The Integrator -- News From Across ESC

The Integrator

A collection of news and information specifically for the C4ISR community

Vol. 5, No.30
July 30, 2009

Space Fence program awards contracts for concept development

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

Last month’s award of three $30-million concept development contracts for the Space Fence program will yield an outcropping of risk reduction activities -- alternative radar designs, architecture/trade studies and prototyping – all designed to improve the overall space surveillance network.

“This is truly a classic multi-contractor, prototyping risk-reduction effort, and a return on the investment of the program to gather data to improve the follow-on phases,” said Linda Haines, Space Fence program manager.

The 850^th Electronic Systems group, the Electronic Systems Center organization responsible for the Space Fence’s acquisition and development, awarded the three contracts to Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon on June 11. (More)

Flight test shows small antenna can do big things

During a June test flight, Advanced Multiband Communications Antenna System program team members pass data and monitor location and flight conditions after successfully connecting to the MILSTAR satellite. The test flight confirmed the utility of a small but powerful antenna that will enable air crews to receive extremely high frequency satellite communications. (Courtesy photo)

By Chuck Paone
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

During a flight test conducted earlier this summer, Electronic Systems Center and MIT Lincoln Laboratory personnel demonstrated the powerful capabilities of a small antenna.

The seven-inch-high, 14-inch-wide antenna performed so well, in fact, that only one flight test was needed to determine its effectiveness, according to Capt. Jeff Zhu, the Air Force program manager.

This first iteration of the Advanced Multiband Communications Antenna System (AMCAS) was designed to enable crew members aboard various Air Force platforms to receive satellite transmissions from the Military Strategic and Tactical Relay satellite known as MILSTAR in the extremely high frequency mode, EHF. (More)

Contracting director's career an incredible journey from intern to SES

Nancy K. Andrews, ESC's new director of Contracting, pauses while in her office. (Photo by Rick Berry)

By Kevin Gilmartin
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Electronic Systems Center is the latest stop in a government career that has been "an incredible journey" for the center's new director of Contracting, taking her from a GS-02 clerk to the Senior Executive Service.

Nancy K. Andrews, a Salt Lake City, Utah, native, came to ESC from the Pentagon, where she was deputy of the Contract Mission Support Division in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. In her 20 years with the Air Force, Ms. Andrews has served in a wide variety of contracting assignments, ranging from the Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles AFB, Calif., to the National Reconnaissance Office.

Ms. Andrews began her career at one of the lowest civilian ranks -- a GS-02 accounting intern for the Army at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah -and has risen to the civilian equivalent of a general officer with her recent appointment to the Senior Executive Service.

Serving as an Army GS-02 accounting intern while a student at nearby Weber State University in Utah, she never imagined a career in government service, but when civilian recruiters visited her campus during her senior year, she gave the notion of working for the Air Force serious consideration. (More)

'Empire Challenge' focuses on interoperability

A member of U.S. Joint Forces Command's Joint Battlespace Awareness/ISR Integration Capability Team sets up operations on Naval Weapons Station China Lake's Slate range during the Empire Challenge 2009 experiment. Conducted at sites around the world, the demonstration is designed to test emerging technologies in a real-world field environment before they are fielded to the troops in combat. (Courtesy photo)

By Donna Miles
Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs

WASHINGTON - Taking advantage of emerging technologies to collect and analyze intelligence, then testing out better ways to get it out to warfighters who need it is the focus of a demonstration project under way in the California high desert and at sites in the United States and several other countries.

U.S. Joint Forces Command's Empire Challenge 2009 kicked off two weeks ago and continues through July 31, bringing together 1,700 participants in a live, joint and coalition ISR interoperability demonstration, Air Force Col. George J. Krakie said today during a media roundtable.

The most visual part of the demonstration is taking place at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Calif., a hot, dusty, high-desert environment Krakie said closely resembles conditions warfighters and their equipment face in Iraq and Afghanistan. (More)

Air Force IT conference brings DoD leadership to Montgomery

By Jason Bishop
754th Electronic Systems Group

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE-GUNTER ANNEX, Ala. – The stars are set to fall on Alabama as the Air Force's Information Technology Conference has become the venue to hear from top leaders in the Department of Defense.

Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, headlines a list of speakers for the Air Force Information Technology Conference 2009 scheduled for Aug. 24-27 at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa Convention Center in Montgomery, Ala.

Attendee registration is open to Department of Defense personnel, government contractors, college educators, and local and state employees. College students majoring in IT or business are also welcome to register.

