Hampton Roads News 
Aug
31
Click HERE for a complete Hampton Roads Resource Page on Joint Forces Command with links to organizations such as the Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance, local and state resources such as Congressman Forbes webpage, regional strategies such as Vision Hampton Roads and the Hampton Roads Modeling and Simulation Strategy 2020, events such as MODSIM World 2010, JFCOM news and more…
Aug
31
From Jack L. Ezzell, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of Zel Technologies in Hampton and Chair of the Hampton Roads Partnership in response to the Daily Press article of 26Aug10, “Warner: Save some of JFCOM, if not all of it” and the Virginian-Pilot editorial of 23Aug10, “Hampton Roads needs a Plan B for JFCOM”
On 8-9-10, Secretary of Defense Gates recommended closure of Joint Forces Command (JFCOM), headquartered in Hampton Roads. JFCOM develops and employs modeling and simulation tools, the centerpiece of joint training. Modeling and Simulation (M&S) refers to the process of developing a mathematical model of a real world process, such as the flow of containers through a port facility, and solving the model under different conditions. The information extracted from the model can be used to enhance the effectiveness of the real world process and increase efficiency and profitability.
M&S is not a military-only tool.
Regardless of the outcome of Sec. Gates’ recommendation, the region-wide comprehensive economic development strategy, Vision Hampton Roads, has a structure already in place to coordinate existing and future efforts to grow the M&S community in Hampton Roads.
Hampton Roads is one of the country’s three leading regions in M&S along with Orlando, FL and Huntsville, AL. The unique strength in the Hampton Roads region is in three areas:
The Virginia Modeling Analysis and Simulation Center (VMASC) at Old Dominion University is a key contributor to this sector of the economy with the past help of JFCOM.
The following are on-going M&S diversification efforts in the region that deserve to be championed and supported:
A 2007 technology survey identified over 2,000 direct M&S jobs paying an average of $82,733 per year (more than double the region’s average salary) spread throughout the region, with nearly 60% on the Peninsula and 40% on the Southside. Although strongly supported by the military, jobs have expanded to transportation, port operations, education and the medical world.
The survey also noted many M&S research strengths in the region: ODU, Eastern VA Medical School, Hampton University, National Institute of Aeronautics, NASA Langley Research Center, Jefferson Lab, Norfolk State University and Christopher Newport University.
And, according to Virginia’s Economic Development Partnership, Virginia’s M&S industry employs 11,500 people in the private sector while government and military is estimated at another 2,900 people. The top two regions by employment are Northern Virginia (5,900) and Hampton Roads (5,200) and account for 97% of all M&S employment in Virginia.
So what is the region’s next step? Focus M&S efforts with the existing region-wide strategic plan already in place led by the Vision Hampton Roads Innovation Task Force (Dr. Joe Bouchard, Lead) and the Hampton Roads M&S Leadership Council (VMASC’s Dr. John Sokolowski, Chair) which aligns with designated community leaders in specific areas of interest (ex: higher education, healthcare) for implementation of Vision’s strategic actions.
Engage directly with the M&S community and learn more by attending the MODSIM World Conference and Expo, October 13-15, 2010, at the Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton, http://ModSimWorldConference.com.
Aug
30
The Peninsula Council for Workforce Development (PCFWD) is hosting this series in partnership with the Defense and Homeland Security Consortium (PentagonSouth) of Technology Hampton Roads (formerly Hampton Roads Technology Council) and Thomas Nelson Community College (TNCC).
Ten professional leaders and top level executives in our community have volunteered once again to present a seminar from their respective expertise. It is a fantastic series for a very low cost that is aimed at those in our community exploring the idea of doing business with the government (especially the DoD). At the Seminars you’ll learn Strategic Planning, Marketing, Proposal Development, Contract Performance, Contract Administration and Accounting, Government Customer Expectations, Subcontracting with Prime Contractors, Profitability and Administration, Employee Relations and Small Business Resources.
