A collection of news and information specifically for the C4ISR community

Vol. 4, No. 7
February 21, 2008

Joint STARS goes beyond line of sight

Bruce Wilbur of Northrop Grumman Corp. installs operator workstation interface equipment on a Joint STARS jet at Robins AFB, Ga., this week. The 751st Electronic Systems Group is managing the comprehensive upgrade, which will make beyond-line-of-sight communication possible, allowing Joint STARS to stand off further from fixed or mobile ground stations and increasing their range and coverage capabilities. (Photo by Senior Airman Paul Ross)

By Chuck Paone
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

HANSCOM AFB, Mass. -- A straight line is the shortest distance between two points and the best way for communication to pass from one to the other, unless the earth’s curvature prevents it.

Then what’s known as beyond-line-of-sight, or BLOS, communication capability becomes necessary. BLOS uses two straight lines, one going to an orbiting satellite and another coming from the satellite to the second point.

Warfighters operating in the Central Command area of responsibility last year asked to have this feature added to the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) fleet. Operating under an Urgent Operational Need request, members of the 751st Electronic Systems Group here, along with operational users at the 116th Air Control Wing at Robins AFB, Ga., and prime contractor Northrop Grumman Corp., have now begun making it happen.
(More)

Registration opens for March 2008 Integration Week

Registration is now open for the upcoming Electronic Systems Center’s Integration Week, to be held March 10 through 14.

Courses will cover numerous topics ranging from leadership to acquisition management for personnel to take advantage of.

“Some of the highlights for Integration Week include the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System training, which will cover CPARS policy, workflow processes, automation, new features and helpful hints for using the system,” said Amanda Currier, ESC University consultant. “The Acquisition Schedule Management course may also be of interest to base personnel, as it provides participants the opportunity to learn through developing a schedule using Microsoft Project.”

Additionally, retired Air Force colonel and former ESC program director Al Moseley, now on the staff of the Defense Acquisition University, will teach a key leadership course.  (More)

The 754th Electronic Systems Group and other members of an intergovernmental team recently received a major Defense Department award for efforts to protect data stored on devices such as this laptop computer. (Photo illustration)

By Karen Costura
554th Electronic Systems Wing

The Electronic Systems Center’s 754th Electronic Systems Group was part of a key intergovernmental team recently recognized with the prestigious Department of Defense Excellence in Information Assurance Award.

The team, which worked to develop the Defense Department’s technical requirements for encryption of unclassified, sensitive and personally identifiable data often found on laptops and other mobile devices, received the award Jan. 28 in Philadelphia.

The Data-At-Rest Tiger Team, or DARTT, which was initially formed in October 2006 and grew from there, was assembled as a response to a number of security incidents involving lost and stolen laptops and removable storage media. The team’s mission was to provide a threat/risk analysis for the systems, as well as to develop the new protection requirements.

The 754 ELSG served as the principal acquisition division of DoD’s Enterprise Software Initiative, which played a key role in the effort. It assisted the team by providing valuable insight regarding technical requirements, and the group’s director, Greg Garcia, also served as the Source Selection Authority for the team.  (More)

Air Force is 'Above All'

Air Force officials have launched a new ad campaign to accurately portray Airmen and how they're executing the Air Force mission to ensure the security and safety of America now and in the future. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

WASHINGTON -- The Air Force has a new advertising campaign to recruit the next generation of Airmen as well as better inform people about the Air Force mission:

"Above All."

"The new slogan is admittedly a bold one," said Col. Michael Caldwell, deputy director of Air Force public affairs, "but so are Airmen." This campaign accurately portrays Airmen and how they're executing the Air Force mission to ensure the security and safety of America now and in the future.

"'Above All' is about what we do and how we do it," Colonel Caldwell said. "The job of the Air Force is to defend America and we do that by dominating air, space and cyberspace. The new campaign and slogan captures our roots, but also illustrates where we're going as a service as the Air Force prepares to contend with future threats."  (More)

Goal of a ‘network-centric’ military seems distant
-- National Defense Magazine
“The day of stovepiped systems and proprietary systems is over,” Vice Adm. Nancy Brown declared at a military communications conference.

Low-cost and effective AEW systems find buyers
-- Defense Technology International
Airborne early warning and control (AEWC) has a reputation for being tricky and expensive. Boeing's 737 AEW aircraft for Australia, Turkey and South Korea -- one of the biggest U.S. export-only defense programs -- has run behind schedule and cost Boeing more than $1 billion in charges.

Intel director: 'All they have to do is put the pieces together'
-- WTOP Radio
America has a problem. "The proliferation of knowledge and technology that is required to produce weapons of mass destruction" is a threat to the United States, says Lt. Gen. Michael Maples, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Analysis: Terrorism 2.0
-- United Press International
Terrorism and wars of the future won't be fought outdoors but from the comfort of our own homes, behind our computer screens.

editorials and opinion ...
Use of these articles does not reflect official endorsement.  Reproduction for private use or gain is subject to original copyright restrictions.

Intelligence sharing
-- Federal Computer Week
There should be no doubt that our country is better organized and prepared to deter terrorist threats than it was in 2001.

command comments ...

... At bases such as Balad, Ali Al Salem, Bagram, Al Dhafra, Al Udeid, and Ramstein, I witnessed firsthand the critical contributions our stateside and deployed Airmen are making to the Joint team's accomplishments in the AOR. For example, our UAVs are providing the unblinking eye of vigilance that eliminates any refuge for enemy combatants and protects our Joint and Coalition forces on the ground. In parallel with the surge in ground forces, air strike taskings have also surged dramatically throughout both Iraq and Afghanistan. Our CAOC continues to integrate reachback support with operations throughout Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa to maximize the combat power we provide the Combined and Joint fight. Meanwhile, Airmen are representing our Air Force proudly to the Joint team in integrated Air Force positions and 'In Lieu Of' taskings across the AOR. ...
 

-- Michael W. Wynne,
Secretary of the Air Force

The Integrator is a weekly product of the 66th Air Base Wing 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, Chief 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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