|
|
A collection of news and information specifically for the C4ISR
community |
||
|
SECAF delivers address on state of the
Air Force
Defense Media Activity
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (AFNS)
-- Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley addressed hundreds
of Airmen, sister service members and industry leaders during
the Air Force Association's 2011 Air & Space Conference and
Technology Exposition here, Sept. 19. |
|||
|
ESC awards contract to keep key Air
Force system up-to-date
Enterprise Information Systems Directorate
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE-GUNTER ANNEX, Ala. --Officials at the Electronic Systems Center here recently awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to continue to provide computing services for the Global Combat Support System – Air Force (GCSS-AF) that could be worth up to $791 million.
Work will include infrastructure operations and sustainment, delivery of infrastructure, data services, combat mission capabilities and updating of Air Force information technology architecture.
The GCSS-AF provides a one-stop shop hosting environment for Air Force applications.
With one login via the Air Force Portal, GCSS-AF gives Airmen access to combat support tasks to include managing and ordering parts and munitions, tracking aircraft status, providing imagery data and flightline instructions and manuals. GCSS-AF also provides support in terms of personnel management via access to leave and pay statements, accounting systems, fitness and training systems. ( More) |
|||
|
Data links symposium to be held in
Boston next week
The International Data Links Society’s annual symposium will be held Sept. 28 to 30 at the Sheraton Boston Hotel.
The symposium includes plenary sessions with keynote speakers, training streams, an exhibition area with hands-on equipment displays and a tactical data link-themed demonstration. This year the demonstration theme is ‘Use of Data Links to deliver synchronised Joint Force Operations – The art of the possible.'
A number of national and international speakers will be presenting, including Electronic Systems Center Commander Lt. Gen. Charles (CR) Davis. Additional speakers include Lt. Cmdr. Dan August of European Command's Command, Control, Communication Systems and Warfighting Integration Directorate, Kenneth Eide, U.S. Pacific Command joint interface control officer, Commander Urban Ivarsson of the Swedish Armed Forces and numerous personnel with first-hand experience of TDLs.
The event is geared to military, government and industry personnel who need to keep abreast of the most up-to-date information on trends and solutions on data links. (More) |
|||
|
AF announces
civilian early retirement, separation incentive options
Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas – The Air Force is implementing civilian Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) and Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay (VSIP) programs, Air Force officials announced Sept. 19.
“Our goal with these programs is to mitigate the impact of reduced fiscal year 2012 funding on our permanent civilian workforce,” said Maj. Gen. Sharon K. G. Dunbar, Air Force director of force management policy.
Reduced Air Force funding starting in fiscal year 2012 is the result of a Secretary of Defense efficiency initiative that holds civilian manning at fiscal year 2010 levels Department of Defense-wide. This initiative reduces previously planned growth in the Air Force civilian workforce by nearly nine percent. Air Force officials estimate that reduced funding levels are sufficient to support just over 180,000 civilians as of October 1, 2011. (More) |
|||
|
Education and Training Center offers Tuition Assistance Program
guidance
Many might already know the Air Force currently offers 100% Tuition Assistance (TA), with no cap, for the civilian acquisition workforce. However they might not be aware that the process for requesting TA for civilians in the acquisition workforce is now automated.
Eligible Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP)-coded civilian employees submit an education goal and associated TA requests through the Air Force Virtual Education Center located on the Air Force Portal. The Air Force centrally manages the TA process for all civilian acquisition employees, regardless of grade.
TA courses should be taken on a voluntary, off-duty basis at an accredited educational institution of the employee's choice. Courses taken during duty hours are subject to applicable regulations, local governing provisions, and approval by the employee's supervisor.
