Noteworthies with a Local Link

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced today that the president has nominated Air Force Gen. Darren W. McDew for appointment to the rank of general and for assignment as commander, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. 

Gen. McDew is currently serving as commander, Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.  He served as 62nd Ops Group Commander in 2001 at McChord AFB, now JBLM-McChord Field.
  

Australia Flies RAAF’s First C-17 Equipped with Advanced Network Access

The Australian RAAF's first C-17-equipped Advanced Network Access enables real-time video communications for the enhanced mission capability vision for its networked air force.

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) flew its first Boeing-built C-17A Globemaster III equipped with a new advanced satellite communication (SATCOM) and imagery display system, providing the flight crew and passengers with unprecedented situational awareness.

Boeing installed the high-speed SATCOM system to support the RAAF’s ‘Plan Jericho,’ an initiative to transform the Australian military into an integrated, networked force able to deliver air power in all operating environments. Boeing has been executing and supporting programs to network Australian defense forces for many years.

According to Group Captain Robert Chipman, director, Plan Jericho, the C-17 system allows personnel on the aircraft to receive live en route updates and video from their destination, such as enemy positions or disaster damaged areas, right up to the point of insertion.

“The systems may also support other kinds of operations such as aeromedical evacuations by giving medical staff on board the ability to video conference with specialists on the ground,” said Chipman.

Applications enabled by the antenna include video teleconferencing, instant messaging, e-mail, transfer of large graphics files, voice and radio over Internet protocol and common operating picture capability.

“A lot can change between the time a C-17 takes off and when it arrives at its destination,” said Michael Pokorny, a Boeing C-17 project manager. “These upgrades allow the crew to send and receive mission-critical information as easily as if they were in an office.”

The RAAF currently has six C-17s with an additional two aircraft on order.

Gettysburg Address for this Memorial Day

Gettysburg Address

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

In just over two minutes, Abraham Lincoln memorialized the sacrifices of those who gave their lives and extolled virtues for the listeners (and the nation) to ensure the survival of America's representative democracy.

Rep. A. Smith's Statement on Opposition to NDAA

House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith released the following statement announcing his opposition to the National Defense Authorization Act:

Both Democrats and Republicans agree that the Budget Control Act caps are extremely damaging and as long as Congress fails to enact a solution, a variety of key national priorities will continue to suffer. I understand that finding a compromise to remove the caps has been elusive, but that does not justify the use of gimmicks to protect one part of the budget, and shortchange other portions that are vitally important to the future of our country. Even worse, this short-term work-around does not enable the Department of Defense to undertake long term planning or provide the certainty that they can count on such funding in the future.  I have great respect for Chairman Thornberry, but I cannot vote for this bill under these circumstances.

The National Defense Authorization Act has never been perfect. And it will never be perfect. What matters most is that, on balance, this bill represents a commitment to our national security, and to the individuals who we ask to stand watch and execute the missions necessary to ensure our security.  In today’s dangerous and unpredictable world, we must ensure that our military has the resources and tools that it needs to meet the threats of today as well as tomorrow.

However, that is just one piece of the puzzle. Maintaining our national security requires more than a strong military. If we do not have a strong economy, and build a solid foundation for future generations, then we cannot ensure our national security in the long term. If we stop investing in the American people, then we are undermining our national security and cutting short the promise of America. Unfortunately, the National Defense Authorization Act sends the message that we are only willing to fulfill half of that promise.

The White House has also made it clear that they will veto this bill as well as other appropriations bills that reflect a similar approach. Congress is wasting time with this dead-end approach. In the coming months, it is my hope that the House, Senate and President can come together and strike a compromise to remove the budget caps and move forward with a responsible approaching to budgeting.

Veterans Career Fair Next Month

Noteworthies with a Local Link

Brig. Gen. James B. Jarrard, deputy commanding general, operations, 7th Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, to director, Pakistan and Afghanistan Coordination Cell, J-5, Joint Staff, Washington, District of Columbia.

Brig. Gen. Kurt J. Ryan, commanding general, 593d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, to commandant, U.S. Army Ordnance School, U.S. Army Sustainment Center of Excellence, Fort Lee, Virginia.

Army Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy S. Dotson, currently assigned to 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, has been selected to replace Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Sluder as the command senior enlisted leader for Joint Task Force-North, Biggs Army Airfield, Fort Bliss, Texas.

Maj. Gen. Terry R. Ferrell, commanding general, 7th Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, to chief of staff, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

Maj. Gen. Thomas S. James Jr., deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army Forces Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to commanding general, 7th Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Evergreen Fleet Cruise Opens for 2015

You may choose to be a host for the Evergreen Fleet Cruise.  Act promptly by downloading and submitting this form.  Reservations are limited and Chamber members will be given the priority opportunity to host.

Things to remember:

• Host price covers two persons (spouse, significant other, colleague). Minors are not invited.
• Only the Chamber invites military personnel (in coordination with local commands)
• There is no other "duty" of hosts other than convivial hosting
• The purpose of the Evergreen Fleet Cruise is to foster personal relationships between military and civilian leadership

2015 Northwest Aerospace & Defense Symposium

The 2015 Northwest Aerospace & Defense Symposium will increase your awareness of and ability to pursue current and upcoming defense, aerospace, and national security initiatives and contracts.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Congressman Adam Smith, Ranking Member, House Armed Services Committee
• Moon Duk-ho, Consul General, Republic of Korea
• Pamela Munoz, Mission & Installation Contracting Director, JBLM 
• Katrina Jones, Defense Market Analysis Director, Aerospace Analytics
• Fred Smith, Mobility, Surveillance & Engagement, Boeing Military Aircraft
• Anthony Waas, Professor of Aerostructures, University of Washington
• J.J. Gertler, Defense Policy & Arms Control Manager, Congressional Research Svc.
• Jim Nam, International Security Cooperation, Planning, and Strategy, US Air Force
• Dr. Roger Myers, Executive Director, Advanced In-Space Programs, Aerojet Rocketdyne
• Col. Scott McLaughlin, Commander, 446th Airlift Wing
• Isaac Potoczny-Jones, Computer Security Research Lead, Galois
• Ron Stearns, Research Director, Aerospace Analytics 
• Lewis Hedge, First Secretary, Defense Acquisition Policy and Trade, British Embassy
• Chin Hsing (Andy Chin), Director-General, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office

May 28-29, 2015, JBLM
Hosted by PNDC  and PNAA
Register here!

McChord Chapter AFA Sets Benefit Golf Tourney

The "Air Force Association McChord Field Chapter's "Tee it high and let it fly" golf tournament is to support our Airmen on McChord Field.   

(Click on Image for a Larger & Complete View)

Open House about I-5 Corridor thru JBLM

Tired of sitting in I-5 traffic through the Joint Base Lewis-McChord area?

Come learn about proposed improvements to traffic flow during a WSDOT hosted open house and NEPA environmental scoping meeting on Tuesday, May 5 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the McGavick Conference Center in Lakewood.

This event is also intended to solicit public feedback and seek the public's input on items you think should be studied during the environmental process for the proposed improvements. No formal presentation will be provided. Attendees are welcome to come and go at their leisure during the three-hour event.

The McGavick Conference Center is located at 4500 Steilacoom Boulevard Southwest in Lakewood.

Find out more HERE.

View proposed changes to I-5 interchanges on Flickr.