SOLE The International Society of Logistics Tennessee Valley Chapter

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Past Luncheon Programs.

December 2008: Our special December program was a Holiday Reception hosted by Huntsville Association of Technical Societies (HATS) for member societies. It was held on Thursday, December 4th  from 5:30 until 8:30PM, at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens Arbor House and included a tour of the Botanical Gardens annual Galaxy of Lights spectacular.

November 2008: Our November speaker was Mr. Joe Fitzgerald, President, Honor Flight Tennessee Valley and SOLE Chapter Vice-Chair for Operations.  His topic was: Logistics of Honor Flight.

October 2008: Our very special guest speaker for October was Mr. Tommy Battle, Huntsville Mayor-Elect speaking on The Logistics of Running a Mayoral Campaign. This luncheon was held at Trinity United Methodist Church's Banquet Facility, 607 Airport Road.

September 2008: In September, our luncheon was focused on the local chapter. Kurt Weidenthal (Chapter Chairman, SOLE Tennessee Valley Chapter) and Bob Hardison (Chapter Chairman-elect) spoke and their topics were: State of the Chapter Address and Report from the SOLE Annual Conference.  The program also included Installation of new officers for the 2008-09 SOLE year..

August 2008:  Lou Sciaroni, LOGSA was the guest speaker for our August Luncheon. His topic: New Logistics Product Data Standards for the Army.

July 2008: Our July luncheon, held on July 23rd, was in conjunction with the Air Defense Artillery Association.  The speaker was COL William Lamb, Project Manager, THAAD Missile Defense Agency. 

June 2008: Our June luncheon speaker was Wesley D. Patterson, Product Manager for Sustainment and
Cargo, Prototype Integration Facility (PIF) whose topic was: Prototype Integration Facility Logistics Overview.

May 2008: The May Luncheon featured COL (USMC Retired) Ed Ward, Chief Operations Officer for Systems, Products and Solutions, Inc. and former JPO Robotics (Logistics Officer) whose topic was: Supporting Robotics in War.  COL Ward oversaw the establishment of the one of a kind Commercial off the Shelf Support Facility, Joint Robotic Repair Facility Iraq and Afghanistan, which is maintaining over 5500 robots engaged in combat today in the Theater of Operations. Mr. Ward presented a briefing about the challenges of maintaining the robotic equipment used in Southwest Asia.

April 2008: Our April luncheon speaker was Mr. Ronald Lewis (SES), Deputy G-3/5 for Enterprise Integration, AMC whose topic was G-3/5 Operations Overview.

March 2008: We were honored in March to have as our guest speaker BG Genaro Dellarocco, PEO, Missiles and Space.

February 2008:  In February we held a special joint event with the Huntsville Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA). The speaker was Mr. Tim McElyea, CEO & Creative Director, Media Fusion and his topic: Communication Media as a Business Tool.

January 2008: Our January speaker was Mr. Jim Flinn speaking on the topic of Huntsville - a Logistics Transformation

November 2007: Our final luncheon for 2007 featured Mr. Rick Turner, Director, US Army Test, Measurement and Diagnostics Equipment Activity (USATA) who spoke on Logistics for Army TMDE.

October 2007: For our October luncheon meeting on the 23rd, Mr. Doug McDaniels spoke on Airshow Logistics.

September 2007: Kurt Weidenthal (Chapter Chairman, SOLE Tennessee Valley Chapter) and Norm Myers (District Director, SOLE District 5) were our speakers, discussing the State of the Chapter and Report from the SOLE Annual Conference.  We also installed new Chapter Officers for Year 2007-2008.

August 2007: Our regular SOLE Luncheon for August on the 21st featured a speaker from the Bridge Street Town Centre, Cindy Hartshorne, discussing the Logistics of Bridge Street. The luncheon was followed by a "HARD HAT" TOUR of the new Bridge Street project site.

August 2007:  Instead of our usual July luncheon, we held a special Joint Meeting with the Air Force Association (AFA) on 3 August at the Trinity Conference Center on Airport Road.  The guest speaker was Maj Gen Chris Anzalone, USAF, Missile Defense Agency Deputy Director for Test, Integration and Fielding.  Maj Gen Anzalone has recently relocated to Huntsville from the National Capital Region.

