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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 08/13/2024
The chapter is thrilled to honor the recipients of its 2024 scholarships, recognizing a group of exceptional high school graduates from San Diego County. These promising students, who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in academics, leadership and community service, are poised to embark on their college journeys in STEM fields. Each scholarship winner will receive a $2,000 award, a certificate of achievement and a one-year membership to AFCEA International.This year's scholarship recipients have set themselves apart with their dedication and excellence. Their commitment to pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics underscores the bright future that lies ahead for them. The scholarships aim to support their educational aspirations and encourage their continued contributions to technology and defense sectors. The celebration of these remarkable students was a highlight of our recent event, and it was heartwarming to see the community c ... READ MORE |
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 11/20/2023
After being rescheduled due to a potential government shutdown, the long-awaited C4ISR Symposium two-day event was held in November in San Diego at the beautiful Marina Village Conference Center. This year's symposium focused on improving government and industry preparedness in the field of C4ISR through cooperation, association and the encouragement of education in related technical fields.Immediately following the events on day one, the chapter held the annual Awards Ceremony. Congratulations to all the nominees and individual award winners for the Rookie of the Year and Jim Loiselle Volunteer of the Year Awards! The Rookie of the Year nominees were: 1) Jocelyn Hartvigson, chapter vice president for marketing and communications 2) Jonas Lazo, chapter deputy vice president for marketing and communications 3) Oscar Mancia, chapter vice president for small business 4) Emilie Vicchio, chapter deputy vice president for small business The Rookie of ... READ MORE |
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 08/10/2023
AFCEA San Diego's Small Business program kicked off a new series, InnovateGov, a groundbreaking platform driven by events and workshops to facilitate integrating innovative technologies from small businesses into the national security sector. The platform is designed for collaboration with government agencies, academia and industry to break barriers and foster a new era of innovation in government contracting.In September, the inaugural program launched, attracting more than 100 small businesses and 150 attendees. The Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) has been particularly interested in the new platform. The executive director for NAVWAR, John W. R. Pope, expressed his enthusiasm for this initiative, stating, "InnovateGov presents an exciting opportunity for small businesses to showcase their cutting-edge technologies and contribute to advancing the national security sector. We are committed to collaborating with AFCEA San Diego in empowering small bu ... READ MORE |
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 08/09/2023
The chapter continues its partnership programs with educators and schools in San Diego County. Each year scholarships are awarded to students in STEM.In August, the chapter proudly hosted the annual 2023 Scholarship Reception at the prestigious University Club Atop Symphony Towers. Eleven outstanding San Diego County high school graduates majoring in a STEM field in college were awarded a $2,000 scholarship, a certificate of achievement and a one-year membership to AFCEA. All these students excelled in academics, were school leaders and gave back to the community through community service. The chapter wishes the recipients a successful future! |
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 04/04/2023
The Naval Applications of Machine Learning (NAML) workshop was a three-day in-person event, offering two separate agendas with multiple tracks: a two-day unclassified program and a single day classified program. The unclassified program was held at the University of California San Diego's newest and vibrant platform, Park & Market, located in downtown San Diego. Poster sessions were held at the end of day one and two to allow for further interaction, discussions and Q&A between researchers, military, industry and academia attendees. The classified program was held on base at the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific.NAML is the premier annual event showcasing current machine learning research relevant to naval applications. Participation is welcomed from the defense community, industry, academia and student populations. The NAML workshop is an opportunity for researchers from Navy research and development centers and partner organizations to exchange technical ... READ MORE |
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 08/17/2022
San Diego County students were awarded scholarships from the chapter in August at the University Club atop Symphony Towers. Matt Beekman, chapter vice president, and Terry McKearney, executive vice president for education, presented the awards to the students, while Gloria McKearney, scholarship chair, gave a short summary of each student's achievements. The students were urged to return home after completing their studies and contribute to the many leading-edge high-tech industries in San Diego. During the reception, AFCEA board members talked to the students and their families about the importance of STEM careers supporting the security of our nation.Students were awarded the scholarships due to their outstanding academic achievement, extracurricular activities, community service and commitment to majoring in STEM fields in college. Students appreciated being able to network with other students and AFCEA STEM professionals before going off to college. Since 1993, th ... READ MORE |
