08-10-2014 11:08 AM CEST
Grooves found on Lutetia, an asteroid encountered by ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft, point to the existence of a large impact crater on the unseen side of the rocky world.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
#DoD #Competition to Launch New Manufacturing Institute
By Cheryl Pellerin
DoD News, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2014 - President Barack Obama has announced an upcoming Defense Department-sponsored competition that will provide the awardee up to $110 million in federal funds to launch an Institute for Manufacturing Innovation, or IMI, whose work involves photonics -- the science and engineering applications of light.
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The Integrated Photonics IMI is the fourth DoD-led manufacturing institute to be announced since the pilot project was launched in August 2012.
In photonics, light is used to capture and display images, convert energy, and detect, transmit, store and process information. Integrated photonics is an important innovation that simplifies optical system design, reduces the size of components and power used, and improves reliability.
Critical future technology
Through its ability to carry vast quantities of data and its application to information systems, harnessing this light represents a critical future technology.
Beginning in early November, when DoD officials release a broad agency announcement for the competition, the department will collect proposals from teams of nonprofit organizations, universities and private companies to head the institute. The $110 million available over five years must be matched by at least $110 million in nonfederal commitments.
"Our U.S. industrial base serves at least two major national security objectives. It is the engine that drives our economy and it equips our soldiers, sailors and airmen," said Andre Gudger, DoD's acting director of manufacturing and industrial base policy, told DoD News. "So it's critically important that we maintain our technological advantage within the U.S. industrial base and these institutes help us maintain that competitiveness in important technology areas, such as integrated photonics."
The award for the Integrated Photonics IMI should be announced early next summer, and the institute will have five years to become self-sustaining.
A tri-service Defense Department subject-matter-expert team, augmented by civilian agency personnel, will conduct the IMI proposal evaluation and follow-on execution phase and will continue on to support the IMI's technical advisory board.
"Our strategy is for all these institutes to be of great value to not only the Department of Defense, but to other federal agencies, industry and the nation as a whole," explained Adele Ratcliff, director of manufacturing technology in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy.
Federal partners
In addition to private companies of all sizes, universities and community colleges, the new IMI will have federal partners such as the Commerce and Energy departments, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the National Science Foundation.
Beginning in fiscal year 2016, according to a DoD fact sheet, the National Science Foundation will encourage researchers to submit grant requests for integrated photonics research in hopes of leveraging the improved photonics ecosystem.
"Photonics makes good sense as an IMI for the DoD and our nation," Gudger said. "The conditions were right.
Commercial potential, defense requirement
"One objective of the IMIs is to help break down entry barriers for promising technologies," Ratcliff continued. "For photonics technology you have a large commercial potential, a defense requirement, and a growing but fragmented industry that lacks standards and advanced manufacturing processes to be able to move from the laboratory environment to full-scale commercial applications."
The initial pilot IMI announced in August 2012 focuses on additive manufacturing, or 3-D printing. Branded as "America Makes," this Youngstown, Ohio-based institute is a consortium of more than 100 manufacturing firms, universities, community colleges and nonprofit organizations.
The next two institutes announced in early 2014 were a broad consortium of businesses and universities with a hub in Detroit that focuses on lightweight and modern metals manufacturing, and an equally broad and diverse Chicago-headquartered consortium focusing on digital manufacturing and design innovation technologies.
The newest integrated photonics IMI will focus on developing an end-to-end photonics ecosystem in the United States, including domestic foundry access, integrated design tools, automated packaging, assembly and test, and workforce development.
Photonics revolution
Activities under the IMI also will allow universities and small-to-medium enterprises to participate in the integrated photonics revolution.
DoD officials cited the following as impacts enabled by integrated photonics:
-- Next-generation information processing, communications and data storage enabled by integrated photonics will lower the costs of broadband access and the efficiency of long-haul, metropolitan and local-area networks.
-- Integrated photonics use in green data centers will enable 100 Gb/s speeds with less power per bit than current 10 Gb/s solutions, resulting in millions of dollars per year in energy savings.
-- Significant reductions in size, weight and power enabled by photonics-electronics integration will be critical for embedded computing systems for mobile platforms, image processing and remote sensing.
-- Integrated photonics will enable a several-fold increase in the dynamic range of detectors, resulting in the ability to "see through" complex media such as human tissue to significantly improve detection for some diseases.
-- Advances in integrated photonics will lead to significant improvements in the ability to see through dust clouds of landing helicopters, avoiding crash landings and saving warfighter lives.
"DoD is in the process of selecting another technical focus area for a fifth DoD-led IMI, to be announced in the coming months," Ratcliff said.
#NATO Committee Enhances Focus, #Integration for #Future
By Amaani Lyle
DoD News, Defense Media Activity
NAVAL AIR STATION NORFOLK, Va., Oct. 8, 2014 - The NATO Allied Command Transformation Military Committee will meet here this week to solidify decisions that will ensure training and operations alignment for future effectiveness among its 28 partner nations, senior officials said in a press conference yesterday.
Danish Army Gen. Knud Bartels, NATO Military Committee chairman, and French Air Force Gen. Jean-Paul Paloméros, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, said they'll continue to develop and hone the alliance's strategic policies and concepts to better integrate forces and face ever-changing threats.
The Military Committee is the senior military authority in NATO and the primary source of military advice to the organization's civilian decision-making bodies: the North Atlantic Council and the Nuclear Planning Group.
"Our visit will ensure we are focused and aligned in our understanding of the issues involved in order to deliver the 28 nations consensus-based military advice from the North Atlantic Council," Bartels said.
