A collection of news and information specifically for the C4ISR community

Vol. 2, No. 40
October 5, 2006

Multi Platform-Radar Technology program flying high as crucial testing begins

A Proteus aircraft flies over Southern California Sept. 30 carrying the Global Hawk variant of the new, Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program radar.  This is the first flight test of the state-of-the-art radar system, which will be incorporated onto the Global Hawk and, in a larger configuration, onto a wide-body technology demonstrator.  The Proteus is a high-altitude aircraft similar in size to Global Hawk.  (U.S. Air Force photo)

By Chuck Paone
ESC Public Affairs

HANSCOM AFB, Mass. – The path to greatly enhanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability became clearer Sept. 30 with the first developmental test flight of a new, state-of-the-art radar system.

The test, the first in what will be a year-long effort, was run by the 851st Electronic Systems Group, here, and its contractor team of Northrop Grumman and Raytheon.

The radar system being tested is the Global Hawk variant of its Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program, often referred to simply as MP-RTIP. The team is conducting the tests aboard a Proteus, a manned, twin-turbofan, high-altitude, multi-mission aircraft about the same size as a Global Hawk.

The aircraft, operating out of a commercial air field in Southern California, flew for nearly two hours, according to Lt. Col. Pete Krawczyk, commander of the 638th Electronic Systems Squadron.

During that time, the aircraft climbed to 22,000 feet and orbited at that altitude while radar system checks were conducted.

The team was able to begin testing different radar modes, as well as various hardware components and communication links, Colonel Krawczyk said. The radar is controlled from the ground using a modified version of the Multi-Platform Common Data Link, which also allows real-time monitoring of performance.  (More)

Richard Rose (left) of General Electric’s Lynn, Mass., plant explains safety initiatives implemented in his area as a result of the Voluntary Protection Program to Electronic Systems Center Director of Safety Galen Williams, ESC Vice Commander Maj. Gen. Arthur Rooney, ESC Chief of Staff Col. Bob O’Neill and National Association of Government Employees union steward Italia Minchello Sept. 29. GE’s Lynn plant is serving as Hanscom’s mentor as the base strives to achieve VPP star status, the Occupational Safety and Health Agency’s top safety rating.  (Photo by Mark Wyatt)

By Kevin Gilmartin
ESC Public Affairs

A group of Hanscom’s senior leaders joined with the base’s union leadership for an in-depth tour of General Electric’s Lynn, Mass., plant Sept. 28 to learn how people there have improved their safety practices and earned the Occupational Safety and Health Organization’s top rating – star status under the Voluntary Protection Program.

Hanscom is one of just nine bases Air Force-wide to participate in the Voluntary Protection Program, or VPP. GE’s Lynn Riverworks facility, which earned its VPP star in August, is serving as Hanscom’s mentor as the base works toward earning a star from OSHA.

GE’s Lynn Riverworks plant has more than 4,000 people working over three round-the-clock shifts, manufacturing jet engines for military and commercial aircraft as well as marine gear boxes for Navy destroyers.

The VPP promotes effective worksite-based safety and health. Under the VPP, management, labor, and OSHA establish cooperative relationships at workplaces that have implemented a comprehensive safety and health management system. Approval into VPP is OSHA’s official recognition of the outstanding efforts of employers and employees who have achieved exemplary occupational safety and health.

“We already have a good safety program here at Hanscom that is in full compliance with all regulations,” said Galen Williams, Hanscom’s Director of Safety. “VPP takes you beyond compliance, and puts safety first in everything we do. To earn star status from OSHA, we have to make safety an integral part of the fabric our culture."  (More)

Medal of Honor recipient retired Army Col. Roger Donlon shares some stories with a Hanscom Middle School class Sept. 28.  Joining him for the Middle School presentation were Medal of Honor recipients retired Army Lt. Gen. Robert Foley and retired Army Lt. Col. Gordon Roberts. The three men were in the Boston area to attend the 2006 Medal of Honor Society convention. (Photo by Linda Labonte-Britt)

By Airman 1st Class Clinton Atkins
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

The three men had seen it all. War, death and destruction had accompanied them through some of the darkest hours in U.S. history.

