A Discussion On Veteran Suicide Prevention
Thursday, October 17th 1-4pm Cary, NC
AFCEA North Carolina, the North Carolina Military Business Center and SAS are honored to co-host a discussion about the fight against veteran and military suicide with leaders from the US Department of Veterans Affairs and North Carolina community members, including a keynote from the Executive Director of the VA’s Veterans Crisis Line.
Suicide is a national public health issue, and the VA is collaborating with partners and communities nationwide to use the best available information and practices to support veterans.
Discussions will include a conversation with the VA’s Deputy Chief Technology Officer on how the VA is embracing the latest technologies and innovations to help veterans and the military community in North Carolina.
This event will provide a chance to engage with the VA and North Carolina communities as well as industry and military stakeholders.
We look forward to your participation and engagement to see the work the VA and the Department of Defense are doing to serve veterans and the military community.
Register to Attend: https://www.sas.com/en_us/events/24q3/veteran-military-suicide-prevention.htmlv
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: TechNet Fort Liberty Symposium and Exposition Is a Success In February, the TechNet Fort Liberty Symposium and Exposition, along with its recruiting fair, concluded with resounding success, marking a pivotal moment in the convergence of technology, innovation and talent acquisition. Hosted at the Fort Liberty Iron Mike Convention Center, the symposium witnessed an unprecedented gathering of industry leaders, government officials and technology enthusiasts. With a comprehensive agenda featuring keynote speeches, panel discussions and an interactive expo, the event provided invaluable insights into the latest advancements in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure. The recruiting fair, held in conjunction with the symposium, served as a prime platform for employers and active duty, reservist, veteran, coast guard and military spouse job seekers to connect. More than 40 leading technology companies participated, offering diverse career opportunities spanning cybersecurity, software development and network engineering. Attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with hiring managers, submit resumes and explore potential career pathways in the dynamic tech industry. The symposium's success underscores Fort Liberty's emergence as a burgeoning hub for technological innovation and collaboration. By fostering dialogue, driving innovation and nurturing talent, events like TechNet Fort Liberty Symposium and Exposition contribute significantly to the advancement of the technology sector, both locally and globally. |
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: Local Educators Awarded STEM Grants at Chapter Luncheon In August, the chapter hosted a luncheon to award 31 local educators each $1,000 STEM grants. Educators submitted proposal ideas on how they would use funds to grow STEM education in their classrooms, and the awardees were invited to share their ideas at the luncheon. |
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: Members Gather for Social Networking at Local Baseball Game In June, chapter members came together to cheer on Fayetteville's Single-A baseball team, the Woodpeckers. Members and their families enjoyed food, fireworks and a Woodpeckers' win while learning more about each other and networking with potential members. |
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: TechNet Exposition and Symposium Held at Fort Bragg The chapter hosted the TechNet Exposition and Symposium at Fort Bragg in April. Attendees from industry, academia, government and military community attended to discuss technology innovation, emerging requirements and the needs of the Ft. Bragg military community. The TechNet theme was Enabling the Warfighter With Effective Technology. |
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: Scholarship Program Benefits ROTC Cadets and Veterans The chapter's ROTC and Veteran's Scholarship Program was held at Fayetteville State University (FSU) in August. During the event, the chapter awarded scholarships to ROTC cadets at Campbell University, North Carolina State and FSU. Also, a veteran at Fayetteville Technical Community College received a scholarship. These awards were in addition to chapter scholarships given to graduating high school seniors and local Teacher STEM Grants. |
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: Chapter's Donation Helps Local College's Cyber Program In February, Marv Gordner presented $2,000 from the chapter to the Fayetteville Technical Community College in Fayetteville, North Carolina, to assist them in building up their new cyber program. This was a great opportunity for the chapter to team with local academic professionals to provide world-class training to our next generation of technology leaders. |
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: STEM Grants Enable New Initiatives In August, the chapter presented $1,000 STEM grants to nine local teachers to assist them with implementing STEM projects/initiatives in their classroom. Initiatives ranged from robotics and drones to learning to code (K-2nd grade) to special programs to girls in STEM careers. |
