crawford, chapter first vice president attended the 2016 Spring ROTC Awards ceremony at the Zone in Williams-Brice Stadium, home of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks. Col. Smeltz presented four AFCEA International Scholastic Awards to the following: Cadet Kurt D. Blumeyer, USA; Cadet Kyler J. Chern, USAF, a rising senior going into pilot training this fall; Midshipman Brandon A. McGee, USN, (absent); and midshipman Kenneth E. Hodges, USN. All exceeded the scholastic average of their peers in their respective science, technology, engineering and mathematics college discipline.
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 03/15/2016
The chapter sponsored a technology workshop on Coarse Wave Division Multiplexing (CWDM) given by Transition Network engineer, Dennis Troxel and Transition Network regional sale manager, Luis Coton, at Shaw Air Force Base, Sumter, SC. Troxel covered real-world engineering and design considerations for network applications including forward/deployed networks while maintaining a high level of security. This technology can eliminate the hassle and costs of trenching, installing/splicing underground or aerial fiber plant and can reduce the time it takes to deploy secure communication. Single mode fiber capacity can be addressed without having to install additional fiber plant or upgrade the switching and routing network. CWDM applications for services such as Ethernet 10 Mb to 10G, DS3, T1/E1 and SONET transport were shown. Other topics that were covered during the workshop include deployed fiber plant utilization strategies, how to increase existing fiber capacity and how to improve man ... READ MORE
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 08/25/2015
The chapter and Walker and Associates offered support to AFCEA Regional Vice President Pat Harrington and Fort Gordon Chapter President Bob Damen during AFCEA's TechNet Augusta in August. The chapter provided classroom proctors for continuing education unit (CEU) training, and Walker and Associates provided trainers and subject matter experts. These classes were designed for government, military and industry professionals who require continuing education to keep current on cyber and network technologies. Classroom attendance was full and sometimes overflowing. The theme for this year's TechNet event was cyber convergence. The event was held at the Augusta Marriott Convention Center and was a success.
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 08/20/2015
The AFCEA Montgomery Chapter asked the Palmetto Chapter president, Col. Stamatis Smeltz, USAF, U.S. Air Forces Central Command A-6 director of communication and information, to help present the Mr. Mort Marks Memorial Scholarship in August. Palmetto Chapter First Vice President James M. Crawford and Col. Smeltz presented the scholarship for $3,000 to Cadet Kyler J. Chern, USAF ROTC, at the University of South Carolina. The Montgomery Chapter established the scholarship in 2010 through the AFCEA Educational Foundation in memory of Marks, an able member of the chapter who made many significant contributions to further its Education Foundation and the foundation's benefactors. The scholarship is presented annually to a deserving sophomore or junior cadet of the Air Force ROTC program as judged by the AFCEA ROTC Scholarship Selection Committee to exemplify the dedication, persistence, patriotism and selflessness of Marks.
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PALMETTO CHAPTER - 07/30/2015
The chapter held the Crawford-Fuller Scholarship Golf Tournament in July. Members and corporate sponsors supported the event with generous contributions to the chapter's science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) scholarship and awards programs that aid high school students, service members and area high schools. Eleven four-person teams played in the tournament. Among the participants were Chapter President Col. Stamatis Smeltz, USAF, U.S. Air Forces Central Command (USAFCENT) director of communications, and Maj. Gen. John Maluda, USAF (Ret.). Corporate sponsors for the event were Blue Coat Systems, Walker and Associates, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics Information Technology and NetApp/CDW-G.
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