Analyze lessons learned
Paloméros hosted the committee to analyze lessons learned in Iraq and Afghanistan and how to best implement those lessons for current and future threats in beleaguered regions such as Syria and Ukraine.
The two leaders cited the rapid action plan and the Connected Forces Initiative as worthwhile strategies in preparing people and forces with the expertise and motivation to prevail against burgeoning terrorist networks such as Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
Paloméros noted even prior to the crisis in Ukraine, connected defense has been a top priority for ACT in addressing the requirements of the readiness action plan.
"We have to foresee, prepare and look forward -- this is the essence of [the Connected Forces Initiative]," he said.
The Joint Warfare Center in Stavanger, Norway, the Joint Force Training Center in Bydgoszcz, Poland, and Joint Analysis in Lisbon, Portugal, Paloméros explained, help answer the calls of operations and prepare exercises with key priorities in line with the Supreme Allied Commander Europe's vision.
Employ diplomatic, military power
With economic and diplomatic dimensions part of that vision, Bartels noted the imperative to be able to integrate all aspects of state power as well as military power, where younger officers are now shouldering much of the operational requirements.
"We need to make sure that our forces are able to operate at all levels together in any kind of environment and [in] facing any kind of threat," Bartels said.
Following the September 2014 Wales Summit, Bartels said NATO endorsed as part of the Connected Forces Initiative package an updated NATO education, training, and exercise and evaluation policy.
"It's a long-term document that provides guidelines for NATO to educate, train, exercise and to evaluate, individuals, units, formations, headquarters, and the NATO command and force structure," he said.
NATO exercises
According to Bartels, the document also addresses the process for linking national and NATO exercises for partner and non-NATO entity involvement.
"It helps ensure that those units, formations and headquarters can address the full range of alliance missions and meet the challenges NATO faces today and in the future," he said.
To do this, Bartels said ACT will bolster the NATO response force, enhance both the special operations forces and the interactions among the NATO command structure, the NATO force structure, and where mutually beneficial and affordable, national headquarters.
"ACT represents the pillar of NATO in this country and this is a great demonstration of that," Paloméros said. "Transformation starts today [and] the last two decades of operations for NATO has been defining the capabilities we will need for the future."
Southcom Chief Urges Campaign Plan for Central America
By Jim Garamone
DoD News, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2014 - Central America needs a campaign plan to combat the power of transnational criminal syndicates, reinstitute the rule of law, and regain sovereignty over their own territories, the commander of U.S. Southern Command said here yesterday.
Marine Corps Gen. John F. Kelly told a National Defense University audience that any who doubt whether a campaign plan would work need only look "at the miracle of Colombia."
Colombia illustrates what a country can do to throw off narcoterrorists and reassert government, the general said.
"They are a great example," he said, "of what can be done so long as a government and a people, along with some help from the United States" work together toward a common goal.
Turbulent region
El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras are in the same situation Colombia was in in the mid-1980s, Kelly said. Transnational criminal gangs -- the cartels -- use the nations as their safe havens. They ship billions of dollars in cocaine and methamphetamine mostly to the United States but also throughout the world. The governments have lost control of their own territories as these gangs replace a normal, legal economy with drugs, guns and violence.
Is it any wonder then, the general said, why more than 63,000 children from these countries moved to parts north this past summer?
What's needed is a whole-of-government campaign plan not imposed from outside, but developed in conjunction with the nations and some help from the United States, Kelly said. This will take decades to accomplish, he said, but it can be done.
Honduras may be the most dangerous place on Earth that is not involved in an actual war, said Kelly, noting that one in seven adult males there will die from violence. Guatemala and Honduras are overrun by gangs, he said, and those gangs threaten the United States. Health facilities, schools, and basic infrastructure are absent from wide swatches of the countries.
Leaders confronting threats
But, Kelly said, the leaders of the nations are committed to taking on the challenges and especially are willing to go after the drug cartels.
Those leaders "have bounties of millions on their heads," the general said. "Their children have bounties. Yet they are going ahead."
The United States has spent millions in the region to little effect, the general said. Local participation is crucial to success and that is something that often has not been sought in the past.
Another aspect of a campaign plan, Kelly said, is that every aspect of it reinforces every other aspect. So the U.S. Agency for International Development has a role that reinforces economic development that reinforces security that reinforces rule of law and so on. For the United States, its diplomacy, economic development, law enforcement and military realms must work hand-in-glove with each other and with Latin American allies to move a campaign plan along, the general said.
This can happen, Kelly said. The presidents of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, he added, have developed a regional plan to address the problems of the area. They have vowed to work together to address the root causes.
Kelly said an interesting aspect of this is that Colombia is one of the nations assisting the region the most.
"The Colombians are exporting peace now," he said.
(Follow Jim Garamone on Twitter: @garamoneDoDNews)
Officials Discuss Report on U.S.-#Japan #Defense Guidelines
By Jim Garamone
DoD News, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2014 - U.S. officials yesterday gave an interim report on progress of revising the guidelines for U.S.-Japanese Defense Cooperation.
The officials, speaking on background, said the new guidelines are in response to new threats extant in the world and to a new willingness of Japan to embrace a greater role in the world.
The last time the guidelines were revised was 1997 and that was done in repose to the end of the Cold War and the growth of North Korean missile technology.
New guidelines cover cyber, space realms
The new guidelines cover operations in the cyber world and in space. It also discusses new challenges to freedom of navigation, and the further growth of the North Korean threat. The revision grew out of the so-called 2-plus-two talks last year between Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, Secretary of State John F. Kerry and their Japanese counterparts.
The new guidelines, "capture the greater scope of our alliance cooperation, reflecting its more global nature," said a senior State Department official.