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: Chapter Hosts TechNet Fort Bragg In March, the chapter hosted TechNet Fort Bragg at the Iron Mike Conference Center on Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The theme for this year's symposium was Enabling Mission Command with Emerging Technology. |
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: Chapter Awards 2019 ROTC Honors In March, Cadet Elijah Paynter, junior ROTC, East Carolina University, received the AFCEA International ROTC Honors Award for 2019. This award is in recognition of his achievements in leadership and academics. Paynter was selected by individual professors of military science. Each ROTC program is given the opportunity to nominate a deserving individual. The chapter wishes Paynter the best of luck in his college and military career. |
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: Guest Speaker Discusses Cloud Development and Testing The chapter met in January at the Iron Mike Conference Center at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to hear speaker Gary Khoury, U.S. Army territory manager, Amazon Web Services Worldwide Public Sector. The topic was Reaching the Cloud: From Development/Testing to the Tactical Edge. |
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: Signal School Commandant Says Soldiers Must Train for the Next Conflict Brig. Gen. Robert L. Edmonson II, USA, the 38th chief of signal and Signal School commandant, was guest speaker at the chapter's June luncheon. He shared some thoughts and challenges about his leadership role. After giving a brief history of the Training and Doctrine Command, the general addressed the need to train for change. This means broadening one's assignments. Soldiers must be multidisciplined instead of specialized and build tomorrow's signal community requirements today. The next conflict will never be like the last conflict. Soldiers must be taught how to think and not what to think. The modern Army must prepare for large-scale operations in a contested and congested environment. Industry must evaluate relevancy and change as needed. Solutions need to be cheaper, easier to use and survivable. The chapter thanks Gen. Edmondson for his passionate and informative presentation. |
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: TechNet Fort Bragg a Forum for Learning, Finding Solutions The chapter held the TechNet Fort Bragg Symposium and Exposition over two days in April at the Crown Complex, Fayetteville, North Carolina. Major Gen. Peter Gallagher, USA, director of the U.S. Army's Network Cross-Functional Team, delivered the keynote address. Brig. Gen. Maria Barrett, USA, deputy director of operations, U.S. Cyber Command, spoke at the closing luncheon and participated in the Women in Technology Panel. The 762 people attending the symposium attended continuing education classes, professional development breakfasts, government and industry panels, and track sessions focused on mission command, cyber and multidomain battle. Seventy vendors showcased their latest technological advances in the exhibit hall. The Future Leaders Pavilion hosted a "best of the best" science fair in tandem with the symposium, showcasing the innovative ideas of the top 20 STEM students from across North Carolina competing for best project. The symposium, which added 19 new AFCEA members, concluded with a fundraiser golf tournament that attracted many sponsors and teams. The chapter thanks all sponsors, speakers, attendees and vendors for their support. Watch the SIGNAL site for announcements about future events. |
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: Understanding Modular Data Centers John Fitzgerald, Hewlett Packard Enterprise's account chief technology officer for the Defense Department and Federal Enterprise Business, Americas, spoke at the September chapter luncheon. Fitzgerald gave an overview of modular data centers. He spoke in nonvendor-specific terms because multiple companies have capabilities in this field. Modular data centers are usually prefabricated units that are hyperscalable and portable. Portability, modularity and scalability are among their key benefits. The units are built with power, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and fire suppression, and are meant to be serviceable and manageable. Customized to meet customer needs, units can be built with thermal (Tempest standard) and ballistic shielding. Level 3 seismic standards are incorporated to allow for shipping by various methods, including shipboard, air freight, helicopter and truck. These mobility requirements also can be engineered into the final product to meet user needs. Power can be external or self-contained. Fitzgerald said hydrogen fuel cells could power 65-kilowatt generators for DC/or inverted AC power. Because the only byproduct of hydrogen fuel is water, this also could be used to aid cooling. Further advances in technology are being studied to use solar energy for power and electrolyzer to produce hydrogen fuel. The chapter thanks Fitzgerald for his time and expertise. Chapter President Paul Reimers also presented a $1,000 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) grant from the chapter to Kelly Osornio of Eastover Central Elementary School to be used for its participation in the Science Olympiad. |
