Through the Civil Air Patrol's Aerospace Connections in Education Program, the AFA Montgomery Chapter helped sponsor an essay contest that aims to expand students' knowledge in Alabama history. Fourth-grade students participated in the annual Alabama Aerospace Heritage essay contest, competing to win flights in CAP's Cessna airplanes with CAP Alabama Wing pilot, Lt. Col. Sam Snead.
These flights were especially relevant as both schools' students had just returned from the May 20th AFA/CAP annual Aerospace Exploration Day at Maxwell Air Force Base where they experienced career exploration tours of the control tower and airplanes managed by the U.S. Air Force. Students also learned about the historic aspects of Maxwell (including how it was the first flight school in the country opened by the Wright brothers).
Read more about the excursion in the Montgomery Advertiser!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
AFA, MLB Pitcher Unveil New Scholarship on Memorial Day!
 | |
| Brian Wilson, pitcher for San Francisco Giants |
AFA just announced their newest scholarship - the Michael Wilson Scholarship, a new fund that awards scholarships to Air Force ROTC cadets throughout the country!
Established by Major League Baseball player Brian Wilson, a pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, this scholarship was created to reflect the honor, commitment to service, and legacy of his father, Michael Wilson, who served in the US Air Force.
Wilson announced his latest contribution on Memorial Day - a very fitting tribute to his late father.
Two scholarships will be awarded each year for the next five years (2011 to 2015) and is open to any Air Force ROTC cadet in the United States of America who demonstrate leadership qualities and the ability to overcome obstacle. The gift is the largest scholarship given by an individual to be administered by the Air Force Association in its 65-year history.
"The men and women who voluntarily sign-up to protect and defend our country is this nation’s greatest asset,” said Mike Dunn, President and CEO of AFA. “AFA strives to encourage and assist the academic endeavors and goals of our future Airmen. We thank Brian Wilson on making this significant gift from his newly created foundation and are pleased that he is part of our Air Force family."
Read more about this announcement on Yahoo! Sports, MLB.com, USA Today and NBC!!!
More information on the Michael Wilson Scholarship can be found at www.afa.org/MichaelWilson. Information on AFA’s other scholarships and grant opportunities can be found on our Awards, Scholarships and Grants site.
"The men and women who voluntarily sign-up to protect and defend our country is this nation’s greatest asset,” said Mike Dunn, President and CEO of AFA. “AFA strives to encourage and assist the academic endeavors and goals of our future Airmen. We thank Brian Wilson on making this significant gift from his newly created foundation and are pleased that he is part of our Air Force family."
Read more about this announcement on Yahoo! Sports, MLB.com, USA Today and NBC!!!
More information on the Michael Wilson Scholarship can be found at www.afa.org/MichaelWilson. Information on AFA’s other scholarships and grant opportunities can be found on our Awards, Scholarships and Grants site.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Memorial Day Tribute
I hope some of our readers were able to make it out to the Air Force Memorial yesterday for our Memorial Day event! As the sun illuminated the pillars of our national tribute to U.S. airmen, it was a great day to show gratitude to the many generations of fallen heroes.
Nationwide, this day is set aside to commemorate the millions of men and women who valiantly dedicated their lives to our country. On this day, we must reflect and pay tribute to the memory of our fallen patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedoms that we are all able to have today. From the battlefield of Valley Forge to the deserts of Afghanistan, we thank the many generations of military heroes who have stood proudly to preserve and protect our nation.
In honor of the occasion, and with the help of local boy scouts and girl scouts (who were also able to earn their badge in flag folding), 1,000 flags were also ceremoniously raised and lowered following the Memorial wreath layings!
Check out more pictures of this event on the Air Force Memorial's Facebook Page!
Friday, May 27, 2011
CyberPatriot’s place in the media continues to grow!
Graham Warwick of Aviation Week and Technology Magazine just published a great article this week concerning the need for attracting a younger generation to cybersecurity.
“For some, the search for both engineers and cybersecurity professionals leads back to the same issue – the need to reinvigorate science and math education in schools to refill a dwindling pipeline.”Just what AFA's CyberPatriot aims to do! CyberPatriot provides high school students the technical skills, preparing them for a workforce that desperately needs them. It attracts students to the idea of cyber security, creating a career path and opportunities for students.