For the United States, the revision continues the whole-of-government rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region. For Japan, the revision "corresponds to its efforts for the defense of its territory and people and the policy of 'Proactive Contribution to Peace' based on the principle of international cooperation," according to the interim report.
The areas under discussion include joint information sharing, cooperation in space and cyber, non-combatant evacuations, the role of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, air and ballistic missile defense, peacekeeping, logistics support and maritime security.
The officials stressed this is an interim report, and said they are on track for the final report to be completed by the end of the year. "There is a lot of work cut out for us ahead," said a senior defense official.
Reflection of U.S.-Japan alliance
The guidelines seek to expand the scope of cooperation to reflect the global nature of the U.S.-Japan alliance. "The two governments will enhance bilateral cooperation in various areas to generate a more peaceful and stable international security environment," the interim report states.
One large difference from the present guidelines is the emphasis on trilateral and multilateral security and defense cooperation with regional allies and partners.
Working together
"The revised Guidelines will lay out how the two governments will work together to promote security and defense cooperation based on international law and internationally accepted norms," the report states.
The final guidelines will address how the United States and Japan will work with friends and allies in peacekeeping operations, international humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, maritime security, capacity building, logistics support and noncombatant evacuation operations.
Today's threats are often amorphous and can have immediate impacts on countries that are not even the main targets.
"In view of such a complex security environment, the two governments will take measures to prevent the deterioration of Japan's security in all phases, seamlessly, from peacetime to contingencies," the report says.
Navigating the #Dating Scene
Navigating the Dating Scene in the
‘Age of the Selfie’
Certified Life Coach Shares 4 Tips for Older Singles
All the good ones are taken … I’m too old to feel THAT way again … I don’t look as good as I used to … I haven’t accomplished enough at my age … I don’t even know how to flirt anymore …
For older singles hungry for partnership, these common worries can prevent taking the steps that lead to fulfilling relationships, says dating and life coach Deborah Downey. And, of course, the dating scene has changed quite a bit in the past decade alone; younger people meet online and wallpaper their profiles with “selfies.”
“Although the ‘selfie’ is now widely accepted, there are some older singles who are intimidated by what it seems to signify: that we’ve gone from the ‘Age of Aquarius’ to an age of vanity and superficiality,” says Downey, author of “What Are You Worried About!” (http://www.coachdeborahdowney.com/).
“It’s one thing to be self-actualized and self-enriched; it’s another to be self-absorbed.”
For older singles looking to date -- and more, there’s plenty to feel optimistic about, says Downey, who found romance later in life after her husband passed away. Despite living with multiple sclerosis for 25 years, she says, she’s happy and fulfilled.
There are more singles than ever age 40 and older that are looking for love. Downey offers tips for the older single looking for a meaningful and lasting connection.
• Ignore ego-based doubts.It’s easy to idealize memories of dating when you were younger, perhaps in better shape and more energetic. But most likely, your younger self was also scared of not being “good enough” and was probably not as self-actualized as who you are today. Don’t fall for the ego doubts of your youth; embrace your maturity, part of which includes accepting who you are in any situation. If that is difficult, consider this period in your life as an opportunity to improve self-acceptance.
• Know your target and have fun! Dating takes time and effort, so don’t go into it blind. You may want to specify your preferences, such as “non-smoker” or “financially independent” or “health conscious.” Once on your date, remember that you’re supposed to be having fun, nerves notwithstanding. The best way to gauge whether the date is going well is to take note of whether you’re actually enjoying yourself.
• Internet dating is legit. The stigma against meeting dates online has all but lifted. You’ll want to represent yourself fairly and accurately in a profile. Don’t go blank and write an overly simple profile; tell a good, positive story about a small victory during childhood or talk about your bucket list. Forget about clichés like wine tastings or hobbies, avoid poor spelling and make sure your photo is current. Don’t try to be “cool” or clever; just be real. When meeting someone, use common sense: take it slow, be wary of scams, meet in a public place and so on.
• Consider the sensibilities of your date. After a few successful dates, remember that men and women share universal sensibilities. Men and women both like to be complimented, admired and appreciated. Everyone wants to feel important. Specifically, men like it when women suggest doing something together that he will like, such as going fishing or to a sporting event. Women generally appreciate being encouraged to express their feelings, and when men share their own feelings.
“Above all, be comfortable and in touch with your inner self and you’ll be more likely to be ‘lucky in love,’ ” Downey says.
About Deborah Downey
Deborah Downey’s experience spans 25 years of recovery in various 12-step programs around the country. Holding certifications as a professional life coach and as a chemical dependency counselor, Downey has dealt with addiction in its various forms, both as the child of alcoholic parents and as a confidant for others. In her self-help book, “What Are You Worried About!” (http://www.coachdeborahdowney.com/), Downey, who has multiple sclerosis, details a proactive approach to training one’s mind to think positive.
Face of Defense: Airmen Assist Ebola Relief Efforts
By Air Force Staff Sgt. Sarah Keller
86th Airlift Wing
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany, Oct. 8, 2014 - Airmen from the 37th Airlift Squadron here loaded a C-130J Super Hercules with needed supplies and launched their first mission yesterday to West Africa in support of Operation United Assistance.
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U.S. Africa Command is working with the U.S. Agency for International Development to deliver much-needed support. Part of Africom's effort is the tactical theater airlift provided by the 86th Airlift Wing, whose airmen are eager to do their part in the humanitarian effort.
Excited to support mission
"We're super-excited to get down there and help as much as we can," said Air Force Capt. Brian Shea, 37th AS aircraft commander. "The 37th AS is a key component in Africom's mission to establish an air bridge for the operation. This mission is big for the 86th AW and our squadron."