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 08/09/2021
In August, the chapter awarded 12 San Diego County students scholarships at the University Club. Rear Adm. Kurt Rothenhaus, USN, program executive officer, Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence, Space Systems, was the guest speaker. Adm. Rothenhaus met with the students and their families during the reception. During his remarks, he reflected on the students' diverse backgrounds and dedication to a STEM career. He urged them to return home after completing their studies and contribute to the many leading-edge high-tech industries in San Diego.Students were awarded the scholarships due to their outstanding academic achievement, extracurricular activities, community service and commitment to majoring in STEM fields in college. Five other students who were not able to receive their certificates last year due to the pandemic also joined them. Students were able to network with other students and AFCEA STEM professionals before going off to college. ... READ MORE |
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 12/14/2019
The chapter's Technology Needed in Schools (TNS) Committee installed refurbished computers in the computer lab at Hilltop Elementary School in December. The group included members of the chapter and volunteer technicians from the Chula Vista School District. The computers were furnished by the San Diego Futures Foundation. These computers are provided to the chapter for placement in schools needing technology for student use. Our installations occur about quarterly and volunteers are always welcome. Technical skills aren't needed, just willing hands for a few hours on a Saturday morning!
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 11/19/2019
For the last two years in a row, the chapter has held its November monthly luncheon in Corona, California, in an effort to support our membership associated with the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) located there. The guest speaker was Capt. Khary W. Hembree-Bey, USN, commanding officer of NSWC, Corona Division. This event also drew in attendees from North San Diego County and Riverside County, including other AFCEA Southern California chapters. A good time was had by all as we shook hands across the larger region!
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 09/17/2019
In September, the chapter held its annual Jim Loiselle Volunteer Awards Reception. Jim Loiselle was a beloved member of the San Diego Defense Community. He had a long and distinguished Naval career and retired as a Navy captain. As a devout community servant, Loiselle was a valued member of AFCEA International since 2006. He held several positions within the chapter, including president from 2010-2012 and chairman of the board of directors. In honor of Loiselle, the chapter instituted the Jim Loiselle Volunteer Award. This award is given once a year to an individual within the chapter who exemplifies Loiselle's life, holds ethics at the highest level, and volunteers their time to better the individuals around them, never quitting, and always working to be at peace with all. New this year, the chapter began sponsoring a new STEM scholarship in Jim Loiselle's name for the San Pasqual Academy. |
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 07/16/2019
At the chapter STEM scholarship luncheon in July, grants and scholarships were awarded to high school students to conduct STEM research at local schools or to attend colleges and major in STEM subjects. The awards ranged from $2,000 to $8,000 each. The matriculated colleges ranged from local community colleges to top tier Ivy League schools or their equivalents. Some of the student winners are the first in their families to attend colleges and come from disadvantaged backgrounds. These students have overcome enormous obstacles and have persevered to become role models for other students. The chapter recognized a total of eight students, seven of whom attended with their families and teachers.
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 05/11/2019
In May, the chapter held its Fifth Annual Cycle for STEM ride on the beautiful Southern California coastline. Trevor Bender, immediate past chapter president, lead the "Fabulous Five" group of riders through the picturesque towns of Encinitas and Del Mar, California, then inland out to Poway, California, and back to the coast. The group included Trevor's 13-year-old daughter Aubree who, despite the rain, completed 40 miles on her longest ride ever. Also joining the field was Chairman of the Board Dave Grundies. A special shout-out to Leidos, a title sponsor who provided the rider jerseys. Other sponsors included Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte, Hitachi, American Systems, Globecomm, Cypher Analytics, Crown Point Systems, FTI, Nova Power Solutions, 4Liberty, the Sutherland Family, Sutherland Consulting, with Innovative Solutions continuing as the starting line sponsor. Thank you for supporting the tradition the chapter is building on this magnificent ride!
