Symposium brings ESC leaders and industry together

  • Published
  • By Patty Welsh
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
NEWTON, Mass. --  Integration, synergies and efficiencies were the common threads highlighted at the New Horizons Symposium, held Feb. 28-29 at the Marriott Hotel.
 
"All of us here have some kind of responsibility to figure out how to spend C2 [command and control] dollars more efficiently," said Lt. Gen. CR Davis, Electronic Systems Center commander.
 
The event lets ESC leaders provide insight on initiatives and trends to industry partners and also discuss current and emerging business opportunities. This year's theme was "Government/Industry Collaboration: Delivering Capability to the Warfighter in an Austere Budget Environment."
 
Although briefings from each ESC program executive officer portfolio discussed their individual office opportunities, acquisition strategies and future capability needs, a lot of their messages were similar.
 
No singular or "one-of-a-kind" solutions are wanted and industry needs to be thinking about how systems can interface or integrate with one another.
 
Brig. Gen. Martin Whelan, Air Force Space Command Requirements director, during his brief on the "Warfighter View," said that AFSPC is looking for innovative solutions.
 
"Our current way of thinking needs to be challenged," he said.
 
He mentioned a website the command has set up where personnel can submit ideas. To gain access, email: Innovation.wf@us.af.mil.
 
Presenters also stressed the need to deliver capabilities.
 
"We need to show we're delivering something the Air Force or our joint partners need," said Davis. "And that we're always rolling out some additional capability."
 
He also emphasized that, if the Air Force or DoD has spent money on similar systems, program managers should see if they can capitalize on them or simply find a smarter way to do things.
 
The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management, Dr. Jamie Morin, offered a presentation on "Current and Future Budget." Additional briefings included an Air Force Research Laboratory overview and their presentation on "Cyberspace Science and Technology Strategy."
 
ESC's Capabilities Integration Directorate discussed technology integration, and other presentations highlighted contracting perspectives and evolving acquisition policy.
 
Many presenters spoke about the reductions in the Department of Defense budget and encouraged industry to look for ways to achieve efficiencies.
 
"Even if we didn't need to [find efficiencies] today, we should do it because it's the right thing to do - for the Airman, for the taxpayer," said Brig. Gen. Craig Olson, program executive officer for Business and Enterprise Systems.
 
The New Horizons Symposium is co-sponsored by the Lexington-Concord Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association.