The United States is sending troops and material to treat patients, build field hospitals and is also training health care workers.
Although the 37th AS team expects to be on the ground in Liberia for only a few hours, Shea was confident his team was well prepared to handle any anticipated medical concerns, including receiving all required vaccinations and medical clearance to participate in missions throughout Africa.
Well-trained crew
"We're not expecting to have any issues going into the theater," Shea explained. "We've been briefed and trained on how to handle any medical concerns if need be."
While this may be the first flight out of Ramstein to provide cargo support to OUA, the 37th AS is anticipating a consistent airflow requirement to assist with cargo and personnel transfer in and out of areas in need.
"I'm proud to be part of a mission like this," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Kevin Byrne, 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron flying crew chief. "I'm ready to get down there and do some good things."
The U.S. will continue to respond quickly and safely with African and international partners to help end the Ebola outbreak as soon as possible.
Airstrikes Hit #ISIL in #Syria and #Iraq
TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 8, 2014 - U.S. and partner nation military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria yesterday and today, using bomber, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft to conduct nine airstrikes, U.S. Central Command officials reported.
Separately, officials added, U.S. and partner nation military forces used fighter and remotely piloted aircraft yesterday and today to conduct five airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq.
In Syria, four airstrikes south of Kobani destroyed an ISIL armored personnel carrier, destroyed three ISIL armed vehicles and damaged a fourth, and destroyed an ISIL artillery piece. A fifth airstrike, southwest of Kobani, destroyed an ISIL armed vehicle; a sixth airstrike, at the southern edge of Kobani, destroyed an ISIL artillery piece. Two airstrikes northwest of Ar Raqqah successfully struck an active ISIL training camp and associated ISIL fighters. An airstrike northwest of Dayr az Zawr destroyed an ISIL tank. To conduct these strikes, the U.S. employed bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of operations. In addition, the United Arab Emirates aircraft participated in these airstrikes. All aircraft exited the strike areas safely.
In Iraq, an airstrike east of Fallujah destroyed an ISIL checkpoint and an ISIL armed vehicle. An airstrike in western Ramadi destroyed three ISIL-held buildings and damaged two more, destroyed two ISIL anti-aircraft artillery pieces, and destroyed an ISIL unit. An airstrike northwest of Ramadi destroyed an ISIL checkpoint. An airstrike northeast of Sinjar Mountain destroyed an ISIL armed vehicle; another airstrike northeast of Sinjar against an ISIL vehicle was unsuccessful. To conduct these strikes, the U.S. employed fighter and remotely piloted aircraft deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of operations. In addition, the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of the Netherlands aircraft participated in these airstrikes. All aircraft exited the strike areas safely.
The strikes were conducted as part of the president's comprehensive strategy to degrade and destroy ISIL. The destruction of targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to lead, control, project power and conduct operations.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
City of West Hollywood Names Steven Reigns as City Poet
Reigns was Installed at a City Council Meeting on Oct. 6;
He Read From His Poem: “Morning, West Hollywood”
WEST HOLLYWOOD, October 7, 2014 – The City of West Hollywood is pleased to announce the installation of Steven Reigns as “City Poet.” Reigns was presented with a Proclamation by the West Hollywood City Council at an installation ceremony at its regular meeting last night on Monday, October 6, 2014. The meeting took place at the City of West Hollywood’s City Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room at West Hollywood Library. As part of the installation ceremony, Reigns read from his poem: “Morning, West Hollywood.” (Full text of the poem is available atwww.weho.org/arts.)
“Big congratulations to Steven Reigns, an amazing poet and a terrific talent,” said West Hollywood Mayor John D’Amico. “Steven brings another great level of culture and meaning to this city.”
Steven Reigns grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and has lived in the Norma Triangle neighborhood of West Hollywood for more than nine years. His debut poetry collection was published in 2001 and he has since published six chapbooks. He is a six-time recipient of an artist-in-residence grant from the Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles. Reigns organized and taught the first-ever autobiographical poetry workshop for LGBT seniors and edited an anthology of their writings, “My Life is Poetry.” He has taught writing workshops around the country to LGBTQ youth and people living with HIV. His latest poetry collection “Inheritance,” published by Sibling Rivalry Press, came out in 2011.
Reigns, as City Poet, will highlight the City of West Hollywood through the literary arts and, over a period of time, create a new body of literary work that commemorates the diversity and vibrancy of the City. He will also serve as an official ambassador of West Hollywood’s vibrant literary culture, promote poetry in West Hollywood, stimulate the transformative impact of poetry in the local community, and create excitement about the written word. His term as City Poet is two years.
The City of West Hollywood has a strong commitment to fostering reading, literary arts, and books. In October 2011, the City celebrated the grand opening of the new West Hollywood Library, which showcases the City’s rich intellectual, literary, and cultural diversity and provides a landmark facility for the community’s passionate commitment to lifelong learning. The City’s One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival, held each year in June, features a variety of literary events each year during Pride month. The City supports several community book clubs such as Women And Books and the Lambda Literary Book Club. In September 2014, the City hosted “WeHo Reads,” a community reading celebration at West Hollywood Park and Library.
For more information about the City of West Hollywood’s City Poet, please visitwww.weho.org/arts or call (323) 848-6377. For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.
Readout of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel's meeting with Netherlands Minister of Defense Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert
Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby provided the following readout:
"Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel met today at the Pentagon with the Netherlands Minister of Defense Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert.
