DOD Names Best in Information Management, Technology

By Cheryl Pellerin of American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON : Defense Department officials announced team and individual recipients of this year's DOD Chief Information Officer awards at a Pentagon ceremony yesterday. The award is the highest honor granted for achievement in information management and information technology, and 2010 is the 10th anniversary of the awards. David Wennergren, assistant deputy chief management officer in the office of the deputy secretary of defense, presents the first-place award in the team category to William McAvay, who represented the Project Director Team for Defense Communications Systems-Southwest Asia. The award ceremony was held Oct. 27, 2010, at the Pentagon. U.S. Army photo by Eboni Myart  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. CIOs are used to being in the spotlight when things go wrong, David Wennergren, assistant deputy chief management officer for the office of the deputy secretary of defense, told the audience. "But every day, good things are happening and you don't get so much attention," he added. "We don't often get time to pause and reflect upon what great accomplishments we're achieving every day." Until this month, Wennergren served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for information management, integration and technology, and deputy chief information officer in the office of the secretary of defense. Team awards were presented to: -- The Project Director Team, Defense Communications Systems-Southwest Asia, Fort Belvoir, Va.; -- The Collaboration Support and Information Division Ronna Team at U.S. Joint Forces Command, Norfolk, Va.; -- The Joint Staff CIO Team; -- The DOD Visitor Team, Defense Information Systems Agency, Baltimore; and -- The Apps for the Army Challenge Team, U.S. Army. Individual first-place awards were made to Navy Lt. Cmdr. James Gateau of U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, Germany, and Jack Summers, command information officer for Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md. The second-place individual award went to James Lee, the Army's team chief for Radio Frequency-In Transit Visibility. The eight finalists were chosen from among 70 nominations of civilian government and military service CIOs and teams that came in from around the world. Officials evaluated nominees based on outstanding achievement in one or more areas, including acquisition, management and standards, identity and information assurance and cyber operations, and information sharing and data management. The awards are given to recognize outstanding achievement in DOD information management based on the intent of Title 40 of the U.S. Code, known as the Clinger-Cohen Act, and the strategy, goals and vision of the DOD CIO. On Oct. 26, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced his appointment of Teri Takai as DOD's new chief information officer. Takai has served as CIO for the state of California since 2007 and was a past president of the National Association of State CIOs. She will assume her new duties Nov. 7. (Issued on:Oct. 28, 2010)

Related Sites:  DOD Chief Information Officer

'Education is about making the perfect man'