Classes are held at the Peninsula Workforce Development Center, 600 Butler Farm Road, Hampton, VA on Tuesdays, September 14 – November 16, 2010 from 7:00 to 9:15 p.m. Participants will receive an official certificate of completion from Thomas Nelson Community College and 2.0 Continuing Education Units.
“I very strongly recommend this seminar. For a small investment in time and cost, it provides a unique opportunity to be exposed to the full spectrum of the business environment for contractors operating in the defense and homeland security marketplace, crossing all functional lines.” — Harry Train, Admiral, U.S. Navy (ret.)
“As I retired from the Navy, the seminar helped me understand the business. I was able to use it immediately in my job in industry.” — Rick Doran, Allied Command Transformation, Norfolk, VA
For further information or to register contact Carolyn Tarrant or Rita Bond at the Peninsula Council for Workforce Development. Phone: (757) 826.3327 or Email: ctarrant@pcfwd.org or rbond@pcfwd.org.
From Matthew James, President & CEO, Peninsula Council for Workforce Development (PCFWD)
Aug
21
Posted Aug 18, 2010, By Russell Nichols, Staff Writer for Government Technology
As iPads and smartphones continue to transform ideas of how governments communicate, officials in Williamsburg, Va., have realized the power of touch.
In July, the city chose to adopt iPads to eliminate printed materials for City Council meetings and enhance e-mail and Web access for council members. And this week, local officials launched CITY411, a text messaging system that allows residents to text problems that need to be fixed around the city.
In both cases, the idea is to move beyond traditional methods of communication so city workers and citizens can better navigate the digital landscape with the latest tech tools and save money, time and resources.
With iPads, for instance, the city cuts out the $2,000 a year spent on printing council meeting agenda and work sessions, said Mark Barham, IT director. The iPads cost about $600 each, and the city paid $17 per device for third-party software to enable specific functionality and uses standard Wi-Fi to connect to the Internet. The elimination of printed council packets alone, Barham said, would pay for the five iPads in 18 months.
With Birmingham, Ala., recently announcing its plans to put iPads in the hands of council members, the tablet computer is making a strong impression in public-sector circles. In addition to the savings element, Williamsburg officials agreed that the iPad would enable council members to have constant access to the Internet, calendars and contacts, but also preserve traditional hands-on techniques.
“The iPad has annotation software available (at a cost of $7 per copy) that will enable City Council members to make notes, highlight information, apply reminder tags, etc., in the same fashion that they would mark up a printed copy for use in the council meeting,” City Manager Jack Tuttle wrote in a July memo to Mayor Jeanne Ziedler and the City Council.
But Tuttle didn’t find inspiration for the city’s text messaging system in an Apple store. He was in Kettering, England, when he came across a system for citizens to text any municipal issues to local officials, and thought why not in Williamsburg?
The text messaging trend has become more attractive to governments in recent months, especially in local law enforcement agencies, such as the Marion County, Fla., Sheriff’s Office, which started accepting distress calls via text message this summer. In Williamsburg — where the latest citizen survey showed that 91 percent of city residents own cell phones — the latest texting service makes a lot of sense.
The city found a vendor, Mobivity, and now pays $79 for up to 500 messages a month, Tuttle said. To use CITY411, users create a new text message from their phone and send it to 95495. In the body of the text, enter CITY411, followed by a space and then type the message. The sender will receive an initial automatic response saying the message has been received. Each message comes in to the IT department and gets routed to the appropriate department, which will respond once the issue has been addressed.
The service is designed for residents to report non-emergency issues: a crooked stop sign, a pothole, a missed trash pickup, an abandoned vehicle, etc.
If it’s an emergency, citizens will be directed to call 911. Standard text messaging rates may apply, depending on the user’s mobile phone plan. The service has been online for a week, but one person has already texted in an issue.
