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The chapter hosted its annual New Horizons Symposium in March at the Marriott Newton Hotel, Newton, Massachusetts. Bud Vazquez, board chairman, welcomed more than 480 government and industry attendees to this annual scholarship fundraising event. Master of ceremonies, Jamie Thurber, Lockheed Martin, co-chair of the event with Maryanne Carlson, Quantech, introduced the honored keynote speaker, Lt. Gen. John Thompson, USAF, commander, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), who opened with his address on "Providing the Warfighter's Edge." Featured business opportunity briefings included presentations from AFLCMC program executive officers, Steven Wert, Battle Management, and Maj. Gen. Craig Olson, USAF, C3I & Networks, as well as from Brig. Gen. William Cole, USA, deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, Natick Soldier Systems Center, and Dr. Eric Evans, director, Lincoln Laboratory. The agenda also included a presentation from Dr. Mark Maybury, chief technology officer, MITRE, on "Transformational Change," and lunch guest speakers Kevan Kivlan, director, customer accounts and research division, U.S. General Services Administration Federal Acquisition Service New England Region, along with Jerry Smith, small business utilization director, New England Region, and Mike Attachi, federal acquisition services, Assisted Services. Three individual panels covered a broad range of topics including "From Tragedy to Crisis Prevention and Response in Today's Threat Environment" (aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing); New England National Guard TAGs (The Adjutant General) "Protecting the Homeland including Cyber;" and "Is There Room for Innovation within DoD Acquisition?" Steve Falcone, chapter president, also presented a $500 check to Capt. Celeste Luna, USAF, to support the Hanscom Air Force Troop Care Package Drive.
Richard Lum, vice president of information technology services at Advanced Technologies and Laboratories (ATL) International, and Brittany Cleveland, federal client relationship manager with Kforce Professional Staffing, were chosen as the AFCEAN and Young AFCEAN, respectively, for the month of March. Lum has participated in several planning committees for the chapter's Cyber Planning Committee. Cleveland supports the chapter by serving as a volunteer at the registration desk for monthly luncheons and symposiums. ATL International is a woman owned small business providing environmental management, nuclear laboratory management, health and safety consultation. Kforce has more than 60 field offices across the country. Cleveland maintains a portfolio of small, medium and large government integrators across civilian, Defense Department and intelligence agencies, providing key professional services support. Lum has been a "behind the scenes" contributor to chapter events. His ability to jump right in and line up key government executive speakers has made him a valuable contributor to the chapter's Cyber Planning event. Cleveland has been a representative for the Young AFCEANs at the West Point Ethics and Leadership Conference this past year, where she helped mentor high school students from the region. Cleveland has also supported the Winter Gala ticket sales committee. The chapter extends a sincere thank you to both Lum and Cleveland for a job well done. In addition, the chapter invites you to follow their leads and get involved in AFCEA today!
In February, Charlie Croom, vice president, cyber strategy and government relations, Lockheed Martin Information Systems and Global Solutions, Bethesda, Maryland, visited the chapter and made a presentation on cyber operations. Croom briefed cybersecurity is an 80-20 percent proposition, 80 percent achieved through a common operational picture, while the remaining 20 percent can be addressed through advanced research, processes and intelligence operational experience/framework. Croom referred to "data as the new oil." You have to refine it, you have to find it and you have to build pipelines to move it from origin to where it is needed. Croom offered his views on cyber attacks and how to stop them. He concluded by emphasizing these points: People and tradecraft are significantly more important than tools; intelligence is essential to effective, proactive cyber defense and mission operations; and security should enable and support your mission operations not impede them.
