By CW4 Joseph L. Pisano, Sr., Retired
The Von Braun Center in Huntsville, AL was the site of the AAAA 30th Aircraft Survivability Professional Forum November 3-4. The event, which was initiated in 1983, has proven to be a critical asset to our warfighters. Maintainers, research and development, acquisition, training and doctrine personnel, and operator-Soldiers from across the Aviation Enterprise gathered once again to seek solutions to better protect Aviation Soldiers as they continue to support the ground commanders’ needs around the globe. The Aircraft Survivability Professional Forum is one of the ways the Association fulfills its mission statement: “AAAA: Supporting the U.S. Army Aviation Soldier and Family.”
AAAA National President, BG (Ret.) Howard Yellen welcomed attendees reaffirming the Association’s commitment to the four pillars that operationalize the mission statement: Networking, Recognition, Voice, and Support. Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare, and Sensors (IEW&S), Mr. Stephen Kreider, provided an overview of the on-going efforts within the PEO to enhance overall aircraft survivability.
Master Army Aviator, LTG Raymond Palumbo, the Director for Defense Intelligence (Warfighter Support), in the office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Intelligence), provided the keynote address setting the tone for the event which featured speakers representing Army, joint organizations, industry and academia and included sensing sessions for emerging insights in the ASE arena from recent field commanders and tactical operations officers.
Other featured speakers included Mr. Ray Sellers, the deputy PEO Aviation; COL Jong Lee, Project Manager, Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE); COL Michael Hertzendorf, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne); and the Branch Aviation Mission Survivability Officer (AMSO), CW5 Michael S. Kelley.
The 2014 AAAA ASE, AMSO, and Avionics awards were presented during the opening session Tuesday morning at the Von Braun Center.
This year the ASE award was presented to SGT Joseph P. Reed with Company D, 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Hunter Army Airfield, GA;
The Aviation Mission Survivability Officer award was presented to CW3 Eddie L. Goode, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, Fort Drum, NY;
The Avionics award was presented to SGT Dustin S. Mahan, Company D, 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, Ft. Campbell, KY.
The ASE award is sponsored by BAE Systems, the AMSO award by VT Miltope, and the Avionics award by Cubic Defense Systems, Inc.
CW4 (Ret.) Joe Pisano is the editor of ARMY AVIATION Magazine.
Captions: Above Left: 2014 AAAA Aircraft Survivability Equipment Award winner, SGT Joseph P. Reed, is recognized by (l to r) Bill Staib (representing award sponsor, BAE Systems), COL Jong Lee (Project Manager, ASE), LTG Palumbo, and BG (Ret.) Yellen.
Top Right: 2014 AAAA Avionics Award winner, SGT Dustin S. Mahan, is recognized by (l to r) Jim Wambold (from award sponsor, Cubic Defense Systems), LTG Palumbo and BG (Ret.) Yellen.
Bottom Right: CW3 Eddie L. Goode, the 2014 AAAA Aviation Mission Survivability Officer of the Year, is congratulated by his wife, Juwia, and LTG Palumbo. The award is sponsored by VT Miltope. / ALTO NETWORKS, INC. ALL PHOTOS BY ALICE PAGANO