“The first one we received was someone asking about synchronizing traffic lights outside the city limits,” Tuttle said. “We got back to them and said, ‘It’s outside our limits, but it’s handled by the [Virginia Department of Transportation] and here’s the number.’”
Citizens can also register their mobile phones to receive occasional text messages from the city about upcoming events, weather advisories or other critical information. To date, 38 citizens have subscribed.
“It’s one more way of getting the word out,” Tuttle said, adding that he believes it will be especially popular with the younger generation. “We’ll see what kind of volume we get. I think, over time, it will grow.”
Aug
20
Working Together to Fight Crime on the Peninsula in Hampton Roads Region
From the Public Information Office in the City of Newport News’ Office of the Chief of Police (PIO).
After being contacted by the publisher of the Daily Press asking to meet with the police chief and the agencies’ Public Information Officers (PIO) “to discuss an idea that may prove mutually beneficial,” the Newport News Police Department and the Hampton Police Division began a very successful crime fighting project.
Newport News Chief James D. Fox and Hampton Chief Charles Jordan, along with their PIOs, met with the Daily Press publisher, Mr. Digby A. Solomon, who spoke about how the newspaper, in the past, has sold the most papers, and in some cases every paper printed, on days when either agency, as a part of their “warrant list” operations, placed a paid advertisement in the paper listing some of their most wanted persons, including photos.
To the delight of the chiefs and the PIOs, Mr. Solomon offered, at no charge, a full page, for the two agencies to share, in the paper each week listing wanted persons and their photographs along with a crime of the week. Considering the cost of a full page advertisement, both the chiefs and the PIOs were extremely excited about this opportunity.
The “warrant list” operations have taken place two to three times a year since 2004 and have proven extremely successful for both agencies. The day the advertisement appears in the paper and for a day or two after, the department has a number of law enforcement officers (from local, state and federal agencies) divided into arrest teams. These teams follow up on the numerous tips called in to provide information on the location of wanted persons and also attempt to serve other outstanding warrants. The most recent operation in Newport News netted approximately 70 arrests nearly all of which involved felony charges.
This opportunity is a definite win – win for everyone involved. Law enforcement gets to put out their information at no cost, in tough budget times, thereby helping the community, and the paper will most likely see an increase in revenue, while performing a service to the community by working with the police to make the cities safer places to live, work and play.
Since the weekly “Wanted Page” began on May 6, 2010, well over 100 wanted persons have been arrested in Newport News and Hampton. These arrests are a direct result of people seeing the weekly Thursday advertisement and, in most cases, calling Crime Line anonymously to provide information on where the wanted persons can be found.
Law enforcement agencies from across Hampton Roads encourage anyone with information on wanted persons or any other crime in their cities to call Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP. Crime Line callers are reminded that they may remain totally anonymous, are never required to testify in court and could be eligible for a cash reward for information leading to an arrest.
No tax dollars are used to support the Crime Line programs. All funding is solely from donations and fund raisers. The programs are operated by volunteer civilian boards that raise the funds to pay rewards and authorize reward payments. For more information about the Hampton Roads area Crime Line programs go to http://www.888lockuup.com. For additional information specifically about the Peninsula Crime Line program go to http://www.peninsulacrimeline.com.
Aug
19
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| Defense Secretary Robert Gates August 2010; Photo credit: AP. |
Sooner or later it was bound to happen, as even a hyperpower has limits. After nine years, the United States is reassessing its commitment to the longest war it has to date prosecuted. Monday’s announcement by Defense Secretary Robert Gates of budget cuts, a personnel freeze and the dissolution of the U.S. Joint Forces Command (JFCOM) represents the beginning of a marked change in how America will protect itself and how it calculates priorities within our nation’s defense.
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by Sebestyén L.V. Gorka posted on the New Atlanticist Policy and Analysis Blog on August 16, 2010 |
Coming as these decisions do a matter of days after the wholesale disclosure of classified information by a renegade website and the launch of a series of investigative reports by a national daily into waste and redundancy within the intelligence community, they will satisfy two different constituencies: those which favor a less activist national security sector and those who, whilst more hawkish of persuasion, support a leaner and more efficient national defense establishment.