"Secretary Hagel thanked Minister Hennis-Plasschaert for the Netherlands' recent contribution of six F-16s and trainers to help the Iraqis counter ISIL in Iraq and for their generous financial donation to assist with Syrian refugees. Secretary Hagel also thanked the Dutch for committing troops to the Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan.
"The leaders also discussed the Ebola health care emergency in Africa and the Dutch's financial commitments to accelerate international efforts to combat the virus."
DoD Seeks Next-generation Technologies, Kendall Says
By Claudette Roulo
DoD News, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON, Oct. 7, 2014 - The Defense Department is starting a long-range research and development initiative intended specifically to deliver technologies capable of providing the next generation of dominance on the battlefield, the undersecretary of defense for acquisitions, technology and logistics said today.
The study is modeled after a similar one conducted in the 1970s that ultimately led to many of the technologies being used today, Frank Kendall told an audience at the International Test and Evaluation Symposium in Crystal City, Virginia.
"It's time to kind of rethink what's going to give us dominance in the future," he said, adding that he expects the program will inform next year's budget cycle.
Individual technology programs have had a strategic emphasis over the years, Kendall said, but it's time to have that same emphasis at the DoD level. "We need to think about what's going to give us the next generation of dominance on the battlefield and make sure we're focused on the things that have that potential," he said.
The undersecretary noted the initiative will be overseen by the department's best technical minds, including Stephen Welby, deputy assistant secretary of defense for systems engineering; Alan Shaffer, principal deputy to the assistant secretary of defense for research and engineering; Dr. Arati Prabhakar, director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency; and Katrina McFarland, assistant secretary of defense for acquisition.
A revolution in military affairs
The 1970s study did a thorough job, Kendall said, noting that it yielded the idea for smart munitions and smart seekers for missile defense systems.
"With one or two exceptions, the technologies that were identified as the ones we should be focusing on were pursued and were pursued successfully," he added. "It did the same thing, basically, in communications and in [the] electronic warfare side of communications in terms of protecting data links and so on."
Kendall credited the initiative with "sowing the seeds" for today's capabilities and revolutionized the efficiency of battlefield performance -- meaning fewer troops were needed to meet particular objectives.
This new efficiency was demonstrated dramatically in the first Gulf War, he said.
"We had a suite of things that included stealth -- and even the classified version of this study doesn't talk about stealth, because at the time, it was completely under wraps -- but smart munitions, wide-area sensors, networking and stealth combined are ... the revolution that we unleashed on the world in the first Gulf War," Kendall said.
The world was watching
Other countries took note of the effect technology had on the battlefields of Kuwait, he said.
"We were expected to have about 10,000 casualties in the first Gulf War and we had a few hundred. ... We demonstrated the ability to take out a relatively modern conventional force very, very efficiently, very, very quickly," Kendall said. "Nobody watched that more than the Chinese."
Russia was watching, too, the undersecretary noted. A lot of theories were generated about what the quick victory and the successful employment of the new technologies portended, he said.
"We have ridden that set of capabilities ever since," Kendall said. "We used it in Serbia, very effectively. We used it when we went into Afghanistan, went into Iraq, used it in Libya, we're using it right now. But a lot of time has gone by since 1991, and people have had a chance to respond. They've also had a chance to build similar capabilities."
Nations are building smarter weapons, the undersecretary said, and those weapons are proliferating around the world.
"Nobody has a monopoly on technology," Kendall said. "It never stands still. And once you've seen that someone else has solved the problem and knows how to do something, it's not hard for you to do the same thing as well."
Cracking the Code to Innovation 7 Steps That Guarantee Success
Everyone says they want innovation in their organization, but when an ambitious employee offers it to a CEO, for example, the idea is often shot down, says Neal Thornberry, Ph.D., faculty director for innovation initiatives at the Naval Postgraduate School in California.
“Senior leaders often miss the value-creating potential of a new concept because they either don’t take the time to really listen and delve into it, or the innovating employee presents it in the wrong way,” says Thornberry, who recently published “Innovation Judo,” (www.NealThornberry.com), based on his years of experience teaching innovation at Babson College and advising an array of corporate clients, from the Ford Co. and IBM to Cisco Systems.
“Innovation should be presented as opportunities, not ideas. Opportunities have gravitas while ideas do not!”
Thornberry outlines a template for innovation that works:
• Intention: Once the “why” is answered, leaders have the beginnings of a legitimate roadmap to innovation’s fruition. This is no small task and requires some soul searching.
“I once worked with an executive committee, and I got six different ideas for what ‘innovation’ meant,” he says. “One wanted new products, another focused on creative cost-cutting, and the president wanted a more innovative culture. The group needed to agree on their intent before anything else.”
• Infrastructure: This is where you designate who is responsible for what. It’s tough, because the average employee will not risk new responsibility and potential risk without incentive. Some companies create units specifically focused on innovation, while others try to change the company culture in order to foster innovation throughout. “Creating a culture takes too long,” Thornberry says. “Don’t wait for that.”
• Investigation: What do you know about the problem? IDEO may be the world’s premier organization for investigating innovative solutions. Suffice to say that the organization doesn’t skimp on collecting and analyzing data. At this point, data collection is crucial, whereas brainstorming often proves to be a waste of time if the participants come in with the same ideas, knowledge and opinions that they had last week with no new learning in their pockets.
• Ideation: The fourth step is also the most fun and, unfortunately, is the part many companies leap to. This is dangerous because you may uncover many exciting and good ideas, but if the right context and focus aren’t provided up front, and team members cannot get on the same page, then a company is wasting its time. That is whyintent must be the first step for any company seeking to increase innovation. Innovation should be viewed as a set of tools or processes, and not a destination.
