Veterans Day Event at the Air Force Memorial

Each year, AFA and the Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA) host a Veterans Day Ceremony at the Air Force Memorial. This year's event will take place at 11am, Sunday, November 11. A two-minute moment of silence will be observed to commemorate those members of the U.S. armed forces who were killed during war. During the ceremony, a wreath will be placed at the Memorial in memory and in honor of the veterans of the United States Air Force and its heritage organizations.

This annual event, which is open to the public, is more than just recognition of a national holiday but an opportunity to remember and give honor to all of our nation's veterans for their strength, dedication and sacrifice. It reflects the pride in the heroism of those who died in service to our nation.

Remarks will be given by CMSgt David Popp, USAF (Retired), Deputy CEO of the Air Force Sergeants Association, and Lt General Richard Newton, USAF (Retired), Executive Vice President of the Air Force Association and the Air Force Memorial Foundation.

Please stop by if you can.

National High School Cyber Security Competition Draws 1,200+ Teams, Reaches All 50 States

AFA's CyberPatriot–the National High School Cyber Defense Competition--has drawn 1,225 teams as registration official closed last week. The competition has teams representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Department of Defense Dependent Schools in both Europe and the Pacific, and Canada.

CyberPatriot is the nation’s largest and fastest growing high school cyber security challenge. Its unique structure provides students hands-on learning while competing virtually against their peers and introduces many to the idea of cyber security as a profession. CyberPatriot helps to prepare college- and career-ready students with not just technical skills, but also invaluable experience in teamwork, leadership, and critical-thinking.

CyberPatriot also offers support and technical expertise from industry leaders, including CyberPatriot’s presenting sponsor the Northrop Grumman Foundation.

"We simply must attract more bright young students to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and we believe we have hit on a unique way of doing that through an exciting high school cyber competition,” said Bernie Skoch, CyberPatriot Commissioner. “CyberPatriot is a great opportunity, with its reach, to promote STEM education and careers to today's youth in America. It's an amazing competition that is accessible to all, especially the many disadvantaged youth, giving participants a new venue for academic and personal growth."

Students of LAUSD assemble at the computer center at Cal Poly for a briefing

Teams are now gearing up for the first preliminary online round of competition, which begins November 2 for the All Service Division and November 16 for the Open Division. The competition is powered by SAIC’s CyberNEXS, which allows hundreds of teams across the country to compete at one time. Once the preliminaries begin, teams compete online to identify and solve vulnerabilities in simulated computer networks. The top teams compete again in two additional online rounds to determine 26 finalist teams who win all-expenses-paid trips to Washington, D.C. and the National Finals Competition in Washington, D.C. in March 2013.

See if your local high school, CAP or Sea Cadet unit is represented CyberPatriot V Registration >>
 
Make sure you follow CyberPatriot throughout the year!

Air Force Innovation

We came across such an inspiring article this morning written by an Airmen who attended our September Air & Space Conference. A speech by AF Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh highlighted the importance of innovation -- from all Airmen. Master Sgt. Potvin walked away realizing that, regardless of rank, position or job duty, all Airmen have a capacity to inflict positive change on their surroundings.

Every Airman has the potential to be an innovator
By Master Sgt. Brian Potvin, Air Force Command and Control Integration Center, Peninsula Warrior

I was one of the lucky few who attended the Air Force Association’s 2012 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition in Washington, D.C. recently. Something that U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh said during his speech resonated with me.

“Innovation is what we’re all about,” he said. “We always have been.”


I agree with this statement totally, and want to pass on my perspective on why innovation is so important to us. It was the spirit of innovation in Orville and Wilbur Wright which led to the invention of the airplane. It was Thaddeus Lowe’s spirit of innovation which led him to first use a balloon for reconnaissance for the Union Army during the Civil War.

“Our Airmen need to be thinking about [innovation] at every level of our Air Force,” Welsh continued.

What this means to me is that all of us, whether we have one stripe on our sleeve or we have silver eagles on our collar, have the opportunity to improve the way we carry out our mission every day.

Read the full article here: http://www.peninsulawarrior.com/news/commentary/article_3f0c526a-1ee1-11e2-b6db-001a4bcf887a.html

RFP for Combat Rescue Helicopter

Earlier this week, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition announced the posting of an RFP (request for proposal) for Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) to the Federal Business Opportunities website – a move that has been reported as signaling the official launch of this high priority Air Force acquisition program.