The theme for this year’s conference is 'Air Force IT: The Warfighter’s Edge in Battlespace,' and will focus on how the continued forward-leaning technology the Air Force provides gives our nation’s joint/coalition warfighters an unprecedented advantage over adversaries. The conference will also bring together government leaders and key figures in the IT field, allowing them to learn how to best apply the latest, cutting-edge technology to keep the Air Force the most advanced fighting force in the world. (More)

ESC announces 2nd quarter award winners

Airman Category	NCO Category	Senior *NCO* *Category*	CGO Category	FGO Category

Senior Airman Tamar Duncan 653 ELSW	Tech. Sgt. Clayton Henrickson 653 ELSW	Master Sgt. Orion Wirick 653 ELSW	Capt. Dennis Smith 350 ELSW	Lt. Col. Joseph Inwalle 350 ELSW

*Civilian* *Category I*	Civilian Category II	Civilian Category III

Kortnie Frye 554 ELSW	Ardis Hearn 554 ELSW	Evan Pressman 350 ELSW
Not pictured: Honor Guard Enlisted, Staff Sgt. Lan Nguyen Honor Guard Officer, Capt. Vivek Balaji

Commuter eBoard saves time, money, environment

By Karen Guendel
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Hanscom has a new Commuter eBoard Web site that provides one-stop shopping for commuters looking to save time and money while doing something good for the environment.

"This HanscomRides site (Commuter eBoard) is a valuable tool for Hanscom commuters because it connects them to several programs offering substantial time and cost savings," said Col. Dave Orr, 66th Air Base Wing commander. "The effort also helps us reduce traffic on and around the base and contributes to a cleaner atmosphere."

Programs available on the Commuter eBoard range from HanscomRides car pools, to public transportation, to alternative work schedules.

HanscomRides is a free program that connects individuals interested in carpooling. Commuters can search the Web site for car pool partners with similar commutes. They can also post their commute information so that others can contact them. This service is free of charge for all Hanscom employees. (More)

Thunderbird pilot shares experiences at 554 ELSG event

Lt. Col. Derek Routt, operations officer for the Air Force Thunderbirds, presents an autographed Thunderbird picture to Brent Gibson, 554^th Electronic Systems Group deputy director. Colonel Routt spoke at the group's Military Awareness Event held earlier this month. (Photo by Linda Deagele)

By Bob Kasprzak
554th Electronic Systems Group

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio – Though many converged on Dayton to enjoy the 2009 Vectren Air Show, members of the 554 Electronic Systems Group here were treated to their own show as Lt. Col. Derek Routt, operations officer for the Air Force Thunderbirds, shared on July 17 what it means to be part of this elite flying unit.

Colonel Routt provided an overview of the complexity of a Thunderbird performance, saying his responsibility is “to ensure each and every show is flawless, safe, and up to Thunderbird standards.”

“I put aircraft in the air, and make sure training is done. My number one job is safety,” he said.

Colonel Routt is second-in-command of this flying squadron comprised of 12 officers and more than 120 maintenance and support personnel, who together “represent the Air Force throughout the world.” (More)

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$495M to 3 companies for USAF base protection security system
-- Defense Industry Daily
Science Application International Corp in San Diego, CA; L-3 Services in Chantilly, VA; and Northrop Grumman in Herndon, VA, were awarded a combined $495 million force protection security system (FPS2) contract to support integrated base defense at U.S. Air Force and other U.S. Defense Department sites worldwide.

DOD: Can virtualization make security more manageable?
-- Washington Technology
Defense Department officials want to know if virtualization technology can make DOD’s networks more secure and easier to manage, according to an information request posted on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site.

TSAT replacement?
-- Defense News
Since the decision in April to cancel the six-year-old, four-years-late, $26 billion Transformational Satellite (TSAT) program, U.S. Air Force leaders have been pondering how to replace it.

Empire Challenge pushes precision ISR
-- Aviation Week
New methods of gathering and sharing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) data and getting information directly to the soldier in the field are entering a final demonstration phase in California before entering service with coalition forces in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Updated Global Information Grid would bring Web 2.0 to the Defense Department
-- National Defense Magazine
Frustrated that the different communications networks deployed by its four branches aren’t always able to speak to one another, the Defense Department is moving forward with a major overhaul of its global information grid.

command comments ...

… Developing and caring for Airmen's families are one of our top priorities. We have focused much of our efforts in this area. Some of our recent initiatives have concentrated on expanding child care capacity, increasing child care for Guard and Reserve families, improving financial readiness, and improved education and developmental opportunities for spouses and children.

Our Airmen are experiencing an increased deployment schedule, so we are also providing increased deployment support - not only for our Airmen, but specifically for our military families. We offer programs and services across all phases of the deployment. …

… We will remain engaged on our family support programs, and we plan on constantly improving the programs we already have in effect.

-- Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy

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