• Identification: Here’s where the rubber meets the road on innovation. Whereas the previous step was creative, now logic and subtraction must be applied to focus on a result. Again, ideas are great, but they must be grounded in reality. An entrepreneurial attitude is required here, one that enables the winnowing of ideas, leaving only those with real value-creating potential.
“Innovation without the entrepreneurial mindset is fun but folly,” Thornberry notes.
• Infection: Does anyone care about what you’ve come up with? Will excitement spread during this infection phase? Now is the time to find out. Pilot testing, experimentation and speaking directly with potential customers begin to give you an idea of how innovative and valuable an idea is. This phase is part selling, part research and part science. If people can’t feel, touch or experience your new idea in part or whole, they probably won’t get it. This is where the innovator has a chance to reshape their idea into an opportunity, mitigate risk, assess resistance and build allies for their endeavor.
• Implementation/Integration:While many talk about this final phase, they often fail to address the integration part. Implementation refers to tactics that are employed in order to put an idea into practice. This is actually a perilous phase because, in order for implementation to be successful, the idea must first be successfully integrated with other activities in the business and aligned with strategy. An innovation, despite its support from the top, can still fail if a department cannot work with it.
About Neal Thornberry, Ph.D.
Neal Thornberry, Ph.D., is the founder and CEO of IMSTRAT, LLC a consulting firm that specializes in helping private and public sector organizations develop innovation strategies. A respected thought leader in innovation, Thornberry is a highly sought-after international speaker and consultant. He also serves as the faculty director for innovation initiatives at the Center for Executive Education at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. Thornberry, author of “InnovationJudo:Disarming Roadblocks & Blockheads on the Path to Creativity” (www.NealThornberry.com), holds a doctorate in organizational psychology and specializes in innovation, corporate entrepreneurship, leadership and organizational transformation.
#EBOLA BRIEFING
Army Gen. David M. Rodriguez, commander of U.S. Africa Command, describes the Defense Department's response to Ebola during a press briefing at the Pentagon, Oct. 7, 2014.
#Obama: Countries Must Step Up Aggressively to #Ebola Fight
By Cheryl Pellerin
DoD News, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON, Oct. 7, 2014 - The nation is profoundly grateful to U.S. medical, development and military personnel who are serving in the fight against Ebola in West Africa, and other nations must step up more aggressively to stop the deadly epidemic at its source, President Barack Obama said yesterday.
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The president held a news conference after a meeting on the U.S. Ebola response with senior health, homeland security and national security advisors.
Among them were Secretary of State John F. Kerry, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Rajiv Shah, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Thomas Frieden.
The president's advisors updated him on the Ebola case in Texas, the first travel-associated case to be diagnosed in the United States. They also discussed broader domestic preparedness plans and U.S. and international efforts to contain and end the epidemic in West Africa.
On U.S. efforts in West Africa, Obama said, "There's already been extraordinary work done by the Department of Defense, in conjunction with the CDC, in standing up isolation units and hospital beds. We are making progress."
This is a faraway place, he added, with roads that in many cases are impassable and areas that have no hospitals.
'An enormous amount of effort'
"We're having to stand up, essentially, a public health infrastructure in many of these areas that haven't had one before, and that requires an enormous amount of effort," Obama said. "And I'll be very honest with you -- although we have seen great interest on the part of the international community, we have not seen other countries step up as aggressively as they need to."
During an Ebola meeting at the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month, Obama called the outbreak "an area where everybody has to chip in and everybody has to move quickly in order for us to get this under control."
At yesterday's news conference, the president added, "Countries that think they can sit on the sidelines and just let the United States do it, that will result in a less effective response, a less speedy response, and that means that people die."
It also increases the chances that Ebola could spread beyond Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea in West Africa, he said, where the World Health Organization says the total case count as of Oct. 1 for those countries is 7,470 probable, confirmed and suspected cases and 3,431 deaths.
Countries with localized cases include Nigeria, with 20 cases and eight deaths; Senegal, with two cases; and the United States, with one case.
Some large countries aren't doing enough
"We've got some small countries that are punching above their weight on this, but we've got some large countries that aren't doing enough," Obama said. "We want to make sure they understand that this is not a disease that's going to discriminate, and this is something that all of us have to be involved in."
The president said he would put pressure on his fellow heads of state and government around the world to make sure they are doing everything that they can to join the United States in its efforts.
The United States already has committed more than $350 million to fighting the outbreak in West Africa, including more than $111 million in humanitarian aid, and DoD is prepared to devote more than $1 billion to the whole-of-government Ebola response effort, according to a White House fact sheet.
U.S. whole-of-government response
Highlights of the U.S. whole-of-government response include the following:
-- More than 130 civilian medical, health care and disaster-response experts from multiple U.S. government departments and agencies deployed to West Africa as part of USAID's Disaster Assistance Response Team, and about 350 U.S. military personnel.
-- The largest U.S. response to an international public health challenge.
-- Increased the number of Ebola treatment units in the region, including supporting treatment units in Sierra Leone and Liberia. One of the new treatment units in Liberia discharged its first four Ebola survivors last week.
-- Increased to 50 the number of safe burial teams that are now working across every county in Liberia to safely and respectfully dispose of bodies.
-- Deployed and began operation of five mobile Ebola testing labs in the region, two of which opened this week in Liberia and have doubled lab capacity in the country, reducing from several days to a few hours the time needed to determine if a patient has Ebola.
-- Provided more than 10,000 Ebola test kits to the Liberian Institute of Biological Research and Sierra Leone's Kenema Government Hospital.
