A collection of news and information specifically for the C4ISR community

Vol. 5, No. 10
March 12, 2009

Gen. Hoffman lauds Hanscom, ESC as central to team effort 

Gen. Donald J. Hoffman, Air Force Materiel Command commander, addresses questions during an interview in the Distinguished Visitors Lounge prior to departing Hanscom March 11. The general was wrapping up a whirlwind two-day visit to the base during which he met with personnel from each of the Electronic Systems Center wings, spoke to recently returned deployers, toured the Air Force Research Laboratory and met with local community leaders.  (Photo by Mark Wyatt)

By Chuck Paone
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Saying that the equipment the Electronic Systems Center delivers to warfighters forms “the sinews of our entire military operation,” the commander of Air Force Materiel Command lauded the center and all members of Team Hanscom during his two-day visit to the base March 10 and 11.

“I applaud the people who work here,” said Gen. Donald Hoffman in an interview March 11. “I fully understand and appreciate the complexity of the task, because you’re dealing with intangible things. We’re talking about electrons moving through networks; we’re talking about radio waves; we’re talking about how sensors behave.”

All the planes and missiles in the world wouldn’t be effective without the command and control systems ESC provides, the general said. “If we couldn’t tie them all together, and tie the human element in with the entire enterprise, then it would all stop.”  (More)

C2ISR Symposium set for Aug. 31-Sept. 2 at MGM Grand 

By Kevin Gilmartin
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Electronic Systems Center and the local Air Force Association chapter are in the early stages of planning a C2ISR Symposium to be held Aug. 31 to Sept. 2 at the MGM Grand Hotel at Foxwoods in Ledyard, Conn.

According to Angela Dupont, president of the AFA's Paul Revere Chapter, the symposium will be modeled after previous C2ISR summits the chapter has held, most recently in 2004, and will feature senior leaders from across the Department of Defense and industry, as well as a huge exhibit area with the latest technology displays.

"Working closely with Col. Rob Dominguez and his 350th Electronic Systems Wing, we are currently outlining what we think will be an exciting line-up of informative presentations focused on command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems," Ms. Dupont said. "We will have a strong focus on joint C2ISR in this symposium, along with a strong presence from industry in our presentations. I hope people will mark their calendars with these late summer dates, because this is shaping up to be a can't-miss event."  (More)

Command recognition

Gen. Donald J. Hoffman, commander of Air Force Materiel Command, pins the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award streamers to the 653rd Electronic Systems Wing and group guidons, held by 2nd Lt. Jason Patterson, during his visit to the 653 ELSW Tuesday. Holding the other guidons are (from left) 2nd Lt. Kevin Young, 2nd Lt. Chris Alban and Staff Sgt. Patrick Raass. The Air Force announced in December that the 653rd won Outstanding Unit Award honors for its accomplishments in 2006 and 2007. (Photo by Rick Berry)

AFMC leaders urged to focus on nuclear sustainment, command priorities

By Ron Fry
Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- From a top priority of robust nuclear sustainment to increased warfighter support and resource conservation, Gen. Donald Hoffman, commander of Air Force Materiel Command, charged his center and wing commanders along with AFMC headquarters staff to make the command’s priorities a fundamental part of their daily mission.

General Hoffman called for maximum focus on the command priorities during AFMC’s semi-annual senior leaders conference March 5 and 6 at Robins AFB. In advance of the conference, leaders formally approved a list of five command priorities that complement Air Force priorities. They are:

• Reinvigorate AFMC’s role in the nuclear enterprise.
• Implement effective and efficient Integrated Life Cycle Management to support the warfighter.
• Support the Air Force by recruiting, training and retaining a high-performing workforce.
• Nurture and protect our people and families.
• Be good stewards of government resources.

AFMC’s renewed role as keeper of the Air Force’s nuclear arsenal was highlighted as AFMC’s and the Air Force’s most critical priority. “Everyone in AFMC has a role to play in getting our nuclear enterprise where it needs to be,” General Hoffman said.  (More)

Congratulations to ESC’s new majors

HQ ESC Amy Bryan, ESC/JA P-Gain 66 ABW Amanda Dietrich, 66 MSS Morgan D’Olympia, ABW 350 ELSW Rowdy Yates, 350 ELSW Daniel P. Wallick, 850 ESG Edward R. Wagner, 950 ELSG Brian D. Randolph, 850 ELSG Thomas E. Bierly, 950 ELSG Jonathan U. Sticka, 630 ELSS Aaron G. Lasch, AFSPC/A7KP, PCSed Tom R. Pina, AFELM DCMA, PCSed 551 ELSW Thomas C. Ward, 851 ELSG Jorge L. Manresa, 31 Student Sq, PCSed Thomas M. Cooke, 636 ES Sq Gregory E. Morano, P-Gain 554 ELSW Cheryl A. Huiatt, 554 ELSG Joseph M. Butryn, 754 ELSG