Warwick spoke with various aerospace and defense companies about their current and future needs to retain and fill STEM-related positions, spotlighting CyberPatriot as being a major recruiting ground for industry and government.
CyberPatriot isn’t just the ultimate cyber game for high schools students. It doesn’t just provide students experiential learning and valuable cyber security skills. It’s also creating a pipeline of students to be the next generation of engineers, mathematicians and scientists.
Read Warwick’s full article here: http://www.uscyberpatriot.org/Documents/Aviation_wek%20May_23_2011.pdf
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
AFA's Dedication to Education
Education is the foundation of a successful and prosperous society. It’s a fundamental building block of and one of the strongest instruments for progress and development. It’s also a key part of the Air Force Association’s mission. We work with senior military and Department of Defense leadership, members of Congress, industry professionals and educators from all over the nation to further educate the public on the critical role of aerospace power in defense of our nation.
One of the ways we can work directly with educators is by financially supporting the efforts of K-12 educators who individually attempt to further aerospace and aviation education in their classrooms. Educators throughout the country have received grants to help develop their innovative programs, projects and activities that encourage students to further explore the exciting world of aviation and aerospace. From field trips to aerospace museums or Air Force bases to purchasing books, DVDs or films on aerospace topics, the receivers of our grants are educators who go above and beyond to promote aerospace education outside of conventional curricula.
Read how some of our winners are applying their grants:
AFA chapters name Teachers of the Year Read more on AFA’s K-12 Grants here: http://www.afa.org/aef/aid/grants.asp.
Note from the President: Op-eds -- Lloyd, West, Ralston, Carlucci
AFA Members, Congressional staff members, civic leaders, DOCA members, a few op-eds for your consideration:
First, Terry Lloyd, an AFA member, penned a thoughtful piece on 5 challenges the next SECDEF will face. The piece is notable for its succinctness and clarity. Tell me what you think of it after you read it. You can find it at:
http://www.afa.org/EdOp/2011/Five_challenges.asp
Second, former Assistant Secretary of Defense Bing West has written – from Afghanistan – a first-hand account of operations in Afghanistan. The piece is a bit long, but it describes what he is seeing on the ground. Mr. West is not prone to hyperbole ... and I have to admit, the piece has shaped my personal opinions on our way-ahead. Again, let me know what you think after you read the piece. You can find it at: http://www.afa.org/edop/2011/National_Review_Article.pdf
Third, Gen (Ret) Joe Ralston has written a thoughtful piece on the Arctic Ocean ... and its vast potential energy reserves. He says we can no longer stand by as the Russians and others stake out their claims. You can find the piece at: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/may/13/from-sea-to-shining-sea-to-arctic-ocean/
Finally, former Sec of Defense Frank Carlucci has written a piece that says Usama Bin Laden being dead does not mean the nation is secure. He states that this war is not just about the military. He calls on more from the civilian side of government and from the diplomatic corps. He argues that they will need to be better resourced to be effective. You can find the piece at: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/may/13/post-bin-laden-smart-power/
For your consideration,
Mike
Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association
First, Terry Lloyd, an AFA member, penned a thoughtful piece on 5 challenges the next SECDEF will face. The piece is notable for its succinctness and clarity. Tell me what you think of it after you read it. You can find it at:
http://www.afa.org/EdOp/2011/Five_challenges.asp
Second, former Assistant Secretary of Defense Bing West has written – from Afghanistan – a first-hand account of operations in Afghanistan. The piece is a bit long, but it describes what he is seeing on the ground. Mr. West is not prone to hyperbole ... and I have to admit, the piece has shaped my personal opinions on our way-ahead. Again, let me know what you think after you read the piece. You can find it at: http://www.afa.org/edop/2011/National_Review_Article.pdf
Third, Gen (Ret) Joe Ralston has written a thoughtful piece on the Arctic Ocean ... and its vast potential energy reserves. He says we can no longer stand by as the Russians and others stake out their claims. You can find the piece at: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/may/13/from-sea-to-shining-sea-to-arctic-ocean/
Finally, former Sec of Defense Frank Carlucci has written a piece that says Usama Bin Laden being dead does not mean the nation is secure. He states that this war is not just about the military. He calls on more from the civilian side of government and from the diplomatic corps. He argues that they will need to be better resourced to be effective. You can find the piece at: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/may/13/post-bin-laden-smart-power/
For your consideration,
Mike
Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
What are you doing for Memorial Day?
