Wednesday
Maritime Biometric Technology in Action at Naval Surface Warfare Center
On November 18Th and 19th 2010, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Carderock Division Detachment is hosting a Maritime Biometrics Technology Demonstration and Experiment in support of a requirement for the Office of Naval Research (ONR). The event will be held at Pier 2 on the Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base, Norfolk, Virginia and will feature the Stiletto technology demonstration vessel in a wide range of realistic Maritime Interdiction Operation(MIO) scenarios.
As the developer of the onboard command and control system for Stiletto (i.e., the Craft Integrated Electronics Suite or CIESAzimuth Incorporated will demonstrate its newly developed CIES Biometrics Enrollment Suite (CBES) including: a ruggedized server built to function 
as the main biometrics processing unit for the craft; a ruggedized multimodal biometrics enrollment station installed onboard the vessel; a 10km Line of Sight (LOS) network providing for data sharing between the Stiletto and its 11meter Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (11M RHIB); a customized biometrics enrollment software package fully integrated into the proven CIES interface; and, an ultra rugged, rack mountable, 8 channel digital video recorder serving as the video management core for all internal and external cameras. Additional technologies to be featured during the experiment will include: Berico Tailored Systemsí ruggedized, highly mobile, and customizable IP based PraefectaCELL technology enabling rapidly deployable 3G/4G long-range (i.e., up to 20km) cellular communications within tactical environments; AMREL Systems ruggedized computer platforms including AMREL System One(S1) Last Tactical Mile (LTM) Kit Enabling MANET-like, self-healing network control; and, mobile biometrics collection devices from Cogent Systems, CrossMatch Technologies, MaxID, and MaxVision. In addition, MaxID will demonstrate its credential verification and cloud-service supported identity management capabilities.The event is ìby invitation onlyî for participants from both government and industry.
All MIO scenarios will be executed on Thursday, November 18, 2010 and will be followed by a VIP technology demonstration on November 19, 2010. The Stiletto will be configured as a notional demonstration platform for use during the experiment. Proposed Stiletto functional capabilities will include SATCOM to provide the interface to shore nodes and access to intelligence resources, such as the Biometrics Identity Management Agency (BIMA). In addition, the 11M RHIB will support Boarding Team Operations. The 11M RHIB is a high speed watercraft that carries equipment and people and is often used as a delivery system for special operations personnel. The people onboard the 11M RHIB also communicate with other ships and locations while performing their mission. The 11M RHIB is integral in performing a number of tasks necessary during MIO exercises. A number of these tasks will be tested using various systems during the upcoming technology demonstration and experiment.
Friday
BAE debuts new vehicles at AUSA
The Folks at BAE debuted several military vehicles at this year's Association of United States Army (AUSA) meeting and exposition, including spotlighting a truly different kind of vehicle --one that's designed to bridge the gap between heavy duty commercial vehicles and military patrol vehicles. This one caugh t my eye.... Dubbed "Sentinel", the off-road vehicle merges the best qualities of both light military and civilian commercial vehicles and offers multiple mission possibilities to a varied customer base.
"Sentinel is a true multi-mission vehicle in every sense of the word," said Chris Chambers, line lead for BAE Systems. "Sentinel can be armoured to provide varying levels of mission-specific protection to the vehicle's occupants. While it can also be fitted with defensive technologies it is also extremely agile and can easily and cost-effectively maintained with off-the-shelf components because it is built on an enhanced commercial truck chassis," added Chambers.
Since Sentinel's body design is both modular and adaptable, it can be customized to specific customers and their mission requirements.
"Every mission, for every customer comes with its own unique set of logistical and tactical challenges, "Chambers said. "Because of that, we knew Sentinel needed to be more than just a military or a commercial vehicle. It had to offer the best qualities and features of both in one flexible solution," (read more here)
Thursday
Latest Blast Mitigation Technology at AUSA
new BlastRide™ seat for military vehicles, the only seat on the market to successfully combine an active damping system with the latest shock absorption technology.
The BlastRide seat was developed by QinetiQ North America's Technology Solutions Group in response to concerns about the explosive and shock impacts that soldiers sustain while traveling in military vehicles. The system provides protection from both primary (blast) and secondary (slam down) impacts while reducing soldier fatigue during long convoys over rough terrain. (Read more here )
Monday
Avaya launches a Unified Communications UC Benchmark
by Ted Ventresca
Over the years that I've covered the Military and Federal IT Communications space I have heard Generals and IT leaders asking for bundled, end to end solutions that can enhance or build upon existing infrastructure...enter the Avaya Aura™ Application Server 5300 Release 2.0. Desgined to provide a secure, next-generation, SIP-based UC solution that integrates voice, video, multimedia conferencing and collaboration with the dynamic capabilities enabled by Instant Messaging, live chat sessions and other presence-based communications.
The solution ensures mission critical communications for the war fighter offering high levels of security and resiliency and helps boost productivity by creating more intuitive and integrated user experiences. It can also provide service portability enabling communications from virtually anywhere and reduces operating costs by simplifying and centralizing network management functions and delivering optimal traffic routing.
This new release meets Department of Defense (DoD) and federal government security and service assurance requirements, and complies with the DoD Unified Capabilities Requirements (UCR) 2008 specification including support for AS-SIP, IPv6 and V.150.1. The solution has been granted JITC certification and has been added to the US DoD Unified Capabilities Approved Products List (APL) by the Defense Information Systems Agency.