The chapter hosted its annual New Horizons Symposium in March at the Marriott Newton Hotel, Newton, Massachusetts. Bud Vazquez, board chairman, welcomed more than 480 government and industry attendees to this annual scholarship fundraising event. Master of ceremonies, Jamie Thurber, Lockheed Martin, co-chair of the event with Maryanne Carlson, Quantech, introduced the honored keynote speaker, Lt. Gen. John Thompson, USAF, commander, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), who opened with his address on "Providing the Warfighter's Edge." Featured business opportunity briefings included presentations from AFLCMC program executive officers, Steven Wert, Battle Management, and Maj. Gen. Craig Olson, USAF, C3I & Networks, as well as from Brig. Gen. William Cole, USA, deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, Natick Soldier Systems Center, and Dr. Eric Evans, director, Lincoln Laboratory. The agenda also included a presentation from Dr. Mark Maybury, chief technology officer, MITRE, on "Transformational Change," and lunch guest speakers Kevan Kivlan, director, customer accounts and research division, U.S. General Services Administration Federal Acquisition Service New England Region, along with Jerry Smith, small business utilization director, New England Region, and Mike Attachi, federal acquisition services, Assisted Services. Three individual panels covered a broad range of topics including "From Tragedy to Crisis Prevention and Response in Today's Threat Environment" (aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing); New England National Guard TAGs (The Adjutant General) "Protecting the Homeland including Cyber;" and "Is There Room for Innovation within DoD Acquisition?" Steve Falcone, chapter president, also presented a $500 check to Capt. Celeste Luna, USAF, to support the Hanscom Air Force Troop Care Package Drive.
To win the cyber wars with breakthough technology will require a next generation of engineers and scientists with advanced degrees in mathematics, electrical and computer engineering, computer sciences and operations analysis. Finding ways to inspire students volunteering for difficult academic studies is one of the chapter's missions: STEM on steroids.<br><br>Quarterly AFCEA John McReynolds Wozencraft awards recognize top achievers in Master of Science and doctoral programs. Cmdr. Thor Martinsen, USN, has been the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) military curricular officer since June 2012 and continues working closely with Vice Adm. Jan Tighe, USN, Ph.D., and the Navy's 10th Fleet on graduate level cyber educational needs. Cmdr. Martinsen will be the first NPS permanent military professor for cyber while completing his Ph.D. in applied mathematics. One of his students, Anthony J. Kubat Jr., was selected by as the 126th AFCEA Wozencraft awardee in electrical and computer engineering. <br><br>Kubat is a civilian Defense Department USAF electronic warfare engineer and returns to Edwards Air Force Base 417th group. His winning masters thesis was "Missile Radar Systems: Parametric Differences and Their Impact on Electronic Attack Effectiveness." He was honored with his wife and children and NPS leadership in March at the pregraduation ceremonies in the world famous Hotel Del Monte McNitt Ballroom where chapter co-founder, the late Darryl F. Zanuck, a former Army colonel with the Signal Corps, dined often in the late 1930s.
In February, the chapter recognized Tracy Edwards, science teacher at the Highland Park Program for Success School (Gloucester City, NJ), as the 2014 winner of a $1,000 AFCEA STEM Grant. Edwards' grant application purchased a 1-year school membership with Explore Learning's interactive site called Gizmos. The site enables up to 150 students to actively learn and manipulate information, equipment readings and data to answer questions and draw conclusions about a variety of science and mathematics topics. This computer-based learning will greatly benefit the students not only by teaching them important science, technology and mathematics topics/subjects but by increasing the amount of time each student spends on the computer.
Steve Falcone, chapter president, welcomed more than 175 guests to the 5th annual Gold Circle Breakfast in March at the Marriott Newton Hotel, Massachusetts. The breakfast is held in conjunction with the New Horizons Symposium as a fundraiser to support chapter scholarship programs. Jason Dyer, Hewlett Packard, then introduced the featured guest speaker, Larry Payne, area vice president, U.S. federal sales, Cisco Systems Incorporated, and a recent recipient of the prestigious 2015 Federal 100 Award. This award is given to the top 100 government and industry leaders from the federal information technology community having the greatest impact during 2014. Payne addressed the gathering on "The Internet of Everything." Dyer concluded with thanks to the breakfast sponsors Hewlett Packard, Cisco, Raytheon and World Wide Technology.
