![]()
The chapter invited Brig. Gen. David Uhrich, USAF, Air Combat Command A-6, to speak at its spring luncheon in May at the Carolina Skies Club, Shaw Air Force Base. He shared his thoughts on cyber, communications, mission assurance, mobile capabilities and cyber career field challenges. During the luncheon, the chapter awarded four $1,000 scholarships to rising seniors from Sumter High School who are going into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) degree programs: Lyndsay Krebs, Trevor Moxley, Keelan Richard Kane-Yearman and Dylan Drown. Lt. Col. Rick Moxley, USAF (Ret.), senior aerospace instructor from Sumter High Junior ROTC, accepted the awards on behalf of the students because they were taking final exams. Among the reported 130 attendees were Col. Stamatis Smeltz, USAF, director of communications, U.S. Air Forces Central Command (USAFCENT) and chapter president; Col. Keith Mueller, USAF, commander, 5th Combat Communications Group; Col. Bradley Pyburn, USAF, commander, 624th Operations Center; Lt. Col. Stew Newton, USAF, commander, University of South Carolina Air Force ROTC; Lt. Col. James Lotspeich, USAF, commander, 83rd Network Operations Squadron; and Lt. Col. David McCoy, 20th Communications Squadron commander.
The chapters first Lunch and Learn in April featuring IBM senior cybersecurity strategist Pete Allor mainly focused on how organization domains are being integrated with the full spectrum of security operations. Also, information was given on strategies and development for critical infrastructure security.
Christa Dahlem, Tim Jahnigen, Brittany Paulshock, Mallory Steininger and John Liptak of the Young AFCEAN (YAC) chapter participated in the Kuffed for Kids fundraiser in April. The event produced nearly $13,000 in donations for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford County. The money will allow 30 members of the Boys & Girls Clubs to attend the two-week STARS STEM Camp hosted by the YACs at Aberdeen Proving Ground.
The chapters Young AFCEANs (YACs) continued their education outreach series with a power breakfast featuring Col. Cassie Barlow, USAF (Ret.), Ph.D., of Wright State Research Institute, Dayton, Ohio. The topic centered on workforce opportunities across Ohio. More than 30 members from the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and surrounding business community attended. YACs were also able to speak to mentors. Gartner Inc. sponsored the event.
The chapter welcomed keynote speaker Col. Jeff Davis, USMC, chief of staff, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC), at a May luncheon. Col. Davis addressed the topic of leadership, incorporating his own career experiences. The audience was engaged as he discussed the foundations, science, truths and art of leadership. He said the most important traits of leadership are honesty and selflessness, the most important principle is being an example, and the most important tool is having a positive outlook. The chapter also announced May award winners. Students of the Month were Basil Goto, Assets School, and Tinarra Butler, Radford High School; Young AFCEAN of the Month was Lt. Cmdr. Eric Chang, USCG; AFCEAN of the Month was Master Sgt. Raymond Adames, USAF (Ret.), Defense Information Systems Agency Pacific Command; Executive of the Month was Matthew Darnell, ComTel Hawaii; Senior Government Leader was Col. Bruce Caulkins, USA, chief of the Cyber Strategy, Plans, Policy and Exercises Division (J-65) within the Command, Control, Communications and Cyber Directorate (J-6), U.S. Pacific Command. March award winners were student Rodney Rodis, Campbell High School, and Senior Government Leader Rich DesJardin, branch head, Cyber Defense Branch, MARFORPAC.
Bill Walker of Northrop Grumman provided April luncheon attendees with a presentation on the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system. During the presentation, Walker discussed how the MQ-4C was designed and built to meet the Navys maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) mission requirements. He highlighted the robust signals intelligence and communications relay capabilities that the platform will provide. Walker discussed the value that High-Altitude, Long-Endurance (HALE) systems provide to warfighters. Because of their high altitude, they are clear of commercial traffic and weather. The altitude also allows better sensor coverage and reduced risk. Also during April, the chapter distributed three Science Teaching Tools grants. Winning schools were Carlsbad, High Tech High North County, Rancho Buena Vista and Fallbrook high schools.
The chapters May quarterly meeting at the Moffett Field Historical Society Museum featured Lt. Col. Enrique Oti, USAF, a national security affairs fellow at the Hoover Institution. Col. Oti presented "Chinese Threats to the Internet: It's Not Just Hacking." In addition, the Northern California regional vice president held a meeting of the regions chapter presidents and the regional Young AFCEANs. This was the first such meeting held since the 2010 Military Communications Conference in San Jose, California.