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: Local Educators Awarded Chapter Grants The chapter presented 11 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) grants to local educators at its August luncheon. Recipients had the opportunity to describe their projects to attendees. Recipients are Lynn Albers, FIRST Robotics team, Pender High School; Jared Pinkson, FIRST Robotics team, Vanstory Hills; Alison Hurley, Sphero robotics, Pine Forest High School; Michelle Quinn, Chromebooks for online demonstrations, Stoney Point Elementary School; Cynthia Chisholm, 3-D printing, Cleveland Community College and Cleveland Early College High School; Rodney Cobb, FIRST Robotics team, Eastover-Central Elementary School of Arts; Kelly Osornio, Science Olympiad team, Rockfish Elementary School; Rachel Andress, Sphere robotics, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics; Joe LoBuglio, FIRST Robotics team, Howard Hall Elementary; Natasha McKoy, Sphere robotics, Lillian Black Elementary; and Jenni Clark, Sphero robotics. Robotics got heavy emphasis at the high school and elementary school levels. Two of the FIRST Robotics teams brought in their robots for chapter members to see and even test-drive. The chapter is proud to support local teachers and the future technology leaders under their guidance. |
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: Former Air Force CIO Lauds AFCEA's Role in Protecting the Nation Lt. Gen. Michael Basla, USAF (Ret.), spoke at the June chapter luncheon. Gen. Basla, senior vice president and U.S. Air Force client executive at CACI International, which sponsored the luncheon, praised AFCEA as a professional organization and strongly encouraged nonmembers to join. He made a generous personal donation for anyone at the luncheon to do so. He thanked the local community of soldiers, Defense Department employees, contractors and their families for the sacrifices they make in the fight against U.S. adversaries. Gen. Basla not only presented a history of AFCEA but also explained how collaboration between the government, industry and academia has contributed to more effective methods, technology and weaponry to prosecute the many conflicts the country has faced in the 70 years since AFCEA was established. AFCEA is crucial to the development of technologies, including cyber. Through coursework, training and networking, the brightest and best share ideas and collaborate to keep the nation safe. |
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: TechNet Fort Bragg Focuses on Multidomain Warfare Maj. Gen. John Morrison, USA, commanding general, U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence, spoke to more than 650 Army leaders, soldiers, employees and contractors about the implications of multidomain warfare as keynote speaker at AFCEA's TechNet Fort Bragg. The symposium and exposition was held April 25-26 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The general's presentation outlined the Army's cyber electromagnetic activities process, the vital relationships between cyberspace and electronic warfare operations and the staff teamwork that facilitated this integration. The event's theme was "Enabling Mission Command in a Multidomain Operating Environment," and it featured panel discussions, exhibits and meetings. Brig. Gen. David Isaacson, USA, deputy chief of staff, Chief Information Officer (CIO)/G-6 for U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg, highlighted the theme with a panel discussion also on the implications of multidomain warfare. The event attracted signal communications, cyber and technology professionals from U.S. Army Forces Command, the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, U.S. Army Reserve Command, Joint Special Operations Command, Special Operations Command, U.S. Army CIO/G-6 and the U.S. Army National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. More than 40 industry exhibitors highlighted futuristic potential technologies for cyber and military communications across the spectrum of military operations. More than 36 junior high school and high school students from across the region displayed innovative projects highlighting their achievements in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), including robotics and the environment. |
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: Chapter Honors Winners of Janice Suggs Memorial Scholarships The 2017 Janice Suggs Memorial Scholarship winners were recognized at an April luncheon during TechNet Fort Bragg. The scholarships support students pursuing degrees or advanced training in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. These young people have attained academic excellence and are set to become the next generation of science and technology leaders. This is just one small way that the chapter gives back to the local community. Maj. Gen. Peter Gallagher, USA, director of Architecture, Operations, Networks and Space, Headquarters, Department of the Army, Chief Information Officer (CIO)/G-6; Brig. Gen. David Isaacson, USA, deputy chief of staff, CIO/G-6, U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM); and Chapter President Paul Reimers presented scholarships to William Clark of Jack Britt High School, Fayetteville, North Carolina; Hannah Glave of Cross Creek Early College High School, Fayetteville; and Angelina Nieberger of St. Thomas More Academy, Raleigh, North Carolina. Not in attendance were Emily Van Hoozer of Grays Creek High School, Hope Mills, North Carolina; Jarred Lobo, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Jacob Lamia, Cape Fear High School/Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fayetteville; and Hannah Stanton, Union Pines High School, Cameron, North Carolina. |