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 05/08/2019
In May, over 300 guests participated in the chapter's 41st Annual C4ISR Symposium held at the Liberty Station Conference Center in San Diego. Guest speakers included Jeffrey Klein, executive director, Naval Surface Force, Pacific Fleet, and Rear Adm. Ron Fritzemeier, USN, chief engineer, Naval Information Warfare Command. Panelists focused on the following topics: Rapid Evolution of Systems of Systems, Is the Cloud Right for You?, SecDevOps, Quantum Computing, and The Future of Cyber Warfare. In addition, 12 middle and high school students were recognized for their science fair projects, with several receiving scholarships. Mark your calendars to attend this technical exchange event in lovely San Diego the same time next year!
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 10/15/2018
With cybersecurity at the forefront, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly reached out to AFCEA International for support in arranging a visit to southern California. Chapter President Gary Brister and Shirley Adams, regional vice president, Southern California, worked with partner organization Cyber Center of Excellence to arrange a half day discussion and U.S. Navy ship tour in October. The parliamentarians were delighted to have the opportunity to discuss cybersecurity with the experts who joined the roundtable discussion. They exchanged views on a broad array of issues and received stimulating new impulses for their future work. The wealth of information gathered will feed into upcoming committee discussions and reports, including the 2019 General Report which will focus on cyber defense and security. This level of cross-national exchange shows the organizational power achieved when AFCEA International and local chapters join together to support government and industry and raise aware ... READ MORE
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 08/21/2018
Steve Sutherland, chairman of the chapter's Cycle for STEM planning committee, presented a $7,000 check to the chapter's Education Committee during the August luncheon at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Bay Club Room. Terry McKearney, the chapter's Technology Needed in Schools (TNS) coordinator, and Shirley Adams, AFCEA regional vice president, Southern California, received the check. Proceeds, including rider fees, corporate sponsorships and in-kind contributions of jerseys and other goods, were earned from the fourth annual 50-mile Cycle for STEM ride. This year's ride in May attracted an all-time high of 25 cyclists. |
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 06/19/2018
In June, Capt. Kurt Rothenhaus, USN, program manager for the Tactical Networks Program Office (PMW 160), presented a program overview brief on the status of Navy afloat networks. He reviewed the current deployment scheduled for Consolidated Afloat Network Consolidated Services (CANES) and other programs, to include Compile to Combat in 24 Hours (C2C24). Additionally, the chapter held its bi-annual election of officers at this luncheon. Trevor Bender completed his term as president and Gary Brister was elected to assume the reigns of leadership for the next two years. Other volunteers were sustained in their respective roles.
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 05/12/2018
In May, riders braved chilly "May-Grey" weather in San Diego to cycle upwards of 50 miles along the California coastline to raise money for STEM scholarships. Chapter President Trevor Bender noted, "This is our 4th Annual AFCEA San Diego Chapter Cycle for STEM ride, and with 25 riders was our largest one by far. Through sponsorships and rider fees, more than $5,000 was raised to go towards student scholarships." The chapter would like to give a special shout-out to title sponsor Leidos who provided the riders' jerseys. Other sponsors included Verizon, the Sutherland Family, Innovative Solutions and Moment Bicycles. The goal is to grow the event so that by year 10 more than 100 riders raise $25,000 in scholarship funds.
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 04/07/2018
Capt. Dave Grundies, USN (Ret.), chapter chairman of the board, and Capt. Edwin Kaiser, USN, commanding officer, Naval ROTC San Diego Consortium, presented the AFCEA ROTC Honor Award in April to Midshipman Mitchel DiLorenzo, USN. The award recognizes a cadet or midshipman for achievement in leadership and academics and includes a certificate and a ribbon bar. Recipients are selected by professors of military or naval science or aerospace studies. Each ROTC unit may nominate one person for the award annually. Recipients must be U.S. citizens and juniors preparing to enter their senior year and majoring in electronics; electrical, aerospace, computer, systems or communications engineering; mathematics; physics; science or mathematics education; computer science or technology; information management systems; or related technical disciplines. Nominees also excel academically.
