News

The Central Florida Chapter of the Navy League and the local NDIA Chapter had the lead for the 2008 Defense Forum which attracted a record breaking some 165 registrants. The Central Florida Combined Professional Associations Group (CPAG) Team Orlando Defense Breakfast Forum was held on January 10, 2008 at the Radisson University Hotel. This 8th Annual CPAG Breakfast is sponsored by the Orlando Area Defense Professional Associations, which include Presidents Jerry Stahl of Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA); Roger Smith , Armed Forces Communications and Electronic Association (AFCEA); Jim Callahan (AFA); Deborah Kemp, American Society of Military Comptrollers (ASMC), Jim Taylor, Association of the United States Army (AUSA); Paul Hanover Central Florida Marine Corps Foundation (MCF); William Beebe, International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE), Keith Gardner, International Test and Evaluation Association (ITEA), Bob LePage,  Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Russ Hauck, National Center for Simulation (NCS), Debbie Berry, National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA); Ken Meyer, National Contracts Management Association (NCMA); and Jeff Jancek, Central Florida Council Navy League of US (NLUS). Team Orlando speakers included Bob Matthews, Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (USN), COL Frank Kelley, PM TRASYS (USMC), COL Kevin Dietrick, Deputy PEO STRI (USA) and Col Lou (Spanky) Olinto, Cmdr.  AFAMS (USAF). CPAG Council Chair Fred Eisele in his opening remarks advised the audience that the CPAG, wasformed in 2001 and is made up of theProgram VP's or Presidents from the Orlando Area Defense Professional Associations Chapter. The primary purpose of the group is to address issues of mutual interest and coordinate program activities. Also to the extent possible to try and conduct joint events. The Council of Presidents/Vice Presidents meets quarterly to exchange information on upcoming chapter events and to tries to de-conflict association events. The forum is its annual event where Team Orlando (USA, USAF, USN, and USMC) leadership addresses the community. Central Florida NDIA President Debbie Berry oversaw the Forum breakfast while Central Florida  Navy League President Jeff Jancek served as the Panel Moderator. Each of the speakers provided an overview of their organization’s as well as their representative service’s activities. A common thread was that there are tremendous changes going on in the Acquisition process and integrated training for the Coalition Warfighter is a central focus. Team Orlando’s combined capabilities have been recognized by each of the service’s senior leadership. and there have been numerous contributions that have been made in meeting critical Warfighter requirements. During the question and answer period it was noted that the DOD budget cuts will have some impact but there still are training requirements that must be satisfied and there is a growing recognition of the role Modeling, Simulation and Training Devices can have in lowering the cost of Training the Warfighters and saving equipment from wearing out due to the high operations tempo.