In June, members of the first AFCEA chapter in Ecuador and the second in Latin America (after Argentina), enjoyed a virtual meeting.
The festivities began with the Ecuador National Anthem and a memorial to Col. Marco Ernesto Miño Montalvo, who recently passed away. Col. Montalvo was a military and academic leader and a devoted member of AFCEA. Tina Jordan, vice president of membership, AFCEA International, delivered the welcome message. Brenda Puch, corporate development coordinator, AFCEA International, gave the AFCEA International Headquarters message in Spanish.
María Dolores Santos, chapter president, also gave a welcome message and presentation. A group of distinguished speakers followed, including Dra. Rosalía Arteaga, former president of Ecuador and current executive president of the FIDAL Foundation, and Luis Lenin Recalde Herrera, director of the Center for Scientific and Technological Investigations of the Army and dean of the School of Electronic Engineering at the Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas (ESPE).
Juan Carlos Fondevila Sancet, regional vice president for the South America region, received a certificate of gratitude. Sancet provided tremendous support to the leadership team for this new chapter.
The Argentina Chapter offered guidance and support during the planning and formation stages. Both chapters plan to expand this collaboration as the two AFCEA representatives for South America.
Silicon Valley Chapter also provided assistance and cooperation. During the virtual meeting, Glenn Kesselman, chapter president of Silicon Valley, spoke about continuing that partnership.
The chapter is dedicated to promoting a culture of digital transformation within the military, government, industry, academia and community sectors with the support and assistance of AFCEA International. As the chapter moves into the future, it will pursue a mission of strengthening academic and scientific development in the fields of information technology, intelligence, communications, national defense and security and technological innovations in the community.
The chapter hopes to become a national intercultural educational platform by expanding research in the following areas: multidimensional security, geopolitical strategy, virtual learning, cybersecurity and cyber defense and intelligence. The chapter is passionate about engaging Ecuadorian youth through STEM programs for students and empowering women through education and technology.
The virtual meeting ended with beautiful Ecuadorian music and a toast to the bright future of the chapter.
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Chapter members pose for a photo. Sitting from l-r: Rafael Tenor Linares, Grad. (SP) Roque Apolinar Moreira Cedeño, Grad. (SP), Carlos Modesto Rodríguez Arrieta, María Dolores Santos Vidal, Valentina Estefania Almeida Terán, Francisco Javier Delgado Villarreal, David Villacis and Col. E.M.T. Avc. (SP) Patricio Roberto Salazar Benavides. Standing from l-r are Capt. de Navío Juan Oscar Mariscal Pérez, Mayor (SP) Patricio Eduardo Chacón Mejía, Mayor (SP) Luis Lenin Recalde Herrera, Jaime H. Endara, Luis Pazmiño, Francisco Reyes Mena and Bruce Schulte.
In June, members of the new chapter met online for a virtual event. Photo taken at a previous event. |
The new chapter participates in an online meeting in June. Appearing in the screenshot are Maria Dolores, chapter president; Juan Carlos, regional vice president for the South America region; Tina Jordan, vice president of membership, AFCEA International; Glenn Kesselman, Silicon Valley chapter president; and Brenda Puch, corporate development coordinator, AFCEA International. |
