In September, the chapter held its annual STEM 5K Family Fun Run/Walk on the beautiful, historic trails of Minute Man National Park. The event, organized by the chapter's Emerging Leaders group and directed by Jaclyn Wilson, was an incredible success-thanks to Wilson's outstanding leadership, a dedicated team of volunteers and perfect fall weather.

The race drew an enthusiastic field of more than 100 runners and walkers, representing both government and industry across the Hanscom community. Participants of all ages-from toddlers to seniors-joined in the fun, making it a true family-friendly celebration of fitness, community and support for education.

Proceeds from the event benefited the chapter's Education Fund, which provides scholarships to students pursuing studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.

The competition was spirited, with impressive performances across the board. Shane Gagnon claimed the top overall spot with … Read more

The chapter held its annual AFCEA Aberdeen Golf Tournament in July at Ruggles Golf Course, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. With 20 sponsors and 100 golfers, the chapter's largest fundraiser for its Education Fund was a success once again. The chapter is proud to have raised $19,202 through this year's tournament, all of which will support its STEM Scholarships and Grants presented to students and educators in Harford and Cecil Counties.

The chapter would like to thank all golfers and sponsors for helping make the 2024 event a success. Special thanks to Independence (Title) Sponsor General Dynamics Mission Systems, to Mission BBQ for their generous donation of food for the catered lunch (offset by a sponsorship from OMNI Technologies) and to Wendorf Beward & Partners for donating a beautiful set of Odyssey by Callaway Putters for the chapter's new Closest to the Pin paid competition. For a full list of sponsors, please visit https://aberdeen.afceachapters.org/afcea-aberdeen … Read more

The chapter is a key collaborator in Pikes Peak regional STEM programs and activities, enriching student education and providing needed resources. This year, the chapter awarded 71 grants totaling more than $183,000 to 65 local schools.

Established in 1946, the chapter's budget has grown from $50,000 to nearly $500,000 over the past decade.

This means that Colorado Springs students receive free or low-cost drone kits for VEX robotics competitions, 3D printers to design and create, calculators for scientific computation, microscopes to use in chemistry and biomedical science, computers to run coding programs, rocket kits to build and launch, and telescopes for stargazing.

Without access to these resources, some students might not be familiar with the range of future benefits if they decide to pursue STEM careers. Grants for teachers help educators learn STEM skills and knowledge they pass on to students in the classroom and after-school clubs.

'Our goal is … Read more

The chapter received multiple individual awards and the prestigious Model Chapter Award at TechNet Cyber 2024, hosted by AFCEA International. The event highlighted groundbreaking innovations in cybersecurity and information technology (IT), focusing on "Outpacing the Threat: Align, Adapt, Accelerate.'

Awards celebrated exceptional contributions to cybersecurity and IT leadership: Kelly Jenne of Apex Systems received the IDEA Hero Award for her leadership as senior segment director and Women at Apex ERG Leader, recognized for balancing professional excellence with personal commitments and earning accolades like the Emerging Leadership Award and 40 Under 40.

Tim Harschutz, a Department of Defense ACQ Consultant with Willowtree Management, was honored with the Leadership Award for his longstanding involvement with the chapter, including service as chapter president and active participation in chapter initiatives.

Beth Armistead of KBR and Matthew Umphlet of VITA w … Read more

In June, Amy Gilliland, president, General Dynamics Information Technology, Falls Church, Virginia, spent time with the chapter, sharing her thoughts on leadership and the role culture plays in creating an environment for growth and innovation. Gilliland said she was raised by a single mother who was an Army civil servant for 40 years. Her grandfather immigrated to the United States from Switzerland and later joined the military to serve his adopted country. She was influenced by this and saw service to country as a responsibility. She doesn't consider herself a technologist, but she's always surrounded by them. Gilliland discussed market trends and the advent of COVID-19 accelerated technology. She also elaborated on how technology differentiates. In addition to speed, the necessity for security is important; of key significance is learning how to share data at the tactical edge. Gilliland commented that "BYOE" (bring your own energy) is an impetus to creating a culture of innovati … Read more

In May, the chapter hosted 8th Steps for STEM 5K Run/Walk. The race was held at Papillion, Nebraska's Walnut Creek Lake.

In May, the chapter held its 17th Annual Military IT & Cyber Leadership Awards that recognized outstanding officers and enlisted service members across the services and the joint community for their significant contribution to the warfighter using information technology and cybersecurity. This event is a salute to the information technology and cybersecurity warfighters for their service and dedication and recognizes their contributions and sacrifices in defending our nation. The event was keynoted by Lt. Gen. William "Joe" Hartman, USA, deputy commander, U.S. Cyber Command.