This program will replace the Air Force's aging HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter fleet with new air vehicles, training systems, and product support elements as required for the personnel-recovery mission. The average age of our current fleet is about 22 years and about 5,000 flying hours.  The missions of this air vehicle include the recovery of personnel from hostile or denied territory; the executing humanitarian missions, civil search and rescue, disaster relief, casualty and medical evacuation, and non-combatant evacuation operations.

Photo courtesy of af.mil

The Air Force doesn't just use its resources to serve combat missions, it also uses them to serve mankind in any type of recovery, rescue and humanitarian missions are   is our solemn, moral obligation to rescue downed or stranded personnel of all services. And for years, we have advocated for the recapitalization of this fleet, that has been nearing the end of its service life and lacks the survivability, operational utility, range and payload required for today’s combat operations.

The RFP defines an integrated, capability-based, best-value approach. It also includes specific factors for assessing the capabilities and risks inherent in each offer and identifies four goal requirements: hover performance, combat radius, payload and cabin space. The CRH requirement is for 112 aircraft.

In the mid to late 2000s, we went down this road, but eventually saw the then-called CSAR-X program terminated after a troubling acquisition history. (CSAR, meaning combat search and rescue) [Read more about the cancellation in a 2009 piece by the Air Force Magazine.]

But personnel recovery is not an ad hoc mission. It is engrained in the mission of the Air Force. We hope priority remains on this acquisition program and that we are able to complete the program this time around.

November Air Force Breakfast Session, featuring Commander, Air Force Space Command

AFA welcomes Gen. William L. Shelton, Commander of Air Force Space Command, as the guest speaker for the November session of AFA’s 2012 Air Force Breakfast Program. This event will be held on Wednesday, November 7, 2012, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., at the Sheraton Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia.

Gen Shelton is responsible for organizing, equipping, training and maintaining mission-ready space and cyberspace forces and capabilities for North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Strategic Command and other combatant commands around the world. General Shelton oversees Air Force network operations; manages a global network of satellite command and control, communications, missile warning and space launch facilities; and is responsible for space system development and acquisition. He leads more than 42,000 professionals assigned to 134 locations worldwide.

For more informaiton on the upcoming breakfast, go to http://www.afa.org/CorpMembers/AFA_AF_BreakfastProgram.asp

For your reading pleasure in regards to Air Force space and cyberspace:  

"Game Changers in Space", Air Force Magazine (Oct 2012): http://www.airforce-magazine.com/MagazineArchive/Pages/2012/October%202012/1012space.aspx 

"Air Force looks to revamp its definition of cyberspace", Federal News Radio: http://www.federalnewsradio.com/395/3075763/Air-Force-looks-to-revamp-its-definition-of-cyberspace

AF's Contribution to Intel Agencies

This article came out last week, and in honor of National Cyber Awareness Month, it's definitely worth sharing.

The Air Force, without a doubt, is a national asset. Its actions serve not only its own operational needs and requirements, but those of other armed services. Without the Air Force's space communications and airborne ISR, other US forces will have great difficult finding the enemy, much less mounting an effective attack. The Air Force provides the essential capabilities that make America's joint operations possible and has been involved in nearly every military operation overseas since 1991. But as DOD works toward defining 2014 budgets, adequate Air Force funding will be critical to ensure that the nation can count on its indispensable role in a time of shrinking resources. 

The Air Force Needs More Dough; Make Up $30B That Goes To Intel Agencies
by Michael Auslin, AOL Defense

http://defense.aol.com/2012/10/17/the-air-force-needs-more-dough-make-up-30b-that-goes-to-intel/

Fall 2012 Civil Air Patrol Educator Grants

With the fall season comes the announcement of our CAP Educator Grant recipients. The CAP Educator Grants are each up to $250, and provided to teachers who are members of either the Air Force Association or the Civil Air Patrol. From designing model airplanes and launching rockets, to visiting Air Traffic Control towers and bases, AFA and CAP are helping teachers promote public awareness of aerospace power and the pivotal role it plays in national security. 

The initiative funds classroom activities or materials that benefit the entire group of students and promote knowledge of aerospace power. Grants can be applied toward field trips to aerospace museums or Air Force bases, or for books, DVDs or videotapes on aerospace topics.proudly announces the 16 recipients of the Civil Air Patrol Educator Grant, an education initiative funded by AFA and managed by the Civil Air Patrol Headquarters. 

It's one of many ways AFA stays true to its dedication to education.AFA strongly advocates aerospace education and the development of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics as the foundational skills necessary to sustain U.S. airpower, national security and economic vitality. 

