A collection of news and information specifically for the C4ISR community

Vol. 5, No. 2
January 15, 2009

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Brig. Gen. Lawrence Wells provides a warfighting perspective on the value of C4ISR to members of the Hanscom Representatives Association during the group’s monthly luncheon meeting at the Minuteman Club Jan. 14. (Photo by Rick Berry)

By Chuck Paone
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Addressing the Hanscom Representatives Association at the Minuteman Club Jan. 14, Brig. Gen. Lawrence Wells suggested government and industry members ask themselves a question: 'What have I done today to help the warfighter?'

"The way to answer that is to say, 'how have I shortened the kill chain?'" the general said. In Air Force parlance, the kill chain refers to a multi-step process comprised of finding, fixing, tracking, targeting, engaging and assessing the damage done to enemy forces or assets.

General Wells, who serves as the director of Warfighter Systems Integration and Deployment within the Air Force's Office of Warfighting Integration and Chief Information Officer, offered several examples to show just how important that question - and the answer - can be.  (More)

New Horizons, State of ESC to be held Jan. 27, 28 in Newton

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Lt. Gen. Ted Bowlds

By Chuck Paone
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Registration for this year’s New Horizons Symposium and State of ESC address remains open. Interested government and industry members can check out all the details, and register online, at www.afceaboston.com.

The event will be held Jan. 27 and 28 at the Marriott Newton Hotel, Newton, Mass.

The theme for this year’s New Horizons is Rapidly Providing Information to the Warfighter. In addition to the traditional review of major Electronic Systems Center program areas and new business opportunities, the event will also feature a keynote address by the Air Force deputy chief of staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula.

Also, early on Jan. 28, a special warfighter perspective session will be held, featuring a presentation by Capt. Christopher Robinson of the 66th Security Forces Squadron. During the course of three separate tours in Iraq, Captain Robinson handled various duties, including training Iraqi police officers, and observed several significant events.

The symposium, sponsored by the Lexington-Concord Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, will as always feature ESC wing and group leaders, who will provide program information. Each speaker will offer a specific focus on emerging and new business opportunities in the ESC portfolio of programs and their associated acquisition strategies.

On Jan. 28, the symposium will also feature an Air Force Research Laboratory business opportunities presentation.

At the conclusion of New Horizons, ESC Commander Lt. Gen. Ted Bowlds will present his Annual State of ESC Address, during a luncheon which will start at 12:30 p.m. Individuals can register separately for that luncheon event.

First lieutenant Seth Simpson and Staff Sgt. Jessica Earls perform preflight procedures in the cockpit of the E-8C Joint STARS Jan. 7 at an air base in Southwest Asia. Lieutenant Simpson is a co-pilot assigned to the 7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron and Sergeant Earl is a flight engineer assigned to the 7th EACCS. They are deployed from Robins Air Force Base, Ga. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Michael Boquette)

By Senior Airman Clinton Atkins
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Airmen of the 7th Expeditionary Air Command and Control Squadron from this air base in Southwest Asia provide constant situational ground assessment from the air to coalition forces supporting operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Inside the E-8C Joint STARS, the aircrew give airborne battle management, command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance throughout the entire area of responsibility.

"We are there every day for long periods of time. Our presence provides an in-depth understanding of how things are moving on the ground." said Lt. Col. Mack Easter, the 7th EACCS commander.

By using the E-8C's surveillance capabilities, Airman of the 7th EACCS provide real time situational awareness to a wide gamut of assets across the battlefield. The radar and computer subsystems on the E-8C can gather and display detailed battlefield information on ground forces.  (More)

Hanscom welcomes community leaders as new Honorary Commanders 

Lt. Gen. Ted Bowlds, Electronic Systems Center commander (left), passes the guidon flag to Michael Graham, host of the daily radio talk show, The Natural Truth, on WTKK in Boston, marking his induction into Hanscom's Honorary Commander program, while Chief Master Sgt. Karen McCoy, ESC command chief, looks on. (Photo by Linda LaBonte Britt)

By J.C. Corcoran
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

With a capacity crowd on hand, Electronic Systems Center welcomed its six new Honorary Commanders to the ESC community at an installation ceremony Jan. 9 in the Minuteman Club Ballroom.

The honorary commanders program is designed to increase public awareness and understanding of the armed forces and the missions, policies, programs and people of ESC. The ceremony mirrored an actual assumption of command, with ESC Commander Lt. Gen. Ted Bowlds and each ESC wing commander passing a unit flag to his new honoree.

