Contemporary Military Topics
Joli Divon Saraf
Enrollment limited: advance sign up required (see contact below)
Limited to 30 participants.
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
In individual sessions, SSP's 2009-2010 Military Fellows discuss the counter IED flight in Iraq, the significance of GPS upgrades, and Seabasing.
Contact: Joli Divon Saraf, E40-477, x8-7608, joli@mit.edu
Sponsor: MIT Security Studies Program
Cosponsor: Center for International Studies
“Seabasing: Amphibious and Prepositioning Ship Requirements”
Lt Col. John Walker USMC
As the US has ongoing security challenges, the Marine Corps must respond with speed & versatility in inhospitable, often anti-access environments. Seabasing - essentially a port & airfield at sea with ability to offload mission equipment/supplies to forces ashore - is a new solution. With no large footprint ashore, the Corps will be able to run a full range of operations, from forcible entry to humanitarian assistance.
Tue Jan 26, 10:30am-12:00pm, E40-496, the Lucian Pye Room
"GPS: Changing the Engine Seamlessly, in Mid-Flight, for Over 1 Billion Users"
LTC Kurt Kunzelman USAF
The former commander of the world's 32-satellite, $3.5B Global Positioning System (GPS) will discuss how the USAF teamed with Boeing, Lockheed Martin, & the Aerospace Corp. to replace GPS' 1970s-era mainframe computer system with a server-based distributed architecture, the largest single upgrade to the GPS system in 22 yrs. We will discuss how the GPS control system works, challenges & lessons learned.
Wed Jan 27, 10:30am-12:00pm, E40-496, the Lucian Pye room
“The Counter IED Fight in Iraq: Action, Reaction, Counteraction"
Colonel William "Butch" Graham USA
The #1 killer of Coalition forces in Iraq & Afghanistan is the Improvised Explosive Device (IED). We will explore the IED fight following the cycle of insurgent action – Coalition reaction – insurgent counteraction. COL Graham has had 3 Iraq tours from 2003 through 2008, each deeply engaged with fighting the IED threat.
Thu Jan 28, 10:30am-12:00pm, E40-496, the Lucian Pye room
Latest update: 09-Dec-2009
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