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 12/19/2017
Continuing a tradition began two decades ago by past President Dave Grundies, the chapter held its December luncheon at the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar Officers' Club. More than 70 participants brought gifts for a Toys for Tots drive and gave them to the Marine sentries who were "guarding" the entrance. The luncheon featured speaker Col. Jason Woodworth, USMC, commanding officer of MCAS Miramar, who covered various topics related to the base and San Diego, including energy self-sufficiency, water use, firefighting and future integration of electric vehicles and driverless technology. Participants also enjoyed the 10-year tradition of the holiday poem reading by AFCEA Regional Vice President Shirley Adams, who reworded "The Night Before Christmas" to honor the contributions of last year's chapter executive committee.
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 11/14/2017
At the November evening social, members of the chapter received a demonstration of the Intelligence Carry-on Program (ICOP) by SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific. This remarkable tool-set provides intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and targeting support to Navy and Marine Corp personnel while deployed. Capt. Mel Yokoyama, USN, commanding officer, SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific, addressed the participants and noted the need to "increase coalition readiness by making the complex simple-easy to use, easy to learn, easy to maintain and easy to train." Members enjoyed the social following the presentation.
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 10/17/2017
During the chapter's monthly luncheon in October, Chapter President Trevor Bender, on behalf of the AFCEA International Educational Foundation, presented a $3,000 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) Major Graduate Diversity Scholarship to Lauren Gillespie. Gillespie is a graduate student pursuing a degree in homeland security at the University of California San Diego. Gillespie expressed appreciation for the scholarship and for the opportunity to interact with others who have careers focused on security.
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 04/29/2017
In April, 14 riders braved early-season Santa Anna winds in San Diego to cycle upward of 50 miles along the California coastline to raise money for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) scholarships. Chapter President Trevor Bender said, "Our third annual AFCEA San Diego Chapter Cycle for STEM ride was our largest one ever and contributed $6,000 toward student scholarships." Title sponsor Leidos provided rider jerseys. Other sponsors included Intel, the Sutherland family, Solute, SENTEK, Innovative Solutions, Moment Bicycles and Big Media Prints. The chapter's goal is to grow the event so that by its 10th year, there are 100 riders and $25,000 in scholarship funds.
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 10/20/2015
In October, Bryan Lopez provided industry with an overview on Information Dominance Corps (IDC), including Information Dominance Forces (IDFOR), OPNAV N2N6, COMTENTHFLT (C10F), Fleet Cyber Command (FCC) and CYBERCOM. Lopez is a retired Navy captain who served 28 years on active duty at sea, in the air and ashore all over the world, in places like Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory; Okinawa, Japan; Spain; Crete; Bosnia; Liberia; and Washington, D.C.
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 08/26/2015
The chapter teamed up with Rady Children's Hospital to launch the annual Jim Loiselle Awards Event, and it announced finalists and the winner in August. Loiselle was a beloved member of the San Diego defense community. He had a long and distinguished naval career and retired as a captain. Loiselle had a deep love for his country and served 43 years in the defense community. He was an H-2 and H-46 helicopter pilot, flew 52 different aircraft as a Navy test pilot, launched six satellites for the Navy's Communications Satellite Program and implemented the military's first 911 emergency system. He was one of 20 finalists for NASA's military mission specialist astronaut program. As a devout community servant, Loiselle was a valued member of AFCEA since 2006. He held several positions within the chapter, including president from 2010-12 and chairman of the board of directors. In honor of Loiselle, the chapter has instituted the Jim Loiselle volunteer award. This award will be given once ... READ MORE
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 09/17/2015
The chapter sponsored a table at Fleet Week San Diego's annual Enlisted Recognition Luncheon in September at SeaWorld. This Fleet Week event hosts more than 200 San Diego-based sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen. During the tribute luncheon, they met several animal ambassadors, including a penguin.
