Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Forum on Plan for an Unstable Defense Future

MILITARY AFFAIRS FORUM

Military Affairs Committee


Date & Time:  Wednesday, Oct. 14, 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Place:  La Quinta Inn | 1425 E. 27th St. | Tacoma 98421
Register: Register Online

Event Sponsor:


The event fee will be complimentary, hosted by our sponsor for invited Military Personnel who reserve with Janice Hutchins, (253) 683-4882 or janiceh@tacomachamber.org


AGENDA:
The Current State of Military Affairs in WA & How We Plan for an Unstable Future

Introduction:  Kristine’ Reeves,
Governor's Sector Lead & Director | Military & Defense Sector
Program Director | Defense Industry Adjustment Program
Executive Director | Washington Military Alliance

1. DoD’s Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) grant update by
James Evans, Program Manager, Defense Industry Adjustment, Department of Commerce

Military downsizing, future of the Army and force realignments are all making the news, but what about impacts to the defense businesses around the base supporting billions in the state economy?  Join us for a presentation on the state's efforts to “map” the DOD supply chain in WA, better prepare for defense budget cuts and support local communities.

2. Military compatible land use by
Jeff Wilson, Director, & Deanah Watson, Growth Management Services, Department of Commerce & Xandre Chateaubriand, Policy Advisory, Governor Inslee

Think JBLM is the only base in WA or the only county challenged by encroachment or incompatible land use?  Interested to see how other states are tackling this challenge or how WA is needs your help to do the same here?  Join us for an update on the report going to the legislature focused on taking steps to address this issue.


NEXT ACTIVITIES
November 12 John Anderson Military Citizen of Year with Rotary Club #8

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Visit the “Tacoma-Pierce Co. Veteran & Business Service” Facebook page.  Like the page to stay informed of workplace opportunities for transitioning vets and vets as well as current information.

Monday, September 28, 2015

Vets & Supporters Awarded

The Chamber has focused military and veterans affairs by awarding three local companies at its 2015 Spotlight on Business Awards ceremony.

Odd Otter Brewing Company’s Slogan says it all: they are not like the “Otter” guys. Five friends – including three current and past military members united to open Odd Otter Brewing Company. Crowdfunded through a kickstarter campaign, Odd Otter is helping to contribute to the ever growing downtown brewery district with their unique blends and brews.

Congratulations Odd Otter Brewing!



When USO Northwest opened its door sin 1996 there were 4 employees. Today, 10 employees at USO Northwest serve more than 600,000 military members and their families throughout the Pacific Northwest through centers at Portland Airport, the Shali Center on McCord JBLM, their mobile canteen, and Seatac Airport, the busiest USO in the country. USO Northwest’s Helping Hands program is supported by the Combined Federal Campaign; 100% of these donations received through the CFC go directly to supporting military and families. Last year USO Northwest’s helping hands program served over 89,000 local military and their families.
Congratulations USO Northwest!

The Geneva Foundation was founded in 1993 by Jane Taylor, a critical care nurse, at the request of Madigan Army Medical Center. Since its inception, Geneva has supported medical research at over 50 Federal Laboratories and Military Treatment Facilities worldwide. Geneva sets itself apart by offering military researchers an exceptional level of service and expertise through our commitment to shared values of integrity, superior customer service, quality, teamwork, innovation, and respect for all. The  Geneva Foundation  recognizes that innovative collaboration is vital to medical advancement. Through collaborations with Industry and medical leaders, exciting new ideas are developed. These ideas have the power to improve patient lives and to provide security for the health and well-being of U.S. service members, their families, and the global community.

Congratulations to the Geneva Foundation!

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition 2015

The Air Force Association's annual Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition runs Sept. 14-16, 2015, in National Harbor, Md.

It features a range of speakers, including Defense Secretary Ash Carter, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, and Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh, as well as many industry leaders.

Topics range from the challenges of sequestration to opportunities in artificial intelligence, all focused around aerospace, cyberspace, and the US Air Force.

For up-to-date information from AFA about the conference, click here. Track the conference on social media by following us on Twitter and Facebook or by using #ASC15.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

WA Service Member for Life Two

Washington State Service Member for Life Transition Summit


Tuesday, September 22, 2015 - 9:00am to Thursday, September 24, 2015 - 4:00pm
Hiring Our Heroes
Joint Base Lewis-McChord,
WA 98433 United States

See map: Google Maps

Join us at the Washington State Service Member for Life Transition Summit at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

This three-day summit brings together key federal and state agencies, influential military leaders, innovators in the business and employer community, and local community leaders with transitioning service members, veterans, and their families.

This summit features participation by and speakers from the Washington State government including the Washington State Department of Commerce, The Office of Governor Jay Inslee, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Labor' Veteran Employment and Training Service, the Joint Services Support-Washington National Guard, the U.S. Army's Soldier for Life and Installation Management Command, the U.S. Small Business Administration, Camo 2 Commerce, the U.S. Department of Defense's Transition to Veterans Program Office, Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, the Washington State Military Transition Council, and local chambers of commerce, as well as the launch of the Onward to Opportunity program.

