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Holiday greetings from the ESC Commander
By Lt. Gen. Ted
Bowlds
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| Lt. Gen. Ted Bowlds |
Electronic Systems Center Commander
It’s hard to
believe, but another year is coming to an end, and the
holidays are upon us once again.
The
past year was challenging for those of us in the
Electronic Systems Center and at Hanscom, but we have
shown time and again that we have what it takes to get
the job done, no matter the task.
Our success in
2009 was a total team effort, with tremendous
contributions from people at Hanscom as well as our
dispersed units.
We
began the year with a vision of "War-winning information
systems... on time, on cost!"
Throughout the year, we
have met that vision, providing our warfighters critical
command and control and combat support capabilities,
something we will strive to continue in 2010.
We continued recruiting,
developing, rewarding and retaining an effective
workforce, once again earning the Boston Globe’s Top 100
Places to Work recognition.
We embarked on
a civilian wellness campaign that led the way for Air
Force Materiel Command. We put safety first, with
Hanscom becoming the first Air Force installation to
earn the Voluntary Protection Program Star status. And
we had a leading role in many important conferences,
including MILCOM 2009 and the C2ISR Symposium, which
brought the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air
Force, as well as other senior leaders, to share their
vision for the ESC team. All year long, our people have
shown their deep compassion for those less fortunate,
donating to the Combined Federal Campaign, and
volunteering off-duty time to help veterans and others
in local communities.
Next year will
be a year of significant change, as we restructure our
acquisition wings, create new Program Executive Officer
positions and continue to hire new civilians.
Once again, our warfighters
will be depending on us to provide those critical
capabilities that will make a difference and save
American lives.
But now, it’s
time to pause from our busy schedules and celebrate the
holidays, sharing
good times, good food and the company of friends and
loved ones. The holiday
season
can be a hectic time.
Please be careful
as you celebrate.
Don’t drink and drive, and don’t
let your guests do so either.
If
you are traveling this season, take every precaution in
preparing
 so
you will have a safe journey.
As we gather with our friends and
family to celebrate this holiday season and reflect on
the many blessings we have, let’s pause to remember
those men and women in uniform who will not be with
their families this year because they are in harm’s way,
serving their country in remote locations around the
world.
Although they can’t be with
us, let’s keep them in our thoughts, our hearts and our
prayers.
Marcia and I
extend our best wishes to you and your families for a
safe and truly happy holiday and a prosperous New Year.
Together, we will make our
Air Force even better in 2010.
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Commentary
Major
accomplishments mark an outstanding AFMC year
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|
Gen. Donald Hoffman |
By Gen. Donald Hoffman
Air Force Materiel Command Commander
WRIGHT-PATTERSON
Air Force Base, Ohio -- As 2009 comes to a close, it's
important I say thank you to everyone in Air Force Materiel
Command, and to your families, for your hard work and
dedicated service to our command and the Air Force. Your
skills, talents and professionalism have resulted in a year
full of AFMC accomplishments.
We've made significant
strides in increased civilian hiring. More than 1,700 new
employees were hired through job fairs, partnerships with
universities, recruitment initiatives and more. During the
last year, we were able to consume 6 percent of our energy
from renewable sources which doubled the Air Force's target
of 3 percent. In the arena of wellness, we spearheaded a
smoking-cessation program in which several hundred quit
tobacco use.
These successes, along with many others,
can be attributed to this outstanding command and the work
you do every day. (More) |
ESC team
looks at progress of net-centric pathfinders
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Brian Welden of Fenwick
Technologies talks with other participants,
including Paul Kim of MITRE (facing), during a
two-day Technical Exchange Meeting held at Hanscom
AFB Dec. 9 and 10.
The exchange allowed
Electronic Systems Center officials and contractor
participants to exchange information about and
demonstrate six "Net-Centric Path-Finder"
technologies.
(USAF photo by Mark Herlihy)
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By
Chuck Paone
66th Air Base
Wing Public Affairs
Electronic Systems Center officials got a better look at a
half dozen promising technologies during a two-day,
collaborative event held at Hanscom Air Force Base Dec. 9
and 10.
During the sessions, 653rd Electronic Systems
Wing Enterprise Integration Division members and representatives
from companies sponsoring the technologies discussed and
demonstrated the enhanced capabilities.
The group also looked at how the technologies can
interoperate with one another right now, and began strategizing
about ways to enhance interoperability in the future.
“We threw the challenge out to them,” said EID
member Laura Bonanno of MITRE.
“Can you work together and exchange data?
And, if so, how rapidly can you do it?” (More)
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Heroes honored at Homecoming
Thirty Airmen who had returned from
deployment during the past six months were honored during Hanscom's
semi-annual Heroes' Homecoming celebration Dec. 11 in the Aero Club
Hangar.
Legendary New England Patriot and NFL Hall
of Famer John Hannah was among the distinguished guests who
participated, and Gen. Donald Hoffman, commander of the Air Force
Materiel Command, was on hand to greet each of the honorees prior to
the ceremony.
