Podcasts about missile systems center

In this episode of Long Blue Leadership, Christian Evans shares his journey from a jovial cadet to a dedicated leader focused on uplifting others. SUMMARY Christian reflects on transformative experiences during his time at the Air Force Academy, the importance of mentorship, and the impact of community engagement. Christian discusses navigating career transitions, the power of giving back, and the significance of leading with love. He emphasizes resilience, personal growth, and the need to engage the next generation of leaders.   SHARE THIS EPISODE LINKEDIN | FACEBOOK   TAKEAWAYS Christian emphasizes the importance of humor in leadership. Transformative experiences can lead to personal growth and leadership development. Mentorship plays a crucial role in guiding younger generations. Navigating career transitions requires building a supportive network. Giving back to the community enhances personal fulfillment. Engaging the next generation is vital for sustaining leadership values. Resilience is key to overcoming failures and learning from them. Leading with love fosters a supportive environment. Personal growth is a continuous journey influenced by experiences. Finding avenues to contribute to the community is essential for leadership.   EPISODE CHAPTERS 00:00  Introduction to Leadership Journeys 02:56  Transformative Experiences in Cadet Life 06:10  The Impact of Mentorship and Community 08:52  Navigating Career Transitions 11:49  The Power of Giving Back 14:50  Engaging the Next Generation 17:55  Lessons in Resilience and Growth 21:00  Leading with Love 23:55  Reflections on Personal Growth 26:59  Conclusion and Future Aspirations   ABOUT CHRISTIAN EVANS BIO Christian Evans is a Business Development Executive at Olsson where he leads sales and growth efforts in Texas and Colorado. Christian previously worked as Managing Partner of Greenwood Capital lower middle market PE firm, Wealth Advisor at Morgan Stanley, Capital Markets Sales Manager at Highland Capital Management. Prior to joining Highland, he worked as an associate on the Banking, Investing, and Lending team at Goldman Sachs. Christian started his professional career in the United States Air Force as a space operations officer at Cape Cod AFS, MA and an acquisitions program manager at the Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles AFB, CA. Christian is an active leader in the Dallas community sitting on the Visiting Nurses Association of Texas Board of Directors on the finance and development committees and on the Friends Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy on the Development committee. Christian is an active member of the Urban Land Institute and The Real Estate Council. Christian is a 2008 Graduate of the United States Air Force Academy where he majored in Management. As a Cadet, he competed on the Fighting Falcon football team, served as President of the Tuskegee Airmen Club, and became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Incorporated. He completed his MBA at the SMU Cox School of Business in 2017. Christian is married to Dr. Candace Evans and they enjoy their time with their son, Cash. - Copy courtesy of the U.S. Air Force Academy Association of Graduates    CONNECT WITH CHRISTIAN LINKEDIN  |  ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATES       ALL PAST LBL EPISODES  |  ALL LBLPN PRODUCTIONS AVAILABLE ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS       FULL TRANSCRIPT SPEAKERS Guest:    CHRISTIAN EVANS '08  |  Host:  Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz '99   Naviere Walkewicz  00:00 Welcome to Long Blue Leadership, the podcast where we share insights on leadership through the lives and experiences of Air Force Academy graduates. I'm Naviere Walkewicz, Class of '99. For Christian Evans, USAFA Class of 2008, the journey was arduous, and even now, though he's dedicated himself to a life of lifting others up, he still thinks of himself as a work in progress, becoming the model for grace, giving back and leadership that he is today. Christian, thanks for being here today.   Christian Evans  00:28 Thank you so much for having me. Truly honored and flattered to be here.   Naviere Walkewicz  00:34 What were you like growing up? — I guess maybe is the first question.   Christian Evans  00:38 I've always been a jovial person. I've always had a sense of humor, and I've always kind of been a strategic thinker, if that makes sense. So, while I was somewhat the life of the party to a certain extent, or someone on the team that would galvanize the teammates, it was mostly through humor or engaging outside of anything serious, because everything's so serious, right?   Naviere Walkewicz Right.   Christian Evans  So, growing up and even at the Academy, I always kind of used humor as a way to put myself out there, so to speak, right? To kind of get people's moods to calm down. Yeah, I just always was more focused on what I was doing, and never focused on “I should be leading in this space,” outside of just knowing if you do well in school, get good grades… All right, that's leadership by doing. “I'm in NHS, I'm in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I'm doing all these service things. And even though I'm not the president or vice president, I'm still active, serving a greater purpose.” So, yeah, growing up, I was a good kid, liked to have fun, maybe a little crass at times.   