Generals Chilton, Kehler join CSAF as C2ISR Symposium speakers

  • Published
  • By Kevin Gilmartin
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The commanders of U.S. Strategic Command and Air Force Space Command will join the Air Force Chief of Staff as keynote speakers at the Air Force C2ISR Symposium and Technology Exposition, Sept. 28-30 at the MGM Grand Hotel at Foxwoods in Ledyard, Conn. 

Gen. C. Robert "Bob" Kehler, commander of Air Force Space Command, will open the symposium with his address Sept. 29, and Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, commander of U.S. Strategic Command, will speak on the morning of Sept. 30. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz will be the luncheon speaker Sept. 30. The symposium is co-sponsored by the Air Force Electronic Systems Center and the Paul Revere Chapter of the Air Force Association. 

"This is shaping up to be a power-packed lineup of speakers that will help us focus our efforts on improving how we in the Air Force deliver command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities in a rapid, agile and cost effective manner," said ESC Commander Lt. Gen. Ted Bowlds. "These senior Air Force leaders will be joined by speakers from industry, including non-defense related companies that use technology in innovative and creative ways, to help us define the best ways to achieve those goals." 

Immediately following the symposium, General Bowlds will host a General Officer Steering Group that will include leading C2ISR stakeholders, with a goal of delivering possible ideas and action items that could influence investments in C2ISR technology, beginning with the fiscal year 2012 Program Objective Memorandum. 

"In the steering group, we will discuss what we've heard from our speakers over the previous two days, and develop recommendations on where we should focus our efforts to ensure we are giving our warfighters the best C2ISR capabilities in the years to come," General Bowlds said. 

As commander of Air Force Space Command, with headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. , General Kehler is responsible for the development, acquisition and operation of the Air Force's space and missile systems. The general oversees a global network of satellite command and control, communications, missile warning and launch facilities, and ensures the combat readiness of America's intercontinental ballistic missile force. He leads more than 39,700 space professionals who provide combat forces and capabilities to North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Strategic Command. 

General Chilton, as commander of U.S. Strategic Command, headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is responsible for the global command and control of U.S. strategic forces to meet decisive national security objectives. USSTRATCOM mission areas include full-spectrum global strike, space operations, computer network operations, integrated missile defense and global C2ISR. 

"Hearing the views of these distinguished speakers will really help us develop a road map for future C2ISR," said Angela Dupont, president of the Paul Revere Chapter. "Each of these generals has a wealth of experience that we can draw from as we develop of the next generation of C2ISR, and all of us in the development community, whether government or industry, need to hear their perspective." 

The symposium will also offer industry representatives an opportunity to present at the symposium, either as defense industry panel participants providing perspective on C2ISR Operations of today and tomorrow, or as non-defense industry panel members discussing the use of network operations to improve company operations. The AFA chapter has issued a call for white papers, which are due by July 23. Details on the white paper requirements are available at https://www.paulrevereafa.org/dmgroup/level1.aspx?name=C2ISRPapers2009. 

Online registration for the symposium is well underway, with a number of companies securing exhibit hall space and attendees signing up, according to Ms. Dupont. 

The event will begin Sept. 28 with a golf tournament on the MGM Grand's new, 18-hole championship golf course, followed by an opening reception that evening in the exhibit hall. The next two days will feature presentations from senior government and industry speakers in the MGM's 4,000-seat theater, with an evening Aerospace Education Scholarship Dinner Sept. 29 in the resort's ballroom. 

To register, sign up for booth space or secure sponsorship opportunities, visit the chapter's Web site at www.paulrevereafa.org and click on the symposium link. Cost for attendance is $350 for government and $450 for industry. 

During the registration process, attendees will be able to reserve a room at the MGM or other participating hotels at Foxwoods by clicking on a link that will take them to the hotel's registration page.