June 2007: We continued the discussion of Enabling Logistics Transformation: A Center for Innovation in
Logistics Systems with a presentation by guest speaker, COL Greg Parlier, USA Ret., Sr. Systems Analyst, SAIC.

May 2007: Our May luncheon was held in conjunction the SOLE/DAU/LOGSA Logistics Seminar at the Trinity Community Development Center, Huntsville on 15 May.  We were honored to feature Vice Admiral (retired) Walter B. "Wally" Massenburg who gave the Keynote address on Performance Based Logistics as an Enabler to Controlling Cost in the Enterprise.

April 2007: Our April luncheon featured a talk exploring the links between CBM and Supply Chain Analytics and Enhancements given by Mr. Bill Braddy, SVP, Transformation Programs, Westar Aerospace and Defense Group.

March 2007: Featured speaker, COL(R) Norm J. Myers, Senior Logistics Systems Analyst, SAIC, and SOLE District Chairman informed attendees about the CENTER FOR INNOVATION IN LOGISTICS AND SYSTEMS (CILS) at AMCOM.  He discussed the logistics challenges of a Transforming Army, the opportunity for integrating the logistics players, OSD/PBL readiness based sparing initiatives and the need for a CILS. A copy of his presentation is available for download here.

February 2007:  Our February Luncheon was held at the Sparkman Center and featured as our guest speaker Mr. Robert Devlin, Deputy Directory, Office of Center Operations, NASA Space Flight Center.  His topic: Marshall's Role in NASA'S Mission with focus on logistics and the first five years of the Moon Base.

January 2007: Our guest speaker, LTC Lyle Stone, of LOGSA discussed The Logistics of Becoming a Certified Professional.

November 2006: In November we were proud to feature a dynamic and frank presentation by COL John Olshefski, Garrison Commander of Redstone Arsenal who spoke on the topic: The Logistics of BRAC.  A copy of his presentation is available for download here.

October 2006:  MAJ Jim Hawkins, Jr., Training Officer, JFHQ/J3, Alabama National Guard was our featured speaker.  His topic: His experiences in Iraq, ongoing reconstruction work, and the Alabama National Guard's role in the region.  Major Hawkins worked directly for the commanding general of the Gulf Region Division of the US Army Corps of Engineers. Major Hawkins was able to visit most of the country, meeting everyone from the poorest Iraqi citizens to the President of Iraq, US Senators, Congressmen, generals (including General Casey), and the US Ambassador to Iraq.

September 2006: Our Chapter Chair, Kurt Weidenthal discussed past accomplishments and future plans. The program also included the swearing in of Chapter Officers for the upcoming year and special recognition of the corporations and individuals who have supported our Chapter and its events throughout the past year.

August 2006: For our August luncheon we were honored to welcome as our guest speaker the Mayor of Madison, Sandy Kirkindall, who spoke on the topic: Madison is Growing Today - and Could Use Corporate Assistance Tomorrow!

July 2006: LTC Dwayne Morton, Product Manager, Test Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment (PM, TMDE) addressed our July Luncheon, speaking on the TMDE Future Strategy. LTC Morton also spoke to the history of the TMDE efforts during the last 25 years, and to the challenges of maintaining adequate equipment during a period of significant changes in technologies, organizations, and budget availability.

June 2006: In June we welcomed COL Ray Woolery, Aviation RESET Project Manager, AMCOM who spoke to our luncheon on 'RESET Opportunities to Support the Warfighter.' COL Woolery’s presentation summarized the efforts of the program to return equipment to Fully Mission Capable Status. Detailed analysis is performed to determine the cost benefits of performing RESET on specific platforms, with emphasis on those systems receiving extensive use in the current theater of operations. The RESET program has returned 1592 Aircraft to date from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

May 2006: We hosted a second luncheon this month on May 30th with a very special guest.  Our speaker was LTG (USA Retired) Roy Beauchamp, who spoke on Katrina/Rita Recovery -- Logistics Implications.  Roy Beauchamp is Senior Vice President for Domestic Operations, Defense for Washington Group International, Inc. He was assigned to be the Program Director for the Katrina Program Management Office with responsibility for coordinating Washington Group International's support of hurricane recovery operations in the southeast. Prior to joining Washington Group International he served in the United States Army for thirty-seven years retiring as a Lieutenant General. His last assignment prior to his retirement was Deputy Commanding General of the Army Materiel Command.

