News and items of interest
Check back often for items of interest regarding our Association and the Air Force communications, information, air traffic control, and cyberspace communities.
AFSPC commander addresses maturing cyberspace domain
2/15/2012 - PETERSON AFB, Colo. (AFNS) -- The Air Force Space Command commander highlighted space and cyberspace superiority, acquisition strategies and industry partnerships, and the need for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education during a speech Feb. 7 in Colorado Springs, Colo. Gen. William Shelton kicked off the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association Cyberspace 2012 Symposium, addressing government and industry professionals in the cyber domain. Read more at: http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123290240
_Software Development Forum to shape future of network capabilities
1/24/2012 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFNS) -- The Air Force Network Integration Center is hosting its first Software Development Forum beginning Feb. 7 in Colorado Springs, Colo., as part of an effort to standardize requirements for applications on the Air Force Network. The event is the first in a series of planned forums to partner with industry in establishing a common set of standards for deploying systems and software onto the network, with the ultimate goal of providing secure, reliable network capabilities to Airmen faster and more cost effectively. Read more at: http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123289681_
Gen Basla to be named CIO
01/11/2012 - The U.S. Air Force has announced that Lt. Gen Bill Lord will retire as the service's chief information officer and chief, information dominance, at the end of July, and Lt. Gen. Michael Basla has been named as his replacement, Federal News Radio reported.
General Lord was named chief of warfighting integration and CIO in July 2009. General Basla currently serves as the vice commander of the Air Force Space Command. (Washington Business Journal, Jan 11, 2012)
General Lord was named chief of warfighting integration and CIO in July 2009. General Basla currently serves as the vice commander of the Air Force Space Command. (Washington Business Journal, Jan 11, 2012)
910th Communication Flight achieves Squadron status
01/07/2012 - Risen on the Cyber
Tide: Air Force Reserve
Command's 910th Airlift Wing at Youngstown ARS, Ohio, added a new squadron by
elevating the 910th Communications Flight to squadron status. "With the
increased focus on cyber operations, we've experienced an increase in staff to
help shoulder the workload," said Lt. Col. Pete Milkovich, 910th CS commander,
at the change-of-status ceremony at the wing's headquarters on Jan. 7. "We have
already been functioning at a squadron level, so the change from flight to
squadron is kind of a formality," he added. (by TSgt.
Dennis Kilker) Read more at: http://www.youngstown.afrc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123285421
Maj Gen Hawkins to take command of DISA
Maj. Gen. Ronnie
Hawkins
01/03/2012 - Maj. Gen. Ronnie
Hawkins will assume command of the Defense Information Systems Agency Wednesday, Jan. 11, during a ceremony at Fort Meade, Md., the agency's headquarters. He
will receive a third star for this new assignment. Hawkins has been deputy
director of command, control, communications, and computer systems on the Joint
Staff since last July. He was DISA's vice director from September 2009 up until
then. Hawkins will replace Army Lt. Gen. Carroll
Pollett, who led DISA since December 2008. Pollett is retiring after a
37-year military career. DISA is a combat support agency that provides real-time
information technology and communications support to the President, vice
president, Defense Secretary, military services, and combatant commands. (DISA
release)
First in, last out...Robins airmen among last to return from Iraq
12/22/2011 - Tech. Sgt. Brian McDonald, a
53rd Combat Communications Squadron cyber systems operations technician,
hugs his children Krista and Christian at a welcome home ceremony at Robins AFB, Ga.,
Dec. 19. McDonald is among 25 returning communicators who helped close
operations at Sather Air Base, Iraq, and they are some of the last
Airmen to leave the country. (U.S. Air Force photo by Robert Talenti) More photos at http://www.24af.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123284479
AF announces senior leader retirement/assignments
12/01/2011 - Air Force headquarters announced the following senior officer retirement/assignments: GENERAL
OFFICER RETIREMENT:
LT GEN WILLIAM T. LORD, from Chief, Warfighting Integration and Chief Information Officer, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, DC
GENERAL OFFICER NOMINATIONS:
The President has nominated to the Senate the following general officers for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general with assignment as indicated: LT GEN MICHAEL J. BASLA, from Vice Commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, CO, to Chief, Information Dominance and Chief Information Officer, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, DC
MAJ GEN JOHN E. HYTEN, from Director, Space Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Pentagon, Washington, DC, to Vice Commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, CO.
