Chapter News

For more than 10 years, the chapter has presented awards to middle school students participating in the East Panhandle Regional Science Fair in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, for STEM projects. This year, chapter members, Glenda Robinson and Luke Colinco were the chapter judges.

The awards were the following: First Place and $250: Aurora Mendenhall; Second Place and $200: Elena Henderson; Third Place and $150: Owen Parry; and Fourth Place and $100: Jackson Despard.

The chapter that serves Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field recently gave a $10,000 educational grant to Lewis School in Valparaiso, Florida. Many of the 760 students at Lewis are Title 1 (low income) and military-connected. The impact of COVID-19 has only exacerbated these students' financial situation and placed great strain on their households. This grant enabled a "School Care Strike" wherein the chapter delivered much-needed school supplies to meet the needs of many financially constrained students.

In February, students attended an award ceremony for the East Panhandle Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Lt. Col. Scott Weed, USAF, chapter president, presented checks and awards to four students for outstanding projects in the STEM field.

The chapter provided judges in late January for the East Panhandle Regional Science and Engineering Fair in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Maj. Jennifer Sayers, USAF, 96th Communications Squadron (96CS); Maj. Preston Iverson, USAF, 53rd Computer Systems Squadron (53CSS); Lt. Matthew Chroniger, USAF, 96CS; Senior Master Sgt. LaRue Holliday, USAF, 53CSS; and Master Sgt. Nicole Franklin, USAF, 28th Test and Evaluation Squadron, represented the chapter. Chapter awards were presented to four students during a presentation at St. Mary Catholic School in Fort Walton. Maj. Iverson attended to present checks and certificates to the winners. First place went to Laim Ordner, second place to Clara Beth LaFollette, third place to Emma Daldine and fourth place to Simrun Sharma. The projects were all related to STEM fields. Each year, the chapter hosts a golf tournament as well as tech expos to raise money for the science fair and for STEM scholarships awarded in the fall. The annual golf tournament will be held June 28.

The Northwest Florida Regional Science fair was held in February at the Fort Walton Beach Fairgrounds. Chapter President Lt. Col. Scott McGovern, USAF, commander, 1st Special Operations Communications Squadron; Capt. Jennifer Sayers, USAF; 1st Lt. Ronisha Carter, AFSOC/A6; and Master Sgt. Joy Woods, 1 SOCS, were judges representing the chapter. The projects were all related to a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) field. Awards were given out on February 7 at Saint Mary’s Life Center in Fort Walton Beach. Each of the top four winners was presented a check, certificate and backpack from the chapter. Each year the Emerald Coast Chapter hosts a golf tournament and tech expos in order to raise money for this science fair, as well as the STEM scholarships that are given out in the fall.

Chapter President Lt. Col. Matthew Imperial, USAF, presented special category awards at a northwest Florida regional science and engineering awards ceremony earlier this year in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. As judges, chapter members evaluated projects in select subcategories applicable to core science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) areas. Four winners were chosen and awarded money and backpacks: Grayson Brobeck, Jae Kim, Logan Thursby and Camille Miles.

The chapter's 2014 August scholarship luncheon featured guest speaker Stacy Dawn, chief, Cyber Security Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Those who attended the luncheon were eligible to receive Continuing Professional Education credits. Dawn emphasized the importance of utilizing cybersecurity techniques and how those featured principles and practices are designed to safeguard computing assets and online information against threats. The chapter then proudly recognized seven outstanding students for academic achievement: Wesley Olson, Tony Warner Olson, Nathaniel Hicks, Kristian Colon-Bruno, Keanu Richardson, Ryan Langlois and Jorge L. Vanegas Tolosa. The students received scholarships of varying amounts as well as Chromebooks donated in person by HP representative Clinton Nye. Finally, Richard Hernandez represented Niceville High School to receive the chapter's STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Award along with Tangela Frazier, who represented Liza Jackson Preparatory School.