The chapter hosted its annual spring breakfast in March at Waxy O'Connors, Lexington, Massachusetts. Col. Ed Masterson, USAF, the chapter's vice president for programs, introduced featured guest speaker Bob Kinder, managing director, aerospace, defense and security, G2 Capital Advisors. A retired Army officer with both Air Force and Army special operations experience in numerous areas of operation, Kinder addressed the audience on "From Battlefield to Boardroom: Evolution of the Joint Special Operations Command."
In February, the chapter's Young AFCEAN Advisory Council (YAAC) participated in the fifth annual Centerpoint 5K and Half-Marathon races as part of YAAC's GET FIT program. Team YAAC consisted of various young professionals from military, industry and government who met bright and early at local Centerpoint Fellowship Church in Prattville, Alabama, to run for a good cause. The Centerpoint run is an annual event hosted by the Centerpoint Fellowship Church and all proceeds go toward funding mission trips. Team YAAC is proud to participate in this run each year and looks forward to their next scheduled runs as part of the GET FIT series, including the Hyundai Marathon/Half-Marathon/5K in March and the Walk of Life in April.
Todd Cutick, Cutick Analytics LCC, spoke to the March lunch group on mitigating risks in small business. At start-up, he said, there has to be a plan, but it must be short so you will use it. The plan should include both short- and long-term targets. Once the targets are set, plan communications channels, social media and advertising in technical journals, business journals and direct mail. That becomes part of your tactical plan, along with identifying prospects. An important last plan is the famous "Plan B" for emergencies. This answers who will take over if you are ill or injured, noting that partnerships should consider how assets will be divided on dissolution by death or separation.<br><br>In chapter business, Regional Vice President Heidi Hughes presented a flagstaff streamer to Dave Bryant, chapter president, marking the chapter's recognition as 2014 Model Chapter.
The "Hour of Code" event held in March with the Calvary Christian Academy was successful. Master Sgt. Elias Garcia, USAF, chapter director of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), mesmerized the children and had them excited about coding. Senior Airman Kylie Subjinske, USAF, and the YAC Attack Team were in full force. <br><br>Williams and Dr. Mercadel were pleased the YAC Attack Team provided not only technical support but moral support to the children who kept losing the feathers off their angry bird instead of the bird getting bad piggy. Parents were surprised and pleased with the letter from Rep. Scott Rigell (R-VA). The chapter received nothing but positive feedback for chapter support of this event from the children, parents and school administration.
The chapter celebrated its 30th anniversary by hosting 150 members and their guests at a networking social in March at the Oahu Country Club in Honolulu. Chief Warrant Officer 4 Clifton Jenkins, USN (Ret.), chapter vice president for membership, did an outstanding job organizing refreshments, games, gifts and a horde of volunteers. Grand prizes were a Fire HD 6 Tablet and Fire HD 7 Tablet. There were plenty of gift cards and shirts to give away thanks to the generosity of the chapter's donors. Additionally, the chapter's Educational Foundation auctioned off a painting and sold wine glasses in an ongoing effort to raise science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) awareness and increase scholarship funding. DJ services were provided by chapter member Ray Adames. Anniversary pins were awarded to members celebrating their membership anniversary of five years or more. The chapter sends big thanks to all its donors and volunteers for their generosity and spirit of Aloha.
The chapter is pleased to recognize and congratulate Jenifer Peguero who received a 2014 Distinguished Young AFCEAN Award at West in February.