The chapter invited Brig. Gen. David Uhrich, USAF, Air Combat Command A-6, to speak at its spring luncheon in May at the Carolina Skies Club, Shaw Air Force Base. He shared his thoughts on cyber, communications, mission assurance, mobile capabilities and cyber career field challenges. During the luncheon, the chapter awarded four $1,000 scholarships to rising seniors from Sumter High School who are going into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) degree programs: Lyndsay Krebs, Trevor Moxley, Keelan Richard Kane-Yearman and Dylan Drown. Lt. Col. Rick Moxley, USAF (Ret.), senior aerospace instructor from Sumter High Junior ROTC, accepted the awards on behalf of the students because they were taking final exams. Among the reported 130 attendees were Col. Stamatis Smeltz, USAF, director of communications, U.S. Air Forces Central Command (USAFCENT) and chapter president; Col. Keith Mueller, USAF, commander, 5th Combat Communications Group; Col. Bradley Pyburn, USAF, commander, 624th Operations Center; Lt. Col. Stew Newton, USAF, commander, University of South Carolina Air Force ROTC; Lt. Col. James Lotspeich, USAF, commander, 83rd Network Operations Squadron; and Lt. Col. David McCoy, 20th Communications Squadron commander.
The chapter held the spring Crawford-Fuller Scholarship Golf Tournament in May. Members and corporate sponsors gave generously to support the chapters science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) scholarships and awards for rising high school seniors, service members in their junior year of college and students pursuing STEM careers as well as science and mathematics programs at area high schools. Thirteen four-person teams played in the tournament. Participants included Col. Stamatis Smeltz, USAF, director of communications, U.S. Air Forces Central Command (USAFCENT) and chapter president; Col. Keith Mueller, USAF, commander, 5th Combat Communications Group; Col. Bradley Pyburn, USAF, commander, 624th Operations Center; Lt. Col. James Lotspeich, USAF, commander, 83rd Network Operations Squadron; and Lt. Col. David McCoy, USAF, 20th Communications Squadron commander. Brig. Gen. David Uhrich, USAF, Air Combat Command A-6, joined in the competition. Corporate sponsors for the event were 4 Star Technologies; Blue Coat Systems; Crystal Clear Technologies; Atlantic CommTech; L-3 Stratis; Lockheed Martin; General Dynamics Information Technology; Microsoft; and CDW.
Col. Stamatis Smeltz, USAF, director of communications, U.S. Air Forces Central Command (USAFCENT) and chapter president, and James M. Crawford, first vice president, attended the Sumter High School Junior ROTC awards ceremony in May on the Sumter High campus. Col. Smeltz presented a $1,000 scholastic award to Cadet Keelan Richard Kane-Yearman, who will be attending The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, this fall to pursue a mechanical engineering degree.
The chapter presented a detailed discussion before a sold-out crowd on defense and military health initiatives within the Department of Veterans Affairs, Defense Health Agency and Department of Defense/Department of Veterans Affairs Interagency Program Office. The event was held in April at Northrop Grumman in McLean, Virginia, and hosted by the chapters Young AFCEANS. Leaders from each government agency discussed their defense and military health goals and gave attendees a peek at whats on the horizon. They told industry that the government was looking for its help with mobile, infrastructure and cybersecurity. Panelists discussed how mobile health is an emerging growth area for the Defense Department and VA. Alan Constantian, Ph.D., assistant deputy chief information officer for product management, Department of Veterans Affairs, warned the audience that security challenges may arise if we dont provide convenient solutions and tools. Chris Miller, program executive officer, Defense Healthcare Management Systems Modernization (DHMSM) and Integrated Electronic Health Records, said the Defense Departments priorities are twofold: interoperability with the VA and the health sector, and modernizing electronic health records. Miller added that the future of Defense health is all about innovation. The health panel featured a question-and-answer session. Speakers included Michael Krieger, deputy Army chief information officer; David Bowen, director, Health Information Technology Directorate, Defense Health Agency, and chief information officer for the Military Health System; Constantian; and Miller.
