Written by / Compiled by USGIF staff
GIF 2011 Volume: 9 Issue: 4 (May/June)
USGIF Announces Commercial SAR Working Group;
Schedules Training Event at PACOM
The USGIF and its members have formed a Commercial SAR Satellite (CSARS) Working Group to explain the capabilities and promote the advantages of space-based SAR as well as to provide handson learning and training for users. The group will be discussing its offerings on Thursday, May 12, during GEOINT Community Week’s USGIF Technology Day at the Hyatt Regency Reston in Reston, Va. The working group hosts its first training event in June at U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM).
The working group comprises USGIF Members MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA), the commercial provider of RADARSAT-1 data and operator of RADARSAT-2; Infoterra GmbH, the commercial provider of TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X data; and e-GEOS S.p.A., the commercial provider of COSMO-SkyMed constellation data. These USGIF members came to the foundation with the idea for a working group to further promote the tradecraft and educate the GEOINT Community on the wide range of capabilities SAR provides.
Just this year, Aviation Week’s 53rd annual Laureate Awards recognized the Radar Imaging Commercialization Team of Vark Helfritz, managing director, Infoterra GmbH; John Hornsby, president, MDA Geospatial Services Inc.; and Marcello Maranesi, CEO, e-GEOS. Aviation Week’s Laureate Awards were conceived more than 50 years ago to recognize the extraordinary achievements of individuals and teams in aerospace, aviation and defense. The three companies were honored for epitomizing the values and visions of the global aerospace industry in the space category, specifically for how they “helped make radar imagery an essential element of geospatial information packages for government, defense and enterprise applications.”
Later this year, the USGIF CSARS Working Group will welcome non-commercial satellite SAR organizations to offer their perspectives and join the charter members on the working group.
Be Recognized for Your GEOINT Contributions:
Nominate Now for the USGIF Awards Program
The USGIF Awards Program annually recognizes the exceptional work of the geospatial intelligence tradecraft’s brightest minds and best programs. Visit the USGIF website, http://usgif.org, and nominate yourself, a colleague or other admirable organization or program today.
Award recipients are announced during the GEOINT Symposium and recognized on stage during the general session with the one-of-akind handmade award. In addition, all team members are presented with a high-quality award packet complete with certificate and photograph to display.
Multiple award categories offer opportunities for everyone within the community. The USGIF Geospatial Intelligence Achievement Award recognizes an individual or team from the military, government and industry; the USGIF Academic Achievement Award commends the accomplishments of a top graduate of an academic program; and the USGIF Academic Research Award applauds an organization or person making tremendous impact in research and or development.
Last year’s USGIF Geospatial Intelligence Achievement Awards were presented to Ms. Donna Bridges, Penn State University (Academic Achievement Award); Dr. Dennis J. Bellafiore, senior lecturer, Department of Geography, Penn State University (Academic Research Award); the Department of Homeland Security U.S. Customs and Border Protection Enterprise GIS Team (Intelligence Achievement Award-Government); U.S. Central Command’s Human Terrain Analysis Branch (Intelligence Achievement Award-Military); and Mr. Steve Panzer and Mr. David Hemphill of ObjectFX (Intelligence Achievement Award-Industry).
All nominations are due by Friday, August 19, but it is never too early to submit an application. Learn more at http://usgif.org/community/usgifAwards.
Young Professionals:
USGIF Board of Directors Wants You
At the recent USGIF Board of Directors meeting, the board voted to change the current term of the Young Professional Board Seat from a one-year commitment to a two-year commitment. The board feels strongly the Young Professional seat is vital to the board and USGIF, and thus deserves more than a year to gain experience and make an impact.
With the additional commitment, the board has re-opened the nomination period for applications for the Young Professional Board Seat. The deadline to apply is Friday, June 3. The board will review applications and select a new YP board member during its June meeting. Currently, Mr. Alex Martinez, Lockheed Martin, is fulfilling this position and will continue to do so until next year, along with this newly selected candidate.