A list of this year’s grant recipients can be found here: http://www.afa.org/aef/aid/cap_ed_wnrs.asp

 

Congratulations to them all!

AF Needs New Training Aircraft

Earlier this week, Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D., of Lexington Institute, crafted an op-ed on the Air Force's need for a new training aircraft.

"What do the Air Force's F-15, F-16, and F-22 fighters all have in common? Answer: They are all operated by pilots who learned to fly jets on the T-38 Talon trainer. Question Two: What else do they do they have in common? Answer: They all joined the force after the last T-38 was produced in 1972.

The answers to these two questions explain why Air Force leaders are determined to find a replacement for the T-38. The Talon has been around for a long, long time -- 45 years on average for the T-38s still in the fleet -- and planes that old typically start to exhibit age-related problems like metal fatigue, corrosion and parts obsolescence. If this were just a maintenance issue, then the service could continue spending over a million dollars a week on upgrades to keep the T-38s airworthy. But it has gotten to the point where there is also a concern about safety."


Read the rest of the article here: http://www.lexingtoninstitute.org/the-air-force-needs-a-new-training-aircraft-as-soon-as-possible?a=1&c=1171

In this year's Statement of Policy, we talk about the Air Force's plans to begin large-scale recapitalization in the 2020s, when it expects to acquire large numbers of the stealthy F-35 multirole fighter and the KC-46 tanker, plus a T-38 trainer replacement, and a new long-range strike aircraft. That's thirty years' worth of deferred buys now scheduled for a single decade -- a process that will prove challenging even under the best conditions. And today's environment is no where near "best conditions."

Grantham University Scholarship Recipient Announced

Last week, we announced the recipient of the Grantham University Scholarship, Jamie Israel. Mrs. Israel is a high school teacher, a mother of two, a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air National Guard, and an AFA Member. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Missouri Western State University and a Bachelor’s of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences Education from Northwest Missouri State University. She has spent the last two years as a full-time high school teacher in Maysville, Missouri. Her dual role as an Airman/Educator makes her a wonderful example to the students she teaches and mentors.

This full scholarship bears a total value of just over $14,000 and covers the cost of all tuition, textbooks and fees for her Master’s degree.
 
With this scholarship, Mrs. Israel will be able to achieve a lifetime goal of earning her master’s degree for the benefit of her own education, as well as the education of her students. Mrs. Israel also has future career goals of teaching at the collegiate level.

Each year, the AFA partners with Grantham University to enable a greater promotion of education and an AFA’s partnership with Grantham has enabled a greater promotion of education and an opportunity to contribute to the academic success of many.

Congrats to Mrs. Israel!

AF Breakfast Series Recap: Dr. Geiss and AF Energy

The Air Force has been operating under the theme "I am Air Force Energy" this month, in line with the this month also being National Energy Awareness Month -- a national effort to underscore how central energy is to our national prosperity, security, and environmental well-being.

Energy is something we all should take into consideration, said Dr. Kevin Geiss, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics, in Washington, D.C. Dr. Geiss was the guest speaker today at AFA's October session of the Air Force Breakfast Series. 

"It enables every element of the Air Force mission," he added, everything from intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, to transport of cargo. 

Dr. Geiss is responsible for providing oversight and direction for all matters pertaining to the formulation, review, and execution of plans, policies, programs, and budgets for the effective and efficient use of energy to support the global Air Force mission.As of FY12, under Dr. Geiss’ guidance, the U.S. Air Force has more than 180 renewable projects in operation or under construction. In addition, the Air Force has been able to finish certifying its fleet on a synthetic fuel blend and has won six Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) awards.

Last year, the Air Force spent $9.7B  on energy costs, and 2.5B gallons of aviation fuel. With energy costs continuing to rise and the demand still being very present, his office has set out to accomplish four priorities:

1. Improve resiliency (enable the Air Force to bounce back quickly if their access to energy is compromised, using the 2011 tsunami in Japan as an example.)
2. Reduce demand
3. Assure supply (working with industry to make resources more available)
4. Foster an energy-aware culture

Check back to our Air Force Breakfast Series site to get the full audio transcript of the breakfast. In addition, check out tips on how you can do your part (document courtesy of the USAF): USAF's "I Am Air Force Energy"

Air Force Association’s LA Conference to Offer Insight to Global Role of USAF

What is the foundational role space and cyber play in the nation’s defense? How can our capabilities help counter anti-access threats in peace, crisis and war? Amid a changing strategic environment and continually emerging operational requirements, what should the Air Force be focusing on in the global arena?