If you're in the DC area, you should join the Air Force Association and the Air Force Sergeants Association in a Memorial Day wreath laying ceremony at 9 a.m., Monday, May 30, 2011, at the Air Force Memorial. CMSgt of the Air Force James A. Roy will be the keynote speaker of the ceremony. Planned activities include the national anthem, invocation, speeches, the laying of the wreath and the sounding of Taps.
All military, veterans and civilians are welcome and encouraged to attend. (Directions can be found online at www.airforcememorial.org.)
But Blue Star Museums once again are offering free admission to active duty military personnel and their families starting this Memorial Day! More than 1,300 museums across the country are participating in this summer-long program with the National Endowment for the Arts. The offer runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day.The list includes a wide range of museums, including the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles, the Museum of Flight in Seattle, the Art Institute of Chicago, New York's Museum of Modern Art and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, Va.
Check out http://www.arts.gov/national/bluestarmuseums/index2011.php for a list of participating museums.
Friday, May 20, 2011
AFA at the 2011 Joint Service Airshow
This weekend is the Joint Service Open House and Air Show on Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland! This year’s theme is “100 Years of Naval Aviation” and will feature the Thunderbirds, the Golden Knights, and other exciting aerial and ground attractions.Some of our members and staff are at the practice run today!
 | ||
| US Air Force C130 |
The Joint Service Open House/Air Show is the largest event hosted by Joint Base Andrews each year. The airshow, which is free and open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, will have a range of aircraft in the air, and there will also be dozens of planes parked on the tarmac for visitors to explore. It serves as a great opportunity for the general public to see first-hand what the U.S. Armed Forces are doing to protect their rights and freedom around the world!
 |
| Thunderbirds at the 2011Andrews AFB Airshow |
More information on the Airshow can be found here: http://jsoh.org/.
Check out our Facebook page for more photos of the event!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
AFA Thanks Members, Donors and Supporters
AFA’s President/CEO Mike Dunn received this kind letter from a New Hampshire supporter and WWII veteran last month:
Dear General Dunn,
I feel that it is time to write to you! As you know I was a WWII Air Force Veteran, and at 87 years old, I have just about reached the end of my life; and sadly nearing the end of my assets!My wife and I live in a two room apartment in Hampstead, NH and there is nothing more that I would like to do than to support you, and the Air Force Memorial.You see, upon my service discharge after WWII, I signed up in the Air Force Reserves; to hold my Sgt. rank so that I could sort out my future.I had hoped to convince my faithful girlfriend to join me, as I hoped to make a career in the Air Force, and to my chagrin she said “no”. I survived my first “crash” landing!However, my love for airplanes and the Air Force had a place in my heart! I finally earned my pilots license at the age of 70; when all our children had left home!We raised our family; and now are resting in our 2-room apartment! I wished that fate had been kinder to us financially; but that is fate and life!I will always have memories of my Air Force years; my brother airmen; and those B-25s; B-24s; B-17’s; P-38’s and all the places that we lived, worked and sweat out the war.I have to thank my daughter for sending my WWII memories to you on her computer.I thank you, General, for what you are doing.
“God Bless America.”
AFA is exceedingly appreciative of the support from our members, donors, sponsors and friends. It is with their encouragement that we are able to fulfill our mission to educate the public about the critical role of aerospace power; advocate aerospace power and a strong national defense; and support the US Air Force, the Air Force family, and aerospace education.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Memorial Day Ceremony at Air Force Memorial
AFA and the Air Force Sergeants Association will be hosting a commemorative Memorial Day wreath laying ceremony at 9 a.m., Monday, May 30, 2011, at the Air Force Memorial. The two associations host this event each year, as we recognize and pay tribute to the many airmen, soldiers, marines and sailors who have died in service to our nation. A wreath will be placed at the Memorial on this day of remembrance in honor of the many generations of military heroes.
The Memorial Day ceremony serves as an opportunity to demonstrate our gratitude to the nation’s millions of veterans. Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A. Roy will be the keynote speaker of the ceremony. Planned activities include the national anthem, invocation, speeches, the laying of the wreath and the sounding of Taps.
The Air Force Memorial is dedicated to the Men and Women of the United States Air Force and its Heritage Organizations. It symbolizes the national place of pride, reverence and remembrance located just outside the nation’s capital, in Arlington, Virginia. (Directions can be found online here.)