Naviere Walkewicz  02:05 Your sophomore year, you know, your three-degree, you kind of had this decision point. What was it that helped you make that decision? Was there an incident? Was there a moment? Was it just a path you were on?   Christian Evans  02:20 There was definitely an incident. At the end of our sophomore year, we did not have the season that we wanted as a football team, so the night of the game, after the game, I was still underaged, and I drank alcohol and the Academy found out about it. And so, I had to go through that rehabilitation process, which wasn't fun. I think it was six months where you're restricted to the base. At that point, that's when I said, “OK, this isn't a civilian school. You've kind of got to button it up here if you want to stay and actually get something out of it.” So that next year, I made a point during summer school, and even that summer as a cadre for basic, to just really apply myself and try to see, “All right, if I actually apply myself and lead and maybe not make everything a joke, will you see real outcomes?” And I think that's where my first experience of really being able to affect younger cadets and/or younger grads and their experience with the Academy. Because as a basic cadet cadre, I really went out of my way to try to look out for our basics in a way that typically doesn't happen during basic training. And it is what it is, right? Basic training is not summer camp, so it's got to be tough, it's got to be hard. But I definitely — and I think if you ask my basics — I definitely went into the situation with the idea of making it hard, but fair, but also making it enjoyable and something that's worth remembering. And so experiencing that as a cadet and really seeing, “OK, yeah, you're pretty good at this thing, you can motivate people, and you can make them feel good about themselves, and you could help them when they need it, and not make it hard for them to get where they need to go, kind of thing, and really enable them.” That was a great experience for me, and kind of carried into the next year. I got on group staff; I learned that the more that you lean in, there are actual outcomes that come out of it, and you're able to have a positive impact on other people, which, to me, gives me — that's where I get energy, and I feel good about myself. Outside of how I feel about myself is how I can help other people to accomplish whatever it is they kind of want to do.   Naviere Walkewicz  05:04 Wow, it sounds like you took an incident that happened to you all the way back in basic and you found a way to turn it around, to make sure that another basic didn't have to go through what you did. And you probably didn't even realize it at the time when you're going through that self-discovery as a leader and applying yourself, but can you think of a story of where that came into play? Like when you were a cadre for a basic, was there ever a time where you were able to make a difference for a basic that you weren't able to have made for you?   Christian Evans  05:34 Absolutely. One of the things I did — and this is an easy one — was when there was someone that needed meal replacements for whatever reason, or was still hungry at the end of the day, I would help get food and sustenance to them, whether they played sports or not. Obviously doing it for the football guys so that they could maintain weight for when the season starts. But when other non-football people mentioned that they were still hungry, the food was making them upset, things like that. Yeah, I would get them what they needed, right? And I think for that, they felt like somebody cared. I will say, as a cadre, I think the best thing I could have done was just make it a memorable experience through the experiences, right? Like I said, I'm into humor. I like to have fun, and to me, basic training as a cadre was like being a stand-up comedian with the built-in audience, you know? So, I would do bits with the kids, not kids, but they were kids. I would do bits, you know? I would have fun, but within that, it would always be kind of a bigger picture.   Naviere Walkewicz  06:49 Well, I think that's fantastic sharing a bit of your personality, and I think that's also part of leadership, because when we think about what how people lead, it's usually from what they learn from others. So, being able to see that you can be human, and you can use humor, and you can still affect a mission, and especially — maybe people bring in their best self, because they didn't feel that they had to be so fearful, right? I don't know, maybe you touched them in that way.   Christian Evans  07:17 I hope so. Because there was still a lot of fear, I imagine, left in the basic squadron.   Naviere Walkewicz  07:24 Yes. Well, it led me to something you we talked about because you said you had indifference even your senior years. But there was a theme through that as well. You talked about being able to help others, so maybe talk through what you've learned about yourself as a leader in this space of helping others. Has there been a moment in your career now, whether through in the military, or when you transitioned out, where you saw that coming into play more?   