The chapter's September scholarship luncheon featured guest speaker Lt. Col. Robert H. Kelly, USAF. As commander of the 96th Communications Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, Col. Kelly elaborated on the current state and future of the cyberspace career field. He expanded on various topics as they relate to changes in how the day-to-day operations are being redirected to a centralized location for the local Communications Squadron. The chapter then proudly recognized six outstanding students for academic achievement: Shasta Hunt, Ryan Wood, Rosa Mohrbacher, Tyler Claudio, Joshua Risner and Christopher Bernier. Each of the students received a scholarship award amount of $2,000. Finally, Sue Sorenson represented Crestview High School as a recipient of this year's Science Teacher STEM Award. Crestview High School received $2,000 for its science program as well.

The chapter's June scholarship luncheon featured guest speaker Col. Kevin Krause, USAF, the new director, Communications and Information Directorate at Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command. As the former commander of the 5th Combat Communications Group, Col. Krause introduced the current state and future of combat communications. Lt. Col. Brian Bakshas, USAF, and Glenda Robinson, chapter vice president for education and scholarships, then led the chapter in proudly recognizing nine outstanding students for academic achievement: Dylan Brock, Austin Frazier, Jovares Vereen, Chelsea Perry, Terrance Pickett, Glenda Robinson, Samuel Fleming, Sylvester Echols and Stephanie Dunlop. The students received scholarships of varying amounts as well as Netbooks donated by HP. Antonio Douglas Jr. also received an HP Netbook as the Science Fair Award winner. Finally, Dale Peterson accepted the chapter's STEM Award on behalf of Bruner Middle School.

In October, 2nd Lt. Andrew Lingenfelter, USAF, received AFCEA's 2010 CSC Technical Defense Scholarship worth $3,000. The CSC Technical Defense Scholarship rewards students demonstrating excellence at the master's level of study. Additionally, the program is for young professionals currently employed in a field related to communications, computer science or electronics. Lt. Lingenfelter is assigned as a project engineer at the Air Armament Center at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. He currently attends the University of Florida, where he studies industrial and systems engineering.

The chapter recently had its October luncheon with Col. Michael Gantt, USAF, commander of the 53rd Wing, as the guest speaker. Col. Gantt discussed the unique electronic warfare, advanced programs and operational test missions that the members of his wing support every day for the White House, government organizations and the Defense Department. Additionally, he discussed the communications successes his wing has had in connecting these organizations together to quickly share mission data files across the globe. He explained the challenges his organization has to overcome when meeting concurrent standards from the Joint Air Force-Army-Navy, the Director of Central Intelligence Directives, DOD 8500 and Air Force instructions while providing Combat Air Force network services. He wrapped up his talk by thanking AFCEA members for what they do and encouraging them to continue to make strides in bringing technological advances that make military jobs easier.

Brig. Gen. Gregory J. Touhill, USAF, commander, 81st Training Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, was the guest speaker at the January meeting. He provided an overview of his command's "New Learning Organization" initiative, which emphasizes knowledge management, continuous learning and precision learning. The general explained how network-centric learning has enabled cost savings. Gen. Touhill concluded his remarks by stressing the importance of continuous innovation, enterprise-wide learning systems and cost-effective learning-intensive systems.

In November, the chapter hosted a membership luncheon that was attended by more than 150 local information technology professionals. Lt. Col. Robert Lyman, USAF, commander, 96th Communications Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, and chapter president, noted that many attendees, who also visited the Air Force Special Operations Command/A-6 Conference, came to hear Maj. Gen. John W. Maluda, USAF, director, Cyberspace Transformation and Strategy, Secretary of the Air Force Office of Warfighting Integration, and chief information officer, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., provide the keynote presentation. Gen. Maluda discussed the Objective Airborne Gateway, the Remote Operations Video Enhanced Receiver and the Deployed Battlefield Air Operations kit and their role in the Air Force's focus on service-oriented architecture. The general explained the Air Force has three goals: deliver information now, rapidly delivery new information through existing capabilities and slash deployment and sustainment costs.