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Highlights from May Session of AF Breakfast Series
All things will be considered when it comes to budget cuts was the message Under Secretary of the Air Force Erin Conaton left with her audience after this morning's Air Force Breakfast Series session at the Sheraton Crystal City.
The Air Force Breakfast Series is a monthly event that allows senior Air Force and Department of Defense leaders to address issues and communicate directly with industry professionals and the press.
The main topic of today's session was the looming budget cuts and the current fiscal environment. If we can't get a handle on these cost issues, our successors will have to revisit the same situations that we face today, Conaton said. From reducing the civilian workforce and contractors to investing in modern equipment, tough decisions are inevitable and will require a vigorous strategic review that lays out the consequences and implications of each decision made in regards to efficiency efforts.
The military is currently balancing a range of missions, i.e., humanitarian efforts in Japan, air strikes in Libya, insurgencies in Afghanistan and Iraq, while still preparing for wars of tomorrow. In considering where to trim spending, military leadership must also take into account the responsibilities the nation wants to assign to the Air Force.
In the past 10 years, the Air force has adapted to the many conflicts that we’ve seen. At present the operations tempo is high and increasing. They’ve had to retire aircraft and defer activities (like much needed military reconstruction), all to retain, maintain and update others resources to meet the current climate needs. But to meet the billions of dollars in proposed defense cuts, all sectors will be thoroughly analyzed to see where reduction in spending could be best efficient and least disadvantageous. A priority, however, is to remain committed to giving our airmen the best tools.
On progress with the bomber: To remain a world class power, we need to be able to have not just a bomber force, but a penetrating bomber force while being very conscience of costs, she said. But tiny advances have been made in the development of the next generation long-range strike bomber. They are currently on the front end of sending requirements on the bomber, having received a mandate to set minimum requirements for production capabilities.
An attaché from Japan raised a question on how budget cuts will affect our international partnerships.
“Our global partnerships are a pretty important part of what we are doing,” she responded, adding that it will be important to maintain the partnerships we have created.
Conaton also gave an update on the advancements in energy renewal that has been carried out by the Air Force. DOD is the largest consumer of energy in the government, with the Air Force leading the pack in consumption. But in Fiscal Year 9 to 10, the cost of oil has risen 28%. The Air Force is working to diversify their source of energy, now certifying 99 percent of their fleet to be compatible with a mix of synthetic fuels. Solar and wind power usage by the Air Force has also increased. (The Air Force is one of the nation’s top purchasers of “green” power.)
The force is 7 percent smaller than it was seven years ago, while personnel spending has risen 16 percent. The same trend can be seen in energy and industry expenses. Conaton said we will have to work with our industry partners to develop a better process for buying.
Check out the AFA site later this week for an audio transcript of this session.
The Air Force Breakfast Series is a monthly event that allows senior Air Force and Department of Defense leaders to address issues and communicate directly with industry professionals and the press.
The main topic of today's session was the looming budget cuts and the current fiscal environment. If we can't get a handle on these cost issues, our successors will have to revisit the same situations that we face today, Conaton said. From reducing the civilian workforce and contractors to investing in modern equipment, tough decisions are inevitable and will require a vigorous strategic review that lays out the consequences and implications of each decision made in regards to efficiency efforts.
The military is currently balancing a range of missions, i.e., humanitarian efforts in Japan, air strikes in Libya, insurgencies in Afghanistan and Iraq, while still preparing for wars of tomorrow. In considering where to trim spending, military leadership must also take into account the responsibilities the nation wants to assign to the Air Force.
In the past 10 years, the Air force has adapted to the many conflicts that we’ve seen. At present the operations tempo is high and increasing. They’ve had to retire aircraft and defer activities (like much needed military reconstruction), all to retain, maintain and update others resources to meet the current climate needs. But to meet the billions of dollars in proposed defense cuts, all sectors will be thoroughly analyzed to see where reduction in spending could be best efficient and least disadvantageous. A priority, however, is to remain committed to giving our airmen the best tools.
On progress with the bomber: To remain a world class power, we need to be able to have not just a bomber force, but a penetrating bomber force while being very conscience of costs, she said. But tiny advances have been made in the development of the next generation long-range strike bomber. They are currently on the front end of sending requirements on the bomber, having received a mandate to set minimum requirements for production capabilities.
An attaché from Japan raised a question on how budget cuts will affect our international partnerships.