Christian Evans  07:49 It's something that I feel is evergreen, for me, is I'm always kind of thinking about, “How can I have an impact on the community around me?” Most recently, since transitioning from active duty into the private sector, I learned a lot. I didn't know much about the industry I was going into that being finance, I was blessed with an opportunity to do an internship with Goldman Sachs during my transition period, while I was still active duty. This was before they had the program they have now, the skill bridge program. I went into a very complex situation with very little information, and going through that process, I was able to reach out to a lot of people to help fill the gap. No. 1, most of the people that I found myself talking to and that had built networks within Goldman and other financial institutions were Navy and overwhelmingly Army grads. So, at that point, and I like that it says Long Blue Leadership, because the Long Blue Line is what we were all sold on coming here, whether you played sports or not, Just about anybody you asked that have made the transition from active duty into a new industry or career that requires a little bit of advocacy and understanding, and people doing some recruiting and all those things — how much it means to have somebody that you could call and learn things that you just don't know. My transition, learning the industry, learning the different steps that you need to take to get to different parts of the industry — I started just documenting resources, built out my network so the people that had helped me and kind of poured into me and mentored me, tried to stay in touch. That is something that I'm pretty good at, is just meeting people and turning a casual introduction into some type of meaningful relationship. And so, when I got a few years in and did my MBA, and kind of went through my process, I put together a one-pager, two-pager, and shared it with the number of younger grads at the time that I kind of adopted as mentees. They were just young grads, or young cadets, in some cases, that had an ambition and that wanted to do something that they didn't really know much about. Being able to give them that information to fill the void earlier in the process — maybe they've got a few years left in the Air Force. OK, they could start preparing themselves through certain things, getting involved in certain organizations. I thought if I could get this information to them earlier, well they could start preparing more for making that transition. And so, after doing that, and over the years, they made it their own thing, and now they have matriculated to some of the top business schools, law schools in America. And so, for me, that showed me the power of “when you learn, teach; when you get, give,” right? I heard that quote a number of years ago. That kind of was something that, after doing that and seeing the outcome, and especially now when I look back, that started maybe, let's say, eight years ago. Well now guys are starting their own funds, and they're working at multiple investment banks and consulting companies, and to me, that was more rewarding than even the accomplishments I had made in my transition. So, I feel very blessed to have been able to do that. But, you know, I definitely, over the time, have made it a mission of mine to ensure that I'm pulling the younger grads in the direction that they want to go, and doing it a little bit earlier in the cycle so that they could get better prepared.   Naviere Walkewicz  12:25 This is really fascinating. What makes you care in this way?   Christian Evans  12:29 At my first base was my first real interaction with the AOG and actual alumni. I got to meet real grads. One in particular was a gentleman, Al Fullerton. I think he was a 1963 grad, and he was medically discharged before he was able to serve. However, he was a grad, and he stayed connected to the organization. And my buddy, Evan Dadoski, who — he would get us to those AOG meetings, and when I and when I had those experiences and when I had the experience with Al, and he would give his time to me, Evan, Brian Campbell, Adam Hood, like go have lunch with us. Got to meet with Flash Wiley while I was up there, you know, Nate Dial went and got his master's while he was up there. And we would go have coffee and get to talk to him and interact with him. And I said, “Man, there is some richness to this,” but those were just really individual connection points. It wasn't like a critical mass, but it did pique my interest in saying, “Oh, there is a richness in a younger grad getting to know a more seasoned grad, or the intergenerational interactions that a lot of times we don't get for whatever reason.”   Naviere Walkewicz  13:57 So, you started seeing and feeling the effects of the Long Blue Line?   Christian Evans  14:01 Yeah, absolutely. It was really just the thought of trying to maximize the talent that God gave me, and in doing that, you can't be indifferent and be a great leader. You can't be indifferent and be the best that you can be.   