(USAF Photo by Mark Herlihy)
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Joint STARS teams with
AMARG to improve combat ID
By
Patty Welsh
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Patrick Dagle, director,
751st Electronic Systems Group, looks at a 707
aircraft that has been used for parts reclamation at
the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration
Group (AMARG), Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. AMARG
personnel removed a keel beam from the aircraft for
an Electronic Systems Center Joint Surveillance
Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) Senior
Year Electro-optical Reconnaissance System
(SYERS-3) program demonstration. (Courtesy photo)
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66th Air Base
Wing Public Affairs
Members of an Electronic
Systems Center team are using an aircraft identified for parts
reclamation, or re-use, to reduce cost, save time and minimize
risk.
In 2008, the Joint
Surveillance Target
Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) program office at the
Electronic Systems Center (ESC) received congressional funding
to integrate and conduct a
demonstration of the Senior Year Electro-optical Reconnaissance
System (SYERS-3) on a Joint STARS aircraft. The SYERS-3 sensor
provides electro-optical and infrared images which will provide
aircrews combat identification and reduce fratricide.
The SYERS – 3 Integrated Product Team
identified several risk areas with integrating this third
generation U2 camera onto Joint STARS and contracted with
Northrop Grumman Corp. (NGC) to perform a SYERS-3 Feasibility
Study. During that initial study, engineers determined the best
location for the SYERS-3 sensor would be mounted below the jet
in an area known as the keel beam of the E-8C Joint STARS
aircraft. (More)
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New AFMC Command
Chief named
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Chief Master Sgt. Eric R.
Jaren
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Air Force Materiel Command
Public Affairs Report
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio -- Air Force officials
have announced that Chief Master Sergeant Eric R. Jaren will
become the new command chief of Air Force Materiel Command.
Chief Jaren comes to Headquarters AFMC from Edwards AFB,
Calif., where he has served as the command chief for the Air
Force Flight Test Center and 95th Air Base Wing since August
2008. He becomes the eighth AFMC command chief since the
command was activated in 1992.
"I am truly honored to
be chosen for this important job," Chief Jaren said. "Our
enlisted members help form the backbone of our command and
our Air Force. I look forward to advising command leadership
on ways to develop, train and focus our enlisted corps to
execute today's mission and better prepare for tomorrow's
mission."
As the command chief, he will advise the
commander and senior staff on matters concerning effective
use, training, education and readiness of AFMC's 13,000
enlisted Airmen. (More)
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in
the news ...
Use of these articles does not
reflect official endorsement. Reproduction for private use or gain
is subject to original copyright restrictions.
Troops welcomed
home
-- Bedford Minuteman
Hanscom Air Force Base mobilized last week to
recognize personnel returning from deployment and their families.
All-seeing
security program spreading throughout DOD
-- Defense Systems
The implementation of a $9.7 million agreement
with McAfee and Northrop Grumman to secure 5 million desktop
and notebook computers and servers is bolstering military
cybersecurity efforts via the host-based security system (HBSS)
rolled out last month.
Military ‘Swimming In Sensors and
Drowning in Data’
-- National Defense
When it comes to battlefield intelligence, it’s far better to have
too much than too little.
DoD To Add $100B to 2011-15 Spending
--
Defense News
The Obama administration will add $100 billion to the Pentagon's
2011-'15 base budget plan to cover the rising cost of personnel and
pressing modernization needs, officials said.
Airborne, maritime joint network passes
key milestone
-- Defense Systems
The
component of the Joint Tactical Radio System intended for airborne
and maritime platforms and land installations has successfully
completed a critical design review that capped more than six months
of system and subsystem assessments.
Pentagon Must Avert
‘Points of Failure’ in Supplier Base, Says Industrial Policy Chief
-- National Defense
The defense industry will have to shut down unneeded facilities and
possibly lay off workers in the coming years, as the Pentagon begins
to trim its weapons budget and bring troops back from wars abroad.
A Chip Off the Old Block
-- AFA Daily Report
Northrop Grumman announced Tuesday that the first Air Force RQ-4
Global Hawk Block 40 unmanned reconnaissance aircraft "performed
beautifully" during its maiden test flight in November.
Public or private, the cloud makes its
business case
-- Federal Computer Week
Testing and developing software is like a roller coaster: They both
have big highs and lows. |
command comments ...
“This time of year calls on Americans to reflect
on and give thanks for the freedoms and
prosperity we enjoy. Of course, we can only do
so because of those who put their lives on the
line every day: the soldiers, sailors, airmen,
and Marines who bear repeated deployments,
hardships, and danger – without fail and without
complaint. …
This will be my third
holiday season spent as Secretary of Defense.
During these years nothing has impressed me as
much as the determination, resilience and good
humor of those who defend our nation. This
holiday season, along with “Happy Thanksgiving,”
“Happy Hanukkah,” and “Merry Christmas,” I would
add two words on behalf of millions of your
countrymen: “Thank you.”
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