-- Procured 140,000 sets of personal protective equipment, 10,000 of which have already been delivered, along with hundreds of thousands of medical gloves and thousands of protective coveralls, goggles, face shields and other personal protective supplies.
-- Provided technical support to the Liberian government's national-level emergency operation center.
The Ebola epidemic is a top national security priority, Obama said, and the United States will continue to do everything necessary to address it.
"I'm very grateful for the people who are on the front lines making this work. It's a reminder once again of American leadership," the president said. "But even with all the dedicated effort that our American personnel are putting in, they need to be joined by professionals from other countries who are putting up similar effort and similar resources. I hope they're going to be paying attention over the next several weeks so we can get on top of this."
Satellite Sees Tropical Storm Simon Over Baja California
NOAA's GOES-West satellite took a picture of Tropical Storm Simon weakening over Mexico's Baja California.
On Oct. 7, a Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for Punta Abreojos to Punta Eugenia, Mexico. The National Hurricane Center expects Simon to produce storm total rainfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches with isolated amounts around 8 inches through Wednesday, Oct. 8, across northern portions of the Baja California Peninsula and the state of Sonora in northwestern Mexico. Over the next few days, storm total rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches with isolated amounts of around 4 inches are expected across portions of Arizona. This rainfall could cause flash flooding and mud slides.
In addition, winds to tropical storm force are still possible within the Watch area today. Simon continues to generate large swells that will affect portions of the Baja California Peninsula and the coast of southern California today. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
NOAA's GOES-West satellite took a visible picture of Tropical Storm Simon on Oct. 7 at 1445 UTC (10:45 a.m. EDT). The image was created by the NASA/NOAA GOES Project at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The image showed Simon's clouds over Baja California and northwestern mainland Mexico. Simon's northernmost clouds stretched into the U.S. southwest. Despite its large appearance, during the morning of Oct. 7, only small area of showers were showing on radar near the north-central Baja California peninsula.
At 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) on Oct. 7, Simon's maximum sustained winds were down to 40 mph (65 kph) and weakening. The center of Tropical Storm Simon was located near latitude 27.7 north and longitude 116.7 west. That's about 100 miles (160 km) west of Punta Eugenia, Mexico. Simon is moving toward the north-northeast near 9 mph (15 kph) and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 to 36 hours.
The National Hurricane Center expects Simon to continue weakening and become a remnant low pressure area by Oct. 8. NHC noted that "Simon's surface circulation or its remnant low pressure area is likely to dissipate while it moves into the southwestern United States, unless it fails to survive its passage over the mountainous Baja peninsula during the next day or so."
EPA Honors Freight Carriers For Superior Supply Chain Efficiency
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is honoring 44 top truck and multi-modal carriers as industry leaders in supply chain environmental and energy efficiency with its 2014 SmartWay® Excellence Awards announced today by EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy at the American Trucking Associations’ Annual Management Conference & Exhibition in San Diego, Calif.
These carrier partners are SmartWay’s top environmental performers, setting benchmarks in how they move products and supplies, by transporting the continent’s goods efficiently with the lowest overall carbon dioxide and criteria emissions.
"As SmartWay celebrates its tenth anniversary, EPA recognizes its top carrier partners for the significant strides they have made towards a sustainable transportation future,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “By saving fuel and keeping carbon dioxide and harmful pollutants out of the air, recipients of the SmartWay Excellence Award demonstrate that fighting climate change and protecting human health is good for business.”
This year, SmartWay Program, a public-private partnership between EPA and transportation-related companies, celebrates 10 years as a market-driven initiative that empowers businesses to move goods in the cleanest, most energy-efficient way possible, while protecting public health and reducing the impacts of climate change. Demonstration of a commitment to corporate sustainability and social responsibility through SmartWay provides for a more competitive and environmentally-friendly business environment. Since 2004, SmartWay partners have saved $16.8 billion in fuel costs and 120.7 million barrels of oil— the equivalent of taking over 10 million cars off the road for an entire year. SmartWay’s clean air achievements have protected the well-being of citizens by avoiding emissions of 51.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, 738,000 tons of nitrogen oxides, and 37,000 tons of particulate matter.
Building on the important work of the SmartWay Program, and as part of thePresident’s Climate Action Plan, EPA and the Department of Transportation (DOT) worked with the trucking industry to create the first-ever GHG and fuel efficiency standards for heavy duty vehicles—model year 2014 to 2018. Over the lifetime of these vehicles, they’ll save 530 million barrels of oil and over 270 million metric tons of carbon emissions—not to mention $50 billion dollars in fuel savings.
In addition, last week, EPA recognized SmartWay shippers and logistics companies for moving freight while burning less fuel– by increasing the fuel efficiency of fleet vehicles, reducing idling, and maximizing the productivity of every haul, long or short.
The full list of 2014 SmartWay Excellence awardees, including shippers, logistics, top-truck and multi-modal carrier awards, can be may be found at:http://www.epa.gov/smartway/about/sw-awards.htm
For additional information on SmartWay, visit: http://www.epa.gov/smartway/
The top truck and multi-modal carriers award recipients include:
#EBOLA #VIRUS
U.S. Navy Lt. Jose 
Garcia inactivates the Ebola virus in each specimen in a process that renders the virus safe for further analysis at a Naval Medical Research Center mobile laboratory at Bushrod Island, Liberia, Oct. 6, 2014. The center sent two mobile testing labs to Liberia to support Operation United Assistance. Each two-person lab is capable of testing up to 80 samples per day.