While AFA is less than a month removed from our successful Air & Space Conference, we are gearing up for our next annual symposium: the Global Warfare Symposium. It's an opportunity to hear military leaders, senior government officials, expert researchers and academicians address the many challenges that the U.S. Air Force faces in its global role, more specifically in the realms of space and cyber.

Themed “Rebalance to the Pacific, and the Increasing Demands on Space and ISR," this year’s Symposium will highlight the challenges and opportunities of executing air, space and cyber power in the Pacific and the way ahead for the Air Force. Topics covered range from ISR, the Asian Pivot, USAF Global Posture, the Industrial Space Mission, Space Command and more.

Details:
Date: November 15 - 16, 2012
Location: Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles
Confirmed Speakers Include:
· Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley
· General William Shelton
· Lt Gen Larry James
· Lt Gen Ellen Pawlikowski
· Acting Under Secretary Jamie Morin
· Dr. Adam Grissom
· Dr. Stacie Pettyjohn
· Ms. Gwynne Shotwell
· Mr. Bran Ferren
· See the full agenda online

Registration and more details can be found here.

Happy Birthday to the U.S. Navy!

Congratulations to the Navy as they celebrate their 237th birthday today! Since 1775, Sailors have represented the fighting spirit of the Navy around the world and are proud to serve with honor, courage and commitment. The devotion of the men and women of the United States Navy have been unyielding as they continue to honor their tradition of honor and selfless service.

Without a doubt our Airmen are proud to serve alongside their brother and sister Sailors as part of the Joint Team that defines America.

We salute the Navy for their honor, courage, and commitment and wish them continued success in the years to come!

 

Why Cybersecurity Matters

In light of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, below are a few excerpts from a great article from the AP's Richard Lardner on why cybersecurity matters.

The issue:
The risk of a devastating cyberattack on the United States is real. But is it too remote to justify the costs of countermeasures? That's the quandary. There's no question the country remains vulnerable to an electronic Pearl Harbor as debate goes on over the role the federal government should play in securing computer networks that control the electrical grid, water supply and other critical sectors.

Why it matters:

Without warning, the electricity goes out, leaving you and your family in the dark for days, perhaps weeks. Or the gates of a dam holding back millions of gallons of water open suddenly and flood towns below. Or pipes in a chemical plant rupture, releasing deadly gas.

Any one, or all, of these nightmare scenarios could be invisibly set in motion by hackers, terrorist groups or foreign governments with the motivation and technical knowhow. Gen. Keith Alexander, head of U.S. Cyber Command, has rated the country's preparedness for a major cyberattack as poor, a 3 on a scale of 1 to 10.

But Congress hasn't taken action to bolster digital defenses. The ideological divisions between Republicans and Democrats have grown so wide that the parties can't agree on how to confront a risk they acknowledge is real. 

Read the full article here: http://www.the-review.com/ap%20politics/2012/10/11/why-it-matters-cybersecurity

ROTC's Return to Ivy Leagues

AFA is excited to see the return of an Air Force ROTC detachment into Ivy League schools. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Yale University’s campus on Friday, Sept. 21, to welcome Air Force and Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps detachments to the campus. 

Last May, after 41 years of absence, a reserve officers' training corps presence announced its return to Harvard University. Navy Secretary Ray Maybus and Harvard University President Drew Faust earlier signed an agreement returning an ROTC program to the school, effective with the end of 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.'

All three services (Navy, Army and Air Force) left the campus during the Vietnam War. They were barred from returning based on the school's objections to DADT. Cornell University is currently the only Ivy League school with an Air Force ROTC host presence.

The return of an Air Force ROTC detachment to the Ivy League school came about under the agreement signed in September 2011 by Air Force Secretary Michael Donley and Yale President Richard Levin. 

Read more from the Air Force Magazine’s article: http://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArchive/Pages/2012/September%202012/September%2012%202012/WelcomeBack.aspx

Upcoming AF Breakfast Series: Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy

AFA welcomes back Dr. Kevin T. Geiss, a member of the Senior Executive Service, as the guest speaker for the October session of the AFA Air Force Breakfast Program. [This session will be held on Wednesday, October 17, 2012, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., at the Crystal City Marriott in Arlington, Virginia]

Since 2010, Dr. Kevin T. Geiss has been the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics, in Washington, D.C. He is responsible for providing oversight and direction for all matters pertaining to the formulation, review, and execution of plans, policies, programs, and budgets for the effective and efficient use of energy to support the global Air Force mission.