"Becoming an Honorary Commander in the Air Force is a serious tribute that reflects our appreciation and respect for the individual chosen and for what they have accomplished in business and their community," said General Bowlds. "We had a very distinguished group of individuals for our first group of honorary commanders two years ago, and we have an equally distinguished cadre of new honorary commanders that I know will serve us well."  (More)

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Thomas J. Hudner, a retired U.S. Navy captain, will be the featured speaker for the second Heritage of Freedom speaker series on Jan. 23.  (Photo by Linda LaBonte-Britt)

By Kevin Gilmartin
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Thomas J. Hudner, a retired U.S. Navy captain, will headline the second Heritage of Freedom Speaker Series Jan. 23 at 4 p.m. in the Minuteman Club Ballroom. He will be joined by two other Hanscom members who will recount their combat deployment experiences and tie their Electronic Systems Center missions to real-time execution in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Heritage of Freedom Speaker Series is a free event held quarterly that features three speakers, each of whom discuss their experiences serving in combat or while deployed. Their hard-hitting, 15-minute presentations are followed by short question and answer periods. The event is informal, and features free refreshments available throughout the discussions. Attendees are encouraged to remain after the addresses and talk informally with the speakers.

Captain Hudner will recount the circumstances that led to him being awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the United States military.  (More)

ESC congratulates new chief

Senior Master Sgt. Woodrow ‘Woody’ Carter of the 66th Security Forces Squadron, who was selected for promotion to chief master sergeant today, stands with current chiefs (from left) Chief Master Sgt. Mike McCoy, 66th Mission Support Group, Chief Master Sgt. Ginger Thompson, 66th Medical Group, and Chief Master Sgt. Al Thompson, 66 SFS. (Photo by Rick Berry)

New transportation option available for New Hampshire commuters

By Rhonda Siciliano
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Hanscom commuters living in and around the Nashua, N.H., area now have an economical and stress-free way to get to work.

TransAction Associates Corporate shuttle is now operating a service Monday to Friday between Nashua and the base. The shuttle service pick-up and drop-off location is the Park and Ride facility at exit 5W off of Route 3 on Route 111. Free parking is available at this site.

Shuttles depart Nashua at 6 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. with arrivals at Hanscom at approximately 6:45 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., respectively. Riders are dropped off and picked up at a location convenient to their work site. Afternoon return shuttles are currently at 4 p.m. and 5:45 p.m., but these schedules can be modified based on actual rider preference.

The cost of the daily shuttle service is $198 per month but this cost can be reduced by $120 per month for active-duty and civilian DoD employees (National Guard and Reserves included) who enroll in the Transportation Incentive Program, or TIP. For more information on the TIP contact Hanscom's Commuter Management Office at (781) 377-2904.

The shuttle is available to all Hanscom commuters. To learn more contact Transaction Associates at (781) 895-1100 and ask to speak to Ed Weiner or e-mail eweiner@transactionassoc.com.

Congratulations to ESC’s new Lieutenant Colonel selects

Base offers comprehensive health, fitness programs for civilian wellness

By Meredith March
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Beginning a new year and making resolutions inspires many Americans to recommit to better health and fitness. Often, however, individuals require help in sustaining the motivation necessary for achieving these goals.

At Hanscom, base leaders have launched a new holistic program designed to help civilian personnel live healthier lives. The program will combine specific events and activities with a renewed push for utilization of existing programs and resources.

Wellness must become a top priority in the Hanscom community, said 66th Air Base Wing Commander Col. Dave 'Iron' Orr.

"While mission productivity is important, my biggest focus is on your long-term health and your future," he said. "Every day, I observe many cases of civilian employees who do their jobs quite well, but their overall health is declining significantly. We can combat this decline with programs tailored to the fitness, nutrition and stress management needs of our Hanscom civilian force."

In addition to cutting-edge fitness equipment and basketball and racquetball courts, the Fitness and Sports Center offers a wide variety of free fitness classes formulated to accommodate individuals of every fitness level. Classes include circuit training, boxing aerobics, spinning, Tae Kwon Do, yoga and Pilates. Class schedules are available at www.hanscomservices.com/FitnessClasses120508.pdf.  (More)

NATO plans to deploy first RQ-4s in 2012
-- Flight International
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is "shooting for" a 2012 entry-into-service today for the long-awaited airborne ground surveillance fleet, although the contract remains unsigned and the most likely contractor acknowledges facing development issues.

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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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