Recognition was given to 18 exceptional service men and women at the chapter's Military IT & Cyber Leadership Awards event. Each branch of the armed services-the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Space Force-had two awardees, one enlisted and one officer, from any location worldwide, nominated for their significant contributions over the past year. Special … Read more

The chapter held its annual Awards Night in May with 300 people attending. Jessica Morgenstern, chapter vice president of scholarships, served as master of ceremony, and Scholarship Committee members helped to make the presentations. Twenty-four students were recognized and 22 received scholarships totaling $264,000. Each student recipient responded to a thought-provoking question giving the audience some insight into their personalities and abilities. This was another impressive group! The chapter also contributed $25,000 to AFCEA International Education Foundation and Nancy Temple, international secretary; vice president, Human Resources; and vice president, AFCEA Educational Foundation, attended the event and accepted the contribution.

Students receiving scholarships this year are: George R. Cotter Scholarship-Joycelyn Chow; Women in Technology Scholarship-Nicole Luo; Kathleen Berganski Women in Cyber Scholarship-Margaret Fatula; Bruce & Jessica Morgenstern STEM Scholarshi … Read more

The chapter, in collaboration with the Hanscom Women's Forum, kicked off its 2024 Diversity Speaker Series with an insightful presentation by Col. Michelle 'Mo' Barrett, USAF (Ret.), a renowned Tedx speaker and author. The discussion delved into the intricacies of effective decision-making in today's rapidly evolving world.

In a thought-provoking session held at Hanscom Air Force Base, approximately 100 attendees participated both in-person and virtually. Col. Barrett engaged the audience with her expertise, emphasizing the importance of a systematic approach, experiential learning and adaptability in decision-making processes.

Throughout the interactive talk, she captivated the audience with personal anecdotes and humor, illustrating how life experiences can serve as valuable lessons for enhancing decision-making capabilities. She urged attendees to embrace life's challenges, leveraging them as opportunities for growth and introspection.

The session not only pr … Read more

The chapter awarded Bethany Jedlicka the "Unsung Hero" award at this month's luncheon. Bethany has been a key member of the Women in AFCEA (WIA) committee since 2022, supporting the event planning and behind the scenes execution of multiple WIA events throughout each chapter year.

This chapter year, Jedlicka has provided outstanding planning coordination for several existing and new WIA events including the Women's Speaker Series (Technology focus: AI/ML) last October, the Women's Podcast Spotlight Roundtable last November, and the WIA Game Night Social on February 22. Last year, Jedlicka supported planning and execution of the following events: the Women's Speaker Series Cyber Panel and the WIA-WIIG Women's Leadership Roundtable.

In addition to volunteering for WIA, Jedlicka works full time at NiSUS Technologies Corporation, providing business development support and is finishing her bachelor's in software development at the end of this year. Even with her incredibly … Read more

January's luncheon was a loaded event for the chapter.

The new chapter president, Caitlin Johnson, CEO and founder of Input Technology Solutions, was sworn in. Johnson is the chapter's first female president since Teresa Duvall. Also, many new members were sworn into the board:
Chelsey Dolan, vice president of Emerging Leaders; Lt. Kaily Cornick, USN, vice president of communications; Kelly Jenne, executive vice president; Palmer Sims, AFCEA regional vice president; Amy Yendall, vice president of membership; Dennis Garcia, vice president of education; James Tilley, vice president of programs; Teresa Duvall, women's outreach leader; Matthew Umphlet, webmaster; Zeib Parvez, treasurer; Vicci Morabito, vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion; Hillary Boyce, chair, Small Business Committee; Larry Minnick, golf chair; Neil Bourassa, historian; Jenniffer Minks, secretary; and Lt. Col. Clarissa Blair, USN, vice president of military affairs.

The chapter had the d … Read more

The chapter's Women in AFCEA (WIA) and Small Business Committees joined forces to hold a Woman-Owned Small Business Panel. The panel featured Stacy Trammell, president and CEO at Zavda Technologies LLC; Alison Flanigan, CEO at Omega Minds; and Jacqui Magnes, CEO at COMSO, with moderation by Tiffany Tong, chapter vice president of WIA and business development/capture manager at Leidos.

Discussions included the importance of networking and building connections, making investments in growth, finding work/life balance and guiding principles for each panelist in their businesses.