Across the room were more than 40 pairs of eyes -- eyes that widened as the students listened to true stories of courage and heroism that sounded as if they were taken from a Hollywood movie.

The veterans were Medal of Honor recipients. They were visiting the Hanscom Middle School Sept. 28 to share their stories and wisdom with eighth graders.

The Medal of Honor recipients were in the area because they were participating in the annual Medal of Honor convention, which was held in Boston this year.

The three men visiting Hanscom were Vietnam veterans, but each shared his own account with the students about the events that transpired during the war.

The men were retired Army Lt. Gen. Robert Foley, retired Army Col. Roger Donlon and Army Lt. Col. Gordon Roberts.

Life values, teamwork, accountability and higher education were a few of the topics that the veterans touched on.(More)

By John Scaggs
Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – If changes to the test and evaluation phases of new concept cars would improve mass production processes and reduce recalls, wouldn't it make sense for an auto manufacturer to spend $1 now if it meant saving $10 later?

Officials at Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command think so and are applying the concept to the command's test and evaluation mission.

The need for change is one reason Gen. Bruce Carlson, AFMC commander, chose the test and evaluation enterprise as one of his four AFMC strategic areas under Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century. AFSO 21 serves as an overarching program guiding continuous process improvement throughout the Air Force.

The command is one step closer to improving its test and evaluation enterprise, having completed the first Rapid Improvement Event here in August. Thirty-one people from AFMC and the Air Staff and four facilitators took part in the RIE, titled Early Tester Involvement.

RIEs normally occur over a three- to five-day period wherein attendees address specific problems and outline solutions. RIEs typically are identified as a result of value stream mapping efforts.

The recent RIE focused on how early tester involvement can help reduce overall weapon system life cycle costs, according to its team leader, Dr. David Jerome.  (More)

Steve Wright (from left), 643 ELSS director;  Greg Garcia, 754 ELSG director; Maj. Gen. Arthur Rooney, ESC vice commander; and Tim Nixon, 754 ELSG director of financial systems, cut the ribbon marking the opening of the new 554th Wing-Gunter AFSO 21 Transformation office.  (Photo by Stephen W. Hurst)

By Stephen W. Hurst
754th ELSG Public Affairs

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE-GUNTER ANNEX, Ala. – Command leadership here recently cut the ribbon on its new 554th Wing-Gunter Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century Transformation Office, coming one snip closer to leading Lean efforts and process improvements.

The ribbon-cutting, which coincided with a visit from Electronic Systems Center Vice Commander Maj. Gen. Arthur Rooney, marks the office’s debut as headquarters for all AFSO 21 Transformation and Lean efforts undertaken by the 554th Electronic Systems Wing.

“The mission of the 554th Wing Transformation Office is to help enable members of the Wing in their AFSO 21 endeavors,” said Greg Garcia, 754th Electronic Systems Group director. “They will build the process for establishing an enterprise-wide value map and help manage the follow up to current and future rapid improvement events or projects.”

Robert Jackson, AFSO 21 office lead facilitator, has been designated to guide the implementation and execution of Transformation throughout the 554 ELSW at Gunter. Mr. Jackson holds a master’s in business administration and is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt.  (More)

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Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Peter Pace greets members of the Boston Police bagpipers at the 2006 Congressional Medal of Honor Society Convention in Boston Saturday. (Photo by Staff Sgt. D. Myles Cullen)

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

BOSTON – The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff turned an honor to him into a tribute to the families of American service members during the Patriot Dinner of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society here Saturday. 

The society presented Marine Gen. Peter Pace the Patriot Award. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society is made up of the men who have received the nation’s highest award for battlefield valor. They present the Patriot Award annually to “those persons, who through their life’s work, have distinguished themselves as Americans who are dedicated to freedom and the ideals represented” by the society.

More than 60 Medal of Honor recipients attended the society’s convention here this year. The men received their awards for extraordinary heroism on the battlefields of World War II, Korea and Vietnam.  (More)

By Larry Kishur
CPSG Public Affairs

The Cryptologic Systems Group recently wrapped up its first Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, or AFSO 21, Lean Rapid Improvement Event, identifying ways to significantly reduce Enlisted Performance Report processing time.