Top 4 Air Force Accomplishments in FY12 (under his guidance):

1. Alternative Aviation Fuels:

• Finished certifying fleet on synthetic fuel blend
• Completed testing of 50/50 blend of HRJ & JP-8 and synthesis
• Began testing 50/50 blend of ATJ and JP-8

2. Continued developing on-base renewable energy projects:

• More than 180 renewable projects in operation or under construction
• Awarded contract to develop a 14.5 MW solar project at Davis Monthan AFB

3. Pursued 3rd-party Energy Conservation projects

4. Won 6 FEMP (Federal Energy Management Program) awards


Registration available at http://2012octbkft.eventbrite.com/.

Note from the AFA President

I’d like to introduce myself.  I’m Craig McKinley, the new President of this great Association, and I want to tell you how excited I am about joining you in the great work of AFA.  I appreciate my predecessor’s beginning these notes, and I plan to keep sending them to keep up the airpower dialogue we’ve enjoyed over the past five years.

National Cyber Security Awareness Month has been observed each October since its inception in 2004 and is used nationally as an opportunity to encourage safe practices and protection while operating in the cyber domain. As the nation’s critical infrastructure relies heavily on the Internet and networking for almost everything, there is a need for resiliency in this area more than ever. With increased connectivity comes increased risk and vulnerabilities – thus making cybersecurity one of our country’s most important national security priorities.

AFA has adopted the task of helping prepare today’s youth for cyber leadership with the establishment of CyberPatriot—The National High School Cyber Defense Competition. In CyberPatriot, participants compete online as their assignment is to identify and correct flaws and weaknesses in simulated computer systems while keeping specified computer functions working. It teaches students to defend and protect computer networks from real-life computer threat scenarios.

We are pleased to announce that registrations for the 2012-2013 school year have again passed 1,000 teams in all 50 states! There are only a few days left until registration closes (October 6), so please, help spread the word to your local high schools, JROTC squadrons, Naval Sea Cadets, and Civil Air Patrol units.

This year, 26 teams will earn all-expenses paid trips to the Washington, DC area where they will compete head-to-head at the National Finals Competition in late March.  Every member of last year’s 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams were awarded scholarships from CyberPatriot’s presenting sponsor, the Northrop Grumman Foundation.

Visit http://www.uscyberpatriot.org/Documents/CP_V__Reg_by_State.pdf to find out if your local school has signed up! Registration continues through October 6th.  Please visit www.uscyberpatriot.org. 

For your consideration,

Craig

Craig R. McKinley
President
Air Force Association

2012 Global Warfare Symposium -- 6 Weeks Out

AFA is ramping up for its next conference--the Global Warfare Symposium. Following the great success and reception of the Air & Space Conference, AFA’s 2012 Global Warfare Symposium also will allow all military members on Active Duty and DoD civilian personnel to attend the conference free of charge.
 
With the theme "Pivot to the Pacific, and the Increasing Demands on Space & ISR,” top military leaders will address the contributions of space to the combat environment and future challenges affecting the military in this unique symposium.

It will once again be held at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, from Thursday, November 15 to Friday, November 16, 2012.

The Global Warfare Symposium seeks to deliver the latest information regarding the global role of the Air Force in the world today and will provide critical insight on technological developments and program updates. Highlighted at this event will be many opportunities for professional development and growth as speakers cover an array of topics, including Space Command, Strategic Command, Pacific Air Forces and Air Force ISR.

Invited Speakers Include:

• General Mark Welsh
• Secretary Michael Donley
• General William Shelton
• General Hawk Carlisle
• Acting Under Secretary of the Air Force Jamie Morin
• Lt. Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski
• Lt. Gen. James Kowalski
• Lt. Gen. Larry James
• Gwynne Shotwell
• Bran Ferren
• See the full agenda online

Visit the AFA Global Warfare Symposium site for information and updates.

Guest Blogger: Air Force Enterprise

Maj. Gen. Earl Matthews

Guest blogger and AFA member Nancy Armour, Director of Federal Sales at Terremark, attended a panel session on the Air Force Enterprise, moderated by Maj. Gen. Earl Matthews, Director, Cyberspace Operations, Office of Information Dominance and Chief Information Officer, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. [Panel members included Brig. Gen. David Uhrich, Director of Communications, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Ms. Essye Miller, SES, Director, Headquarters AF Information Management, Office of the Administration to the Secretary of the Air Force, and Mr. Frank Konieczny, SES, Chief Technology Officer, Office of Information Dominance and CIO, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.]