The chapter sponsored its January Member's Meeting at Farrelli's Pizza in DuPont, Washington. The guest speaker, Col. Dave Hazelton, USA, brigade commander of the 201st Expeditionary-Military Intelligence Brigade (E-MIB), addressed the role of intelligence formations in the Pacific. His presentation sparked numerous conversations with attendees on the information technology (IT) challenges his brigade and others face in identifying existing IT gaps. He discussed his brigade's approach to addressing modernization efforts and strengthening its communications posture in supporting its intelligence mission.

Also, Chapter Vice President for Awards Kim Rapacz and Chapter President Col. Dean Smith, USA, recognized Dave Stookey as the Chapter AFCEAN of the Quarter for the second quarter of fiscal year 24 for his contributions to AFCEA and the local chapter.

The chapter is getting a new start following the pandemic, re-establishing its charter and updating its by-laws. For thos … Read more

The chapter's Women in AFCEA (WIA) hosted its annual Holiday Social this December. WIA socials focus on providing networking opportunities and organic discussion for women of all career levels and disciplines from government, military, academia and industry.

The chapter's Emerging Leaders recently hosted a Military Holiday Card Challenge in November, aimed at brightening the holiday season for the nation's servicemen and women. More than 150 holiday cards were made for the military, spreading joy and gratitude.

The event brought together current and prospective AFCEA members to decorate cards, network and learn about AFCEA. The cards featured cheerful designs, heartfelt messages and patriotic motifs that showcased the participants' deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by the military. The Lexington-Concord Emerging Leaders plan to continue organizing similar events to contribute to the well-being of military members and the broader community.

As the holiday season approaches, these cards will be distributed to military personnel, spreading joy and reminding them they are appreciated and remembered. This event serves as a beautiful example of how small acts of kindness can make a big difference.

A special thank … Read more

The chapter worked with the local community to provide gift bags and assist with sponsoring the Latinitas Conference in October at the Capital Factory at Boeing Center in Tech Port, San Antonio. The Latinitas Conference holds immense importance for the Latinx community and beyond. This event offers a unique platform for young Latinx girls between the ages of 9 and 14 and women to come together and celebrate their shared identity, culture and achievements. By bringing together a diverse range of experts, professionals and influencers, the conference offers invaluable opportunities for networking, mentorship and learning. The workshops and activities at the event are carefully curated to address the specific needs and challenges faced by Latinx girls and women in various fields, including education, entrepreneurship and technology. The chapter also worked with Youth Code Jam to provide their "Jam in a Box" set, containing multiple activities and materials for kids to learn the fundame … Read more

In September, the chapter's Women in AFCEA organized an event: Sustainability in Space: a New Frontier. The event was held in Rome, at the Università Tor Vergata, to debate the different aspects of sustainability, such as space situation awareness, among female professionals and scientists in the space sector. They also considered inclusion as a part of sustainability in a sector where the presence of women in STEM is increasing.

After a welcome address by Fiorella Lamberti, Leonardo, Loredana Santo, chapter women outreach leader and Space Sustainability Centre coordinator, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, introduced the research center, which was established in 2021 to perform interdisciplinary space sustainability activities.

Giuseppina Piccirilli, communication and press, ASI, chaired the workshop, introducing the first keynote speech, "Sustainability of the Space Environment: the Defence's Perspective," by Col. Giuseppe Gentile, SMD UGS, underlining how sustainabili … Read more

In September, more than 200 members from the LEXCON chapter, joined by the motivated ROTC troops from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Boston University and the University of New Hampshire, came out to run the beautiful historic Minute Man Battle Road Trail to raise money for AFCEA STEM scholarships, as well as try for a chance to win a vast array of fabulous prizes. Evan Gaj and Alex Swope, race directors and co-vice presidents of Emerging Leaders, planned this successful event. Overall winner Evan Gaj led the men with a time of 19:10; Nicole Whipkey led the women with a time of 21:20. Age-group winners included Carl Sieber, Paul Kuconis, Scott Pierce, Mike Dimauro, Daniel St. Clair, Joel Macvicar, Logan Pyles, Maria Gonzales, Joanna Wissler, Mourine Jahenda, Megan Constantine, Erika Varady and Sofia Pantano.

At the February luncheon, the chapter hosted a special panel featuring the women leaders of the U.S. Army's Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center. Moderated by Kim Ploskonka, principal deputy director of the center's Engineering & Systems Integration (ESI) Directorate, this panel featured discussions from four of the center's key female leaders: Beth Ferry, assistant director of C5I engineering; Jami Davis, deputy assistant director for ground combat sensor systems at the Research & Technology Integration (RTI) Directorate; Marnie Bailey, division chief of the Power Division at RTI; and Denett Rose, division chief of program integration & engineering at the Prototype Integration Facility.