“Our global partnerships are a pretty important part of what we are doing,” she responded, adding that it will be important to maintain the partnerships we have created.
Conaton also gave an update on the advancements in energy renewal that has been carried out by the Air Force. DOD is the largest consumer of energy in the government, with the Air Force leading the pack in consumption. But in Fiscal Year 9 to 10, the cost of oil has risen 28%. The Air Force is working to diversify their source of energy, now certifying 99 percent of their fleet to be compatible with a mix of synthetic fuels. Solar and wind power usage by the Air Force has also increased. (The Air Force is one of the nation’s top purchasers of “green” power.)
The force is 7 percent smaller than it was seven years ago, while personnel spending has risen 16 percent. The same trend can be seen in energy and industry expenses. Conaton said we will have to work with our industry partners to develop a better process for buying.
Check out the AFA site later this week for an audio transcript of this session.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Air Force Breakfast Series tomorrow morning
AFA is preparing for another session of the Air Force Breakfast Series!
Erin Conaton, Under Secretary of the Air Force, will be the guest speaker for the next session of the AFA Air Force Breakfast Program Series, to be held tomorrow, Wednesday, May 11, 2011, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., at the Sheraton Crystal City Hotel.
Ms. Conaton is responsible for the affairs of the Department of the Air Force on behalf of the Secretary of the Air Force, including the organizing, training, equipping and providing for the welfare of its more than 334,000 men and women on active duty; 176,000 members of the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve; 170,000 civilians; and their families. She also oversees the Air Force's annual budget of more than $110 billion and serves as acting Secretary of the Air Force in the Secretary's absence.
You can still register online at http://afamaybreakfast.eventbrite.com/.
(The Sheraton Crystal City Hotel is located at 1800 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington VA, 22202.)
Erin Conaton, Under Secretary of the Air Force, will be the guest speaker for the next session of the AFA Air Force Breakfast Program Series, to be held tomorrow, Wednesday, May 11, 2011, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., at the Sheraton Crystal City Hotel.
Ms. Conaton is responsible for the affairs of the Department of the Air Force on behalf of the Secretary of the Air Force, including the organizing, training, equipping and providing for the welfare of its more than 334,000 men and women on active duty; 176,000 members of the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve; 170,000 civilians; and their families. She also oversees the Air Force's annual budget of more than $110 billion and serves as acting Secretary of the Air Force in the Secretary's absence.
You can still register online at http://afamaybreakfast.eventbrite.com/.
(The Sheraton Crystal City Hotel is located at 1800 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington VA, 22202.)
Air Force Launches First Dedicated SBIRS Satellite
With the intention of meeting today’s surveillance needs, the Air Force successfully launched its first Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous missile warning satellite on Saturday, May 7, 2011, aboard an Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
The SBIRS GEO-1 is the most technologically advanced military infrared satellite ever developed and will deliver superior missile warning capabilities than its predecessors, while simultaneously enhancing the country’s ability to detect, track and counter enemy missiles, as well as improve technical intelligence gathering.
With highly sophisticated scanning and staring sensors, this new system will deliver improved infrared sensitivity and enhance early warning of missile launches around the globe, supporting the nation's ballistic missile defense system. The scanning sensor will provide a wide area surveillance of missile launches and natural phenomena across the earth, while the staring sensor will be used to observe smaller areas of interest with heightened sensitivity.
Once the satellite reaches geosynchronous orbit, it will begin a six-month check out and calibration phase before it is expected to begin delivering usable data to the tactical intelligence community.
As ballistic missiles become more and more available around the world, our missile defense abilities need to be progressive. If successful, this $1.3 billion satellite will replace the current Defense Support Program satellites, which has declined in effectiveness as its abilities to collect intelligence on non-state actors had become severely limited in this day and age, according to military analysts.
F-22 stand-down
 |
| Courtesy of the U.S. Air Force |
Sources are offering some additional information on the ACC's decision to stand down its fleet of F-22s this week. The decision stemmed from a November 2010 crash in Alaska that killed its pilot, Capt. Jeff Haney. Since January the aircraft has been flown at altitudes below 25,000 feet due to concern over the system that provides oxygen to the pilot. [The jet's normal operational ceiling exceeds 50,000 feet.]
ACC officials told the Daily Report Friday that it's not yet clear how long the stand-down will remain in effect, saying only that "the safety of our airmen is paramount and we will take the necessary time to ensure we perform a thorough investigation."
