December 2021

A Word from our President

Hello fellow chapter members,

I wish you all a wonderful holiday season and hope you get to spend some good, quality time with people you love. My wife, Dee Dee, and I will be spending time with our kids and each of our families of origin.  I’m amazed that it’s the holidays again—I’m sure I’ve said that for each of the last twenty years, but it’s hit me more strongly this year, perhaps because of the ongoing pandemic and my tendency to be at home more.

Next year, many of us will be going back to our workplaces on a more regular basis, re-integrating into the groups and with the people that were suddenly “remoted” almost two years ago.  For me, it will be an interesting adjustment getting up earlier and driving into work.  My “zoom ready at a moment’s notice” shirts will go back into the closet and be worn for full days now.  But in some ways, I’m realizing that the workplace is forever changed.  Telework is a partial option.  Flying a couple of days for a couple hour meeting isn’t such a necessity. How will, or rather how has, the workplace changed for you?  What does collaboration look like?

For this next year, in recognition of the current situation, we will be holding New Horizons virtually the weeks of 4 and 11 April 2022.  I know for some of us that is a disappointment, and for others of us, a relief. We’re hoping to get us together with a social during the event, held locally for those who can attend.  Perhaps this is a way for us to continue to reintegrate into a more in-person world again.  On a positive note, the event will be led by the exceptional Pat Hamilton of Booz | Allen | Hamilton, and he’s already pulling together a great agenda with speakers who are more accessible remotely.   I hope this approach will work well for us.  Our speakers series leading up to the event, led by Ryan Connell (DCMA) and Marissa McCoy of MITRE, is shaping up to bring us thoughts of key people within the Air Force community.  I’m excited for the spring.

For now, I’m looking forward to relaxing, and I hope you are, too.  My best to you, to your families and loved ones, and to this great place we call home.

Jamie Thurber, President, AFCEA Lexington-Concord Chapter

Lexington-Concord Awards $16,000 in STEM Scholarships to Middlesex Community College Students

Chapter president and senior manager, Government Affairs, Lockheed Martin, Jamie Thurber, awarded $16,000 in STEM scholarships to eight Middlesex Community College (MCC) students in a ceremony on 19 October, at the school’s Bedford, MA, campus. Each of seven students received $2,000 scholarships plus an additional $2,000 went to Tyler Galvin recipient of the Thomas O’Mahony “Spirit of Excellence Award.”  This special scholarship honors the late Tom O’Mahony, former chapter president; board chairman; retired Senior Executive Service member, Hanscom AFB; and prior chairman of the MCC Board of Trustees.  In his thank you letter, Galvin wrote: “The day I was notified that I received this scholarship was June 29, 2021. On June 29, 2020, my father …passed away from a heart attack. This award was a great thing to share with my family during that day, and to assume the two events are unconnected is hard for me to believe. I hope you can understand how this felt and how much this meant to me!” The other scholarship recipients included: Katelyn Winter; Thomas Rua; Patrick McRobbie; Pichraksmey Hoeu; Ezra Eisa; Brian Cox; and Dan Choy. All are planning to completer their Bachelor of Science Degree at various universities after graduation from MCC.

Chapter grants $25,000 to support Veterans Education & Training

Fittingly, on Veterans Day, Lexington-Concord, President, Jamie Thurber, accompanied by Joyce Sidopoulos, Secretary, and Claire Goulet, VP Operations, proudly presented a $25,000 grant to Lieutenant Colonel Vincent Perrone (ret), President, Veterans, Inc., at a breakfast honoring our nations veterans in Worcester, MA. Veterans, Inc., is a Worcester-based, totally volunteer, nationally recognized, model veterans’ assistance organization which provides a host of vital services to area veterans in need. These services include housing, employment, health, education, legal, and a multitude of others. The chapter’s grant will be used to support the organization’s education and training program.

Two LexCon Emerging Leaders Honored by AFCEA International

Hold the presses!  Well-deserved congratulations are in order for two Lexington-Concord Emerging Leaders who won AFCEA International’s Distinguished Young Professional Award.

The awards, which have just recently been announced, will be presented at AFCEA West in San Diego early next year to Evan Gaj and Daniel Walters.

As a Systems Engineer for Oasis Systems in the Counter Small Unmanned Aerial Systems program office within the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Evan Gaj is responsible for providing the engineering guidance needed to sustain and ensure continuous operation of hundreds of different subsystems fielded across the Air Force.

Specifically, Evan’s involvement, leadership and direction have been crucial to the success of the year’s events. He worked hard to coordinate with Hanscom AFB officials and greater Boston organizations for the Emerging Leaders’ “Hometown Hosts” program. The event was a huge success due in large part to his ability to successfully recruit six speakers across a range of organizations. Evan also provided excellent support at our New Horizons Conference this year by helping to coordinate panelists and ensuring the virtual event went smoothly. In addition, he volunteered at our Spring and Fall golf tournaments and was an invaluable asset at many other events. In particular, his support as co-director was appreciated in planning and race day participation at our “5K Run/Walk for STEM.” The race was an unprecedented success with more than 100 runners and raised more than $10,000!

As a developer of The MITRE Corporation’s Secure Electronics Lab, Daniel Walters is a leading researcher of electronic security evaluation and implementation methods, including side-channel leakage analysis, fault induction, and techniques to implement trust in embedded systems.

Since joining MITRE, Daniel has become one of the nation’s top leaders in the field of embedded systems security, bringing together industry, government, and academic partners to raise awareness, build talent, and promote solutions that improve the security of electronic systems. Today, as a key member of MITRE’s Electronic System Development leadership team, he manages and excels in multiple roles, including technical expert, manager, and solution lead, as well as in external business relationships.

AFCEA International and Lexington-Concord Lose a Staunch, Lifetime Advocate

On 3 October, AFCEA International and Lexington-Concord sadly lost Bowman (Bo) H. G. Evans, a staunch champion of all things AFCEA, at the age of 93. Bo, an honorary lifetime member of AFCEA International served as Northeast Regional Vice President for a remarkable twenty-two years (1971–1993) where he left an indelible mark of achievement providing ardent support of International and tireless commitment to each of his regional chapters. Testimony to his accomplishments, Bo was twice awarded the Meritorious Service Award (in 1975 and 1979) and was chosen as AFCEAN of the Year in 1985.  After his tenure as Regional VP, he continued his lifelong devotion to AFCEA by assiduously supporting Lexington-Concord which, fortunately for the chapter, is headquartered in his home locale.  Bo was a US Navy veteran and worked at TRW/Northrop Grumman for forty-three years; retiring in 2000 as District Marketing Manager.  He will be missed.

Upcoming Events

Annual State of AFLCMC (virtual)

January 10, 2022 from 12:30-1:30 PM EST

AFCEA Lexington-Concord Chapter is proud to present the Annual State of AFLCMC event featuring Lt Gen Shaun Morris, Commander of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Register today!

Save the Date

New Horizons 2022 is coming!

Mark your calendars for the weeks of 4 and 11 April 2022. This will be a virtual event.

Details to follow