This guided discussion focused on the unique perspectives and challenges women face in the STEM and defense contracting arenas. Each panelist shared their thoughts on what it means to be a woman in a leadership posit … Read more

In May, the chapter held its 7th Steps for STEM 5K at Walnut Creek Lake in Papillion, Nebraska.

In celebration of Women's History Month, the chapter partnered with the Hanscom Women's Forum to offer a self-defense class to women in the surrounding community. The class provided practical nonverbal, verbal and physical self-defense skills taught in a fun, safe and empowering class. Community members worked up a sweat and bonded over kicks and cupcakes!

The chapter's fiscal year 2023 began April 1, 2023, and runs through March 30, 2024. Although the chapter's new FY 2023-2025 board of directors and advisors officially began their tenure at its April board meeting held at Hale Ikena, Fort Shafter, Hawaii, many of its members began meeting in various smaller groups to strategize on goals and plans for the upcoming fiscal year.

The FY 2023-2025 chapter board of directors are:
Brandon Lester, chapter president; Richard 'Dick' Palmieri, executive vice president; Dave Pisanic, treasurer; Yolande 'Yogi' Fong, secretary; Linda Newton, past president. The directors, who also lead as vice president for a committee are: Mark Cleaver, director, vice president of awards; Victor 'Vic' Perez, director, vice president of communications and information technology support; Jeff Bloom, director, vice president of corporate affairs; Vincent DiRienzo, director, vice president of cyber; ReShonda 'Shon' McKee, director, vice president of edu … Read more

The chapter welcomed Col. Lauren Courchaine, USAF, as guest speaker during its December luncheon, the last official luncheon of 2022. Col. Courchaine is the commander of the 37th Training Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. In this role, she leads the largest and most diverse training wing in the Air Force and has the privilege of "producing" 93% of all enlisted airmen. Her focus is on developing multi-capable airmen that are instilled with a mindset and "way of thinking" that can overcome adversity in its many forms. She teaches airmen to understand that they are not responsible for one sole duty but could have many responsibilities that require a positive outcome for the mission to be successful. This mindset is necessary for airmen to compete against an adversary that has continuously changed over the last 20 years. Col. Courchaine also mentioned that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Generation Z airmen began to enter the schoolhouses.

Considering their digital lite … Read more

In November, a large crowd gathered for the AFCEA NOVA Small Business Breakfast to hear Dale Rainey from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), director of the Office of Small Business Programs. He is responsible for promoting the use of small, small disadvantaged, HUBZONE, small women-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, historically black colleges and universities and minority institutions with the organization. Rainey is instrumental in acquisition planning and helps ensure small businesses are provided an equitable opportunity for prime and subcontracting opportunities.

At the breakfast, Rainey discussed how to do business with the NGA. He went on to explain the Small Business Program and its areas of interest and goals for the upcoming year. Of particular interest was that the NGA is actively looking for small businesses to bring innovative solutions to the agency. In some cases, the NGA is willing to help individual candidates gain security clea … Read more

In September, over 100 members from the chapter, joined by the motivated ROTC troops from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, the University of Massachusetts Lowell and the University of New Hampshire, came out to run the beautiful historic Minuteman Trail to raise money for AFCEA STEM scholarships, as well as try for a chance to win a vast array of fabulous prizes! Evan Gaj, race director, Oasis Systems, Miranda Tofalo from Odyssey Systems, and Alex Swope from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, planned this successful event. Overall winner Alex Carpenter led the men with a time of 19:01; Erika Varady led the women with a time of 22:41. Age group (30-49) winners included Mike Magerman and Elisabeth Sorrows. Scott McDonald and Elena Ivanova won the 40-49 category; Mike Dimauro and Kim Murtagh won the 50-59 category; and Lori Johnson and Scott Hardiman won the 60+ age group. Air Force Detachment 340 Team took the top prize in the team category.

The Women of Alamo AFCEA had their second event at Paesano's in Lincoln Heights. The group had a full house of men and women eager to work together to BridgeTheGap that women have long seen and felt in STEM career fields. The group established three committees: Military Mentorship, Education and Business. Each committee will be led by an expert of that particular field. The group will meet the first Wednesday of every month. Chapter Vice President of Diversity Karen Lopez-Rolirad explained that this is just the beginning. The Women of Alamo AFCEA are working to capture all of the diversity that is present within the chapter. "I'm extremely excited about this, and if you're looking to make a difference, you need to come to this."

The chapter's new women's group held its first event to discuss how to "bridge the gap" for girls and women in STEM. Vice President of Diversity Karen Lopez-Rolirad led the event's launch. "This initiative has been brewing for quite some time, and I am overwhelmed by the amount of women who need this and want to help push this effort to the next level." The event brought in over 30 women from the community to network and listen to guest speaker, Victoria Washington, explain her journey as a successful female in the technology space. The group is working on the details of the next meeting to be held on September 7th.

