A collection of news and information specifically for the C4ISR community

Vol. 5, No.12
March 26, 2009

Electronic Systems Center intel system gains warfighting role
Eagle Vision uses broad-area imagery to boost situational awareness

The Eagle Vision imagery collection system, managed by the 950th Electronic Systems Group here, uses commercial satellites to take snapshots of broad areas where homeland defense or operational action might be required. This imagery, taken by the system during the 2008 wildfires in Santa Barbara, Calif., shows active fires along with areas that have already burned. (Courtesy image)

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

Whether fighting the flames of California wildfires or detecting floating threats off coasts, officials from the 950th Electronic System Group’s key imagery collection system are transitioning victories from homeland defense into capabilities for warfighter use around the world.

“We certainly love working to support homeland relief and other disasters, but the thing that excites us is getting into more operational scenarios,” said Capt. Daniel Urban, Eagle Vision program manager. “It’s great to have a positive impact here at home, as well as abroad.”

EV collects and processes imagery by using industry standard software to predict when various commercial satellites will be within range to take a snapshot of a designated area at a designated time. After the antenna points in the satellite’s direction, communication takes place between the satellite and ground station. The picture is then downloaded, undergoes low-level processing and is written to a DVD.  (More)

ISR operations adapt to ever-changing battlefield conditions

An armed MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft sits in a shelter at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, before a mission. Larger and more powerful than the MQ-1 Predator, the Reaper can carry up to 3,750 pounds of laser-guided bombs and Hellfire missiles. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Erik Gudmundson)

By Maj. Tim Johnson
Combined Air and Space Operations Center Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- "Complete adaptation to environment means death. The essential point in all response is the desire to control environment."

These words from the American philosopher and reformer John Dewey make the point that as conditions change, one must not simply adapt to them, but instead endeavor to control the new reality that is created by them.

This principle has been at the forefront of U.S. military innovation as a new battlefield has emerged characterized by militants, insurgencies and guerrilla warfare.

At the tip of this innovation are the revolutionary changes being seen in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations. (More)

AF Information Technology Conference to open online registration soon

AFMC nominates Colonel, Mrs. Dennis for O'Malley Award

Col. Dwyer Dennis (standing left), 551st Electronic Systems Wing commander, and Mrs. Tammy Dennis (seated right) pose with their children (back row from left) Alison, Derek, Cherie and (seated left) Amanda last year. Colonel and Mrs. Dennis were recently named AFMC's nominee for the General and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley award. (Courtesy photo)

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

Col. Dwyer Dennis, 551st Electronic Systems Wing commander, and his wife Tammy were recently named Air Force Materiel Command’s nominees for the General and Mrs. Jerome F. O’Malley Award.

“This is an incredible and humbling honor,” said Colonel Dennis. “The accomplishments of an organization are not solely determined by the leadership or dedication of an individual -- it is the leadership, talents, and commitment by all team members. I'm proud of and for the ‘5-5-1 Second to None’ and the entire Hanscom community because this nomination recognizes the significant contributions of each military, civilian and contractor Airman.”

The award, named in honor of the late General and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley, recognizes the wing commander and spouse team whose contributions to the nation, the Air Force, and the local community best exemplify the highest ideals and positive leadership of a military couple serving in a key Air Force position.  (More)

ESC, AFMC contracting annual award winners announced

By  Col. Henry Pandes
Director of Contracting

The Directorate of Contracting recognized the outstanding Fiscal Year 2008 accomplishments of contracting professionals at Hanscom and its Geographically Separated Units during a March 5 Town Hall meeting.

In addition to announcing the ESC contracting award recipients, recognition was also given to those teams and individuals earning Air Force Materiel Command level awards. AFMC level award winners traveled to Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio on March 24, where they were honored at the Contracting and Small Business Awards Banquet.  (More)

By Rhonda Siciliano
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has accepted Hanscom's application to become a Voluntary Protection Program certified site.  The next step in the process will be an inspection visit that is scheduled to take place the week of May 18.

"This is a critical step," said Col. Lee Pritchard, 66th Air Base Wing Safety Office director. "Now it's up to each of us to prove to the OSHA team that we have an active, viable VPP culture and program in place."

The Voluntary Protection Program emphasizes worker safety and health and the identification and elimination of hazards by involving employees and managers in the process.  (More)

GSU kudos 

Electronic Systems Center Commander Lt. Gen. Ted Bowlds thanks the members of the Missile Warning and Defense Sensors Division for their contributions to the 850th Electronic Systems Group mission during his visit to Peterson AFB, Colo., March 25.  The general conducted a commander's call, entertained questions from various 850th sites via video teleconference and hosted a brown bag luncheon. 

HAWC classes cover wealth of wellness topics

By Chuck Paone
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Hanscom's Health and Wellness Center offers structured classes on many topics that can help people achieve a healthier lifestyle.

"There are advantages to the group dynamic," said Deanne Casey, a Civilian Health Promotion Services nurse coordinator and health educator who works out of the HAWC. "We don't run classes where one person lectures while everyone else sits and listens. We all converse and work to help each other out."

Toward that end, Ms. Casey and other HAWC instructors would like to get more people into their classes.

"With more people, you find more discussion and more ideas are exchanged," she said.  (More)

AFAF spotlight: General, Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation

By Meredith March
66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

The Air Force Assistance Fund is the main source of support for the General and Mrs. Curtis E. LeMay Foundation, established by the general and his wife, Helen, in 1987. The foundation provides for the needs of Air Force retirees' widows across the nation.

General LeMay once said, "If there is going to be change for the better in this world, you have to provide it by doing something." With the aid of his wife, this same attitude and drive led to the creation of the organization, which offers grants to provide widows of Air Force retirees of all ranks with assistance for rent, utilities, food and some health care.

The foundation was based on the concept that these widows "spent much of their lives coping with the difficulties of military life and supporting their spouses through years of active duty," states the organization's Web site, located at www.lemay-foundation.org. "Military spouses are entitled to a decent standard of living, entitled to live with dignity, and entitled to be proud of their service."  (More)

Mattis: Irregular war must be core competency
-- Defense News
The U.S. military must make combating irregular warfare a "core competency," one top American commander told a Senate panel March 24, while another warned Washington's relations with Russia will remain prickly for some time.

Cartwright: Military must use IT to be more adaptable
-- Federal Computer Week
The U.S. military will face persistent conflicts with constantly evolving enemies for the foreseeable future, and the best way to engage them is to be better at adapting to new conditions ...

Standards body investigates C4I security tagging
-- Government Computer News
The Object Management Group's (OMG) working group for Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) has begun investigating the possibility of either developing or adopting a set of standardized security tags ...

Cartwright sees missile defense shifting
-- Aviation Week
The vice chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff said March 23 that he envisions the future mission for missile defense shifting from protecting the homeland to protecting U.S. troops deployed overseas, as well as allies and friends.

command comments ...

-- General James N. Mattis, USMC Commander, United States Joint Forces Command at March 18 HASC hearing

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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