However, the merits of Secretary Gates’ proposed austerity measures cannot be gauged in terms of dollars and cents alone. Any such large-scale alteration to how an administration invests in the security of the country must by its nature have doctrinal as well as operational consequences. Especially the decision that has been institutionally the easiest to focus upon: the dismantling of the four-star joint command in Norfolk, Va.
The creation 11 years ago, out of the former Atlantic Command, of a new organization that would serve the other regional combatants commands in promoting “jointness” — or the integration of military capabilities across all services: Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines— was closely connected to the sweeping reform of the U.S. military that occurred in the late 1980s. After several very exposed failures — most especially the disastrous attempt to rescue our hostages in Iran that was Operation Desert One — Congress mandated interoperability across all services through the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986. This would lead to the creation of two non-regional commands: U.S. Special Operations Command and later U.S. Joint Forces Command.
Although at the time, such a congressional “intrusion” into the mechanics of the armed forces was resented by many in uniform, the results have been positive. Today an ambitious officer who wants to climb the rank structure to general or flag officer status must serve a joint, or “purple” tour (as it is called because this is the color one arrives at after all the services’ colors are mixed). He or she cannot stay safely within the culture of one military force but demonstrate familiarity and expertise in the ways of its sister services.
Although a child of the Cold War, this concept of jointness was only truly proven well after the fall of the Berlin Wall. In the last 20 years, as the nation has deployed soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines to highly complex theaters such as the Middle East, the Balkans and, after Sept. 11, 2001, into Central Asia, it has become obvious that the conventional ways of war no longer apply. With enemies that have no nation-state or national army, who wear no uniform or fail to follow the established laws of war, there is no room for classic divisions of labor established for an era in which the main forces of one nation would meet the main forces of another on the battlefield and fight until a clear victory was imposed by the one upon the other. Jointness may not be a concept found in the classic canons of strategic masters such as Carl von Clausewitz, but neither were such works written with today’s enemies in mind.
Today, not only is jointness needed more than ever, it should be a concept implemented across all departments of government, which have a role in national security. If one cannot become a general unless one has executed a purple tour, then likewise, one should not be able to become ambassador unless one has served in a military tour, or become a CIA head-of-station unless one has served in a stabilization mission. You don’t have to be a fan of nation-building to understand that the ability to work with other elements of government and to know their capabilities (and limitations) is an asset that will make the nation better able to cope with a most un-Clausewitzian world.
Secretary Gates is right to finally rein in the defense sector, especially given the slow rate of economic recovery we are witnessing. Nevertheless, of all the waste and redundancy that should be tackled first, the Joint Forces Command needn’t be the first. On the contrary, the secretary should hold up the concept of jointness as a model for his other Cabinet colleagues and convince the commander in chief that in an age in which we see the globalization and democratization of violence, the nation would be well-served by not just more purple within the armed services, but also by the institutionalization of a culture of “SuperPurple” across all the organs of American national security.
Our enemies already operate in a cross-cultural and post-conventional world. We should — in this — emulate them.
| Sebestyen L. V. Gorka, PhD, is a Military Affairs Fellow with the Foundation for Defense of Democracy and a member of the Strategic Advisors Group of the U.S. Atlantic Council. He is also co-editor and co-author of Toward a Grand Strategy Against Terrorism. This article appeared as an editorial in USA Today. |
Aug
18
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Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABCVA) discusses matters of public transit planning, trends toward downtowns and city centers and the sense of place connection with economic development in the July 2010 issue of Commonwealth Contractor magazine. |
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Representatives from ABC-Virginia will be on hand and magazines available at MegaVention 2010 on August 25th at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. “The Future for Virginia’s Cities Resembles a Charming Past”By Lindsay Minard |
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The term “edge city” debuted in 1991 in Joel Garreau’s EDGE CITY: Life on the New Frontier. With the right amount of epiphany and wit, his stab at describing the 20th century evolution of cities was convincing enough to get baptized urban dictionary-style.
