Today’s world is truly connected with a wide range of technologies that allow communication in homes and workplaces in cafes and airports and while we’re on the road. But demand for always-on connectivity goes way beyond the reach of terrestrial and cellular coverage, from special forces with a mandate to report mission-critical field imaging to passengers of ocean-going cruise ships who wanting to log on their favorite social networks. The expectation to be “online” at all times is truly global.

Jim Armor is Vice President, Strategy and Business Development for ATK Spacecraft Systems & Services, Beltsville, Maryland. He is responsible for producing and executing the market strategy for the small satellite, satellite thermal systems, and engineering services business lanes. Major General Armor retired from the U.S. Air Force in January of 2008, where his last position was as director of the National Security Space Office (NSSO) in the Office of the Under Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C. He was responsible for coordinating all defense and intelligence space activities. Prior to the NSSO, he was Director, Signals Intelligence Systems Acquisition and Operations at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), Vice Commander of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, and Program Director of the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. He earlier served as a combat crew missile launch officer, a laser signal intelligence analyst, and a satellite launch system integrator. In addition, he was selected and qualified as a DoD Space Shuttle payload specialist, and was first to study information warfare while a research fellow at the National War College.

Bob Dunn was appointed PacStar’s Chief Executive Officer in June 2010 after rejoining the company in early 2010 with the main goal being to expand and develop the company’s technology penetration in Department of Defense programs and with large system integrators. In addition to his responsibilities as CEO, Bob continues to spearhead these business development efforts. Prior to rejoining PacStar, Bob served as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Ericsson Federal Inc. (EFI). Bob joined EFI in October of 2008 and directed all Business Development efforts across U.S. federal, state and local government agencies that demand the same broadband applications and communications capabilities as commercial markets. His team helped customers leverage Ericsson’s worldwide commercial leadership and massive research and development investment to achieve mission success.

After receiving his BEng (Hons) in Communications and Electronic Engineering in 1992 (Newcastle, UK), Dr. Geen completed his PhD, which was entitled Hybrid Mode Feed Horns for Reflector Antennas @ 20/30GHz. He began his career working in the USA designing bespoke feed chains for large Earth station antennas. Dr. Geen has more than 15 years of experience in the design of communication systems for terrestrial and satellite applications. David has spent the last nine years managing the development of VSAT, broadband and DTH antenna terminals, with particular emphasis on high volume, high performance equipment for the enterprise and consumer markets.

Milsat News and Products of Note

Rear Adm. Patrick H. Brady is Commander of the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR). SPAWAR is the Navy’s Information Dominance Systems Command with the mission to make the Navy’s Information Dominance vision a reality. He offers his thoughts in this article regarding the importance of STEM training.

Hailing from the longest standing company in sound and vibration, Noel Brown spells out the details of the many kinds of vibro-acoustic testing that are necessary to launch reliable satellites. Since 1943, when Brüel & Kjær launched the world’s first charge accelerometer and entered the world of vibration measurement, the company has been supplying a diverse range of integrated solutions. For the space industry particularly, Brüel & Kjær has been helping with complex test analysis requirements for more than four decades.

The U.S. Air Force’s Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) system is the nation’s next-generation military strategic and tactical relay system, which will deliver survivable, protected communications to U.S. forces and selected allies worldwide. When fully operational, the system will consist of four crosslinked satellites, a ground mission control center and user terminals. The AEHF system provides joint, interoperable, assured connectivity for warfighters in operations in all levels of conflict, a capability not available through other planned military communication networks.”1 “The satellite serves as a smart switchboard to establish, maintain, reconfigure and disassemble required communications circuits as directed by the users. The terminals will provide encrypted voice, data, teletype, or facsimile communications.”2 One key to the success of this communications satellite is the ability to provide reliable, high speed, secure, anti-jamming, survivable tactical communications capability. The AEHF beam-forming network (BFN) is at the heart of one of these on-board systems.

Occassionally, one cannot see the forest for the trees... technology advances for MILSATCOM occur on a daily basis, and keeping abreast of such information is becoming more and more difficult. However, there can be no excuses... the very viability of a company could rest on the next advancement, and if it remains outside the realm of cognizance, opportunities may well be missed.

Video is pervasive in consumer and military applications and the video requirements are constrained by both similar, and different, factors. The need to deliver consumer video to a large audience is primarily governed by available bandwidth. The military and other government agencies, although working with a smaller audience, are also restricted by bandwidth. In addition, they also have a need to deliver video in real-time.