A collection of news and information specifically for the C4ISR community

Vol. 4, No. 20
May 22, 2008

ESC security system answers global calls of joint war fighters in theater

Capt. Steve Smith, 642nd Electronic Systems Squadron tactical systems program manager, and Valentin Birladeanu, head Northrop Grumman contractor for AFCENT Tactical Automated Security System deployment and maintenance, examine upgrades to a long range thermal imager that were recently fielded at a base in Southwest Asia. The 642 ELSS' TASS has been delivered to locations around the globe to protect the joint war fighter. (Courtesy photo)

By Monica D. Morales
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

It’s not every day that the phone rings with urgent need calls from Army, Navy and Marine Corps war fighters looking for help in theater.

But for the 642nd Electronic Systems Squadron this is all in a day’s work thanks to its Tactical Automated Security System’s ability to continue saving the lives of sailors, soldiers, Airmen and Marines in locations around the world.

“Our primary mission is to support the Air Force Security Forces, but this effort has grown to the point now where we’re supporting every other service with TASS systems,” said Lloyd L. Corricelli, 642 ELSS director of acquisition.

The intrusion-detection system protects a military installation by using thermal imaging cameras, radars and even mini-unmanned aerial vehicles to detect threats along its perimeter. Information is relayed to a centralized tower and then fed to a computer at the base defense operations center, where operators pinpoint a threat's exact location and decide how to act upon it.

The squadron’s mission doesn’t just stop at Hanscom’s gates or contractor facilities. The squadron regularly deploys personnel to locations all over the Middle East conducting site surveys and meeting with its war fighting partners to determine how to best support missions first hand.  (More)

ESC enterprise knowledge helps JFCOM garner award
Integration support critical to evolving joint C2 management enterprise

By Chuck Paone
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

The Department of Defense recently recognized a U.S. Joint Forces Command initiative, which has been directly supported by the Electronic Systems Center, with its 2007 DoD Enterprise Architecture Achievement Government Organization Award.

The award recognizes the Joint Command and Control Architectures and Capability Assessment Enterprise (JACAE), which allows joint planners to rapidly identify the command and control assets needed by joint task forces.

This work is part of ESC’s continued constructive engagement across the joint C2 Portfolio, said Dr. Tim Rudolph, technical advisor for system of systems networking and interoperability for ESC. Center personnel provided decisive data that helped the Air Force develop a joint vision supporting this effort and led each of the services to collaboratively examine joint needs and capabilities, he said.  (More)

AFMC Surgeon General proud of personnel, provision of care

Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Richard Hersack, the Air Force Materiel Command surgeon general, meets with enlisted members of the 66th Medical Group at the Hanscom Clinic May 15.  While visiting Hanscom, the general met with base leaders and clinic staff, witnessed some of the group’s AFSO 21 innovations and toured a local Veterans Administration hospital where Hanscom nurses and medical technicians provide hands-on care. (Photo by Rick Berry)

By Chuck Paone
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

The Air Force offers one of the best medical services in the world, Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Richard A. Hersack said May 15 during a visit to Hanscom AFB, Mass.

General Hersack, who became the Air Force Materiel Command surgeon general last fall, said he couldn’t be more proud of the medical workers in the command and throughout the Air Force Medical Service. At the same time, he was quick to point out that they’re part of a larger joint team.

“The Air Force Medical Service is all about supporting the joint force,” he said, noting in particular the work done to provide trauma care to war fighters wounded in theater.

“We could not do what we do with the theater-level hospital care, the trauma surgery and the critical care transport, where our aero-vac units get folks home as survivors, without those front line combat medics – the Army and Navy corpsmen who work at the point of injury. They’re the ones who are stopping the killing process at the scene.” (More)

Air Force explains AFCYBER basing criteria for governors

WASHINGTON -- Air Force officials here recently sent a second in a series of letters to governors of states that have expressed interest in hosting the permanent location for the Air Force Cyber Command.

This letter further explains the basing methodology and requests more detailed information about the locations to be evaluated.

Bill Anderson, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment and logistics, sent the first letter to the governors in March outlining the basing process and notifying them of an upcoming data call that will allow each community to highlight attributes they feel will be good for the command.

"We feel that by sharing our criteria, identifying these areas and asking for input from the governors will help the Air Force make an appropriate decision," Mr. Anderson said. "At the same time, it will also help the communities more fully understand what AFCYBER is all about, the importance of its missions and how we plan to carry those missions."  (More)

g

Gen. Bruce Carlson

By Gen. Bruce Carlson
Commander, Air Force Materiel Command

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio — This Memorial Day, I invite you to join me in a tradition that has been somewhat forgotten over time. On May 26, let’s celebrate the true meaning of this national holiday by flying our American flags at half staff from dawn until noon.

As you wind down your holiday weekend, take this time to remember why we have a long weekend toward the end of May each year. It’s not because we’ve earned it as individuals, but rather because we’ve earned it collectively as a nation — through the heroic sacrifices of great Americans who laid down their lives in order to gain and protect the many freedoms we enjoy in this great country today.

Remember their sacrifices and the sacrifices made by their friends and families. These are sacrifices that Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers and Marines—and the people who support them—continue to make during current conflicts around the world.  (More)

Mini-UAVs rack up big gains
-- Defense Technology International 
Mini-UAVs continue to prove their value as tactical surveillance and reconnaissance craft. The design of this class of unmanned aerial vehicle has been fine-tuned to where versions are lightweight, manpack-portable in battle, readily launched by hand, and capable of carrying sophisticated data-transmission payloads. ...

F-22s successfully test TTNT at JEFX08
-- United Press International
The U.S. Air Force says it has successfully tested a classified information transmission technology from two F-22 Raptor aircrafts to ground stations.

Speakers: EA must meet business needs
-- Federal Computer Week
Enterprise architecture meets an agency's needs only if it solves an agency's business needs, according to speakers addressing an all-government audience today.

DOD wants apps up to speed
-- Government Computer News
Bloated operating systems and applications are preventing military organizations from getting sufficient speed from their information technology systems, according to several speakers at a recent Navy IT Day in Washington.

Memorial Day parade schedule
-- Wayland Town Crier
Wayland’s Memorial Day Parade will form at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 26 at Wayland Middle School, 201 Main St. The parade steps off at 11 a.m. and will proceed along Route 27 to Route 30 to the Lakeview Cemetery in Cochituate.

Services for Memorial Day begin Monday morning
-- Lexington Minuteman
Lexington will honor Memorial Day this year with a parade, ceremonies, dedications, and a review of some of the documents that constitute the very fibers of democracy in the United States.

command comments ...

 … Our country faces many challenges at home and abroad. We live in a time of “great necessities” – a time in which we cannot avoid the burdens of global leadership. The stakes are too high. And it is precisely during these times that America needs its best and brightest, from all walks of life, to step forward and commit to public service – to exchange the life of ease and contentment and take on the burdens and the bug-writers.

If, in the 21st century, America is to continue to be a force for good in the world – for freedom, justice, the rule of law, and the inherent value of each person; if America is to be, still, a beacon for all who are oppressed; if America is to exercise global leadership consistent with our better angels, then the most able and idealistic of today’s young people must step forward and agree to serve their country ...

-- Secretary of Defense
Robert M.Gates at May 16
Virginia Military Institute commencement

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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