Defined by Garreau, “edge cities” have five million square feet or more of office space, over 600,000 square feet of retail space, an early morning increase in population followed by a significant drop in numbers beginning at 5:00 PM and an aura of being a place with it all; and likely featured, 30 years prior to their current state, a single pump gas station with a sign in the window indicating LAST STOP FOR GAS FOR 50 MILES.
Edge city, the term, had a good run; in 20 years it was snatched from its urban dictionary digs to title a magazine, a café, a website, a video game, its own film, and yes, even a band. But the spotlight is fleeting even for the brightest of trends.
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“I guess the point of the whole edge city phenomena and beyond is this: think how rich you would be if your grandparents had realized what the automobile was going to do to Fairfax; then consider how rich you would be if your parents had realized what Dulles was going to do to Virginia. Thus if you want to be the next ‘Til’ Hazel,’ you need to figure out how the networked computer is going to transform our physical landscape. That change is occurring faster, more thoroughly and to more classes of real estate than either the car or the jet airplane.” ~Joel Garreau, author of Edge City: Life on the New Frontier |
There are certain truths of human nature that continually impact the way we live, work and play.
With human nature in play, restless 20th century Americans used the automobile to break free of 19th century downtowns in search of greener grass on its outskirts.
Decades after the initial trek to suburbia, “edge city” was Joel Garreau’s cool name for the result of what happened when suburbanites decided they were fed up with leaving their white-picket-fenced yards to drive downtown to work and shop. By 1991, work, heavy duty retail and fitness playgrounds were brought closer to Stepford – right off major highways and interstates—disregarding the there and later, focusing on the here and now.
“If you look at a map today you’ll often see a major road extending from an urban area to the suburbs with everything built off it; one way in—one way out—no connectivity. With that move to the suburbs, we essentially shot ourselves in the foot from a transportation standpoint. That type of development is unsustainable and has us trending back downtown,” states Dana Dickens, president of the Hampton Roads Partnership (HRP).
In 2010 edge cities are still around, still imprisoning their well-dressed nine-to-fivers. But in the 21st century, society is trending towards Garreau’s newest entry for consideration in the urban dictionary, “Santa Fe’ing.” The verb looks to define the next evolution of cities taking place, according to Garreau, in reaction to the latest revolution in transportation: the networked computer.
Whether it be the computer, natural progression (or for Virginians, a solution to transportation woes), commercial real estate is undoubtedly taking on a different shape. Virginia and much of the country is trading in its sterile, concrete-jungle-esque edge cities and Santa Fe’ing them back into something resembling charming downtowns of our past. more…
The entire cover story, “The Future for Virginia’s Cities,” is available for download here.
Aug
17
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| Mark Landers, in front, owner of Segway of Hampton Roads, wheels a group of tourists on a 90-minute tour through downtown. “Norfolk is a scenic and cultural gem,” Landers says. “Lately I’ve been following the light-rail trail, which really shows off some of Norfolk’s unique architecture.” (Photo credit: Segway of Hampton Roads) |
Escapes: Norfolk is more than just a Navy townBy Cindy Loose, Special Contributor to The Washington Post on August 13, 2010 (a former Travel writer for The Post, Loose now works in public relations) |
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Having lunch at Rowena’s Tea Shop in Norfolk is like dining inside a nursery rhyme. One wall features a garden mural with larger-than-life images of Mr. Jellyford Jam III and other whimsical characters that owner Rowena Fullinwider has created. Quiche, sandwiches and the desserts that have been featured in Gourmet and Bon Appetit are delivered on tiered silver platters.
Fullinwider began making cakes from her home to raise money for the Norfolk opera. Today, her shop ships tons of gourmet food across the country.