Although the on-board oxygen system may have been the causative factor in the November crash, officials said all systems are being reviewed.
In another report of a potential malfunction, an F-22 pilot at JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, scraped the underside of his F-22 on trees during a landing approach, but could not recall what happened and is being treated for physiological symptoms, reported Bloomberg.
ACC officials have said the F-22 remains available for national security missions while one-time flights can be approved by the heads of major commands.
Read more on AFA's Air Force magazine's Daily Report and WRWR.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
AFA Remembers V-E Day
The scope of WWII was unparalleled, engulfing Europe, Africa, Asia, Pacific islands, and drawing in North America. An estimated 22 million people worldwide lost their lives by the war’s end. Our nation’s contribution to the war was extensive, from our pilots in the air to our soldiers on the ground to the millions of supporters on the home front. More than sixteen million Americans served in uniform. Countless more provided the imperative industrial production and support to sustain the Allies war efforts.
Today we honor the heroic actions of the millions of individuals who put their lives on the line for liberty and justice. We remember those who suffered, those who perished and those who survived. We honor their courage, strength, valor and sacrifice. On behalf of AFA, we show our immense gratitude to the legacy they all have left behind.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Military Spouse Appreciation Day!
The nation often recognizes the courage, valor and sacrifices of our armed forces and veterans, and the great strengths they demonstrate as they defend our country and represent us around the world. But today, in honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day, AFA wants to recognize the significance of the Air Force family and the women and men that support our military heroes.
First proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1984, each year the Friday before Mother’s Day is highlighted in honor of the military spouses that balance families, careers and community involvement with the military service requirements on their families.
Military spouses serve our country in their own way, providing invaluable support, encouragement and assistance behind the scenes. Often helping their spouses carry the stress of deployment and caring for wounded warriors upon return, these individuals demonstrate an unyielding dedication to the military community. The depth of their unwavering commitment to the men and women defending our country is most admirable and deserves immense gratitude.
An integral part of AFA’s mission is to SUPPORT the Air Force family. AFA’s Air Force Spouse Scholarship program, designed to encourage Air Force spouses worldwide to pursue associate, bachelor or graduate/postgraduate degrees and gives us the opportunity to show our appreciation to our nation’s military spouses. [More information on the AF Spouse Scholarship program can be found at: http://www.afa.org/aef/aid/spouse.asp].
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Cyber Security
AFA Members, Congressional Staff members, civic leaders, DOCA members,
Cyber security is in the news every day. A search on the topic just now got over 5,000 hits including stories on everything from a second major security breach in a computer game manufacturer’s systems to worries of a coming “cyber war.”
Experts will tell you our biggest cyber security challenge is people. Our economy, commerce, public safety, transportation, healthcare, manufacturing, and national defense all rely on cyber systems. We need bright “cyber-minds” to design, operate, and maintain those systems, but we simply are not producing enough of them.
The Air Force Association decided in 2008 to address this problem by creating a national high school cyber defense competition: CyberPatriot. We just completed our first full national deployment of the competition, and I am pleased to report it was a rousing success. Nearly 700 teams registered for what is now the nation’s largest such event, and the seventeen teams that came to the National Finals Competition in Washington DC were a showcase of talent. Winners were clearly excited, in many cases had a whole new world opened to them, and earned generous scholarships provided by our presenting sponsor Northrop Grumman. I encourage you to view this video to see what a great competition CyberPatriot has become: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA6JgKazMvw.
And as big and successful as CyberPatriot III was, we have even bigger plans for CP-IV! Registration for this year’s competition is open at our website (http://www.uscyberpatriot.org/), and we need you to help us reach your community’s high schools.
AFA members, I invite you to become a CyberPatriot recruiter. Everything you need can be found right here: http://www.uscyberpatriot.org/CP4/CP%20IV%20Documents/CyberPatriot%20IV.pdf
You need know nothing about cyber security, nothing about cyber, and nothing about computers to help recruit teams! But you can make an enormous difference in the lives of America’s youth and in our future as a nation.