Below is her take-away:

The discussion began with a question to Brig. Gen. Uhrich who was asked what ACC, as a consumer, needed from the Air Force Enterprise. Brig. Gen. Uhrich stated that he wants to understand more about what will be in the infrastructure, including what services will be provided to who and when. He needs a reliable, centrally managed robust service and says they should “think big, start small, and scale fast”. He has moved staff from delivering enterprise services to focusing on the MAJCOM’s unique responsibility as the steward of 5 of the missions in the core function master plan. The Air Force needs to look at how email is provided, and if and when they should migrate to a DISA provided email service. He also felt that portals, data centers, and cloud services should be part of the enterprise offering.

Mr. Konieczny was asked to discuss activities related to the Joint Information Enterprise (JIE). He started by saying that the purpose of the initiative is to allow DoD systems to be more effective, and increase situational awareness across DoD. He said there would be no Program Office and no procurement for JIE. The tenets of JIE are for DoD to share information. He used enterprise data centers as an example of shared assets. Data Centers across the world, and across organizations, will be selected as enterprise data centers and PaaS, IaaS and storage will be offered from them. Network normalization needs to occur to allow for better situational awareness. He also stated there would be a centralized management of the enterprise, not a pure joint effort, but DoD working together. He also spoke about how ABAC (Attribute Based Access Control) will be implemented to provide additional data protection.

Ms. Miller spoke briefly about the AF National Capitol District Washington pending procurement. They are focusing the follow-on procurement to ensure a strong representation of small business is included. She is looking for input from industry on what changes have occurred over the last 8 years in how services are being delivered that should be taken into account.

Questions from the audience included a question that Mr Konieczny addressed regarding how the Air Force plans to handle big data. He said this is one of the largest challenges as more and more data is collected. They are gathering more data than can be understood and analyzed and are looking for a solution from industry to help with this challenge.

Brig Gen Uhrich was asked to speak about the progress ACC has made with mobility. He stated he is a believer of “Bring Your Own Device” for some of the work they do. The challenge continues to be managing classified data on mobile devices. He thinks there is a solution out there that can be deployed to address concerns and allow the technology to be used effectively.

The wrap up discussion focused on acquisition and finding a way to strike a balance between functionality and the challenges related to the significant budget cuts that are coming. The benefits and challenges of using open source code was also touched on. The Air Force Smart Operations activity, specifically related to how to accredit cloud services, was also mentioned.

[The event was hosted by AFCEA’s DC Chapter.]

Sequestration Update

Sequestration, meaning to separate or confiscate, continues to be the elephant in the room. It is coming and it will have a devastating effect on national defense unless Congress and the Administration work together to head it off.

When the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, nicknamed the Super Committee, failed to come to agreement on additional budget cuts to trim the deficit last November, the repercussion – in line with the Budget Control Act – is for sequestration to take effect next January 2013.

No one exactly knows what will happen when and if “sequestration” occurs but it will be ugly. An additional $450 billion cut across the department of defense on top of an already $487 billion cut will have dire consequences.While sequestration was never meant to take place, senior military leaders have gone on record stating that it would bring about devastating effects.

As many as 150,000 troops and tens of thousands of civilians could be cut from Defense and, according to a study by Dr. Stephen S. Fuller at George Mason University, additional cuts to the defense budget will result in potential job losses (direct, indirect, community) of hundreds of thousands within the industrial base and local communities.

Last week, Peter Singer penned a five-part series on Sequestration, and what it would do to U.S. Military Power, breaking it down to a simpler level.

[Part 1: A sequestration primer;Part 2: Comparing defense budgets, apples to apples;
Part 3: A case study: east Asia;Part 4: Impact on the Korean peninsula; Part 5: Stupid, but not disastrous.]

It's a series of articles worth reading to get a better idea of sequestration and the defense budget in relation to the overall U.S. budget. But it must be kept in mind that its not just the defense budget that will slashed. Education, childcare and unemployment programs -- among many others -- are all "under threat" as these across-the-board cuts are scheduled to strike in January 2013. (Here's a report b y the White House's Office of Management and Budget: which programs are sequestrable: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/legislative_reports/stareport.pdf)

"Sequestration would be a terribly stupid thing to do. It not only wouldn’t solve the core problems driving the U.S. debt crisis, but it would also cut the defense budget in an incredibly un-strategic manner, cutting both the good and the bad by the same portions with no planning. -- Peter Singer"