Rajya Sabha Member Dr.Ram Parkash born on October 5, 1939 at  Village Tangore, Distt. Kurukshetra (Haryana). He performed many responsibilities in Haryana and at Parliament.  He says future generations must be made aware of their cultural heritage. Man cannot live by blood alone. So emphasis on finding one’s roots is very important.Many attempts have been made. For instance, India has resolved to revive the old Nalanda University in Bihar. The Indian Parliament has passed a resolution in this respect during the monsoon session. Collaboration with Mauritius on this project must be encouraged. He visited Czechoslovakia, Switzerland, Germany, U.K., Canada, U.S.A., France, Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Romania, The Netherlands, Belgium, Mauritius and Kenya. Remembering his services and devotion to the peoples radio and TV journalist Madhu Gujadhar sent us a link of his interview from Mauritius by News Now which is given below. we hope you will like it. Cultural heritage must be saved A member of the Rajya Sabha, a socio-cultural organisation born in India which has worked tirelessly for the emancipation of Hindu women, Professor Ram Prakash talks to SUNIL GOPAL about his current mission to Mauritius  Professor, we know that over the years you have become a close friend of Mauritius and that you have often travelled to Mauritius. What brings you this time?  In 2007, the Arya Sabha Mauritius and the Kurukshetra University, Haryana, signed a Memorandum of Understanding.  Earlier the Kurukshetra University had taken certain decisions which enabled Mauritian students to pursue their tertiary education in the land of their forefathers. The MoU formalised the arrangement for Mauritian students to study for a Bachelor’s degree or a Master’s degree in various subjects. On Sunday there was the first convocation for the graduation ceremony at the Arya Sabha here in Mauritius. The leaders of Arya Sabha Mauritius asked that I deliver this first convocation.  How did this first batch of Mauritian students fare? What are your future plans?  Dr Udhay Narain Gangoo from Arya Sabha Mauritius made several trips to India to finalise the MoU and solve problems that arose. I was also involved in the process as I am one of the signatories. On Sunday, some 50 Mauritian students graduated.  We want to expand this collaboration further. Currently Mauritian students are doing the following courses at the Kurukshetra University: B A in English, B A in Sanskrit, BA (Hons) in Philosphy and BA (Hons) in Sanskrit and various MA degrees. We want to expand this. The first batch were very successful. The degrees are approved both in India and Mauritius, which is something important. The Kurukshetra University approved the conditions of the Tertiary Education Commission.  On Sunday, both the Minister of Education and Human Resources Dr Vasant Bunwaree and the Minister of Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology Dr Rajesh Jeetah were present at the graduation ceremony. The Vice Chancellor of the University of Mauritius, Professor Konrad Morgan, was also present.  There is one good point here. People always talk about collaboration between India and Mauritius at government level. This MoU is a collaboration between the citizens of the two countries. They are the children of the same forefathers.  The Kurukshetra University is autonomous; so is the Arya Sabha Mauritius. But I must underline that the agreement has the blessing of the Mauritian Prime Minister Dr Navin Ramgoolam and the Chief Minister of the Indian State of Haryana, Shri Bhupinder Singh Hooda.  How would you describe the cooperation between Mauritius and India in the education sector?  Mauritius and India in the education sector? It has evolved because the two countries share the same cultural heritage. But education is not merely getting a university degree; it is a about making a prefect man.  This is possible only through ethical values. India is the homeland of the Vedas, the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads and the six Darshan Shastras. These holy scriptures preach universal truth for the whole world.  One must have some roots in the tradition of their forefathers. This constitutes a definite advantage when students come to India for their tertiary education. Through the efforts of the Arya Sabha Mauritius, Mauritian students have the possibility of getting a degree from India.  What could be the other areas of cooperation between Mauritius and India?  India is a very big market and every country is trying to capture it. I think the children whose forefathers came from India must have access to education, business and the economy in India.  They should be benefitting from these facilities.Sunday was indeed a historic day because through the first batch of Mauritian graduates from the Kurukshetra University, the two nations moved closer together.  I feel that emphasis should be laid on technical education as well because the sugar cane industry will no longer provide so much employment. The hardworking, down-to-earth and modest people of Mauritius should have some solid knowledge in the technical field. This will enable the younger generation to stand on their feet.  