April 2006:  OK, we really held this on May 2nd, as part of our three-day Logistics Data Standardization Seminar.  Our guest speaker was Mr. James (Jim) Neeley, ILS and Operations team Lead for Jacob Sverdrup Technology in support of the Engineering Directorate, Spacecraft and Vehicle Systems Department, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. His topic was ILS Implications for the Crew Launch Vehicle (CLV), the launch system that will deliver other manned vehicles to orbit where they will then be sent on for further exploration of space.

March 2006: Our March Luncheon guest speakers were Don Palmer, Air Cargo Logistics Services and Jim Hutcheson, Accounts Manager, International Intermodal Center.  Their topic: The Port of Huntsville and its Impact on International Trade.

February 2006: Our February Luncheon featured guest speaker Mr. Ronnie Chronister, Executive Director, AMCOM Integrated Materiel Management Center whose topic was "Future Vision of IMMC (Integrated Materiel Management Center)." Mr. Chronister provided insights into the priorities of the AMCOM Commanding General, as well as his own.

January 2006:  Our regular luncheon was replaced by attendance of a NDIA/WID/AFCEA sponsored luncheon on 24 January at the Marriott-Tranquility Base.  The luncheon featured Major General Howard B. Bromberg, Deputy Director Force Protection/Director, Joint Theater Air and Missile Defense Organization (JTAMDO)/Director, Joint Requirements Office for Chemical Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense, J-8.  His topic: "Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense: A Growing Need for Greater Industry Involvement & Innovation.

 December 2005:  We closed 2005 with a luncheon presentation by Mr. Alvin A. Abejon, Director, FBCB2-Aviation and Blue Force Tracking-Aviation who discussed FBCB2 - Force XXI Battle Command, Brigade and Below.

November 2005: At our November luncheon, our guest speaker was Col. Cory Mahanna, Utility Helicopters Program Manager.

October 2005: After a break in September, we came back strong in October with a luncheon featuring Mr. Geoff Embrey, Deputy to the Commander, U.S. Army Logistics Support Activity (LOGSA).   Mr. Embrey gave an overview of LOGSA and initiatives to Evolve Data Repositories into an Integrated Analysis-Based Logistics Intelligence Source.  His charts can be downloaded here.

August 2005: For our August luncheon, Colonel Joyce P. Napier, Commandant, US Army Ordnance Munitions and Electronics Maintenance School,and Commander, 59th Ordnance Brigade Redstone Arsenal, AL.  spoke on "Logistics - The TRADOC Perspective".

July 2005: The July SOLE Luncheon program featured Ms. Kathy Lemley, Materials Manager, International Diesel of Alabama. Her topic was "International Diesel's Materials and Logistics Strategies."   The company won the Industry Lead Award presented by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and the Computer and Automated Systems Association of SME in 2002 for its state of the art automated systems. An optional tour of the International Diesel Plant immediately followed the luncheon program.

June 2005:  The regular SOLE program and luncheon was not held in June.  Instead, the Tennessee Valley Chapter of SOLE were invited to attend the  WID/NDIA/AFCEA sponsored luncheon at the Marriott where Mr. James M. "Raleigh" Durham, Deputy Director, Joint Force Application OSD AT&L spoke on "Integrated Air and Missile Defense: Roadmap to the Future."

May 2005:  In May, our SOLE luncheon was held jointly with the Air Force Association's , AFA, Alabama State Convention. Our guest speaker was Brigadier General Tom Owen, Director, F/A-22 Raptor System Program Office, Wright Patterson AFB OH.  The F/A-22 Raptor is the Air Force’s next-generation first-look, first-kill supercruise air superiority fighter.   BG Owen has a logistics background and provided insight into program and logistics issues of the F/A-22 Program.