In July, 60 people gathered for the return of the first in-person chapter Small Business Breakfast since the start of the pandemic. The speaker, Ronald Saville, is the senior procurement analyst with the Department of the Air Force Office of Small Business Programs (SAF/SB), where he is the policy chief for U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force Small Business. His latest achievement was drafting Headquarters Air Force Mission Directive 1-30, Director, Small Business Programs, obtaining the acting secretary of the Air Force's signature on the document, and managing its publication. His ongoing project is updating Air Force Instruction 90-1801 and Air Force Policy Directive 90-18, Small Business Programs.

At the breakfast, Saville discussed the SAF/SB organization and shared information about the U.S. Space Force. He went on to explain the Small Business Program and its areas of interest and mandates, as well as goals for fiscal year 22. Of particular interest was the First Look … Read more

Sarah MacConduibh, former vice president of The MITRE Corporation, and current mentor and Aurora Guide at reacHIRE, was the featured guest speaker at the chapter May Diversity Series webinar. MacConduibh enlightened participants with a discussion about how companies can retain women in a workforce in which droves are leaving. She noted that during the pandemic, 3.5 million women left the workforce, and four in 10 women switched companies. Significantly, 51 percent leave because they do not feel a sense of belonging at work. Moreover, one in three women working in technology leave within their first year and ultimately leave the tech field entirely due to feelings of isolation, hostile work environment or lack of support. To retain women, MacConduibh suggested that companies provide women challenging assignments, expert mentors and sponsors to support/help them build relationships and leadership development programs. She concluded with concrete examples of how her company has helped … Read more

In May, Marc Jones, senior vice president, Public Sector Business, CAST Software Inc., spent time with the chapter discussing the necessity for software measurement. Jones pointed out the impact of software defects, which literally can put a company out of business. He clarified the root cause for most software defects is often the complexity of the software. He commented that some weapon systems are software dependent and that operational flight software support is expected to triple over the next 10 years. Jones touched on his involvement with CISQ, the Consortium for IT Software Quality. In short, the group deals with the measuring of software size and software quality. Jones also talked about the International Standard 5055, which is a software standard that calculates quality measures based on the number or critical weaknesses in the software. These measurements help show what you're getting for the funds expended. Jones concluded by emphasizing ISO 5055 has a significant impac … Read more

The chapter kicked off Women's History Month in March with a panel of women participating in a discussion about the challenges and future direction of tactical communications. The panel, part of the NCSI Winter Exposition held on U.S. Air Base Ramstein, shared challenges related to the ability to securely communicate with mission partners while at the same time transmitting and receiving a clear view of incoming information from the joint community. The participants talked about balancing priorities, being able to pivot quickly and focusing on cybersecurity against mission requirements and identified risks.

The chapter was pleased to support the first in-person San Antonio Mayor's Cyber Cup since the pandemic. The chapter sponsors this Cyber Texas Foundation event, and this year it was able to present three big-check scholarship donations to the winners of the Best All-Female Middle School, Best All-Female High School and the Service Division awards. Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh, USAF, commander, Sixteenth Air Force, and commander, Air Forces Cyber, explained to the teams and attendees that the military has a vested interest in this competition as the vulnerabilities faced today will continue. Today's Airmen are doing the same things by providing secure networks for every element of the Air Force's network. "We have seen that you all are able to do that as well, so continue to be curious. Whether or not you stay in cyber, what you've learned here with regard to teamwork and communication will set you up for success in other challenges." Lt. Gen. John Evans, USA, commanding general, Army Nort … Read more

The Alamo Conference Event, or Alamo ACE, kicked off with the annual golf tournament on Monday and ended with an Acquisition Day on Thursday. The chapter was happy to see all who attended after spending over a year in a pandemic. This year's ACE was the biggest to date and did not disappoint with the first Women in AFCEA event. Brand-new Chapter Vice President of Diversity Karen Rolirad introduced the guest speaker, Diane Janosek, Senior Executive Service, the National Security Agency National Cryptologic School commandant. Janosek explained that although the school had to overcome the challenges of training in a hybrid environment due to the pandemic, they still did it. Over four million hours of training with 50,000 people worldwide were logged.

Cyber doesn't sleep. Brig. Gen. Brad Pyburn, USAF, deputy commander, 16th Air Force, explained that to achieve digital dominance in cyber, the United States must stop playing checkers and start playing chess. With response time a cr … Read more

In May, the chapter's Women in AFCEA group held the conference, "Women, Armed Forces and Resolution 1325: Women, Peace and Security of the United Nations Security Council (WPS UNSC).'

