Southern Chapter - Newsletter
Jun 2011

Page owned by south.sec@afcea.org.uk
 

 It hardly seems believable, but another session of the AFCEA Southern chapter is coming to an end, and our AGM on 16 June is drawing rapidly nigh.  We are delighted that after another challenging session, the measures being taken by your committee to maintain numbers and retain your interest seem to be bearing fruit, and we look forward to continuing support in our new session starting on 22 September (after DSEi).  In particular, we have been participating in an AFCEA wide initiative on how AFCEA International can provide new and enhanced services to our members while also improving communications and collaboration throughout the various AFCEA regions. This is a Symposium year, with the event being held on 16 November at HMS Collingwood on the broad theme of Single UK Intelligence Environment, and further details are set out below.  The intended programme for the new season can be found later in this newsletter.  As ever, we will be seeking volunteers for the Committee – a task which is not very onerous, and highly enjoyable (honestly!).  Nomination papers are available from the Secretary.

STOP PRESS:  We are delighted that the Chapter has been awarded AFCEA Model Chapter of the Year for 2010, thus underlining the effort your committee has put in to maintain the standards of presentation and activities on your behalf.  

AFCEA EUROPE 

This year saw the retirement from the office of AFCEA General Manager Europe of Commodore Robert Howell, a great friend of the Southern Chapter, who now takes a well-earned rest after the trials and tribulations of being at the European helm for ten years, a time which has seen a wide expansion of AFCEA into Europe and the resultant use of new venues in these nations.  We wish Robert well in retirement, and offer the very warmest welcome to the new General Manager, retired German Air Force Major General Klaus-Peter Treche to the hot seat.

AFCEA Technet International this year will be held at the Heidelberg Convention Centre, Germany from 19-21 October, including on 19 October the NC3A Industry Day.  Full details are at the website www.afcea.org/europe.  Contacts: europe@afcea.org  Tel: +32 2 705 2731    Fax: +32 2 705 2894 

EVENTS THIS SEASON 

The annual Corporate evening on 17^th March saw a sizeable audience assembled in the historic setting of the Royal Naval and Royal Albert Yacht Club in Portsmouth to hear an address by Major General Tim Inshaw CB, the MOD Director for Information Systems and Services, and the chairman of the Royal Signals Institution on the subject of “Strategic Communications – Satisfying the Impossible?”

The speaker admitted frankly in his introduction that the demand was insatiable, and could not be met.  It was driven both by technology and the Common Operating Environment, and he provided sobering examples of how the demand was increasing, together with estimates of where it would go in the future.  He highlighted the slowness of MOD’s formal procurement processes and the complicated MOD environment and inappropriate culture together with increasing budgetary pressure and the multiple layers of approval needed as contributing towards our inability to meet the demand. 

A new approach to acquiring Information Systems was needed, which was better integrated, more agile and less costly.  This had to be matched by a culture change, where we would embrace a new information environment, using a range of initiatives.  The speaker concluded with the sobering warning that UK Defence would probably never be able to meet the Information requirement, and this would be the backdrop against which we would have to operate in future.  Afterwards, Major General Inshaw – an AFCEAn himself! - answered a wide-ranging series of questions from the audience, before being awarded a hearty vote of thanks by the Chapter President, Russell Searle, and dining with us in the delightful surroundings of the club.

Our New Year had kicked off in HMS Collingwood in January with a presentation by Steve Hyde, Head of the Systems Engineering and Integration Group (SEIG), Defence Equipment and Support in the Ministry of Defence.  The topic was “Integrating Capability:  Joining the Dots”, and comprised a comprehensive description of the Group’s efforts and progress towards achieving the cultural transformations necessary to develop an effective “system of systems” approach.  He drew the distinction between mere additive capabilities and the integrated capabilities needed in an era of stringent defence spending constraints and increasingly sophisticated threats.  The speaker summarised the mission as deriving clarity and purpose from complexity, at the conclusion of which a healthy exchange took place in a questions and answer session.  Our picture shows Russell Searle congratulating Steve on his lecture. 

The year continued with our usual February visit to the premises of Roke Manor Research, where Dr Howard Tripp well demonstrated the scientific and engineering research pedigree of that organisation in his presentation on “Innovations in Satellite-Based ISTAR”.  A large audience was held enthralled throughout as he unveiled some ground-breaking new concepts, including the use of micro-satellites.  An excellent post lecture meal set the seal on an event which is always a high point in the AFCEA Southern calendar.

 Our final talk for the season will be on 16^th June following the AGM, when Mr Michael Corcoran, the acting Head of the Cyber and Influence S & T Centre, will speak on the very topical subject of “Cyber Warfare – Investing for the Future”.  The venue is the salubrious confine of the Princess Mary Hall (PMH) at Blandford Camp, with the buffet meal being held afterwards in the setting of the Royal Signals Museum, which attendees will be able to walk round.   All those wishing to attend are asked to register as soon as possible, so that we can confirm catering numbers, and ensure easy access through the Camp security gate. As the start time is 1815, please allow adequate time to not only navigate the M3/M27 etc, but also to negotiate the admittance procedures to the Camp which can sometimes be rather slow. Tea/coffee/biscuits will be available in the PMH foyer from 1730 to allow people to network. 

OUTLINE PROGRAMME FOR 2011/2012 

Our programme for next season is already shaping up nicely. There will be opportunities at each event for industry to give further table-top glimpses of their capabilities and bring along (younger) members of their engineering teams in support. We hope that this will give added technical interest to the evening, as well as enabling active military to mix with hands-on industry experts, and, of course, introducing AFCEA to some of the younger, technical members of companies.  Remember also, please, our ‘Bring a Guest for Free’ scheme. We would be delighted to see any of your colleagues who you think might be interested in an evening’s topic. They may attend the first such event free of charge – just inform the Meetings’ Secretary of their name and contact details when you are making your own booking.  The following events are planned: 

 Finally, I will close with three things:

 ·         a plug for our forthcoming Symposium in HMS Collingwood on 16 November, with the popular dinner in the Wardroom on 15 November, full details are in the attached registration form,

·          a personal thank you once again to all our membership for your support this season as we have continued our efforts to sustain and build the Chapter in a rapidly changing world.

·         A request for volunteers to help run the Chapter – some of the committee, including myself, stand down next year.

Russell Searle

 CHAPTER CONTACTS

President:                               Russell Searle:  02392 410044/07811 406373.south.pres@afcea.org.uk

Secretary                               Mark Ellis:  01264 384020 or 07738 235587   south.sec@afcea.org.uk                       

Meetings Sec                        Vacant  (candidate sought!)

Publicity                                 Brian Luff:      07766 777772         bluff@critical-software.co.uk 

Treasurer:                 Jim Bingley     03067 700518          south.treas@afcea.org.uk   

Sub-Chapter Rep:         Max Challis

Members at Large:        Steve Coles, Tom Moncur, Warren Quinn, Nik Beecher.

Committee Elections

Nominations for the committee have been sought and the election of Chapter officers will take place at the AGM. Anyone wishing to stand for the committee should contact the Secretary asap. Our intention is to replace approximately one third (1/3) of the committee at the 2012 AGM.