Brig. Gen. Mitch Butikofer, USAF, was the chapters April guest speaker and covered J-6 transformational challenges. Working closely with other directorates over the past nine months, the TCJ6 team ensured that the U.S. Transportation Commands information technology, data and cybersecurity strategies were in lockstep with the commands operational strategy. TCJ6 has five strategic initiatives: implement service-oriented architecture (SOA); evolve the common computing environment (CCE); shape the Joint Information Enterprise (JIE) strategy; institutionalize chief information officer (CIO) governance; and inspire cyber excellence. These strategies will guide the directorates efforts in the near- to medium-term future. In addition, TCJ6 is responsible for the enterprise infrastructure portfolio and leverages CIO Councils and Forum to ensure compliance with CIO policy and standards to protect information, networks and systems. In a constantly evolving environment, partnerships and relationships are key to strengthening collective cybersecurity. Cyber defense challenges discussed included: insider threat mitigation, adversary detection, industrial and supervisory control systems, information sharing with commercial partners, enterprise cloud environments and software assurance. The objective is to reduce enterprise operational risk and increase mission assurance for Defense Department deployment and distribution operations. Upcoming events: The 2015 scholarship dinner will be May 21, the AFCEA Mid-America Cyberspace Symposium takes place June 2-3, and the annual scholarship golf tournament is October 2.
In May, the chapter shared the following letter from a student who has been the recipient of ongoing scholarship support. <br><br>Good afternoon, AFCEA Belvoir Chapter:<br><br>Please accept my sincere letter of gratitude to the entire AFCEA Belvoir family. Thank you for providing me with continued support throughout my college career at Howard University. Since 2011, I have been a recipient of the continued educational scholarship fund in order to help finance my undergraduate career. I am now a graduate of Howard University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in public relations. Without the chapters support and dedication to assist students receiving higher education, I, like many others, would not be able to accomplish this outstanding milestone.<br><br>I remember receiving my first laptop from your organization and used it to stay up late to complete assignments. This was so much better than having to spend countless hours in the library. I thank you.<br><br>I cant forget how you all allowed me to assist with the chapters publicity. I remember covering several chapter events one summer and writing articles. To see them be published online and in SIGNAL Magazine meant the world to me at that moment.<br><br>Once again, I thank you for your continued support and wish much success to the chapter. If you ever need me, please know I am always here.<br><br>Very Respectfully,<br>Ashley Nicole Johnson
Eleven high school seniors are heading into the summer break with some extra cash for college thanks to the chapters scholarship program. The chapters annual scholarship banquet was held in April in Bossier City, Louisiana. Students competed for $2,000 scholarships by submitting detailed applications. The students had to be going to college to study science, technology, engineering, arts or mathematics (STEAM). Keynote speaker Maj. Gen. Michael E. Fortney, USAF, the vice commander of Air Force Global Strike Command at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, advised the students to go into the world and innovate by overcoming obstacles and to never stop asking why. The chapters Swinging for Scholarships golf tournament fundraiser will be held in June at the Fox Run Golf Course on Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, to raise money for next years group of outstanding students.
The chapter recognized Cadet Patrick Shanahan from the Bronco Battalion Army ROTC program at Santa Clara University, California, in May. Shanahan, who is majoring in communications, received the AFCEA ROTC Honor Award. Shanahan was recently selected to be the Bronco Battalion commander for winter and wants to go active duty when he commissions, possibly in infantry.
During the Air Force ROTC Detachment 045 annual awards ceremony in May, Robert Landgraf, regional vice president, presented Cadet Andrew Griffitts the AFCEA ROTC Honor Award. Cadet Griffitts is a rising senior at San Jose State University studying electrical engineering.
Scott Fausch of the chapters Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) program announced scholarship recipients in April. The AFROTC Scholarship Award Program assists deserving cadets in the completion of their education in communications/computer science, electrical engineering, computer technology, intelligence systems or information systems. This award is separate and distinct from the AFCEA scholarship awards and the AFCEA award for distinguished performance. This year, the chapter awarded three $750 scholarships. Since the programs inception in 2005, the chapter has given out more than $25,000 in AFROTC scholarships. Cadets Grant E. Champoux, Melissa L. Shaffer and Zachary S. Munoz were selected for the scholarships. Cadet Champoux attends Wright State University and majors in electrical engineering, maintaining a 3.95 GPA. He has been on the deans list for six consecutive semesters and recently achieved a physical fitness score of 98.4 out of a possible 100. Cadet Champoux also leverages his nearly 10 years of active-duty Air Force experience as a mentor and liaison to cadets who are new to the Air Force and ROTC. After graduation and commissioning as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, Cadet Champoux plans to pursue a career in cyberspace operations. Cadet Shaffer attends the University of Dayton and majors in computer science. Recognized for her academic excellence, physical fitness and leadership ability, Cadet Shaffer is ranked solidly in the top 5 percent of the cadet corps. After graduation and commissioning as a second lieutenant in the Air Force, Cadet Shaffer plans to pursue a career in cyberspace operations. Cadet Munoz attends Wright State University and majors in computer engineering. Along with maintaining a top GPA and physical fitness scores, Cadet Munoz has held several cadet leadership positions, including his current role as a cadet material management flight commander responsible for 118 cadets across three universities. After graduation and commissioning as a second lieutenant in the Air Force, Cadet Munoz plans to pursue a career in cyberspace operations and eventually leverage computer forensics strengths with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations.