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 09/17/2013
Col. Christopher B. Snyder, USMC, spoke to the chapter in September.
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 07/16/2013
In July, the chapter awarded scholarships to deserving students. Awards were given in amounts ranging from $500 to $8,000, totaling $19,000. Scholarships were donated to graduating high school seniors and current undergraduates, as well as research grants. The scholarship categories were: the AFCEA $8,000 College Scholarship, the Buck Bragunier Leadership Scholarship, the AVID/AFCEA Scholarship and the STEM internship/research grant. Also, Rear Adm. Christian Becker, USN, discussed current acquisition topics and the significance of the Navy's first drone carrier-landing.
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 06/18/2013
In June, the San Diego chapter welcomed Saura Naderi, a graduate student from the University of California, San Diego and founder of My Lab, a program designed to give young students who show an interest in engineering an opportunity to experiment and gain hands-on knowledge of the subject. Subsequently, the AFCEA San Diego chapter awarded $5,000 each in scholarship money to two prominent graduate students who are pursuing their careers in math education. The recipients were Ashley Sprigg and Linjue Cao.
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 04/24/2013
In April, the chapter supported a science fair competition at the Hall of Champions. Here, the students display their research and people are encouraged to ask questions about their projects and give their congratulations. Parents and members from local media are invited to come upstairs and learn more about these fascinating research projects and experiments.
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 04/24/2013
Every year, the chapter donates thousands of dollars to young students under the age of 18, who focus their educational efforts on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The chapter donated approximately $2,000 dollars to science fair finalists with projects deemed the most innovative and sophisticated. This year, eight students from local high schools participated in the Science Fair and received scholarship money for college.
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 04/23/2013
This years C4ISR Symposium in April was filled with government and industry leaders from some of the most significant and influential sectors of the defense community. The chapter's theme this year, “Dynamic, Scalable and Affordable C4I Solutions: Dominating the Air/Sea Battlespace – Rapid and Smart Integration of Commercial and Defense Technologies,” consisted of several new ideas and themes revolving around how the military maintains the fleet during a time of fiscal reduction. The Diamond sponsor was Northrop Grumman, and the Platinum sponsor was ESRI. The chapter would like to give special thanks to its Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsors Kratos, SAIC, General Dynamics, Accenture, Epsilon, QinetiQ North America and many other small businesses who play a pivotal role in supporting the local industry. The symposium would not have been a success without the help and support of the sponsors. It also was the debut of a new performance-inspired demonstration, dubbed the Tech Insertion. H ... READ MORE
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 02/19/2013
The chapter's February luncheon featured Capt. Gary Mayes, USN, commanding officer of Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, as its keynote speaker. Capt. Mayes is a distinguished career naval aviator who cites his involvement with humanitarian relief during the Hurricane Katrina disaster as his most significant career accomplishment. As commanding officer of NAS North Island, the captain is focused on energy conservation, broadening public outreach and improving the lifestyle for sailors and their families. Capt. Mayes described his focus as “fleet, fighter, family,” citing the many opportunities for sailors to enrich themselves during their stay at NAS North Island. He also talked about additional naval installations under his command, which provide the Navy with a wealth of training capabilities, such as San Clementes only live naval training range. Capt. Mayes feels that NAS North Island will continue to make the growing changes necessary to support the fleet during this time of ... READ MORE
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 10/16/2012
The chapter celebrated the U.S. Navy's birthday at its monthly luncheon in October, which included the traditional cake cutting at the beginning of the event followed by keynote speaker Dr. Ruben Garcia. Midshipman James Waters Jr., Navy ROTC, and Capt. Yancey Lindsey, USN, cut the cake with supervision from Capt. Dave Grundies, USN (Ret.). Waters is from the University of San Diego ROTC Unit, while Capt. Lindsey is chief of staff for naval region Southwest. Garcia, who became district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA's) San Diego District Office in 2005, followed the cake cutting with an emotional small business story close to his heart. In his current role, Garcia is responsible for overseeing SBA's financial and educational development programs for San Diego and Imperial counties. Since 2005, the San Diego District Office has ranked among the top offices nationwide in attaining a number of fixed goals.