Darryle Stephens, 643 ELSS Lisa A. Miller, PCSed Luis A. Segura,  PCSed 653 ELSW Jesse Jaramillo, 653 ELSW Renae Barnes, 753 ELSG Sounder R. Andrews, 653 ELSG Frank A. Mathey, 653 ELSG Stephanie Coleman, 653 ELSG Chantel M. Knapp, 753 ELSG Jon B. Stevens, 753 ELSG Thomas M. Cooke, 551 ELSG/LS PCSed Darrin L. Dereus, J833/J8 PCSed Michael D. Schroeder, PCSed Daniel J. Visosky, PCSed Erich W. Youmans Jr., PCSed CPSG Jaime Bastidas, CPSG Texas 38TH EIG Ian J. Johnson, 38 EIG, Tinker AFB Lewis Pate Jr., USAFCENT, Shaw AFB

AFAF charity spotlight: AFAS assists struggling Airmen

Col. David Orr (center), 66th Air Base Wing commander, and Col. Jeffrey Mayo (right), 66 ABW vice commander, complete their Air Force Assistance Fund contribution forms as Capt. Patrick Graham, Hanscom’s AFAF project officer, looks on. The Air Force Assistance Fund is going on now through April 10. Hanscom’s goal for this year’s campaign is $37,170. (Photo by Linda LaBonte-Britt)

By Meredith March
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

The Air Force Assistance Fund campaign, which will continue on Hanscom through April 10, benefits four charities committed to supporting Airmen through difficult times. One of these foundations is the Air Force Aid Society, which helps fund community support programs and provides loans and college scholarships for qualifying servicemembers and their dependents.

Charity spotlight: Air Force Aid Society
The Air Force Aid Society was founded in 1942 by Army Air Force personnel who wanted to help fellow Airmen through difficult times.

The organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., helped provide 45,000 members Air Force-wide with a total of $24.3 million in 2008, according to the Air Force Aid Society's Web site at www.afas.org.  (More)

Congratulations to ESC’s new captains

HQ ESC Michael Paul Thiefels, ESD-JA, Arrv’d 350 ELSW Michael Smith, 631 ELSS Ryan McHenry Hiserote, PCSed 551 ELSW Daniel K. Knoss, 638 ESS

554 ELSW Bryan P. Ewing, 754 ELSG Casey Pellizzari, PCSed Marshalria M. Vaughans, 754 ELSG NON-ESC - TENANTS/GSUs Travis Don Husaboe, 46 Test Squadron, PCAed

Fitness classes offer a variety of civilian wellness options 

Participants in the base Fitness Center’s Physical Training Boot Camp class practice stretching exercises March 9. The PT Boot Camp is just one of many classes offered by Fitness Center staff to all Hanscom ID holders. (Photo by Linda LaBonte-Britt)

By Chuck Paone
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Hanscom civilian employees looking to begin or sustain wellness efforts have many options available to them, but one thing is clear: they don't have to go it alone.

"Fitness classes can be a great way for people to come in and exercise in a group setting and enjoy the benefits of camaraderie," said base fitness specialist and certified physical trainer Paul Shoesmith. "Most people who take group classes really wind up feeling like they're part of a team, and they build some great friendships along the way."

The Hanscom Fitness Center offers a wide variety of classes ranging from aerobics to boxing. A full list of classes, most of which are free to Hanscom ID holders, can be found at www.HanscomServices.com.(More)

Tuskegee Airman shares memories with 554 ELSG 

Eddie McLaurin recalls his experience as a Tuskegee Airman during World War II to Col. Greg Gutterman, 554 ELSG commander, and members of the Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, community.  (Photo by Linda Daegele)

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio -- Eddie McLaurin, a Tuskegee Airman and first lieutenant in the Army Air Corps during World War II, shared his story during a Military Awareness/Black History Month event hosted by the 554th Electronic Systems Group here Feb. 23.

Born in 1919 in Greenwood, Miss., Lieutenant McLaurin attended a local catholic school and completed undergraduate studies at Tougaloo College in Jackson, Miss. At an early age, Lieutenant McLaurin fell in love with flying, but was repeatedly told that the chance to become a pilot wasn’t open to him because of the color of his skin.

Pushing forward, Lieutenant McLaurin was eventually accepted as an Army Aviation cadet and sent to the experimental Tuskegee Flight School at Tuskegee Army Airfield, Ala., in November 1942.  (More)

Official: FAA shows progress on NextGen
-- Federal Computer Week
The Federal Aviation Administration has advanced its Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), which would improve management of traffic with automated computer and satellite systems ...

Air Force officer predicts additional need for unmanned aircraft systems
-- Las Vegas Review-Journal
Declassified videos of MQ-1 Predator missile strikes provided by U.S. Air Forces Central Command show surveillance and targeting of insurgents and militants ...

Elder: Network information assurance a top concern for Air Force
-- Inside the Air Force
In the wake of last month’s highly publicized probe of the Air Force’s computer networks, Eighth Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Robert Elder this week said that keeping military networks and Web-based information safe and accessible ...

Law freezes competitive sourcing
-- Federal Computer Week
The fiscal 2009 spending law President Barack Obama signed March 11 prevents federal agencies from engaging in new competitive sourcing projects.

U.S. military tests EPLRS-based ad hoc mobile network
-- Defense News
Is Raytheon giving Boeing the jitters? Perhaps.

command comments ...

-- Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, Air Force Chief of Staff, at Feb. 26 AFA Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Fla.

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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