Dr. Michelle Atchison, the University of Texas System's associate vice chancellor for federal relations, outlined an ambitious goal for building "a virtual Texas industrial ecosystem" at the chapter's April luncheon. The UT systemthe second-largest university system in the country, with nine academic and six affiliate health institutionspartners with government agencies for funding and research projects. Atchison said the system is developing a "research DNA" that combines hard and soft sciences to generate new solutions for the Department of Defense, among others. The four parts of that ecosystem include education and training; research and applied technology; industry outreach and communities of interest; and networks and infrastructure. "We need to continue to cultivate you as stakeholders," Atchison told the AFCEA industry partners, noting that corporations are valued not only as UT system graduates, but as a place of continuing education and support for the cyber and information technology workforce. She spoke at length about the University of Texas-San Antonio's place in the "industrial ecosystem," and its connections to government and industry. Information security, information assurance and cyber-related studies are one of the core competencies of UTSA, and the program benefits heavily from Alamo AFCEA educational programs and scholarships. In fact, some 14 percent of UTSA's $7.2 million research budget is allocated for cyber and cyber-related initiatives. Atchison revealed a 10-year plan for the UT System that emphasized various core competencies among its institutions, as well as opportunities to build partnerships with other universities throughout Texas to build a qualified and skilled workforce for changing industry needs. Atchison said AFCEA members can help the UT system build its industrial ecosystem by providing internships, sponsoring summer programs and partnering with UT on defense-related projects, both classified and unclassified.
The chapter hosted Lt. Col. Enrique Oti, USAF, fellow at Stanford University, as the guest speaker for its May meeting. Col. Oti spoke to the audience about Chinese threats to the Internet. The talk focused on four high-level topics: cyberattacks, competing with the Chinese, the Chinese plan and how to stop it. Col. Oti described the various types of cyberattacks, such as reconnaissance, economic espionage, theft, disruption, disinformation and strategic Attack, to name a few. For each category of attack, he provided numerous examples for the audience. He also compared and contrasted how the United States and China view the Internet. The U.S. sees the Internet as a tool to promote domestic and international development, facilitate equality and bring human rights violations to the forefront. The U.S. recognizes that the Internet poses potential risks. On the other hand, China considers it an existential threat from both domestic and international actors but recognizes it is critical to continued development in the country. Also discussed was China's vision on the future of the Internet to promote peace, security, openness and cooperation. Col. Oti wrapped up with a discussion on how the U.S. needs to invest in defense against the various cyberattacks and answered questions from audience members.
In May, the chapter held a quarterly meeting at the Moffett Field Historical Society Museum in the San Francisco area. The museum still has many pictures and memorabilia of the original helium-filled airship USS Macon. The USS Macon (ZRS-5) was a rigid airship built and operated by the U.S. Navy for scouting and served as a "flying aircraft carrier" designed to carry five biplane parasite aircraft for scouting. Later, this Navy base was once a P-3 Orion base, which was taken over by NASA's Ames Research Center, when the Navy ceased its operations in the mid 90's. At the meeting, the chapter recognized a member and active participant for his dedication and service. Lt. Col. Douglas Lomsdalen, USAF, came to the Silicon Valley to assume command of the Air Force San Jose State ROTC, Detachment 045, from his previous affiliation with the Kaiserslautern Chapter, Central European Region, more than two years ago. Col. Lomsdalen quickly assisted the chapter in its inauguration and management of its website. In addition, he established an automated process of registering for chapter events, which had been handled in an inefficient manner by U.S. mail. Col. Lomsdalen accomplished this, despite his demanding schedule managing a highly motivated Air Force ROTC Cadet program at San Jose State University. Col. Lomsdalen will be retiring from the Air Force in June after a 29-year career. The chapter is fortunate to have him as an active member in his last Air Force assignment. For his outstanding service to the chapter, Col. Lomsdalen was provided a certificate of recognition for outstanding service signed by Lt. Gen. Robert Shea, USMC (Ret.), president and CEO of AFCEA International.