Her progress is emblematic of what has been happening in Norfolk the past decade or two, as government and private entrepreneurs have worked to transform a deteriorating Navy town into a thriving, attractive, fun city for residents and tourists alike.
A recent visit proved that the effort has paid off. Norfolk is ready for prime time. A long weekend provided art, history, gorging and an outdoor adventure.
It started with a Segway tour that begins and ends along the waterfront, where tall ships and tugboats, sailboats and barges traverse the Elizabeth River near the Chesapeake Bay. Until the city completes a tramway that will eventually run all the way to Virginia Beach, Segways and bikes can ride along the tracks through town.
The city has invested millions in its waterfront, including a recent renovation of Town Point Park, where kids run through water fountains and play on grassy fields in front of an outdoor concert stage.
Norfolk is a city of waterfront festivals: One of the biggest, the wine festival, comes to town Oct. 16-17. Vintners from 30 wineries will join restaurateurs and musicians and sailors who parade and race on the river.
The waterfront is dotted with outdoor sculptures. During the Segway tour, we stop to read the collection of bronzed letters sculpted to look as if they’re blowing in the wind. Each letter is the last written by an American serviceman or servicewoman killed in war. The dates range from 1777 to 1991.
On Aug. 29, 1862, Robert Henry Miller wrote to his mother: “War looks a great deal better in the newspapers than anywhere else.” On Oct. 21, 1944, a nurse named Frances Slager wrote: “They are brought in bloody, dirty, and most of them so tired. Somebody’s brothers. Somebody’s fathers. Somebody’s sons.”
I’ve been looking forward to renting a bike and riding a miles-long path along the water, through a park and a wildlife sanctuary. The heat of a late July afternoon, however, drives us inside. No sweat: The Chrysler Museum of Art is a gem, the building itself a monument to beauty.
That evening, after a fabulous dinner in the historic neighborhood of Ghent, we stroll the lively streets. Night life is centered on Brandy Street [SmartRegion Editor: actually, Granby, not Brandy, Street] and Colley Avenue. The Granby Theater, opened in 1915 as a vaudeville theater, now operates on weekends as a nightclub and concert venue. Live music is playing at Fahrenheit, famous for its exotic martini mixes.
Night life of a more cultured variety begins in the fall. Highlights: the Harrison Opera House, which opens its season Oct. 2 with Verdi’s “Rigoletto.” The Attucks Theatre, once known as the “Apollo of the South,” has hosted most of the great African American performers — musicians including Duke Ellington and Nat King Cole — since opening in 1919. Among upcoming events: a Black Film Festival in October.
The grandest theater in town is the Wells [Editor: home of the Virginia Stage Company], a beaux-arts National Historic Landmark restored not long ago to its original 1913 splendor. Its season begins Sept. 21 with “The Diary of Anne Frank” and ends April 17 with August Wilson’s “Radio Golf.”
The rest of our trip is devoted to history, including a stop at the Black Soldiers Memorial in Elmwood Cemetery. It stands, in the heart of Dixie, honoring African Americans who fought for the Union in the Civil War.
After a tour of the USS Wisconsin, one of the largest battleships ever built, we board the tour boat Victory Rover for a narrated trip to the huge Norfolk naval base. One fact stands out: A single nuclear-powered ship we saw cost $8 billion.
Mostly I remember the cool breezes and the views of a city that takes full pride in and advantage of its beautiful waterfront location.
Getting There: Norfolk is 194 miles from Washington. Take Interstate 95 south to I-295 south to I-64 east to Exit 284A.
For more… [CLICK HERE]
Aug
16
Regional Continuous Improvement Forum and Professional Societies of Hampton Roads Joint Meeting on September 10th
More and more the critical issues for Hampton Roads are not only those of port development, tunnel expansion, and light rail, but broader challenges of workforce sustainability, energy resource/distribution development, and general organizational performance (Lean/Six Sigma). These issues cut across professions and organizations, presenting significant challenges but also great opportunities for regional collaboration.