In October 2020, the United Nations commemorated the twentieth anniversary of what constitutes an important milestone in the international arena: Security Council Resolution 1325. The document outlines the importance of understanding the impact of armed conflict on women and girls while ensuring their protection and full participation in peace agreements.

It is the first resolution of the United Nations recognizing the disproportionate and unique effect that armed conflict causes to women and girls. It highlights the key role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, which is different from that suffered by men and boys, and in the construction and consolidation of peace.

In addition, the resolution urges the member states and the United Nations organization itself to … Read more

The chapter's Emerging Leaders led by co-directors William Keller, Evan Gaj and Mariah Marquis sponsored its annual 5K Run for STEM in September at the Minute Man National Historical Park in Lexington, Massachusetts. The majority of almost 150 runners participated this year in person while a small group joined virtually. The race benefited the chapter's Educational Fund to the tune of $11,000, which will go to support STEM scholarships. Top finishers received trophies and raffle prizes were gifted to several during the post-race celebration. Overall winner (and co-race director) Evan Gaj led the men with a time of 18:39; Kaavya Chaparala led the women with a time of 23:06. Age group (30-49) winners included Andrew Beckman and Rhonda Needham. Mike Dimauro and Gena Trant won the 50 plus category. The Air Force Detachment 340 Team took the top prize in the team category.

In April, a joint virtual conference was held between the members of AFCEA International and representatives of the Ministry of Women of Paraguay, including: María Gloria Báez, general director of Prevention and Care Against Trafficking of Persons, Ministry of Women, Paraguay; Susana Villanueva, clinical and forensic psychologist; and Zulma Cristaldo, director, Assistance to Women in Trafficking Situations. The AFCEA International participants included Juan Carlos Fondevila, regional vice president for South America; Vincenzo Vitiello, chapter president of the International Outreach Subcommittee, Ecuador; María Dolores Santos, chapter president, Ecuador; Col. Mauro Argoti, director of Security and Defense; María Andrea Cárdenas, member of the Security and Defense Directorate; and Jeimy Chicaiza, member of the Strategic Planning and Management Directorate. The specialist consultant participants were María Grazie Labellarte; Rut Cidoncha; and María Sol Estrada.

Fondevila di … Read more

In June, the chapter hosted a webinar featuring Thomas McGrath from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). McGrath is the deputy director for program and resource management in the SBA's Office of Government Contracting and Business Development.

Along with colleagues Kelly Jackson and Garrison Anderson, McGrath provided a general overview of the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contracting Program, emphasizing recent procedural changes to the certification process. To help provide a level playing field for women business owners, the government limits competition for certain contracts to businesses that are certified in the WOSB Federal Contracting Program.

In accordance with the new process, as of October 15, 2020, all WOSB firms must submit documentation to become certified in the new portal to compete for WOSB Federal Contracting Program set-aside contracts. Be sure to check the SBA's preparation checklist of essential documents to prepare for applyin … Read more

Since January, 2021, Aberdeen and Ecuador Chapters have worked together in several meetings. Susan Emert, director, individual membership and awards, Women in AFCEA, contacted the Ecuador Chapter about this working relationship.

The chapter is grateful for all the collaboration given by Lt. Col. Manuel "Manny" Ugarte, USA, vice president of awards, Aberdeen Chapter. Bill Montgomery, president, Aberdeen Chapter, expressed his excitement for an opportunity to collaborate with AFCEA Ecuador.

Maria Dolores Santos, chapter president, presented a general overview about the chapter, how it began, membership numbers, activities, events and individual member achievements.

Col. Ugarte discussed his meeting with the chapter´s Directorate of Strategic Planning and Management team and presented the proposed chapter strategic plan.

In February, Mallory Arnold, executive vice president, Aberdeen Chapter, explained that chapters look for opportunities that have value to … Read more

In April, the chapter, together with AXIANS Portugal, organized a Web Forum on the theme "Women and the Challenge of the Digital Agenda," under the Women in AFCEA program, which brought together about 40 participants. Underrepresentation of women in the STEM fields is a major global concern, not only as a fundamental human right, but also as a cornerstone of the modern economy that can provide sustainable and inclusive growth. To rationalize this matter, the moderator, Luisa Teixeira, presented updated data that demonstrated the imbalance in the number of women who develop their activity in the areas. The remaining participants in the debate, Carmo Palma and Teresa Romão, gave testimony as to their experience in the business context and in the academic sphere, explaining with tools and practices that can be followed to promote gender equality in the work environment.