The three-day transition summit will feature seminars, roundtables, panel events, recruiter training, and facilitated discussions focused on improving competitive employment for service members, veterans, and military spouses in addition to networking opportunities for all involved.

Day 1 is for senior leaders including companies and employers, senior military leaders (O-3/E-6 or above), local support organizations, chambers of commerce, economic development groups, CEOs and regional support organizations.
Day 2 will focus on Transitioning Service Members, Family Members, National Guard and Reserve Members and Veterans looking for employment.
Day 3 will bring together job seekers, employers, and other leaders and culminate in a hiring fair, college and apprenticeship fair, and small business fair.

This summit is held with support from Starbucks, Capital One, First Data, and Camo2Commerce.
Employers: Learn how to make the most of these Transition Summits here.

REGISTRATION
? Job Seekers, Employers, and Service Organizations: Click here to register.

Why register? Job seekers can upload their resumes to be viewed by employers ahead of the event.

For general questions about Hiring Our Heroes, please visit our FAQ page or email us.

Friday, September 11, 2015

Future of the Army Public Meeting

Commissioners will conduct a public meeting to hear comments pertinent to the mission of the National Commission on the Future of the Army (NCFA.)

Date: Thursday, September 24, 2015
Time:  3:00 – 5:00 pm
ADDRESS: Red Lion Hotel Conference Room, Red Lion Hotel – Tacoma, 8402 S. Hosmer Street, Tacoma WA

Commissioners:
SMA Raymond F. Chandler
HON Thomas R. Lamont
LTG Jack C. Stultz

NCFA Mission
In light of the projected security environment, conduct a comprehensive study of the roles and structure of the Army, and policy assumptions related to the size and force mixture of the Army, in order to:

1. Make an assessment of the size and force mixture of the active component of the Army and the reserve components of the Army.
2. Make recommendations on the modifications, if any, of the structure of the Army related to current and anticipated mission requirements for the Army at acceptable levels of national risk and in a manner consistent with available resources and anticipated future resources.
3. Make an assessment of proposed AH-64 transfers from Army National Guard to the Regular Army.

Seating is limited and pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

Registration: Individuals and entities who wish to attend the public hearing and meeting on Thursday, September 24, 2015 are encouraged to register for the event with the DFO using the electronic mail and facsimile contact information found in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 4 CONTACT section below. The communication should include the registrant’s full name, title, affiliation or employer, email address, day time phone number. This information will assist the Commission in contacting individuals should it decide to do so at a later date. If applicable, include written comments and a request to speak during the oral comment session. (Oral comment requests must be accompanied by a summary of your presentation.)

Registrations and written comments should be typed.

Oral Comments: In addition to written statements, one hour and forty minutes will be reserved for individuals or interest groups to address the Commission on September 24, 2015. Those interested in presenting oral comments to the Commission must summarize their oral statement in writing and submit with their registration. The Commission’s staff will assign time to oral commentors at the meeting; no more than five minutes each for individuals. While requests to make an oral presentation to the Commission will be honored on a first come, first served basis, other opportunities for oral comments will be provided at future meetings.

Written Comments:  The public or interested organizations may submit written comments to the Commission in response to the stated agenda of the open and/or closed meeting or the Commission’s mission. The Designated Federal Officer (DFO) will review all submitted written statements. Written comments should be submitted to Mr. Donald Tison, DFO, via facsimile or electronic mail, the preferred modes of submission. Each page of the comment must include the author’s name, title or affiliation, address, and daytime phone number. All comments received before Wednesday, September 23, 2015, will be provided to the Commission before the September 24, 2015, meeting. Comments received after Wednesday, September 23, 2015, will be provided to the Commission before its next meeting. All contact information may be found in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section below.

TO REGISTER AND FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Don Tison, Designated Federal Officer, National Commission on the Future of the Army, 700 Army Pentagon, Room 3E406, Washington, DC 20310–0700, Email: dfo.public@ncfa.ncr.gov  Desk (703) 692–9099. Facsimile (703) 697–8242.

The Commission is tasked to submit a report, containing a comprehensive study and recommendations, by February 1, 2016 to the President of the United States and the Congressional defense committees. The report will contain a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commission, together with its recommendations for such legislation and administrative actions it may consider appropriate in light of the results of the study. The comprehensive study of the structure of the Army will determine whether, and how, the structure should be modified to best fulfill current and anticipated mission requirements for the Army in a manner consistent with available resources

Background of the National Commission of the Future of the Army  (http://www.ncfa.ncr.gov/)
Purpose: The National Commission on the Future of the Army was established by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (Pub. L. 113-291). The Commission will submit a report containing a comprehensive study and recommendations by February 1, 2016 to the President and Congress of the United States.