Following Electronic Systems Center’s direction, CPSG has embarked upon a culture change and is embracing continuous process improvement as part of the AFSO21 effort. RIEs are a structured means of accomplishing process improvements throughout the Center. Proper execution of RIEs involves a number of factors, including training, RIE identification, event execution, implementation, and governance.

After considering several proposals, CPSG commander Col. Dan Blaettler decided to tackle the Enlisted Performance Report process, something familiar to every Air Force organization and one that can be time consuming and sometimes overwhelming.

Although officials felt CPSG has done a great job processing EPRs in the past, there has been a slight decline in the percentage of EPRs meeting the Military Personnel Flight deadline over the past few months. As the team went through the steps of processing these reports to the MPF, other issues and opportunities for improvement were identified.  (More)
 

Cryptologic Systems Group Commander Col. Dan Blaettler (third from right) and Deputy Director Ronnie Carter (far left), visit with participants in the units’ first AFSO 21 Rapid Improvement Event.  The team includes (from left to right), Tech. Sgt. Orenzy Turner, Senior Master Sgt. Dave Vandergrift, Tech. Sgt. Craig Ferguson, Mary Ann Davis, Master Sgt. Penny Guzman, Greg Meadows, Staff Sgt. Demarcus Young, 1st Lt. Dave Wisniewski and Master Sgt. Rita Felton. (Courtesy photo)

US NRO sees spy agencies supporting Space Radar
-- Reuters
National Reconnaissance Office Director Donald Kerr on Tuesday said he expects U.S. intelligence agencies to help fund Space Radar ...

Senior Air Force official: AESA radars a key piece of future
-- Defense Daily
Fighter aircraft equipped with modern radars will be a key component of the Air Force's future mix of airborne jamming platforms ...

Defense companies bracing for slowdown
-- Los Angeles Times
With glitzy exhibits displaying model fighter jets, mock cockpits and flashy videos of missiles obliterating targets ...

U.S. Air Force plans to cut Northrop radar program
-- Reuters
The U.S. Air Force plans to end a Northrop Grumman Corp. program to develop an airborne surface surveillance system and a radar system ...

Northrop Grumman begins flight testing of new MP-RTIP radar technology
-- PrimeZone Newswire
Northrop Grumman Corporation has started flight testing a new airborne surveillance radar for the Global Hawk unmanned aerial system ...

Congress sets military pay raise, punts on civil service
-- Washington Post
Hours before wrapping up for its campaign break, Congress nailed down a 2.2 percent pay raise for the armed forces ...

The flip side of fast-track acquisition
-- Defense News
As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan heated up, U.S. military commanders have enthusiastically wielded their new power to bypass traditional acquisition rules ...

Kentucky River Threatens to Swamp Labor
-- Dollars and Sense Magazine
Kentucky River. If the name doesn't worry you, you need to know more about the latest effort to eliminate labor unions.

Robins unit hosting NATO team
-- Macon Telegraph
A hangar was turned into a NATO conclave Tuesday afternoon as representatives from 23 member nations met at Robins Air Force Base ...

Expect longer tours at al Udeid
-- Air Force Times
As part of an overhaul to how the Air Force staffs its air operations centers, airmen may be expected to serve longer deployed tours ...

Overmanned fields continue to expand
-- Air Force Times
The decision by Air Force leaders to complete massive personnel cuts by the end of fiscal 2009 instead of fiscal 2011 ...

command comments ...

--  Air Force Chief of Staff
General T. Michael Moseley
at the Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition 2006, Washington, D.C.

The Integrator is a weekly product of the Electronic Systems Center Public Affairs Office designed to give ESC decision makers a snapshot of news affecting the C4ISR community.  This e-publication is approved by Kevin Gilmartin, Director of Public Affairs, (DSN) 478-4110 or commercial (781) 377-4110.  Back issues are available online.  To facilitate service, please select a link for your e-mails:  
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