The aftermath of Winter Storm Uri that hit Texas in February left many in the Lone Star State without power and water. The nonprofit organization WISH for OUR HEROES (W4OH) is a national 501(c)(3) dedicated to assisting the men and women of the U.S. active-duty military, and in some cases, veterans. W4OH started with the goal of providing one wish for every deserving military member. There are no requirements. Military members simply need to be on active duty at the time the wish is submitted. The organization's priority has always been to grant basic needs or emergencies first.

When Winter Storm Uri left many military members and their families without essential resources and dealing with the storm's damages, W4OH stepped in. On behalf of AFCEA International, the chapter's Wounded Warrior and Military Families Endowment Fund, Jeff Kendall, endowment fund chair and chapter vice president, veteran support and military outreach, presented Jeff Wells, CEO and founder of W4OH, w … Read more

In December, the chapter applied to an innovation fund for cybersecurity projects and initiatives by the Cybersecurity Innovation Councils.

"Scaling up a cybersecurity solution can be a great challenge, but also an opportunity to improve the industry in the Americas. For this reason, the Organization of American States, Cisco and the Citi Foundation have created the Cybersecurity Innovation Fund to support and spread business initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean and create the necessary workforce to fill cybersecurity-related jobs in the region." In answer, the chapter proposed the following:

A digital literacy program for women's employability should include education, awareness, hygiene and digital skills. The chapter also proposed micro-companies and startups with innovative ideas, such as ISOCMONITOREO CIA. LTDA. ECUADOR.

These points may be analyzed in the following ways: Describing the problem you are trying to solve; coming up with a solution - … Read more

The chapter installed its slate of officers for 2021. David Dodds, outgoing chapter president, was pleased to announce the elections were complete for the 2021 chapter session. The new officers are as follows:

Chapter President: Yvonne Vermillion
Immediate Past Chapter President: David Dodds
Chapter Treasurer: John Garrity
Chapter Secretary: Adrianna Templeton-Jones
Chapter Executive Vice President: Krystin Fakalata
Chapter Vice President, Operations: Bill McGuffey
Chapter Vice President of Education: Andy Higgins
Director of K-12: Carrie Taylor
Chapter Vice President, Information: Beth Whitehead
Director of Publicity : Brenda Colton
Office of Web Master: Billy Grill
Chapter Vice President, Membership: Maurice Wheeler
Director of Business Memberships: Robert Chevlot
Director of Individual Membership: Ian Bobbitt
Chapter President of Programs: Johi Ahlers
Director of Arrangements : Lisa Reineke
Luncheon Arrangements: Michael Mark … Read more

In November, the chapter held the last General Assembly of Members. Annual report was presented by the first woman president of the chapter, María Dolores Santos.

Santos said that members' synergy and commitment has allowed members to achieve the objectives set in 2020.

The most prominent topics were: An overview of the beginnings of the chapter in Ecuador, until the chapter was formed in June 2020. The members have held at least five meetings: launch of the chapter formation; First General Assembly of members, Second General Assembly of members; leaders first meeting: board of directors, vice presidencies, directors of commissions, advisory council and Third General Assembly of members.

The recruitment and permanence of new national and international members has been managed: Bolivia, Mexico, Peru, Argentina. The chapter has 72 registered members--46 of them are men, 22 are women and two of the members have passed away and two inactive members.

All even … Read more

In December, the chapter hosted its end of year General Membership Meeting online. This event was sponsored by EXETER. The participants enjoyed an informative presentation by Brig. Gen. James T. Iacocca, USA (Ret.), of the Kentucky Regional Development Alliance. The chapter also presented awards to outstanding members and elected the 2021 chapter officers.

Gen. Iacocca spoke about the training and employment opportunities his organization, Knox Regional Development Alliance (KRDA), facilitates for the Knox community through Elizabethtown Community Technical College (ECTC), among others. In addition, he discussed the objectives of his organization to advocate for industry to invest in Fort Knox and the surrounding communities.

During the awards presentation, Christopher Aycock, chapter vice president of awards, presented awards and certificates to outstanding members. Derek Massey, chapter vice president of programs, received the General George S. Patton Jr. AFCEAN Lea … Read more

In November, Women in AFCEA Ecuador chapter held the International Forum: "Women Strengthening La Paz y la Seguridad: Experiences and Challenges," on the occasion of fulfilling the 20 years of Resolution 1325 of the United Nations Security Council.

The presentations emphasized the importance of the active participation of women in strengthening peace and security at the regional and international levels.