Overview: The Commission will examine the structure of the Army and policy assumptions related to the size and force mixture of the Army in order to make an assessment of the size and force structure of the Army's active and reserve components. The Commission will make recommendations on modifications, if any, to the structure of the Army related based on current and anticipated mission requirements, acceptable levels of national risk, in a manner consistent with available resources, and anticipated future resources. In accordance with legislation, the Commission will specifically examine the transfer of Army National Guard AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from the Army National Guard to the Regular Army.

Membership: The Commission consists of eight Commissioners; four appointed by Congress and four appointed by the President. The Commissioners will use their decades of public service and expertise in national and international security policy and strategy, military forces capability, force structure, organization, and employment, and reserve forces policy to provide recommendations that will strengthen the future Army.

Friday, September 4, 2015

Opportunity with Government Contracting

Businesses looking to win government contracts will have the opportunity at the Greater Pierce County Purchasing Forum on Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 8:00 a.m. to noon at the STAR Center, 3873 S 66th St in Tacoma. Click here for map and directions.

Learn first-hand how to register and compete for contracts with federal, state, and local government agencies, meet one-on-one with purchasing agents, network with other Pierce County business owners and managers, and participate in breakout sessions.

  • Panelists and exhibitors include 
  • Pierce County
  • City of Tacoma
  • Port of Tacoma
  • Washington State Department of Transportation
  • Washington State Department of Enterprise Services
  • Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)
  • Native PTAC
  • NAVSUP Fleet Logics Center-Puget Sound
  • U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • Joint Base Lewis-McChord
  • Tacoma Public Schools
  • Pierce Transit
  • Northwest Minority Supplier Development Council
  • King County Director Association (KCDA) School Purchasing Consortium
  • Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises

Register online or contact Hans Kueck at (253) 798-2335 or email.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Military Medicine: The Foundation and MAMC

MILITARY AFFAIRS FORUM


Military Affairs Committee



Date & Time:  Wednesday, Sept. 9, 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Place:  La Quinta Inn | 1425 E. 27th St. | Tacoma 98421
Register: Register Online

Event Sponsor:





The event fee will be hosted by our sponsor for invited Military Personnel who reserve with Janice Hutchins, (253) 683-4882

AGENDA:  MILITARY MEDICINE

THE MADIGAN YOU NEVER KNEW
Col. Michael Place
Commander
Madigan Army Medical Center

Col. Place came to Madigan after serving as the senior medical advisor in the Army Secretariat, assigned as the Assistant Deputy for Health Affairs in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs), Washington, D.C.

As the commander of Madigan Army Medical Center, he leads an organization of about 5,300 staff members who provide health care to more than 105,000 beneficiaries.

Colonel Place entered the Army as the Distinguished Military Graduate from Johns Hopkins University where he was also recognized as a George C. Marshall Award recipient.  After medical school at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, he completed his internship and family medicine residency as chief resident at Martin Army Community Hospital, Fort Benning, GA.

Place, a family physician, earned both the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star during a career that included assignments with the 75th Ranger Regiment and the 101st Airborne Division, and deployments to Hungary in support of the Kosovo Air Campaign, and to Haiti, Iraq and Afghanistan.  Place also commanded the 10th Combat Support Hospital, Fort Carson, Colo., including a year-long deployment to Afghanistan as a medical task force commander.

SUPPORTING MILITARY MEDICINE
Jane S. Taylor
Founder and Chief Strategy Officer
Geneva Foundation

Ms. Taylor founded The Geneva Foundation in 1993. Ms. Taylor has a known track record for successfully leading and growing for-profit and non-profit organizations. After working as a Critical Care nurse, she moved into the field of pharmaceutical research.

Following work at Syntex Laboratories, Ms. Taylor founded Pacific Coast Clinical Coordinators, Inc. ("PC3Inc"), a Site Management Organization providing clinical, administrative and regulatory support to physicians conducting pharmaceutical research trials. PC3Inc.

In 1995, Ms. Taylor founded Northwest Kinetics (NWK), a Phase I pharmacokinetic clinical research unit. Then, Ms. Taylor directed her attention to the Middleton Foundation for Ethical Studies, a non-profit organization focused on establishing ethical standards for clinical research in developing countries. Ms. Taylor has remained active in community work by serving on numerous boards for non-profit organizations.

The Geneva Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports and advances innovative medical research and excellence in education within the U.S. military. With over 450 employees worldwide.  Since its inception, Geneva has supported medical research at over 50 Federal Laboratories and Military Treatment Facilities worldwide.  Geneva works with researchers from idea inception through the successful completion of the program: accommodating individual research interests, locating suitable funding sources, developing research proposals, and managing research projects.

NEXT ACTIVITIES
October 14 Military Affairs Forum
November 12 John Anderson Military Citizen of Year with Rotary Club #8

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Visit the “Tacoma-Pierce Co. Veteran & Business Service” Facebook page.  Like the page to stay informed of workplace opportunities for transitioning vets and vets as well as current information.