Col. Kevin Dietrick recently returned to PEO STRI with assignment as deputy program executive officer of Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (DPEO-STRI). Col. Dietrick addressed one of the largest ever chapter audiences and provided a great update and insight on the status of meeting the acquisition challenges of Southwest Asia. He just returned from assignment as ASA(ALT) liaison officer in Kuwait and the point man for the Acquisition Corps in Southwest Asia, including Iraq. The colonel cited two specific challenges: the high turnover rate in personnel with 100 percent rotation of fighting units; and adapting to changing rules concerning force protection. He listed key modernization efforts, such asarmoring programs, route clearance capabilities, individual soldier protection, robotics, unmanned air vehicles, and improved intelligence and signal capabilities.

Chapter President Jerry Stahl recognized Wells Barlow for being voted Chapter AFCEAN of the Quarter. Stahl also spoke of recent scholarship awards made possible by its annual January TechNet Orlando Symposium, as well as the chapter's accomplishment of winning the Ingles Award for being AFCEA International Best Chapter for an unprecedented fifth year in a row.

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