The ideal candidate is experienced and well-versed in the geospatial intelligence field. He or she also is familiar with the needs and wants of GEOINT Young Professionals. Candidates must be committed to the Young Professional Group’s mission of uniting junior GEOINT professionals within the defense, intelligence and homeland security communities by helping to generate new ideas, programs and events with this in mind. This individual must also be willing to volunteer their time for all YPG events and serve as the co-chair for the bi-monthly YP Working Group Meetings.
The selected candidate must meet the above mentioned qualifications, be no older than 35 years of age or have five or fewer years experience in the industry. Those interested in applying for this position should email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for an application or visit http://usgif.org/community/ypg for more information.
USGIF May 13 Analytic Transformation Workshop to Feature DNI’s Robert Cardillo, NGA’s John Goolgasian and DIA’s Ed Mornston
Don’t miss this exclusive event to learn from and speak with GEOINT Community leaders on the topic of Analytic Transformation. As part of the USGIF Workshop Series, on Friday, May 13, USGIF, with sponsors BAE Systems and DigitalGlobe, will host a day-long conversation on this important topic.
The day features keynote addresses from Robert Cardillo, deputy director of national intelligence for intelligence integration, and Ed Mornston, director, Joint Intelligence Task Force- Combating Terrorism, Defense Intelligence Agency.
There will also be five panels covering tradecraft and analytic methods, training and education, enabling technology, and future analysis trends. John Goolgasian, implementation lead for analytic depth, Vision Implementation Team, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, will lead attendees through some of the major challenges and opportunities.
Other organizations participating include the Intelligence & Security Academy, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence, Naval Research Laboratory, National Defense Intelligence College, Department of Homeland Security, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, U.S. Special Operations Command, Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, Satellite Sentinel Project, IHS Jane’s, Towson University, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and others.
The cost of this event is $249 for USGIF members, $349 for non-members, $100 for young professionals, $75 for full-time students and teachers or administrators, and $99 for government employees and active-duty military.
Advance registration is available online at http://usgif.org/events/workshop-series. On-site registration will be available if the event has not sold out by May 13.
GEOINT 2011 Registration Opens in June
USGIF Freezes Attendee Pricing to 2010 Cost for
Early Bird Registration and Reduces Military
and Government Registration Fee.
The GEOINT 2011 Symposium opens registration in June, and USGIF is offering 2010 pricing for full-symposium attendees who register during the Early Bird window. Given budget constraints and economic conditions, USGIF believes it is important to provide industry and organizations the ability to attend and gain the knowledge they need to succeed based on last year’s budgets. The limited-time price freeze offers this.
USGIF also has reduced the already low cost for full-symposium government employees and active duty military attendees. This lower price for government and military is locked in for the duration of registration and can be taken advantage of now, after the new fiscal year begins on October 1, or even on-site in San Antonio. The GEOINT 2011 Symposium, the nation’s largest intelligence event of the year, takes place October 16-19 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. Last year more than 4,000 total attendees came to GEOINT 2010 to hear speakers discuss multi-INT topics and see the latest technologies from over 220 exhibitors and sponsors in an exhibit hall of more than 100,000 square feet.
The GEOINT 2011 agenda will be available online soon, and USGIF recently announced its confirmed keynote speakers:
- General Keith B. Alexander, U.S. Army, commander, U.S. Cyber Command, and director, National Security Agency
- Mr. Bruce Carlson, director, National Reconnaissance Office
- The Honorable James R. Clapper Jr., director of national intelligence
- General Douglas Fraser, U.S. Air Force, commander, U.S. Southern Command
- General C. Robert “Bob” Kehler, U.S. Air Force, commander, U.S. Strategic Command
- Ms. Letitia A. Long, director, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
- U.S. Representative Mike Rogers of Michigan, chairman, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
- U.S. Representative C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger of Maryland, ranking member, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
- Admiral James A. “Sandy” Winnefeld Jr., U.S. Navy, commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command, and commander, U.S. Northern Command
- Michael G. “Mike” Vickers, undersecretary of defense for intelligence.
Video of the keynotes and breakout tracks from the GEOINT 2010 Symposium can be found online at www.geointv.com.
More information about the GEOINT 2011 Symposium is available at www.geoint2011.com. You can also follow the symposium on Twitter @geointsymposium. ♦