LT GEN WILLIAM T. LORD, from Chief, Warfighting Integration and Chief Information Officer, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, DC
GENERAL OFFICER NOMINATIONS:
The President has nominated to the Senate the following general officers for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general with assignment as indicated: LT GEN MICHAEL J. BASLA, from Vice Commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, CO, to Chief, Information Dominance and Chief Information Officer, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, DC
MAJ GEN JOHN E. HYTEN, from Director, Space Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Pentagon, Washington, DC, to Vice Commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, CO.
Retired Col Dempsey visits AFNIC
12/29/2011 - Retired Col. Derrel Dempsey, a Cyberspace Operations and Support Hall of
Fame member, visited AFNIC Dec. 29 to provide his daughter and grandchildren a
personal tour of his past through the artifacts and portraits on display in Ludwig Hall. Col. Dempsey served in the Air Force as an air traffic control officer and flight inspection pilot before retiring in 1984. His prestige in the air traffic control community resulted in the renaming of the Air Force's annual Air Traffic Control Manager (officer) of the year award in his honor in 1995, "Colonel Derrel L. Dempsey Officer of the Year Award."
(From AFNIC's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.349047325108715.99537.182412121772237& )
Fame member, visited AFNIC Dec. 29 to provide his daughter and grandchildren a
personal tour of his past through the artifacts and portraits on display in Ludwig Hall. Col. Dempsey served in the Air Force as an air traffic control officer and flight inspection pilot before retiring in 1984. His prestige in the air traffic control community resulted in the renaming of the Air Force's annual Air Traffic Control Manager (officer) of the year award in his honor in 1995, "Colonel Derrel L. Dempsey Officer of the Year Award."
(From AFNIC's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.349047325108715.99537.182412121772237& )
Hot topic...
12/15/2011 - Military retirees, Survivor Benefit Plan annuitants, and disabled veterans will see a 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment
in January. The 3.6 percent COLA goes into effect Dec 1 and will be
reflected in January retired pay, SBP annuitant checks, and Veterans
Affairs disability compensation checks. This is the first COLA increase
since 2009. (Air Force Retiree Services: http://www.retirees.af.mil/ )
Air Force builds one network
11/29/2011 - With
some three dozen bases and nearly 20 percent of all users having made
the transition, the Air Force is well along in its campaign to implement
a single, servicewide network, known as AFNet, by the end of next year....
... The transition is being overseen by the Air Force Network Integration Center (AFNIC), located at Scott AFB. Command of the network will reside with the 24th Air Force, the service’s recently established cyber command, which is under Air Force Space Command (AFSPC). General William L. Shelton, commander of AFSPC, told Congress this spring that consolidation into AFNet was a “top priority.”
Read more in the November 2011 Military Information Technology magazine:
http://www.military-information-technology.com/mit-home/367-mit-2011-volume-15-issue-10-november/4997-air-force-builds-one-network.html
... The transition is being overseen by the Air Force Network Integration Center (AFNIC), located at Scott AFB. Command of the network will reside with the 24th Air Force, the service’s recently established cyber command, which is under Air Force Space Command (AFSPC). General William L. Shelton, commander of AFSPC, told Congress this spring that consolidation into AFNet was a “top priority.”
Read more in the November 2011 Military Information Technology magazine:
http://www.military-information-technology.com/mit-home/367-mit-2011-volume-15-issue-10-november/4997-air-force-builds-one-network.html
Request Military Service Records ... DD-214s are now online
11/23/2011 - Please pass on to other vets. It's official: DD-214 discharge papers are NOW ONLINE. The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has provided the following website for veterans to gain access totheir DD-214s online: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/.
This may be particularly helpful when a veteran needs a copy of his/her DD-214 for employment purposes. NPRC is working to make it easier for veterans with computers and Internet access to obtain copies of documents from their military files. Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military members may now use a new online military personnel records system to request documents.
Other individuals with a need for documents must still complete the Standard Form 180, which can be downloaded from the online web site. Because the requester will be asked to supply all information essential for NPRC to process the request, delays that normally occur when NPRC has to ask veterans for additional information will be minimized. The new web-based application was designed to provide better service on these requests by eliminating the records centers mailroom and processing time.
Please pass this information on to former military personnel you may know and their dependents. (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)
11/23/2011 - Please pass on to other vets. It's official: DD-214 discharge papers are NOW ONLINE. The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has provided the following website for veterans to gain access totheir DD-214s online: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/.