You appear to have much affection for Mauritius?  I love this country more than any other country. I may refuse to go to another country but I will never refuse to come to Mauritius. We have similar roots.  How would you evaluate relations between Mauritius and India?  The bond between Mauritius and India is natural and so it is very strong. In our country people do not refer to Mauritius as just another country. For us, it is more than that. I have found similar feelings here, especially among the older generation of Mauritians of Indian origin. “Apne desh se aya hain”(He comes from our own country) say the elders here regarding someone coming from India. This bond is going to be strengthened further and we should give credit to our political leaders for that. There is an Indianness in Dr Navin Ramgoolam and Shrimati Veena Ramgoolam. I think this is in the interest of both countries. Because of Dr Ramgoolam’s continued efforts to strengthen this bond of friendship between Mauritius and India, the Kurukshetra University has resolved to confer on him the LLD Honoris Causa. I am carrying a letter from the Vice Chancellor of the Kurukshetra University seeking the prime minister’s convenience to come over to Kurukshetra to collect the honorary degree. You know, whenever we confer honorary degrees to people from other countries, people ask why it is being done. But in the case of Dr Ramgoolam, when the decision was taken, everybody endorsed it. We see the people of Mauritius as our own brothers and sisters.  What are the other avenues of cooperation within the education sector – and other sectors as well?  As far as education and social reform is concerned, Arya Sabha Mauritius is doing good work. I feel that emphasis should be laid on technical education as well because the sugar cane industry will no longer provide so much employment. The hardworking, down-to-earth and modest people of Mauritius should have some solid knowledge in the technical field. This will enable the younger generation to stand on their feet.  There should be more collaboration on the cultural front as well. Concurrently, other areas that can strengthen the economy of Mauritius must be explored. This place can be good for medicinal plants.  Close collaboration between scientists of the two countries can help achieve good results. I fail to understand why dairy farming is not getting its due place here. Milk is a very essential commodity. If the small planters are leaving sugar cane cultivation, this is a sector which could be developed. India, as I said earlier, is a very big market. Why can’t Mauritius benefit from that?  The government of Mauritius, in particular the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure, is making lots of efforts to attract more Indian tourists. What can be done to achieve positive growth in this field?  The idea in my mind is cultural understanding. Many things can be done to make your tourist spots more attractive. Mauritius is preferred by the common tourists. While coming here, I saw many young couples on the airplane. They come to Mauritius because they consider it safer, cheaper and having far more scenic beauty than other destinations.  What can be done to preserve rich ancestral culture and values?  This is a problem throughout the world, including my own country. Future generations must be made aware of their cultural heritage. Man cannot live by blood alone. So emphasis on finding one’s roots is very important.  Many attempts have been made. For instance, India has resolved to revive the old Nalanda University in Bihar. The Indian Parliament has passed a resolution in this respect during the monsoon session. Collaboration with Mauritius on this project must be encouraged.  While speaking on the Nalanda University Bill, I emphasised the importance of setting up a department of the various ancient scripts: Devanagri, Brahmi and Krishti. It is a fact that we have very few scholars who are experts in these ancient scripts.  So all that is available – I mean, written or carved ancient scripts on stone, copper and other material unearthed after archaeological digs, are useless to us if we cannot read them.  Human history is getting lost. Similarly, if Mauritians do not dig for more knowledge about their ancestors, they cannot understand appropriately their cultural heritage. Any other specific project between the Arya Sabha Mauritius and the Kurukshetra University?  Kurukshetra University has a positive approach; it is not a commercial institution. It is trying to help and accommodate Mauritian students. Arya Sabha Mauritius wants us to conduct a course in Vedic Purohit (meant for prospective priests). We discussed it and we are happy to say that the attitude of the Kurukshetra University on this matter is very positive.  On the other hand, I will work on a project to help prospective Mauritian students from deprived families to follow courses in a polytechnic. I am also running a school bearing the name of my late father, Shri Prabhu Dayal. This project is being looked at seriously.       (Courtesy: News Now)

