VANDENBERG-CENTRAL COAST CHAPTER - 02/28/2020
The chapter was reinvigorated in February when Regional Vice President Adam Feingold and Lt. Col. Jason Fields, USAF, chapter president, called to order the meeting and swore in officers. Plans were discussed for regular quarterly meetings in addition to coordinating with the Tech Expo held at Vandenberg each year.
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VANDENBERG-CENTRAL COAST CHAPTER - 09/17/2014
Chief Master Sgt. Patrick F. McMahon, USAF, 14th Air Force command chief, shared experiences from his career with chapter members during a luncheon in September. Chief Master Sgt. McMahon enlisted as a satellite communications equipment systems specialist and spent the majority of the following 20 years working with tactical communications and mission systems. He fondly reminisced on his upbringing in the communications and electronics field and expressed his appreciation for the continued camaraderie he feels with those sharing the same background. Chief Master Sgt. McMahon also emphasized the importance that communication systems and processes play in the support of every other functional mission area. At this same luncheon, the chapter awarded Senior Airman David Dykshoorn, USAF, and Martin Agee, Vandenberg Middle School, a $500 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) scholarship and teaching grant, respectively.
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VANDENBERG-CENTRAL COAST CHAPTER - 07/09/2014
Col. Keith W. Balts, USAF, 30th Space Wing commander, updated the chapter on the latest space initiatives affecting the Western Range during a meeting in July. Col. Balts first recognized and expressed his appreciation for the important role of technology in improving space operations. He referenced a standardization and consolidation effort of space command and control assets that will lead to greater effectiveness between the space launch ranges at Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg Air Force Base. "The biggest challenge will be modernizing aging space infrastructure," Col. Balts said. He also acknowledged the need to secure against vulnerabilities when converting space systems to an Internet protocol-based architecture. Col. Balts compared the growth of operations in cyber to those of the pre-existing space domain, but with current modernization projects, it appears that this time cyber is leading the way ahead for space. Additionally, Tech. Sgt. Corlena Schramm, USAF, and Riccardo M ... READ MORE
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VANDENBERG-CENTRAL COAST CHAPTER - 02/05/2014
While some suffered record breaking low temperatures the first week in February, the sky was sunny at Vandenberg Air Force Base Pacific Coast Club, where Col. John W. Wagner, USAF, director of the Joint Space Operations Center and commander of the 614th Air and Space Operations Center, shared battlefield space stories with chapter members and guests. Col. Wagner explained why the United States must remain vigilant in maintaining space superiority. He highlighted the contribution of military space power in the Cold War victory and domination in Gulf War I (considered the “first space war” by Gen. Charles A. Horner). However, Col. Wagner also warned that the U.S. now operates in a congested, contested and competitive space domain. Col. Wagner said, “We are now much more precise, more effective and more lethal, in thanks to global reach and power provided by space capabilities.” That advantage requires space situational awareness. Col. Wagner described that there are currently approxim ... READ MORE
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VANDENBERG-CENTRAL COAST CHAPTER - 12/07/2011
The chapter conducted its final "lunch and learn" event of the year with a very special guest speaker and a chapter first. Col. David Hook, USAF, 30 OG/CC, spoke to a near record crowd about launch operations at Vandenberg Air Force Base, the Air Force's Western Range for launch operations. In addition, the chapter presented its first teacher grants to Riccardo Magni of Pioneer Valley High School and Nick Enns of Santa Maria High School. 1st Lt. Heather Flynn, USAF, was instrumental in establishing the chapter educational grant and scholarship program.
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VANDENBERG-CENTRAL COAST CHAPTER - 02/07/2007
At the February chapter luncheon, free lunch was provided to all enlisted members wishing to listen to the Honorable Andrea Seastrand, executive director of the California Space Authority (CSA). Seastrand shared her views on the future of the space program on the west coast. Additionally, new chapter members were appointed and a number of awards were presented. Capt. Greg McCulley, USAF, former chapter secretary, received the Western Region Young AFCEAN of the Year Award. Airman Jonathan Fernandez, USAF, 392nd Training Squadron, Vandenberg Air Force Base, was presented a $250 Enlisted Grant, and Larry Madrigal from Saint Joseph High School, Santa Maria, California, was awarded a $1,000 Science Teaching Tool Grant.
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