Naviere Walkewicz  14:19 Certainly, doesn't hurt to be kind of engaging with the vision for where our association's going and to your point, what does your impact look like within there?   Christian Evans  Sure.   Naviere Walkewicz  So, what has that look like, and how has that shaped you as a leader? Do you feel like those are one in the same, like you bring your leadership to it in the way that you are, or has it changed you this kind of service as a leader?   Christian Evans  14:43 Yeah, if anything, I learned that if you do have a passion for how things should be, if you lean in, you galvanize the troops, so to speak, and/or try to find leadership opportunities within the multiple organizations that interact and do things for a cadet. And for grads, find those because it's been very beneficial to me as I have come onto the board and seeing, OK, something like the next generation.   Naviere Walkewicz  15:12 So, can you talk a little bit more about this Next Gen group?   Christian Evans  15:16 Yeah, absolutely. There are certain periods as graduates, where we have big decisions to make, and as an association, the more that we're engaged and helping you to solve for those decision problems, so to speak, the more you'll feel the value was served to you to engage. So, that kind of spurred a conversation with Nate Dial. And, you know, we always kind of have strategy sessions here and there about all kinds of stuff. But in this situation, it was, “Hey, how can we kind of solve for this young alumni or emerging leader alumni engagement?” Because the numbers speak for themselves — it's extremely low. If all grads are engaging at 10%, if you graduated after '95 it's less than 10%. So, Next Gen kind of was born out of that. And so, we started thinking about, “We've still got a lot of people engaged from our previous classes.” And so, I thought if we created some type of working group to start thinking about what can we do to provide this value proposition to that demographic of graduates that are historically disengaged? And engagement is not money, right? It's just showing up to alumni events or coming back to the Academy at any point or whatever, going to a game when the Academy is playing close to you, things of that nature. So that's where we got to the Next Gen. group.   Naviere Walkewicz  16:54 I mean, I think a theme that's been woven through this with you has been, in your journey as a leader, really leaning in. You know, it seems like when you've had these moments of decisions, of applying yourself, you have these continuous wins that seem to have continued to fuel that desire to make further impact and others. Would you say that's accurate?   Christian Evans  17:20 Absolutely. You know, wins have a way of building on themselves, and losses due too. So, incremental big win, small wins — I'm just trying to win. So yeah, to me… and even in the face of a loss, you're still winning, because it's an opportunity to learn, right? I'm sure it's a common theme, but it's true. We all have experienced failure. Nobody wants to talk about it, but everybody experiences it some way. How do you deal with that failure? We talk about resiliency at the Academy, you know? We talk about integrity a lot. We talk about service, we talk about excellence, but we don't talk about failure necessarily, because we're Academy grads. We don't fail, right? We don't fail. But it's true: Even in failure, you're it's an opportunity to win, and the more wins you kind of put together. They cascade, and they grow into great things. And that's kind of where I see, at least my growth and development has been through just a cascading of small, big, intermediate and honestly, putting myself out, taking myself out of my comfort zone, see where the chips fall.   Naviere Walkewicz  18:44 Well, we'd like to hear what your leadership lessons and takeaways are, because there have been really a lot of moments in here that I think everyone has been able to kind of see themselves in, right? You've had moments where you've had to kind of pick yourself up, even when you weren't sure what that looked like, and you did. What, what might you leave with our folks?   Christian Evans  19:04 You know, we go through a lot of leadership training, so it's like a leadership podcast to teach me what I've been training for, for it feels like our whole adult life could seem redundant sometimes. So, I'm not going to give anybody a nugget that they might not have heard before, but something that I've tried to do that maybe, when I think about leadership, has helped me to approach it in a different way, is to always think about leading with love to a certain extent. I don't mean that to be mushy, I mean that to be sincere. Always go into a situation thinking about the person you're dealing with, as opposed to yourself. Little things like I said, we've got a lot of technical and structured education about what leadership is, but how do you actually execute and effectively live it? So for me, it's a very selfless kind of approach. But I always say, “Lead with love,” and that's what I'll continue to do, right? But I don't have any groundbreaking nuggets. I don't think about leadership all the time. It's just in me, right? I think it's in all — most — of us, they made sure of that. But sincerely, leading with love, because there are other obvious nuances and principles to leadership, but to me, that's the one that gets lost the most in translation, sometimes.   