Photos: Jamirouddin Yeadally

Program Helps Guard, Reserve Families Reintegrate

By Elaine Wilson of American Forces Press Service

Posted on: Thu, Oct 28, 2010 at 3:59 AM

Army Staff Sgt. Luke Summerlin spends time with his wife, Michelle Summerlin, and their 3-year-old son, Trent, during a Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, a post-deployment event, in Houston, Oct. 17, 2010. Summerlin deployed to Iraq with the Texas Army National Guard's 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team. DOD photo by Elaine Wilson 

WASHINGTON : I traveled to my old stomping grounds of Texas recently to speak with a group of Texas Army National Guard soldiers and their families about how they're dealing with the challenges of reintegration after a yearlong deployment in Iraq, and to learn more about a Defense Department program that's aiding them.

I joined nearly 1,800 soldiers of the 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and their families in Houston for their unit's Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program 60-day post-deployment event. This program offers Guard and Reserve members, and their families information and resources to help smooth the process through events held before, during and after deployments. 

The event featured topics such as relationships and communication, financial management, stress and anger management, and health and education benefits. 

I spoke with several soldiers, both single and married, and their family and friends. As always, I was amazed by the strength and resilience of our military that has weathered nearly a decade of war. 

I was grateful that they spoke so candidly to me, offering me a glimpse into some of the challenges they face throughout the deployment cycle. 

I learned a lot in just a few days. I expected military couples to vent about their relationship issues, but was somewhat surprised to find that their issues were more about their kids than each other. 

One spouse, Michelle Summerlin, told me that her biggest post-deployment challenge involved readjusting to her husband's stricter ways with their son. In his absence, she had adopted a more flexible style, and his return triggered some parenting arguments that took some time to resolve. 

Single soldiers pointed out their challenges with being unmarried and in the National Guard. Upon their return from deployment, soldiers scatter to their respective homes and the single soldiers end up feeling isolated from the support system that had carried them through for the past year. 

One soldier, Army Sgt. 1st Class Karen Perry, told me that her live-in boyfriend had broken up with her the day she returned from Iraq. Without the support of her battle buddies around her, she felt completely alone, she told me. 

The military is working to combat this isolation through programs like Yellow Ribbon. The program not only offers servicemembers and their families coping and communication skills, but an opportunity to reunite with comrades and create support systems that can help sustain them. 

Most importantly, Yellow Ribbon gives them resources and information so Guard and Reserve families have avenues of help and support as they navigate their way back into civilian life, most without easy access to the support of an active-duty installation. (Issued on: Oct. 27, 2010)

Military Spouses are Heroes, First Lady Says

By Cheryl Pellerin of American Forces Press Service  QUICK HIRE OF MILITARY SPOUSES WASHINGTON: The needs and concerns of military spouses, whose sacrifices benefit the nation, should be of concern to all Americans, First Lady Michelle Obama said today. "These women and men -- they are heroes and it's time that we recognize the challenges they face and the obstacles they overcome and the contributions they make," Obama said at the Women's Conference® 2010, held Oct. 24-26 in Long Beach, Calif. "It is an issue that I believe should be on the agenda of every women's conference, right up there with equal pay, right up there with work-family balance, right up there with breaking the glass ceiling," the first lady told 30,000 attendees who gathered to hear Obama and more than 100 other speakers during the annual forum. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver, hosted the meeting. The Women's Conference also is a global online community with more than 1 million participants. Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, also addressed the conference. "One of the best parts of my role as second lady is the time I spend meeting servicemembers, military families, veterans and wounded warriors – people who honor us with their service across this country and around the world," she said in prepared remarks. Women make up 15 percent of the military and serve in leadership positions in every branch of the service, Biden added. "In recognition of that evolution," she said, "the president is expanding and enhancing care for women veterans and looking for ways to expand childcare." Obama said her husband, President Barack Obama, also has worked hard on behalf of military families -- strengthening support programs and counseling services and increasing funds for housing, childcare and career development. "He's extended the Family and Medical Leave Act to more military families and caregivers, and we're working with states to streamline requirements so that spouses don't have to reapply for professional credentials and take new tests every time they move," she said. "But the truth is that there is so much more that each of us can do and should do right in our own communities ... [and] it's time for each of us to act," the first lady said. Obama called on teachers, school administrators and PTA members to see what their schools can do to better support military kids. Lawyers, accountants or counselors can offer services pro bono to some military families in their communities. Small-business owners or human resources professionals who work in large companies, she said, can make an effort to hire more military spouses and help make the workplace more accommodating to military spouses. People with time to volunteer can go to the United We Serve website to find out how to help military families in their areas, Obama said. The needs and concerns of military spouses "should be on the agenda of every woman and every American because they represent the very best this country has to offer," the first lady said. "It's time that each of us did our part to give them the support they need, the recognition they deserve and the gratitude they've earned," she added. "I look forward to working with all of you in some way, shape or form to make that happen in the months and years ahead." (Issued on:Oct. 26, 2010)

Related Sites:  United We Serve Related Articles:  First Lady Calls on Nation to Support Military Families