For more information, visit the Air Force Materiel Command APDP Community of Practice or contact Kaci Varner, from the Air Force Acquisition Training Office, at DSN: 665-5927. |
|||
|
AOC to hold Italian Night October 12 The Patriots’ Roost Chapter of the Association of Old Crows will host its annual Italian Night Oct. 12 at Lucia Ristorante and Bar in Winchester, Mass. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. and will be accompanied by “The Italian Serenaders.” The government cost is $45.00 per person. Industry cost is $65.00 per person. A flyer with full details can be found here: http://www.aocpatriotsroost.org/briefings/Italian_Night.pdf. Those wishing to attend may register online at http://www.aocpatriotsroost.org (click on events), or by sending a check to: Northrop Grumman Attn: Heidi Aronofsky 25 Mall Road, Suite 520 Burlington, MA 01803 Phone: (781) 505-1600 |
|||
|
|||
|
in
the news ... The following items have recently run in commercial news media outlets. They have not been produced by the U.S. Air Force, nor does their use reflect official endorsement. Reproduction for private use or gain is subject to original copyright restrictions. Bomber Discussions Template For USAF ISR -- Aviation Week A potential rebalancing of the U.S. Air Force’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) spending plans could follow in the footsteps of the service’s earlier work to craft a “family of systems” concept for long-range strike, according to Air Force Secretary Michael Donley. AFA: Budgets To Restrict Development 'Ambition' -- Defense News The U.S. Air Force will not push the envelope as it historically has when developing new technology for future weapons because declining defense spending will reshape the military's purchasing priorities. Weaving an Airborne Web -- SIGNAL Magazine The U.S. Air Force is clearing the air for advanced networking as it takes its next step into cyberspace exploitation. Administration would raise feds' retirement contributions -- Federal Computer Week The Obama administration is proposing a 1.2 percent increase to federal employees’ retirement contributions, which could save $21 billion over the next decade, senior administration officials have said. Study: Preserving Defense Capacity 'Imperative' As DOD Budgets Shrink -- TheHill.com The United States is at risk of losing its capacity to build cutting-edge weaponry unless the Defense Department moves to manage the defense sector in an era of budget cuts, a think tank with close ties to the Pentagon warned Wednesday. Defense to grow industrial base cyber program, DHS may expand to other sectors -- NextGov The Pentagon this fall expects to make permanent and expand a test program through which the Defense Department shared classified intelligence on cyber threats with select contractors to better secure commercial networks serving the military. Lawmakers Study If DoD Is SES Top-Heavy -- Federal Times A Senate panel studying why the military has so many admirals and generals is now turning its attention to the Defense Department's Senior Executive Service ranks. Life After 65 -- AFA Daily Report The Air Force might have to field more than 65 remotely piloted aircraft orbits, Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz hinted on Tuesday at AFA's Air & Space Conference. Q&A with Lt. Gen. John C. Koziol -- Tactical ISR Technology Interview with Lt. Gen. John C. Koziol, deputy under secretary of defense (intelligence) for joint and coalition warfighter support and the director of the Department of Defense Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Task Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. |
command comments ...
"Our overarching strategy
should be for industry and government, together,
to appraise and adhere to genuine operational
requirements, and evaluate manufacturability
earlier in the acquisition process so that we
can deliver better, more rapid-response
solutions, to keep pace in our highly dynamic
security environment. We also must partner to
compensate for manufacturing readiness
shortfalls and to narrow gaps in manufacturing
technology and know-how. Collectively, our
ability to be disciplined and minimally
proprietary will determine our success in
squeezing every bit of value from each taxpayer
dollar, and every bit of low- to moderate-risk
capability from our future weapon systems. In any circumstance, we
require straight talk from everyone. Government
must ensure stable requirements and reliable
funding streams, while industry must bid
according to realistic estimates, and resist
offering to sell more than what is operationally
required. Because the success of industry and
the military are now mutually related, perhaps
more than they have ever been, and especially
with the ongoing convergence of fiscal pressures
and strategic uncertainty, there is no trade
space, or time, or patience, to over-promise,
only then to under-deliver. There can be no
“blank checks,” either for surplus capability
for the government or for windfalls for
industry."
|
||
|
The Integrator
is a
weekly product of the 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs Office
designed to give ESC decision makers a snapshot of news affecting
the C4ISR community. This e-publication is approved by Chuck
Paone, Chief of Public Affairs, (DSN) 845-1686 or commercial (781)
225-1686.
Back issues are available online. To facilitate service,
please select a link for your e-mails: |
|||