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 07/17/2012
The chapter held its monthly luncheon in July and awarded 10 new scholarships to students from around the county, including Sarah Nichols and Kevin Dong who both received the Buck Bragunier Leadership Scholarship for $2,000 each. Nichols graduated in 2012 from San Pasqual High School, and she will attend Harvey Mudd College in the fall and intends to major in engineering. Dong graduated in 2012 from Mt. Carmel High School; he will attend the University of California Los Angeles in the fall and intends to major in computer engineering. Charlotte Orren received the San Diego County $8,000 Scholarship; she is attending Embry-Riddle University majoring in aerospace engineering. Gautam Soundararjan, Raymond Wu and Margaret Guy were all awarded the San Diego County $8,000 Scholarship for high school graduates. One of chapter's most popular scholarships, the AFCEA San Diego/AVID Scholarship (high school graduates who receive a one-time award of $2,000), included awardees Thu Hoang, Maria D ... READ MORE
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 03/14/2012
The chapter held its March luncheon on the flight deck of the USS Midway. The USS Midway was an aircraft carrier of the U.S. Navy active in the Vietnam War and in Operation Desert Storm. It currently serves as a museum in San Diego. The chapter selected this location to host its annual joint AFCEA/National Defense Industrial Association luncheon. With more than 200 attendees, it was the largest attended luncheon this year. Capt. Bryan Lopez, USN, executive officer, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) Systems Center Pacific (SSC PAC), gave an insightful speech to the San Diego military community on the changes SPAWAR and SSC PAC have made over the years. Capt. Lopez attended the Joint Forces Staff College, where he completed his full Joint Specialty Officer qualification before assuming command of Navy Information Operations Command San Diego, where he was subsequently selected for captain and then assumed duties as executive officer of SSC PAC. He will complete hi ... READ MORE
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 12/21/2011 At the chapter's December luncheon, Shirley Adams, vice president for programs, read a poem she wrote to reflect on the hard work all AFCEA volunteers put in every day throughout the year. The poem stated: Twas the night before ExCom, when all through the office, not a computer was running not even the mouse. The flags were all hung on the tall poles with care in hopes that new awards would soon be there. The ExCom stood ready to provide their support, while visions of accomplishments and good deeds were documented in reports. Benito in his white shirt and colorful tie, and I in my suit and charismatic eyes were being put to the test, racking our brains and preparing for WEST. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, we sprang from chairs to see what was the matter. Away to the window, we flew like a flash. Tore open the blinds and tripped over the trash. Read the rest of the poem at AFCEA-SD.org. |
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 12/21/2011
The chapter held its yearly Toys for Tots luncheon at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in December. Toys for Tots began in 1947 when Maj. Bill Hendricks, USMCR, and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. The idea came from Maj. Hendricks' wife, Diane. In the fall of 1947, Diane crafted a homemade doll and asked Maj. Hendricks to deliver the doll to an organization, which would give it to a needy child at Christmas. When they determined that no agency existed, Diane told her husband that he should start one. The 1947 pilot project was so successful that the Marine Corps adopted Toys for Tots in 1948 and expanded it into a nationwide campaign. That year, Marine Corps Reserve units across the nation conducted Toys for Tots campaigns in each community in which a Marine Reserve Center was located. Marines have conducted successful nationwide campaigns at Christmas each year since 1948. Chapter members did their part this year b ... READ MORE
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 08/22/2011
The chapter held its first ever Veterans Career and Resource Fair in conjunction with the National Defense Industrial Association's Gold Coast Conference. The event was extremely successful with more than 150 veteran job seekers attending to meet with more than 47 companies. Jim Loiselle, chapter president, and David Dickey, chair of the chapter's Veteran's Retraining Initiative, kicked off the event with a ribbon cutting. In addition, Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), 51st District, gave an uplifting keynote address to attendees.