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: Requirements for the Modern Warfighter Brig. Gen. David T. Isaacson, USA, FORCSCOM deputy chief of staff, G-6, spoke at the chapter's November luncheon. He discussed the Army's plans and programs to win in a war of increasing complexity. Agility, adaptability and a strengthening of expeditionary skills are all requirements for the modern warfighter. He stressed the need for industry to provide simple solutions that improve interoperability in a more defensible network which requires baked-in cybersecurity. Gen. Isaacson quoted the Secretary of the Army: "Readiness is the number one priority." |
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: Chapter Grants Support Local STEM Education The chapter, with its educational grants, supports the same innovative spirit that built this nation. At the chapter's August luncheon, four local teachers each received $1,000 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) grants, and the Harnett County FIRST Robotics Team received a $1,000 grant. Lydia Gutierrez, a member of the robotics team, demonstrated its award-winning robot for chapter members. Gutierrez is entering Campbell University this fall as an engineering student, an excellent example of women in STEM. In addition, members were challenged to provide additional financial and technical assistance to these teachers and volunteer to serve as mentors to the robotics team. |
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: TechNet Fort Bragg Theme Is 'Enabling Mission Command' The chapter thanks all the speakers, vendors and attendees who made April's TechNet Fort Bragg such a success. Maj. Gen. Thomas James, USA, deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army Forces Command, set the tone for the event with the keynote, “Enabling Mission Command in a Complex World.” The general used experiences from his career to emphasize the importance of accurate and timely communication plays within mission command, or as he stated more succinctly: “Your collective goal is to deliver the power of America to the soldier when he picks up his communications device at the tactical edge.” Lt. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, USA, commanding general, 18th Airborne Corps, challenged the group to address the most pressing needs of the tactical force, including providing a common blue operating picture across all echelons and lateral formations; light and highly mobile networks to enable company-to-squad operations; rapid capability to support multinational operations; reduced operator complexity; and fewer systems. Breakout sessions and panels focused on topics such as what the government needs from industry as well as cybersecurity. The 410 attendees also spent time discussing emerging technologies with the more than 100 vendors. The TechNet golf tournament raised more than $4,000 for scholarships and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) grants. |
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: Chapter Hosts Semiannual Scholarship Golf Tournament Twice a year, the chapter hosts a golf tournament to provide members and friends the opportunity to connect during a day of spirited competition that supports the chapter's scholarships and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) grants. The chapter thanks sponsors and participants for making the fall Veterans Day tournament a success. |
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: Speaker Highlights UNCs Growing Relationship with the Armed Forces The chapter welcomed Kimrey Rhinehardt, vice president for federal relations for the University of North Carolina (UNC) system, at its November luncheon. Rhinehardt described the growing relationship UNC has with the armed forces and its commitment to providing useful solutions through an exchange of information and ideas. The partnership has already paid dividends through the National Security Fellowship Program. Rhinehardt emphasized the importance of providing in-state tuition to veterans who should not be penalized for living on post while serving their country. |
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: Chapter presents $5K in STEM Grants The North Carolina chapter presented $5,000 in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) grants to local teachers in August. Specifically, eight grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 each were presented to teachers in the Raleigh/Fayetteville/Fort Bragg area to assist in the development of the country's next generation of technology experts and leaders. Some of the teachers were planning to purchase new microscopes while others were planning to establish new First Lego League robotics teams. |
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: New Year Kick Off Held The chapter kicked off the New Year in January with a membership luncheon featuring the 440th Airlift Wing Commander Brig. Gen. James Scanlan, USAFR. |
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER: Chapter Presents Educational Awards The chapter proudly announced its 2013 Educational Award recipients in August. It recognized teachers dedicated to promoting a healthier future by promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education to inspire the next generation of rising talent. The chapter awarded $10,000 dollars to aid in their efforts. |