In February, the chapter along with Noovle, an Italian partner of Google for Work, sponsored a workshop titled "Noovle: Secure Hybrid Cloud Systems for Defense and PA." The workshop was held at the Defence C4 Headquarters in Rome and aimed to present the most innovative technologies for search and efficient analysis of strategic data and information, focusing on the hybrid cloud systems. These systems ensure higher security levels through new paradigms for data access and distribution in complex environments.<br><br>Lt. Gen. Antonio Tangorra, ITAF (Ret.), chapter president, introduced the topic and addressed the issues of ethics and professionalism as condition for useful and correct sharing of information and concrete experiences, which is at the core of both institutional and private strategic choices. Along with Gen. Tangorra, Gen. Umberto Maria Castelli, IA, Defense C4 commander, welcomed the invitees and underlined the interest of the armed forces toward emerging cloud technologies.<br><br>Emanuele Cerroni, business executive, Noovle, gave an overview on Noovle systems based on the cloud and described the Hybrid IT, a platform allowing complex organizations to manage some in-house information technologies to make use of the public-cloud services, while ensuring safe access to the information.<br><br>Alberto Lucchini, Noovle specialist, gave a presentation titled, "Google Search Appliance (GSA) and Search Technology, Information Retrieval and Data Analysis Platforms," which focused on the retrieval of relevant information and the use of "platforms as a service" as a collaboration and communication tool in complex contexts.<br><br>A concrete example of its application was given by Salvatore Piazza, Noovle specialist, with his presentation, "Secure Hybrid Cloud for Defense: U.S. Army to Cut Costs, Improve Collaboration and Go Mobile with Google Apps."<br><br>The event ended with a round table dedicated to "Secure Hybrid Cloud Platforms for Communication and Collaboration," focusing on the issues of certification, audit and risk analysis. It was cleverly managed by Corrado Giustozzi, ENISA PSG member, with the participation of Gen. Castelli, Leando Aglieri (Cloud 4 Defense), Cerroni (Noovle) and Alberto Manfredi (Cloud Security Alliance).<br><br>The discussion addressed themes regarding data security and data availability, highlighting the issues of certification, audit and risk analysis.<br><br>Gen. Tangorra, closed the day thanking all the speakers and the participants for their interest in the topics and the contribution of ideas deserving further analysis that emerged. He also reminded attendees that the chapter would continue speaking about the cloud in the forthcoming event on April 22 titled, "Cloud: How To Use It."
The March luncheon featured Gunnar Hellekson, the chief strategist for Red Hat's U.S. Public Sector group. Hellekson presented a lively and informative data center presentation based on lessons learned from Charles Sorensen's approach to improving production of the B-24 Liberator during World War II. By employing standard processes, standard infrastructure and building for change, data centers could become much more efficient and effective. Data centers are often built like the initial lots of B-24s, which were hand constructed by skilled craftsmen. They were well built, but did not provide for standardization and were inflexible to introducing change. Open source technology supports the integration and standardization of data centers while improving efficiencies and productivity.
The chapter was a Gold sponsor for the Tidewater Science and Engineering Fair in March, which hosted nearly 300 students with an even split between middle and high school. They competed for more than $29,000 in awards and potential scholarships. Many thanks to Rick Beard, the chapter science fair point of contact, and the team of volunteer judges for their outstanding support.
A continuation of the Tidewater Science and Engineering Fair, supported by the chapter in March.
The chapter focused on the small business defense community around Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), Ohio, during its March luncheon. David Hart, chapter president, renewed the chapter's annual commitment to endorsing small business education and participation in the local region. The chapter dedicates one luncheon per year to discuss the local community and the opportunities for small businesses. The luncheon featured two speakers, Wendell Quinton, Enterprise Systems Branch for Budget, Accounting and Decision Support, and Dr. Jeanette Robinson, Small Business Support for Business Enterprise Systems Branch at WPAFB. Quinton focused on the usage small business within his branch. Quinton advises and assists government personnel on the matters that affect small businesses. She aids, counsels and assists various small businesses by providing advice concerning acquisition procedures; information regarding proposed acquisitions; and Request For Information instructions and other ways to compete for federal opportunities. The corporate luncheon sponsors were AT&T, Diversified Technical Services Corporation, Flairsoft Corporation, JJR Solutions, Northrup Grumman, Peeress Technologies and Segue Technologies.
The German Young AFCEANs are always looking for new exciting endeavours to connect and socialize. The 35th Berlin Half Marathon in March seemed to be the perfect event for this. Hence, six Young AFCEANs decided to start together with 32,000 other participants. <br><br>Stable weather conditions, perfect preparations of each individual beforehand and an amazing team spirit were key success factors for the group to accomplish the exhausting distance of 21,09 kilometers. <br><br>The fastest Young AFCEAN crossed the finish line after only 1 hour and 55 minutes.