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 08/01/2011
In August, the chapter's Technology Needed in Schools (TNS) program placed donated computers in schools for classroom instruction and student use. Partnering with the San Diego Futures Foundation, chapter volunteers installed the computers on Saturdays and worked with school personnel in setting up the computers so they are ready to support student learning.
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 07/19/2011
In July, the chapter presented its 2011 San Diego County Buck Bragunier Leadership Scholarship, which was established to honor Bragunier's memory and unique contributions to both the chapter and the association. He devoted more than 20 years to AFCEA and the San Diego military community before he passed away in May 2004. AFCEA International awards $2,000 annually to one competitively selected and deserving college student attending an accredited college or university anywhere in the United States. They also contribute $1,000 to the chapter's local scholarship. This year, the chapter presented the scholarship to David Garcia at its monthly luncheon. Garcia had a highly successful active duty career spanning five years (2001-2007) in the U.S. Marine Corps as an aircraft electronics technician, and he deployed with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in 2005 in support of operation Iraqi Freedom. Garcia currently attends San Diego Mesa College, where he is pursuing a degree in electrica ... READ MORE
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 04/28/2011
In April, the chapter partnered with Team Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) to host the second annual Veteran-Owned Small Business/Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business Tech Match in San Diego. More than 100 people from government and industry attended to discuss future business opportunities based on current technology needs and how small businesses might be able to address them. The day was highlighted by a speech from Rear Adm. Patrick H. Brady, commander, SPAWAR. His addresses gave small businesses an opportunity to connect with various SPAWAR program managers, contract and small business representatives.
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 04/06/2011
The chapter held its 33rd AFCEA Command, Control, Computers, Communication, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) Symposium in April at the San Diego Hall of Champions and the SSC Pacific Topside auditorium. This year's theme was “Assuring Information Dominance in a Denied C4ISR Environment.” The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR)-Systems Center Pacific co-hosted the event with more than 600 attendees—half of which came from the government sector. Jesse Hamilton, chapter vice president for publicity, said, “The high government attendance and the in-depth technical conversation between industry and government sets this symposium apart from all others.” The event raised more than $75,000 for the chapter's Education Foundation with 100 percent of the symposium's proceeds donated to a program that encourages and benefits students and teachers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. At the symposium, SSC Pacific joined with industry, mil ... READ MORE |
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 02/17/2011 The chapter's Small Business Team, led by Joe Bulger of Lockheed Martin with support from Benito Hobson of Integrits, held a Small Business Finance Forum in February. Many speakers and sponsors made the event possible with help from chapter volunteers and members. The forum provided valuable information for the local defense contracting community. |
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 03/16/2011
The chapter worked with the local National Defense Industrial Association chapter in March to host a joint luncheon aboard the USS Midway museum. Rear Adm. C. Forrest Faison III, USN, commander, Navy Medicine West and Naval Medical Center San Diego, served as the keynote speaker and updated chapter members on the medical center's goals, information technology problems and the support the hospital provides to wounded warriors. With more than 200 attendees, the luncheon offered a venue to showcase the chapter's March AFCEAN of the Month: Nisa Mehta, Lockheed Martin Corporation.
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 02/24/2011
The chapter's Young AFCEANs, led by Travis Niedosik of Lockheed Martin, partnered with the Defense Acquisition University Alumni Association-West for an Executive Coaching seminar in February. Attendees listened to a presentation from Lois Harper, an executive coach to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command and the Program Executive Office, Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence leadership. Harper was recently published in Defense Acquisition Technology and Logistics Magazine. During her talks, she described the differences between mentoring, consulting and coaching and discussed her experiences as an executive coach. The talks were well attended by Young AFCEANs in industry, academia and industry.