This link shows you how your state is doing in registering schools to the competition:
http://www.uscyberpatriot.org/CP4/CP%20IV%20Documents/CP%20IV-Coach_reg.pdf
AFA is doing this because it matters. When reputable studies show America ranked 28th in mathematics and 24th in science knowledge among our teenagers, something needs to be done. We know we are on the right track with CyberPatriot, and we need you to help us. If you don’t do this, the opportunity will be lost. The fact is, only you know the schools in your community, only you know members of school boards, and only you know the local science teacher. And schools don’t even need computer experts. AFA will gladly help find mentors who can help with every technical detail.
Our CyberPatriot program office is eager to provide you with recruiting materials and to help you in any way. You can reach them via email at info@uscyberpatriot.org.
To close, let me thank our Presenting Sponsor, Northrop Grumman; our founding partners, Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS) and SAIC; and our Strategic Partners, Boeing, Raytheon, Microsoft, General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, AT&T, and Air Force Research Laboratories. This team has had the vision to get us where we are and position us for the future. Now it’s up to all of us to follow their lead.
Thanks for making a difference.
Mike
Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association
Cyber security is in the news every day. A search on the topic just now got over 5,000 hits including stories on everything from a second major security breach in a computer game manufacturer’s systems to worries of a coming “cyber war.”
Experts will tell you our biggest cyber security challenge is people. Our economy, commerce, public safety, transportation, healthcare, manufacturing, and national defense all rely on cyber systems. We need bright “cyber-minds” to design, operate, and maintain those systems, but we simply are not producing enough of them.
The Air Force Association decided in 2008 to address this problem by creating a national high school cyber defense competition: CyberPatriot. We just completed our first full national deployment of the competition, and I am pleased to report it was a rousing success. Nearly 700 teams registered for what is now the nation’s largest such event, and the seventeen teams that came to the National Finals Competition in Washington DC were a showcase of talent. Winners were clearly excited, in many cases had a whole new world opened to them, and earned generous scholarships provided by our presenting sponsor Northrop Grumman. I encourage you to view this video to see what a great competition CyberPatriot has become: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA6JgKazMvw.
And as big and successful as CyberPatriot III was, we have even bigger plans for CP-IV! Registration for this year’s competition is open at our website (http://www.uscyberpatriot.org/), and we need you to help us reach your community’s high schools.
AFA members, I invite you to become a CyberPatriot recruiter. Everything you need can be found right here: http://www.uscyberpatriot.org/CP4/CP%20IV%20Documents/CyberPatriot%20IV.pdf
You need know nothing about cyber security, nothing about cyber, and nothing about computers to help recruit teams! But you can make an enormous difference in the lives of America’s youth and in our future as a nation.
This link shows you how your state is doing in registering schools to the competition:
http://www.uscyberpatriot.org/CP4/CP%20IV%20Documents/CP%20IV-Coach_reg.pdf
AFA is doing this because it matters. When reputable studies show America ranked 28th in mathematics and 24th in science knowledge among our teenagers, something needs to be done. We know we are on the right track with CyberPatriot, and we need you to help us. If you don’t do this, the opportunity will be lost. The fact is, only you know the schools in your community, only you know members of school boards, and only you know the local science teacher. And schools don’t even need computer experts. AFA will gladly help find mentors who can help with every technical detail.
Our CyberPatriot program office is eager to provide you with recruiting materials and to help you in any way. You can reach them via email at info@uscyberpatriot.org.
To close, let me thank our Presenting Sponsor, Northrop Grumman; our founding partners, Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS) and SAIC; and our Strategic Partners, Boeing, Raytheon, Microsoft, General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, AT&T, and Air Force Research Laboratories. This team has had the vision to get us where we are and position us for the future. Now it’s up to all of us to follow their lead.
Thanks for making a difference.
Mike
Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Team of the Year Reception
Congratulations, again, to Chief Master Sergeant David R. Henry, Senior Master Sergeant Melanie K. Noel, Senior Master Sergeant Manny Piñeiro, Senior Master Sergeant Ernest T. Williams, and Master Sergeant Todd K. Meaney for representing the 2011 Team of the Year!
Yesterday evening AFA honored the 2011 Team of the Year during an awards ceremony at the Key Bridge Marriott. With special remarks by Vice Chief Staff of the Air Force General Philip Breedlove and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A. Roy, this 31st annual event was a great opportunity to show support and appreciation for the First Sergeants Family.
"You represent the United States First Sergeants very, very well," said Chief Roy, in regards to the five First Sergeants selected to represent the entirety of their career field. Chief Roy went on to thank them for actively demonstrating the core values the Air Force represents, carrying with them "immense responsibilities," "stiff personal demands" and "round-the-clock attention."
