Virtual Reality Making a Real Impact Across Government

Training has been an early application of virtual reality (VR) in government. In fact, in a recent survey, 50% of public safety professionals report using virtual reality as a training mode in their organizations. Today, the use of the technology is extending far beyond training and into operations. VR is increasing in use across the federal government as a new way to conduct medical treatment and even warfighting. Continue reading

DoD, The U.S. Army and the Association of the U.S. Army are invested in the Asia Pacific Region–Are You?

Despite U.S. spending cuts and ongoing budget debates in Congress, the Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter recently said DoD is using whatever flexibility it has in managing its budget to favor and protect the rebalance of forces in the Asia- Pacific region. "The rebalance will continue and in fact gain momentum for two reasons. First, U.S. interests here are enduring and so also will be its political and economic presence," Carter told an audience of nearly 1,500 defense, government and security officials from around the world.

"We will be able to leverage more capacity from our ground forces, including the Army, Marines and special operations forces, now that they are coming home to the Pacific from Iraq and Afghanistan," Carter said, adding, "Also we are modernizing and enhancing our forward presence across the region in cooperation with our allies and partners." Beginning with Northeast Asia, Carter said DoD is modernizing and updating alliances with Japan and South Korea.

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A Message from AIAA’s Executive Director

Originally posted by AIAA

Dear Colleague,

As we start 2013, there is little doubt that the full impact of 2012 events has yet to play out. In 2012 we witnessed a "perfect storm" of the fallout from a scandal within a federal agency - the General Services Administration (GSA) - and the failure of Congress and the White House to achieve meaningful budgetary progress. This combination has left our Institute facing an atmosphere of tightening government travel rules and shrinking agency budgets - both of which threaten the long-term viability of AIAA.

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Army attendance at non-DOD conferences banned for the rest of the year

Originally posted by Barry Rosenberg on Defense Systems

The fallout continues over the General Services Administration's $800,000 conference, with Secretary of the Army John McHugh suspending all Army attendance at non-Defense Department conferences for the remainder of the year.

"I am suspending Army attendance at non-DOD conferences between now and December 31, 2012, unless I previously approved attendance, for example, the AUSA Annual Meeting, or an exception is granted," wrote McHugh in an October 17 memorandum obtained by Defense Systems.

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TerraSight® EX Expeditionary System Launches at AUSA 2012

Originally posted by PR Newswire

The TerraSight® EX video exploitation system, a compact, lightweight expeditionary version of the proven TerraSight platform, was introduced today (October 22, 2012) by SRI International Sarnoff. Housed in a ruggedized Windows® laptop, TerraSight EX brings advanced video exploitation to forward operators. The system can process standard video feeds from an unmanned aerial system (UAS) and convert them into real-time, integrated tactical information that can enhance total situational awareness.

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