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 12/21/2010
The chapter held its yearly Toys for Tots luncheon at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in December. Toys for Tots began in 1947, when Maj. Bill Hendricks, USMCR, and a group of Marine reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. The idea came from Maj. Hendricks' wife, Diane. In the fall of 1947, Diane crafted a homemade doll and asked Bill to deliver the doll to an organization, which would give it to a needy child at Christmas. When he determined that no agency existed, Diane told Bill that he should start one. The 1947 pilot project was so successful that the Marine Corps adopted Toys for Tots in 1948 and expanded it into a nationwide campaign. That year, Marine Corps Reserve units across the nation conducted Toys for Tots campaigns in each community in which a Marine Reserve Center was located. The Marines have conducted successful nationwide campaigns at Christmas each year since 1948. Chapter members did their part this year by bringing in ... READ MORE
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 12/09/2010
At the December meeting, the chapter recognized all the volunteers who participated in the Rapid Application Development Forum. Cmdr. Patrick Mack, USN, commanding officer, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command PMW-150, provided his views and insights on rapid information technology (IT) acquisition and the IT Box initiative. Andy Farrar, Afloat Core Services APM for PMW-160, discussed his experiences deploying applications in the naval domain. John Osborne, infrastructure lead for the Command and Control Rapid Prototyping Continuum (C2RPC), discussed the C2RPC activity by the Office of Naval Research. Marc Wilson, VMWare, discussed how ESXi 4.1 and vSphere 4.1 enable rapid identification and allocation of infrastructure. Jesse Funk and Aaron Pestel of Red Hat discussed the strength of the open source development model for rapidly developed applications and the need to standardize. Finally, Eric Westreich, ESRI, discussed how bringing together the right data sources with ESRI's vi ... READ MORE
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 08/20/2010
In August, the chapter held a member appreciation night at the San Diego Yacht Club overlooking San Diego Bay. The night included a thank you to the 2010 C4ISR Symposium sponsors and the co-host, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Systems Center Pacific. All of the sponsors received a framed appreciation letter from the chapter president and had a chance to say a few words about their commitment to the San Diego defense community. The major sponsors included Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, ITT, Boeing and Northrop Grumman. The chapter's annual C4ISR Symposium will once again be co-hosted by Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Systems Center Pacific, and it has been scheduled for the week of April 4, 2011.
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 08/19/2010
The chapter's Young AFCEANs held a relaunch event in August at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command's Old Town Building 3. The event and reception attracted nearly 110 attendees. Travis Niedosik, chapter vice president for Young AFCEANs, briefly presented the strategy going forward for the Young AFCEANs. Next, Charles Suggs, technical director, Program Executive Officer, Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (PEO C4I), presented the PEO C4I Masterplan Version 4.0. In just 30 minutes, Suggs laid out the genesis of the plan and the importance of the document to PEO C4I and the U.S. Navy at large. Those looking for a copy of the Masterplan 4.0 can e-mail the chapter at vpyoungafceans@afcea-sd.org.
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SAN DIEGO CHAPTER - 07/20/2010
In July, the chapter distributed more than $35,000 in scholarships to local students. A total of 122 scholarship applications were received this year: 23 applications for the William E. "Buck" Bragunier Scholarship for Outstanding Leadership (20 high school and 3 college applicants) and a total of 99 applications for the San Diego $8,000 Scholarship (90 high school and 9 college applicants). The chapter established the Bragunier Scholarship for Outstanding Leadership to honor Bragunier's memory and unique contributions to the chapter and the association. Bragunier devoted more than 20 years to AFCEA International and the San Diego military community. He passed away in May 2004. AFCEA International awards $2,000 annually to one competitively selected and deserving college student attending an accredited college or university. This year, the Bragunier Scholarship went to Kuba J. Wasowski, who recently completed his undergraduate bachelor's degree in social science in communication fro ... READ MORE
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