"They represent a breed of people who are the life blood of what helps our Air Force run," added Gen Breedlove.
UBL, Old Systems cost, UAVs, PRC
AFA members, Congressional staff members, civic leaders, DOCA members, all of us at AFA HQ congratulate and thank all the men and women who have sacrificed so much to make the killing of UBL possible. This moment of achievement greatly reflects on the dedication and determination of our armed forces, who refused to tire, falter and fail. We salute them for their courage, we thank them for their perseverance and we remember them for their sacrifices.
Secondly, many on the Hill have asked me why can’t the Air Force operate old systems far out into the future. The answer is simple. Old systems can’t always operate in the threat areas of the future. They break more often which causes maintenance nightmares for our Airmen. And they cost more to repair. On the latter point, we put together a slide to show you what this means. See: http://www.afa.org/EdOp/2011/Aging_Fleet.pdf. Note that these are the average costs per year from 05-09 – and multiply across the years. For an older system, like a bomber, this means that the cost per flying hour in 2009 is almost 50% greater than in 05. Not surprisingly, the older the system, the greater the cost per flying hour.
Third, one of our members, Roger O’Daniel from Minneapolis, MN has penned an op-ed on the Myths of unmanned aircraft. [One he left out is … there is nothing “unmanned” about an unmanned aircraft. So important is this that the Air Force has, for the past few years, used the term, Remotely Piloted Aircraft.] The piece offers explanations that I have not seen elsewhere. You can read it at this link: http://www.afa.org/members/CommTools/apa/APA_Notes/2011/Myths_of_RPA's.pdf.
Fourth, the Chinese have rolled out yet another new fighter – dubbed the J-15 Flying Shark. It is designed to be deployed aboard China’s new aircraft carrier, the Shi Lang … which comes out in a few years. You can find a description of it at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/26/world/asia/26fighter.html? partner=rss&emc=rss
For your consideration.
Mike
Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association
Secondly, many on the Hill have asked me why can’t the Air Force operate old systems far out into the future. The answer is simple. Old systems can’t always operate in the threat areas of the future. They break more often which causes maintenance nightmares for our Airmen. And they cost more to repair. On the latter point, we put together a slide to show you what this means. See: http://www.afa.org/EdOp/2011/Aging_Fleet.pdf. Note that these are the average costs per year from 05-09 – and multiply across the years. For an older system, like a bomber, this means that the cost per flying hour in 2009 is almost 50% greater than in 05. Not surprisingly, the older the system, the greater the cost per flying hour.
Third, one of our members, Roger O’Daniel from Minneapolis, MN has penned an op-ed on the Myths of unmanned aircraft. [One he left out is … there is nothing “unmanned” about an unmanned aircraft. So important is this that the Air Force has, for the past few years, used the term, Remotely Piloted Aircraft.] The piece offers explanations that I have not seen elsewhere. You can read it at this link: http://www.afa.org/members/CommTools/apa/APA_Notes/2011/Myths_of_RPA's.pdf.
Fourth, the Chinese have rolled out yet another new fighter – dubbed the J-15 Flying Shark. It is designed to be deployed aboard China’s new aircraft carrier, the Shi Lang … which comes out in a few years. You can find a description of it at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/26/world/asia/26fighter.html? partner=rss&emc=rss
For your consideration.
Mike
Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association
Monday, May 2, 2011
The Death of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden
On May 1, 2011, our Commander-in-Chief made an announcement to the country, an announcement that we have all waited nearly 10 years to hear. Osama bin Laden, the chief architect of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that forever changed our nation, was defeated and killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan. In an address to the nation, President Obama thanked the "tireless work of our military."
On behalf of the Air Force Association, we wholeheartedly thank all the men and women who have sacrificed so much to make this moment possible. This moment of achievement greatly reflects on the dedication and determination of our armed forces, who refused to tire, falter and fail. We salute them for their courage, we thank them for their perseverance and we remember them for their sacrifices.
On behalf of the Air Force Association, we wholeheartedly thank all the men and women who have sacrificed so much to make this moment possible. This moment of achievement greatly reflects on the dedication and determination of our armed forces, who refused to tire, falter and fail. We salute them for their courage, we thank them for their perseverance and we remember them for their sacrifices.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
