Cdr. Robert Howell, RN (Ret.), general manager of AFCEA Europe, visited the chapter in March to share his vision of the military's direction in information technology, homeland security and defense. Lt. Col. Guido Giordano, ITAF, chapter president, and Michele Capasso, president of Fondazione Mediterraneo (FM), hosted the meeting at La Maison de la Méditerranée with guests from NATO and National Information and Communication Technology (ICT) communities. Also at the meeting, Cdr. Howell approved a memorandum of understanding between the chapter and FM, an international nonprofit organization composed of specialists, scholars, politicians with international and diplomatic experience, and professionals involved in Mediterranean affairs.