Professionals bring advanced education and proven skills to the job. But with challenges extending across knowledge and enterprise boundaries, tasks need teams and communities. Increasing productivity and improving economic development depends on our ability to network and function as a region as well as a traditional hierarchical organization.
| Most of us can’t directly engage in the regional issues of transportation and port/trade development. And most of us will only support light rail by buying tickets for a ride to the Tides game or Waterside. But we can engage with our peers in discussions and initiatives to deal with workforce matters and productivity continuous improvement. |
Organizations all across the region are stakeholders in these challenges – either as problems to resolve or opportunities to address. Yet no single enterprise can deal with regional workforce, energy or productivity matters as their corporate objective. Collaboration is the approach – among various knowledge resources in Hampton Roads.
The Hampton Roads Quality Management Community (HRQMC) is sponsoring a Forum on September 10th to provide visibility to the benefits of collaboration, and to provide opportunity to both identify more initiatives for collaboration as well opportunities to make contacts with whom to collaborate.
Jeff Brooks, COO of Earl Industries, will discuss the benefits of collaboration among regional organizations – with enterprises in the ship repair business as well as those in completely different activities.
There will also be breakout sessions focused on Regionalism for Leadership and on Best Practices/Case Studies for Practitioners. And feedback will be collected to identify some ways ahead.
This will be the first Joint Meeting for Professional Societies of Hampton Roads.
Where: ODU’s Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center, 1030 University Blvd., Suffolk.
When: 10 September, 8:00 AM to noon.
Registration: www.HRQMC.com. No charge.
For more information, contact Seth Pillsbury, Facilitator, at 757/377-0961 or hrqmc@verizon.net.
Aug
15
About 50 years ago TV animators created a vision of life almost 50 years from now. They predicted in 2062 people would be flying to work and using robots for housework. How close are we to that fictional world of the Jetsons and what are the possibilities – at least for aviation and related fields?
Futurists, visionaries, entrepreneurs and technologists will explore those questions at “Aviation Unleashed,” a three-day forum sponsored by NASA’s Langley Research Center (NASA LARC) and National Institute of Aerospace (NIA), both in Hampton, Virginia. The conference will be held at the Hampton Roads Convention Center, 1610 Coliseum Drive in Hampton, Oct. 18-20.
“The goal of Aviation Unleashed is to spark conversation and collaboration about what’s possible in aviation, given changes in society and advancements in technology,” said David Hinton, deputy director of Langley’s Aeronautics Research Directorate. “We have invited experts from private industry, government agencies and universities to share their visions of the future so we can work together to transform our aviation system to accommodate new flying vehicles, manned and unmanned.”
Some of the speakers expected to share ideas at the October conference include Peter Norvig, director of research at Google; futurist John Petersen, founder of the Arlington Institute; forecasting expert Marvin Cetron, president of Forecasting International; Neil Gershenfeld, director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for Bits and Atoms; Bill Halal, Professor of Science, Technology & Innovation at George Washington University and founder of TechCast, a virtual think tank; and visionary Dennis Bushnell, chief scientist at NASA Langley.
During Aviation Unleashed participants are expected to learn more about how video and tele-technology may shape travel and how advanced aircraft, made of new materials, propelled by innovative engines, some remotely piloted, will give people and goods efficient on-demand mobility – opening up new markets and missions. They’ll also get the chance to hear various future scenarios and how those scenarios could impact current aviation development.
The final day of the forum technology experts will lead breakout sessions so participants can envision what aviation could become and how technologies being created today will be able to lead to a revolution in access to the skies for civil, defense and security missions.
“This is an exciting opportunity for interested minds to listen and engage in the discussions about where the aviation industry is going and how we might get there,” said Calvin Lowe, vice president of research and program development at NIA.
For more information and to register for Aviation Unleashed, visit: http://www.NIAnet.org/Aviation-Unleashed.aspx
