The First Shot edition 4.
January 2021
EXCOM Alley - Chief Master Sergeant William C. Hebb
Vice President Enlisted Affairs
Virtual Santa Visits the Chapter
The chapter hosted a virtual Santa event on 21 December for members, family and friends. Mr. Erv Koehler, Senior Executive Service, Assistant Commissioner, Customer Accounts and Stakeholder Engagement, General Services Administration (GSA) donned his “Santa” outfit to support this event which allowed parents who, due to the pandemic, could not otherwise have had the opportunity to give their kids a personal one-on-one visit with Santa this year. Graciously donating his time and energy, Koehler engaged with each and every child querying them about their Christmas “wish lists” and also allowing them to spend as much time as they wished asking a host of questions about Santa himself. Parents also participated asking questions on behalf of their children. All in all, a great time was had by all with the kids overjoyed to have Santa visit their homes; albeit on line.
Chapter Hosts Diversity Series Webinar On Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Johnathan Holifield, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) was the featured guest speaker at the chapter’s Diversity Series webinar, sponsored by Booz/Allen/Hamilton, on 15 December. Holifield heads the federal government effort to promulgate Executive Order 13779 intended to help HBCUs successfully compete for top opportunities in national and global markets while providing highest quality education and economic experience/opportunities to improve living standards of students and communities they serve. He explained how the Initiative partners with federal agencies, private sector employers, philanthropic and academic organizations, and others to help HBCUs achieve objectives.
Chapter Hosts Annual State of AFLCMC Address
Jamie Thurber, 1st VP, opened the chapter’s annual State of AFLCMC (Air Force Life Cycle Management Center) virtual event on 13 Dec 20, with the award of two chapter scholarships; $5,000 to the Hanscom AFB Enlisted Air for Education Fund and $1,000 to Hanscom’s Operation Concern. Patrick Hamilton, VP, Programs then introduced special guest speaker Lieutenant General Shaun Morris, Commander, AFLCMC, who discussed the challenges of taking command of AFLCMC in the midst of a pandemic. He commended the Center’s workforce for their execution resilience noting that there have been no significant or major impacts to the mission as a result of the changed mode of operations with the majority of the workforce working from home due to the pandemic. He emphasized that the Center is focused on the Chief of Staff’s mandate to “Accelerate Change or Lose” and provided insight into how the Center is addressing each of the four key areas of the Chief’s mandate (Airmen, Bureaucracy, Competition and Design Implementation). Event sponsors (whose generous support helps sustain the chapter’s scholarship programs) included: Applied Research Solutions, Booz Allen Hamilton, FishEye Software, Inc., Frontier Technology Inc., GDIT, IPT Associates, Leidos, Inc., MAINSAIL Group, Inc., Oasis Systems LLC, Odyssey Systems Consulting Group , and Quantech Services.
Upcoming Events
Chapter EXCOM Members Honored by AFCEA International -
Claire Goulet & Alan Shoemaker
Two members of our Executive Committee were recently granted the AFCEA International Distinguished Life Member Certificate recognizing their over forty years of membership in AFCEA. Both Claire Goulet, VP, Operations, and Alan Shoemaker, VP, Recognition, have furnished unflagging service to Lexington-Concord and AFCEA for multitude years. During their entire tenure, each has made significant, incalculable contributions to the chapter helping to build and sustain Lexington-Concord as one of the largest, most active, and most prolific chapters in all of AFCEA with an enviable track record of achievements. A hearty “thanks” to Claire and Alan!
Mark your calendars for New Horizons 2021!
AFCEA Lexington-Concord’s New Horizons is coming soon! This will be a virtual event this year, and will occur over a 2-week period.
Week One: 17-18 March
Week Two: 23-25 March
Details, including sponsorship opportunities, to follow soon… Stay tuned!
