A collection of news and information specifically for the C4ISR community

Vol. 4, No. 10
March 13, 2008

753 ELSG commander offers cyber update, insights

Col. Leslie Blackham, commander of the 753rd Electronic Systems Group, addresses the Hanscom Representatives Association at the Minuteman Club March 6. The colonel discussed cyber challenges, including efforts to help the Air Force’s Provisional Cyber Command begin acquiring needed capabilities. (Photo by Mark Wyatt)

By Chuck Paone
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Just as no one leaves for work in the morning expecting to get in a traffic accident, people never really expect to be victimized by cyber attack, Col. Leslie Blackham told an industry gathering March 6.

Speaking to the Hanscom Representatives Association at Hanscom’s Minuteman Club, the 753rd Electronic Systems Group commander cautioned against such presumed security.

“We tend to think that we’ll be okay, but that won’t always be the case,” she said.

The colonel said that the emerging cyber domain carries both risks and opportunities. The Air Force cyber challenge, boiled down to its most essential elements, is to make the most of the opportunities while minimizing the risks.  (More)

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ESC Commander Lt. Gen. Ted Bowlds presents the Senior Level certificate to Dr. Tim Rudolph March 7 in a first-of-its-kind ceremony at Hanscom. Dr. Rudolph, who is now serving as technical advisor for system of systems networking and interoperability within the 653rd Electronic Systems Wing, has become the first Senior Level employee in the center’s history.  (Photo by Mark Wyatt)

By Chuck Paone
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Electronic Systems Center Commander Lt. Gen. Ted Bowlds officially presented the Senior Level certificate and flag to Dr. Tim Rudolph March 7, in a first-of-its-kind ceremony here.

Dr. Rudolph, who is now serving as technical advisor for system of systems networking and interoperability within the 653rd Electronic Systems Wing, has become the first SL in the center’s history. An SL position is equivalent to a Senior Executive Service position, but incumbents are allowed to focus on specific technical or organizational challenges rather than executive-level management responsibilities.

“We get the benefits without any of the bad stuff,” Dr. Rudolph said with a chuckle during a recent interview session.

“Tim brings a tremendous amount of broad-based experience to this new position,” said Bruce Hevey, director of the 653 ELSW. “He also brings a very dynamic, forward-looking approach to creating net-centric solutions for ESC’s operational customers.” (More)

Air Force Secretary to address Cyberspace Symposium in June 

Mr. Wynne

By Kevin Gilmartin
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne will be a keynote speaker at the Air Force Cyberspace Symposium II, set for June 17-19 at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel and Trade Center in Marlborough, Mass.

The theme for the symposium, co-sponsored by Electronic Systems Center, Air Force Cyberspace Command (Provisional) and the Air Force Association’s Paul Revere Chapter, is “Equipping the Cyber Warrior to Fight in Cyberspace.”

In addition to the Secretary, the symposium will feature a number of the Air Force’s senior leaders in developing and equipping the new Cyberspace Command, including ESC Commander Lt. Gen. Ted F. Bowlds, Defense Information Systems Agency Director Lt. Gen. Charles E. Croom Jr., 8th Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Robert J. Elder, Air Force Cyberspace Command (Provisional) Commander Maj. Gen. William T. Lord and Air Force Research Laboratory Commander Maj. Gen. Curtis M. Bedke.  (More)

Japan AF general visits Hanscom

Lt. Gen. Osahito Urayama, commander of the Japan Air Self Defense Force’s Air Materiel Command, signs a model of the JASDF E-767 Airborne Warning and Control System during his visit to Hanscom March 10. The first the 767 AWACS jets were delivered to the JASDF nearly a decade ago, and Electronic Systems Center is currently working to upgrade the JASDF E-767 AWACS through the Radar System Improvement Program.  (Photo by Mark Wyatt)

Commentary
Success of AFCYBER depends on the ESC team

Col. Kramlinger

By Col. George Kramlinger
AFCYBER (P) OL-A

The Electronic Systems Center here and its predecessors have always played a key role in defending the nation. With an ominous threat to the nation emerging on the cyberspace frontier, ESC is once again poised to play a key role in defending the Republic.

The United States increasingly depends on cyberspace to maintain our way of life and employ the instruments of national power. Control of essential processes in manufacturing, utilities, banking, health care, public safety, communications and national security now rely on networked computer systems.