The keynote speaker for the chapter's July luncheon was Col. Tom Byrge, USAF, commander, 3rd Combat Communications Group (3rd CCG), Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Col. Byrge's presentation focused on three main topics. The first was the aircraft approach to theater deployable communications (TDC). The 3rd CCG is striving to fit all TDC equipment into one C-17 aircraft. The second topic focused on the strong initiative to implement everything over Internet protocol (EoIP), including telephone and radio. The final main point was the limited factor in fielding commercially available technology in the acquisition process. Col. Byrge noted that three years is too long to wait to field commercially available products.

The keynote speaker for the chapter's April meeting was Col. Jack Shanahan, USAF, commander, 505th Command and Control Wing, Hurlburt Field. Col. Shanahan spoke focused on the integration of live, virtual and constructive technology capabilities to achieve cross-domain dominance and the importance of operational command and control. The colonel explained that the 505th Command and Control Wing, an Air Combat Command unit assigned to the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, is composed of more than 870 military personnel, government civilians and contractors at 10 locations across the United States.

In March the chapter awarded a science fair prize of a $100 savings bond to Andrew Rushadoff, a freshman from Niceville High School. Rushadoff created a project called "Floating on Air" to compete in the Senior Engineering Division. He created a hover board propelled by a leaf blower, on which he was able to stand and travel. The chapter was pleased to have the opportunity to reward and encourage him to continue his studies.

In January Maj. Gen. William T. Lord, USAF, presented chapter members with a look at progress in standing up Air Force Cyberspace Command (Provisional) (AFCYBER). More than 200 communications, information and electronics professionals - the largest luncheon crowd ever - received a firsthand account of the factors that come into play when standing up such a diverse yet important organization. Gen. Lord strongly emphasized the global effects that can be created through the synergies of kinetic and non-kinetic energy. In using non-kinetic energy, like that provided by a network attack or disruption, AFCYBER can affect the adversary's power grids, banks, commerce, political activities and government departments. AFCYBER's goal will involve securing networked borders while exploiting the weaknesses of enemy networks. AFCYBER will see initial operational capability in early October 2008 with full operational capability on track for October 2009, Gen. Lord said.

In November the chapter hosted a golf tournament at the Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, golf course. The tournament was run by 14 volunteers who collected a number of door prizes, organized the tournament and helped raise $2,500 for the chapter's scholarship program. Northrop Grumman, ManTech International, Dell Incorprated, F5 and Alpha Data Corp all supported the chapter's efforts as corporate sponsors.

In October the chapter welcomed Mr. Lou Ramos, executive director, ManTech Tampa and AFCEA Regional Vice President for Western Florida, to speak on AFCEA International's vision, accomplishments and benefits to potential and current members. Outgoing chapter President Col. Harry Blanke, USAF, Commander, 96th Communications Group also briefed the audience on the chapter's goals and yearly accomplishments including the Model Chapter of the Year and the Albert J. Meyer Achievement Award for membership. Additionally, the chapter presented a $1,000 educational grant to Avalon Middle School for their robotics competition. To end the meeting the board of directors stepped down and welcomed their newly elected counterparts, now led by Lt. Col. Robert Lyman, USAF, Commander, 96th Communications Squadron.

The membership luncheon in April featured guest speaker Brig. Gen. (Sel.) Gregory Brundidge, USAF, director of communications, Headquarters Air Combat Command (ACC). Gen. Brundidge spoke to a predominately Air Force Materiel Command audience on his perspectives as the senior communicator in ACC. The briefing provided attendees with a look the capabilities of communications at base level, in combat, and within the Air Operations Center, Engineering and Installation and specialized units. He also highlighted ACC Communications and Information initiatives such as transformation, Air Force Network Operations, the creation of cyber command and evolving expeditionary communications.