The forum also sought to promote the exchange of experiences and challenges of strengthening peace and security in the incorporation of women in accordance with the application of Resolution 1325 of the United Nations Security Council.

Organizers: AFCEA Internacional; AFCEA Internacional - Capítulo Ecuador; Women in AFCEA; Instituto Científico y Tecnológico del Ejército de Perú - ICTE; Escuela Superior de Guerra del Ejército de Perú - ESGE; Ballet Kallpañan - Ecuador

The chapter is honored to have two winners of the Young AFCEAN and Women's Appreciation Awards.

The Young AFCEAN Awards Committee selected Lenin Barrionuevo as the Regional Distinguished Young AFCEAN for 2020. He is very excited to work hard as the vice president of the chapter's Young AFCEANs and to promote all the goals of membership, leadership, events, community, awards and other pursuits around the region.

The election took place through voting, and there were 18 great women nominated. María Dolores Santos was chosen as a winner of the Women's Appreciation Award for 2021. Santos is a big supporter of women in the workforce and the first woman member registered since June of 2019. She is a founding member and the first woman president of the chapter. She encourages women from different countries to be part of the chapter. Santos is a member of the AFCEA International Membership Committee, Women in AFCEA and a Women's Outreach leader.

In August, six chapter members arranged to participate in the First National Cybersecurity Championship of Ecuador. After nearly 60 days of dedication, arduous study and responsible and harmonious volunteering, this multidisciplinary group showed courage, synergy, unity and passion.

In October, the inauguration was celebrated. The team was named AFCEA Ecuador and represented by three women-Carol Almeida, Mercy Anchundia and Salome Mantilla-and three gentlemen-Joel Quilligana, Stalin Mina and Byron Illapa. This team of excellent professionals was comprised of great human beings with wisdom, patience and camaraderie. They reaped what they sowed, reaching seventh place out of 44 teams nationally.

In November, the closing of the First National Cybersecurity Championship was held in a virtual format. The winners were awarded in the following categories: undergraduate and graduate; recognition of teams in CTF and ON FIRE modality; individual recognitions to cyber warriors a … Read more

The chapter is proud to be sponsoring '5 Months of STEAM' with Digifest South, supporting content during November for technology. The chapter will highlight Women in Cyber content and how kids can get involved.

With the help of AFCEA International, the chapter donated 150 SIGNAL Kids Magazines, over 100 AFCEA slime kits and AFCEA candy. All of this can be picked up at participating Bossier Parish Libraries and the Bossier Arts Council Little Free Arthouse for kids to take home.

Digifest South 2020 is happening from October 2020 through February 2021 in Bossier City, Louisiana. Digifest South is a STEAM Expo for middle and high school students in Northwest Louisiana. The event is being held virtually this year due to COVID-19 restrictions with the Bossier Arts Council organizing the event. The event's goals are:

• To inspire students to seek education in the arts
• Demonstrate economic significance of digital skills
• Emphasize the importance of STEAM educa … Read more

In September, the chapter hosted its Annual Scholarship Fundraiser Golf Scramble Tournament. This tournament raises funds for Lift Off Scholarships for local outstanding high school seniors who have been accepted to pursue STEM studies in college. This event was hosted at the scenic Lincoln Trail Golf Course in Vine Grove, Kentucky.

The chapter would like to express its deep, heartfelt thanks to all of the sponsors, participants and volunteers who came out to support this important community event. Platinum Level Sponsors were: Perspecta, CoreSys, NTT Data Services and Deloitte. The Platinum Level Lunch Sponsor was Exeter. The Gold Level Sponsor was TEKSystems and the Silver Level Sponsor was Segue Technologies. The primary organizer of this event was Derek Massey, vice president of programs. The chapter's executive committee and volunteers worked hard to prepare for the event, ensuring that registration ran smoothly and all players received gift bags along with an opportunit … Read more

In September, the chapter officers met Susan Emert, director, individual membership and awards, Women in AFCEA, and Brenda Puch, corporate development coordinator for AFCEA, at the AFCEA International headquarters.

María Dolores Santos began the meeting discussing AFCEAN women in Ecuador, a presentation called "Heroines of the Southern Cone," in memory of the women and heroines of Ecuador´s history, such as the three Manuelas: Cañizares, Sáenz, Espejo.


The chapter´s organizational structure emphasizes the positions that women currently occupy: Santos, chapter president; Valentina Almedia, chapter secretary; Rosalía Arteaga, chapter vice president of foreign affairs; Carol Almeida, Young AFCEANs and social communication; Ingrid Marchán, social communication; and Capt. Diana Vallejos. The women in the chapter hold many respo … Read more