At the end of the luncheon, a free tour was offered of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, to include the Historical Redstone Test Stand and the Saturn V Test Stand.

April 2005:  Speakers were SOLE District 5 Director, Doug Barclay, discussing International and District activities and our Chapter Chair, Kurt Weidenthal, laying out plans for the 2005-2006.  Also, Chapter Officers for 2005-2006 were installed and awards and recognition were presented during the luncheon.

March 2005:  Our March luncheon speaker, Kathy B. Ray, Chief, AMCOM EXPRESS/Strategic Services Division presented an overview of the "AMCOM EXPRESS Logistics Domain".  Her charts can be downloaded here.

The luncheon was followed by a Tour of the AMCOM Advanced Prototyping Engineering and Experimentation (APEX) Lab. The APEX Lab is a research and development facility whose mission is to address the existing gap between warfighter simulation and engineering level simulation capabilities through the application of Distributive Interactive Simulation (DIS) and the emerging DoD High Level Architecture (HLA) technologies.

February 2005: In February we conducted a Joint SOLE-AUSA Meeting between the Tennessee Valley Chapter of SOLE - The International Society of Logistics and the Redstone-Huntsville Chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army.  Our speaker, Mr.. Daniel R. Rhodes, Lead AMC Integrations Support Office (LIASO) at USAAMCOM presented an overview of "The Single Army Logistics Enterprise (SALE)."   His charts can be downloaded here. Pictured below on left is our speaker Dan Rhodes.  On the right are Chapter Presidents of AUSA, Joe Fitzgerald and SOLE, Kurt Weidenthal.

January 2005: Our January luncheon featured Dr. Steven P. D. Smith, Senior Technical Advisor to the AMRDEC Director as guest speaker.  Dr. Smith presented an overview of the AMRDEC. 

November 2004: For November we were pleased to have as guest speaker COL (Ret) James Craig Naudain, Director Huntsville Operations for Future Combat Systems, SAIC, who gave an "Overview of the Future Combat Systems Program."

October 2004: Our October luncheon featured DR. Thomas C. Pieplow, Associate Director for Aviation, Integrated Material Management Center, AAMCOM who spoke on "Visit to the Theater of Operations."  sharing observations and insights from his visit to Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan.

September 2004: In September we were pleased to feature Colonel Robert Devlin, Redstone Arsenal Garrison Commander, speaking on "The Logistics of Redstone"

August 2004: Our August luncheon was held jointly with the American Helicopter Society (AHS) and featured guest speaker Mr. Paul Bogosian, Program Executive Officer, Aviation. Mr. Bogosian’s spoke to the implementation of Soldier Focused Logistics (SFL), the Life Cycle Management Command at AMCOM, and the direction of Performance Based Logistics (PBL) for several programs.

July 2004: Our guest speaker was Col Robert W. English III , AMCOM Chief of Staff, and his topic was "AMCOM - Support to Army Readiness". 

June 2004: We were indeed fortunate to have another very special guest speaker, the Honorable Ms. Loretta Spencer, Mayor of Huntsville. Mayor Spencer's topics of "Downtown Development" and "Base Alignment & Closure (BRAC)", were quite stimulating and both vital to the future of the Tennessee Valley region.

May 2004: The special guest speaker for May was a longtime friend of the Chapter and advocate for the Logistics community,  Mr. James L. Flinn, Deputy to the Commanding General, US ARMY Aviation and Missile Command. Mr Flinn's memorable speech was titled "Looking Back Is Dangerous."

April 2004: Our April Luncheon featured guest speaker is Mr. Ron Dalton of the CH-47 PMO who presented a challenge to logistics business-as-usual in his "Soldier Focused Logistics". We also presented annual awards and installed new officers for Year 2004-2005.

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SOLE, Tennessee Valley Chapter
P.O. Box 1104, Huntsville, AL 35807
CHAIRMAN:  Robert S. Hardison, Jr, LTC(R), 256-799-1022  robert.hardison@yms-hsv.com
MEMBERSHIP: Serge Corvington, Jr, 256-461-3950, serge.corvington@tbe.com
WEBMASTER: Blake Copple  bcopple@excite.com