This may be particularly helpful when a veteran needs a copy of his/her DD-214 for employment purposes. NPRC is working to make it easier for veterans with computers and Internet access to obtain copies of documents from their military files. Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military members may now use a new online military personnel records system to request documents.
Other individuals with a need for documents must still complete the Standard Form 180, which can be downloaded from the online web site. Because the requester will be asked to supply all information essential for NPRC to process the request, delays that normally occur when NPRC has to ask veterans for additional information will be minimized. The new web-based application was designed to provide better service on these requests by eliminating the records centers mailroom and processing time.
Please pass this information on to former military personnel you may know and their dependents. (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)
Read more...
Air Force Space/Technology News
Lt Gen William Lord
Air Force general receives executive award
11/2/2011 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Air Force's chief information officer was recognized with a Government Computer News award during the 24th annual GCN Awards Gala in McLean, Va., Oct. 19.
Lt. Gen. William Lord, the Air Force chief of warfighting integration and chief information officer, received the Defense Information Technology Executive of the Year Award. The GCN awards recognize teamwork, public service and the important contributions of the younger generation in improving the quality of systems and services in the public service sector. Read more: http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123278337
11/2/2011 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Air Force's chief information officer was recognized with a Government Computer News award during the 24th annual GCN Awards Gala in McLean, Va., Oct. 19.
Lt. Gen. William Lord, the Air Force chief of warfighting integration and chief information officer, received the Defense Information Technology Executive of the Year Award. The GCN awards recognize teamwork, public service and the important contributions of the younger generation in improving the quality of systems and services in the public service sector. Read more: http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123278337
Defending the Cyber Domain
Lt Gen Michael Basla
Speech by Lt. Gen. Michael J. Basla, Vice Commander, Air Force Space Command, at Air Force Association's Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition, Sept. 20, 2011
09/20/2011 -- "As many of you know, Air Force Space Command is the Air Force lead major command for space and
cyberspace. And I'm going to drill down into a little bit of cyberspace; some of the things that we've done,
some of the things that we're doing today, and some of the things that are still on the horizon.
"Cyberspace is one of General Shelton's three focus areas. He has three of them. Support the joint fight, operationalize and normalize cyberspace, and then the third piece is define a better way, a cheaper way, to do acquisition to deliver space and cyberspace capabilities. We spearhead these Air Force-wide efforts through Space Command's organize, train and equip roles and responsibilities. Read more... on the AFSPC web site.
09/20/2011 -- "As many of you know, Air Force Space Command is the Air Force lead major command for space and
cyberspace. And I'm going to drill down into a little bit of cyberspace; some of the things that we've done,
some of the things that we're doing today, and some of the things that are still on the horizon.
"Cyberspace is one of General Shelton's three focus areas. He has three of them. Support the joint fight, operationalize and normalize cyberspace, and then the third piece is define a better way, a cheaper way, to do acquisition to deliver space and cyberspace capabilities. We spearhead these Air Force-wide efforts through Space Command's organize, train and equip roles and responsibilities. Read more... on the AFSPC web site.
More news...
Communicators, air traffic controllers tour AFNIC
10/6/2011 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- More than 55 veteran Air Force communicators and air traffic controllers recently visited the Air Force Network Integration Center's Ludwig Heritage Hall as part of the Air Force Communicators and Air Traffic Controllers Association's annual convention.
Among the attendees were former Air Force Communications Command Commander, retired Maj. Gen. Gerald Prather, and former AFCC Chief of Staff, retired Brig. Gen. Stancil Dilda. AFCC is a predecessor organization of AFNIC.
AFNIC Commander Col. Rizwan Ali warmly welcomed the group and briefed them on AFNIC's mission. Read more: http://www.afnic.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123274985
10/6/2011 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- More than 55 veteran Air Force communicators and air traffic controllers recently visited the Air Force Network Integration Center's Ludwig Heritage Hall as part of the Air Force Communicators and Air Traffic Controllers Association's annual convention.
Among the attendees were former Air Force Communications Command Commander, retired Maj. Gen. Gerald Prather, and former AFCC Chief of Staff, retired Brig. Gen. Stancil Dilda. AFCC is a predecessor organization of AFNIC.
AFNIC Commander Col. Rizwan Ali warmly welcomed the group and briefed them on AFNIC's mission. Read more: http://www.afnic.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123274985
Links to more news...