"This is the first UCR 2008 UC solution in the market today that meets the US Federal Government's strict requirements for next-generation communications," said Steve Derr, vice president, Sales and Engineering, Avaya Government Solutions. "This product launch builds on Avaya Government Solutions' ongoing commitment to driving innovation that helps make critical government communications more reliable and secure, as well as more cost effective. The software-based architecture and deployment flexibility provides a solution to satisfy most government communications needs for new installations or to complement existing infrastructures."
Friday
The AFA Another Impressive Showing
The leaders in Air Force Defense and IT assemble for AFA 2010. Check out Boeing's newest video on their NewGen Tanker. The video was unveiled at the show and is available here.
I particularly was imrpessed by the footage of air refueling and the case Boeing builds on their ability to deliver maximum platform capabilities at the lowest possible cost for American taxpayers. compelling story....compelling video.
Tuesday
The G.I. Film Festival - A Chance to walk with America's Heroes
What a perfect way to kick of Military Appreciation Month! The G.I. Film Festival. Now in its fourth year, this Star-Studded Week includes films, celebrities, military and government leadership and Entertainment...all honoring "Our Nation’s American GI Heroes…"
The award-winning GI Film Festival was held May 11-16 at the Carnegie Institution in Washington, DC.
I had the pleasure of speaking with the co creator of the G.I. Film Festival, Laura Law-Millet also ESPN980 and WTNT Freddom 570 were proud supporters of the event. Ms. Law-Millet and her husband launched the G.I. Film Festival for one simple reason: "to let artists tell the story of our great troops, their successes and their sacrifices."
The massive undertaking included 38 film screenings, 22 world premieres, red carpet events, celebrity guests and filmmaker workshops. Film topics covered major conflicts from the Civil War through the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
One of the most poignant moment for me was the Glenn Close screening of the world premiere of PAX, this is a must see short film that she directed on post traumatic stress. The G.I. FIlm Festival included Gary Sinise and an advanced screening of the new documentary Lt. Dan Band: For The Common Good, Ricky Schroder screening the world premiere of Starting Strong, a new reality television program he created, produced and directed for the U.S. Army. Also, Iraq War veterans Brian Iglesias and Anton Sattler take you on a heart-pounding journey through one of the most savage battles in U.S. history in their epic documentary Chosin, which focuses on the Korean War’s Chosin Reservoir Campaign.
www.gifilmfestival.com
Thursday
Simlat @ AUVSI
The following four part podcast with Avigdor and 3 part video with Ayelet details the the story behind their breakthrough innovations in UAV training, the successful relationship with General Dynamics IT (GDIT) and interesting insight into the factors that motivate and promote IT Technology in Israel. Plus see demos of Simlat UAV & ISR training in action! See more of my AUVSI coverage (here)
Telephonics Corporation Bill Schmidt @ AUVSI 2009
Telephonics Corporation's Bill Schmidt joined Ted Ventresca at the 2009 AUVSI to discuss the vital advanced sensor and communication systems technology that Telephonics provides to Aerospace, Defense and Commercial markets.
Tom Allen from iRobot @ AUVSI w/ Ted Ventresca from Military Information Technology
Consumer may think of iRobot as the creators of the Roomba to Save Cleaning time.. but for those of us who know Military IT, we know iRobot for saving lives...and lots of them!, with their full line of ground and naval robots. Here Tom Allen joins me at AUVSIa for multi part video look at the computers that run the machines, the history of the company and some powerful stories from the field which makes iRobot an integral part of ISR as well as soldier and public safety.
AF Need Integrated Open Source Solutions
Electronic systems that are proprietary and cannot be used with other suppliers’ networks or computer applications won’t help the Air Force reach its cyberspace goals of being able to attack enemies and defend key U.S. networks.
“One thing industry can do is bring us integrated solutions,” Gen. C. Robert Kehler told the opening session of Infotech 2009, an annual conference that brings together top Air Force officials and technology companies eager to obtain or extend military supply contracts.
“Otherwise, we’re where we’ve been for 50 years, buying stovepipe systems that don’t talk to anybody else,” he said. “We don’t have enough money for that, and we don’t have the time for it.”
The speed of changes in the cyberspace world will force the Air Force, and the Defense Department in general, to find new ways to obtain technology to stay ahead of — or at least keep up with — cyber enemies, Kehler said.
The government’s current budget, planning and acquisition cycles are too slow, said Kehler, whose command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., oversees cyberspace operations, missiles and space satellite-based reconnaisance systems. The Space Command’s responsibilities include providing real-time information to battlefield commanders so that would-be ambushers can be identified and attacked before they can surprise U.S. or coalition forces.
The government will need the ideas of business and academia to find solutions, Kehler said.
“I think small business has got a huge role to play,” he said. “We’ve got to figure out how to unlock it — and not stifle it.”
He acknowledged the challenges of getting competing companies to work together in providing “open architecture” electronic systems that could communicate with each other.
Elsewhere in the Dayton Convention Center, vendors occupying booths at InfoTech displayed competing systems for information technology and other services.
An official who helped organize this year’s InfoTech event addressed Kehler’s concern, in a welcoming statement to conference participants.
“It is vitally important that we collectively engage in a useful dialogue of how we must drive the necessary change in our programs and organizations so that we can deliver the information that is truly integral to the joint fight,” wrote David L. Judson Jr., president of the Dayton-Wright chapter of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association.
The AFCEA is an association of command, control, communications, computer, and intelligence professionals with more than 130 chapters worldwide. The local Dayton AFCEA chapter organizes the annual InfoTech conference.