#EUROPACORP TELEVISION STUDIOS ENTERS TELEVISION VENTURE WITH #SLINGSHOT GLOBAL MEDIA
Slingshot Global Media announced today that they have entered
into a non-exclusive joint television development venture with EuropaCorp Television Studios. The deal will allow the two companies to combine their resources and expertise to identify globally appealing high end content.
Under the deal, EuropaCorp Television Studios and Slingshot Global Media plan to co-develop and co-finance two projects a year. Their similar models in creating straight to series television projects will allow them a broader reach in the domestic and international markets.
“We’re excited to start working with our new partners in this unique endeavor,” said David Ellender, CEO of Slingshot Global Media. “By joining forces with EuropaCorp Television Studios, we will be able to create globally appealing television by combining our assets.”
Slingshot Global Media recently announced a set of television projects they are developing with Keanu Reeves, Rainand New Angeles, in addition to a new series with Blumhouse Productions, The Sitter. They also entered into a first look deal with El Jefe, the new production company from writer-creators Brian McGreevy, Lee Shipman, and Philipp Meyer.
Recently, EuropaCorp hired veteran TV Executive Producer Matthew Gross as President of EuropaCorp Television Studios U.S. As the French entertainment giant expands its television studio, they have hired Gross to spearhead their development and production slate for the American market. Gross will work along side of EuropaCorp TV toppers Thomas Anargyros and Edouard de Vesinne to expand the Besson brand and increase output.
EuropaCorp Television Studios is a major player in the international space that can fully finance and distribute its projects. As they expand their reach by developing directly for the US television marketplace, they will also pursue co-productions with outside studios on a project-by-project basis.
Anargyros and de Vesinne have produced many shows in Europe including No Limit,The Passenger and were the first French producers to develop and produce a successful international series for the world market, with the series XIII. This past summer, EuropaCorp’s Taxi Brooklyn aired on NBC.
“The Slingshot Global Media / EuropaCorp Television Studios alliance creates a ‘whole is greater than the sum of its parts’ scenario,” said Gross. “By joining forces it strengthens our financing and distribution abilities with the straight to series model. We look forward to working closely with David and Quan and producing successful event television together.”
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About Slingshot Global Media
Slingshot Global Media, which formed in early February 2014 in partnership with TPG Growth, develops and produces high-quality drama and comedy television programming for the multi-platform U.S. television market. Veteran television executive David Ellender and Quan Phung, President of Scripted Television, are working closely with established content creators, as well as young literary talent to nurture and develop commercial returning series and limited run event programming, in addition to serving as the Los Angeles bridge-head between the North American and European television markets, handling with international co-financing, co-production, and pre-sale deals.
About TPG Growth
TPG Growth is the middle market and growth equity investment platform of TPG, the global private investment firm. With $3.6 billion under management, TPG Growth targets investments in a broad range of industries and geographies, utilizing leveraged buyout, growth equity, and private investment in public equity (PIPE) structures. The firm is backed by the resources of TPG, which has $55.7 billion of assets under management. TPG Growth has offices in the United States, China and India. For more information, visitwww.tpggrowth.com.
About EuropaCorp
EuropaCorp ranks among the top European film studios and was founded by French director, screenwriter and producer Luc Besson in 1999. EuropaCorp's different divisions include feature film and television finance, production and distribution, home entertainment, VOD – TV and now movie theatre management, since the inauguration in October 2013 of the first EuropaCorp CINEMAS multiplex in Aéroville. EuropaCorp's integrated financial model generates revenues from a wide range of sources and has a strong presence in the international market; the group has produced some of the most successful French films worldwide to date. In February 2014, EuropaCorp created a U.S. distribution and marketing joint venture with Relativity Media (RED Distribution), that allows EuropaCorp to fully control it distribution in the U.S. and maximize the visibility for its films.EuropaCorp also recently announced $450 Million in financing from J.P. Morgan, Sun Trust Bank, and OneWest Bank in order to expand their English-language slate of projects. EuropaCorp’s catalogue includes 500 films and the company employs 150 permanent staff members. Recently, EuropaCorp released the hugely successful film LUCY, starring Scarlett Johansson. Upcoming films include Taken 3, Transporter 4, The Lake, Sea at War, Warriror’s Gate and The Mechanic.
For more information, visitwww.europacorp-corporate.com
NASA Eyes Super typhoon Vongfong
Typhoon Vongfong strengthened into a Super typhoon on Tuesday, October 7 as NASA's Aqua satellite passed overhead.
On Oct. 7 at 0429 UTC (12:29 a.m. EDT) the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder called AIRS that flies aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured cloud top temperature data on Super typhoon Vongfong. AIRS data very strong thunderstorms circling Vongfong's clear 27 nautical-mile wide eye. Those cloud top temperatures were colder than -62F/-53C indicating that they were high in the troposphere and capable of generating heavy rainfall. The bands of thunderstorms circling Vongfong appeared symmetric on satellite imagery.
At 11 a.m. EDT on Oct. 7, Vongfong's maximum sustained winds were near 135 knots (155.4 mph/250 kph) making it a strong Category 4 Typhoon on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. Vongfong's center was located near latitude 17.5 north and longitude 133.6 east. That's about 649 nautical miles (747 miles/1,202 km) southeast of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. Vongfong is moving toward the west at 11 knots (12.6 mph/ 20.3 kph)
Vongfong is creating massive ocean swells with seas to 47 feet (14.3 meters), according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC).
JTWC forecasters expect Vongfong to continue tracking to the west until it runs into a trough or elongated area of low pressure sometime on Oct. 9 that will turn it to the north. By Oct. 12, the JWTC expects the center of Vongfong to be near the Japanese island of Amami Oshima. Kadena Air Base and Amami Oshima should prepare for typhoon conditions.
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