This trend toward networked cyber systems continues to expand. Consequently, our economy and national security are fully dependent on the cyberspace infrastructure. Unfortunately, resources for exploiting the vulnerabilities in cyberspace are widely available and inexpensive.

Our adversaries - even those considered unsophisticated - actively seek to exploit this vulnerable center of gravity by developing capabilities to cripple our military forces, critical infrastructure, and commerce. As a result, cyber warfare is emerging as the preferred asymmetrical means to strike the United States.  (More)

754 ELSG-managed ETIMS boosts speed of technical order process

Jerry Kosey, lead engineer for the Enhanced Technical Information Management System electronic technical order viewer, assesses the process of loading electronic orders into ETIMS. Once validated by the tech order managers, the orders will be electronically available to authorized users throughout the Air Force.  (Photo by Dick Smith)

By Karen Costura
554th Electronic Systems Wing

The Air Force moved one step closer to its business transformation goal when the Enhanced Technical Information Management System, or ETIMS, became operationally available via the Air Force Portal on Feb. 29.

ETIMS, managed by the 754th Electronic Systems Group Technical Data Systems Section, was created to address the shortfalls with previous technical order management systems in support of the Air Force’s Number one priority for business transformation: “Synchronize the supply chain and installation management with operations — globally.”

“After some examination as to how we could improve our systems in support of the Air Force business transformation mission, we recognized the need to upgrade the way our TOs were managed,” said Greg Garcia, 754 ELSG director.  (More)

554 ELSG deploys new capabilities to GCSS-AF classified network

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio -- The 554th Electronic Systems Group Financial Information Systems office successfully deployed a modernized budget formulation and force programming capability to the Global Combat Support System - Air Force classified network.

The Budget Formulation Spiral 2/3 delivery, part of the Financial Information Resource System (FIRST) program, culminates a 15-month effort to deliver more than 1,400 functional requirements supporting ad hoc, or non-standard, reporting, and cost modeling for the Air Force’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget and more than 1,500 users worldwide for planning and evaluating civilian pay and flying hour costs scenarios.

The delivery of Spiral 2/3 allows the customer to move forward with a series of complicated technical tasks to update the system database in preparation for Operational Testing. This testing will validate how well FIRST Spiral 2/3 performs in meeting specific baseline requirements in an operational environment prior to full deployment of these capabilities.  (More)

The FIRST Development Team recently met success after deploying a modernized budget formulation and force programming capability to the GCCS-AF's  classified network. The FIRST Team is made up of the following members: (front row from left) Sandy Clemons, Randy Campbell, Mike Arellano, George Orr, Pat Miller, Huy Dang, Patrick Masters, (back row from left) Mike Bennett, Tim Zechar, Scott Siglar, Tom Lesnowski, Tom Hartzell, Bob Mahoney, Tom Ryan and Wendell Quinton. Not pictured is Program Manager Rich Tillman.  (Courtesy photo)

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Sun photo by Bill Bridgeford

Thousands of cookies, one message: Thanks
-- Lowell Sun
Once Upon A Town is a book about a town in Nebraska during World War II that came together to create a canteen to serve food and coffee to soldiers traveling through.

New system connects JTACs, pilots digitally 
-- Air Force Times
Joint terminal attack controllers deployed to Iraq will soon have a brand-new method to call in airstrikes that will digitize the process and send strike coordinates directly up to aircraft visual displays.

Q&A: Lt. Gen. Patrick de Rousiers
-- Defense News
The French Air Force is involved in some of the country's major deployments, including in Afghanistan and Chad, meaning it is using certain aircraft more than officials had planned.

Buzz of the Week: Security does matter
-- Federal Computer Week
Security is always a complex issue — a never-ending, constantly evolving assignment.

Cyber catch-up
-- C4ISR Journal
This time, Germany was hit. Foreign hackers used malicious software to infect computers in the office of Chancellor Angela Merkel and other ministries.

TSAT program should be safe for now, says DOD C3 official
-- Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Transformational Communications Satellite system (TSAT) should survive at close to what has been envisioned to date, despite industry speculation ...

Acquisition chief vows safer cost estimates
-- Air Force Times
The Air Force will be more cautious in its cost estimates for acquisition programs from now on, the service’s top civilian acquisition official said Wednesday ...

U.S. leaders sound alarms over cyber threats
-- Defense News
Washington must move quickly to bolster the Department of Defense's ability to safeguard key U.S. networks used for national security and global commerce ...

command comments ...

-- Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne

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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