The global war on terrorism and ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have caused the U.S. military to examine how it fights wars and adapt its tactics and technologies to face new adversaries. This self-analysis coincides with ongoing efforts by the U.S. Defense Department to transform the military into a leaner, more flexible force to deal with fast-moving and illusive opponents.
Institutional and technological change is the theme of Transformation TechNet 2004. To be held June 8-10 at the Virginia Beach Pavilion Convention Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia, the event is sponsored by AFCEA International and the AFCEA Hampton Roads and Tidewater chapters. According to Frank Richardson, conference coordinator and the Tidewater chapter’s co-director of programs, this year’s conference “Achieving Decision Superiority,” focuses on lessons learned and operational challenges from operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, intelligence and decision superiority. The conference will also cover concept development and prototyping, and new programs for command and control and decision superiority.
Now in its second year, Transformation TechNet is well-placed because of the large number of military facilities in the Hampton Roads area. The goal of the conference, Richardson notes, is to bring together people from the four armed services, civilian government and business, to share ideas and information. “We’re using this event to synergize cooperation, education and collaboration. Sometimes these guys [the services] don’t often get together, and we’re trying to provide a forum for them to do that,” he says.
The event features a number of speakers from across the services such as Adm. William J. Fallon, USN, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command; Lt. Gen. Bruce A. Wright, USAF, vice commander, Air Combat Command; Lt. Gen. Anthony R. Jones, USA, deputy commander, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command; Lt. Gen. Edward Hanlon Jr., USMC, commanding general, U.S. Marine Corps Combat Development Command, and deputy commandant for combat development; and Vice. Adm. James D. McArthur Jr., USN, commander, Naval Network Warfare Command. Conference panel sessions will cover topics ranging from discussions of recent operations, lessons learned about intelligence gathering and analysis, to mathematical modeling of different command and control behaviors.
This year’s event also features transition assistance courses to help military personnel move back into civilian life. The courses cover skills such as resume writing and interview techniques. One course, Troops to Teachers, is designed to assist eligible military personnel to begin new careers as public school teachers.
In addition to the Transformation TechNet conference, Richardson notes that the nearby Doubletree Hotel will host the U.S. Air Force’s Air Combat Command Communications Information Commanders Conference. He adds that this event will have between 80 to 100 attendees who will also probably spend time at the AFCEA event. “Those folks purposely scheduled their conference at the same place and time so they could benefit from all the efforts to bring our event on,” he says.
For more information about Transformation TechNet 2004, visit
www.afcea.org/transformation04.