Naviere Walkewicz  20:40 Can you share a moment when you led with love and it was maybe a moment where you wouldn't have expected that's the way that you could actually solve something?   Christian Evans  20:53 I wouldn't say I have a specific instance. It's just who I am. So, I don't really have an instance. I think every time that I get the opportunity to be in a leadership situation that's at work, in my day job, that leadership looks a little different than leadership in an AOG board capacity, or leadership in other board service that I do around the town of Dallas, or really leadership within your own peer groups, right? It's just a part of who I am. So I don't necessarily have a specific situation. It's just most of the situations where I found myself having an opportunity to actively lead other people, I try to make sure that I'm implementing that, and I think most people that have gotten to work with me would attest to it.   Naviere Walkewicz  21:57 Well, I can validate that certainly. Just in our interactions together, I think I've seen you lead with love, and it's because you put the human aspect in. How can I help you? — is really how it translates across, and I think that's very powerful. It's maybe not something that people think about, but it's probably highly effective. But even more so, it's incredibly, probably fulfilling.   Christian Evans  22:19 Yeah, I would say one thing I learned is, I don't need much help. I'm gonna go figure it out. But there's a lot of people that don't have that same personality type, and so I think that's important when they don't, is that you can be somewhat of a force multiplier for them, using Air Force speak.   Naviere Walkewicz  22:39 I think it's wonderful what you're leading and you're passionate about, and it, again, dovetails from, I think, all of your experiences, of always wanting to make something better than what you had had to go through or experienced in life.   Christian Evans  22:50 You had told me to repeat this, but I had said if you would have asked just about anybody that knew me as a cadet and young officer, if Chris Evans — because I didn't become Christian until I came as a civilian, and everybody's Chris — but yeah, Chris Evans is on the AOG board. They'd say, “No way, no way.” So, I think the Academy, we've all had our experience with maybe getting broken down, whether it's basic training, whether it's your first year, academics. I would say, it started for me during basic training. Growing up and coming into the Academy, I thought of myself as a pretty good kid. You know, I focused on school first, athletics second, and I had a lot of success in those two spaces. I was blessed to be recruited to the Academy to play football. However, I did have a little intellectual curiosity about what the place was all about. Coming on my recruiting visit, seeing the training going on, it definitely piqued my interest. But when I got here and went through the Prep School first, I actually somewhat enjoyed that experience. Basic training at the prep school was hard, but it definitely tests your mettle. And after maybe that first few weeks and thinking that I might quit, having a few conversations with people back home, definitely made the decision that I came here for a reason I was going to see it through. That was challenging next year, during basic training, matriculating into our first — or four-degree year, and I had a very catastrophic event happened with my family where my grandfather was tragically murdered by my uncle — I mean, to be transparent. When we were preparing for this, you mentioned, “Oh, you've gone through some traumas,” and I never really thought about it as a trauma, but it definitely was one. And I would say, through the healing process, I connected with a very great chaplain we had here who took a lot of time to help me heal. However, he could only do so much because I had a lot of work to do for myself. I was blessed to be able to travel and play as a freshman and so in that, between going through what I went through in basic training and then the culture of the football team of somewhat really focusing inward, it definitely helped to lead to a general indifference about maximizing my time at the Academy and focusing on things that may not have been as value add to the bigger picture of being here, if that makes sense. So, from a leadership perspective, in my sophomore year, I had to make a serious decision, like, “If I'm going to stay here, well, what am I here for? Am I going to maximize my time, or am I going to keep goofing off and trying to live like I'm at a civilian school kind of thing?” And so, I did make a conscious effort then to kind of lock in, but still, a young athlete that had a lot of distractions around them, there was still a lot of room to grow. And as I went through my cadet time, I would say, definitely found the beginning of my pride in this institution. Nothing like graduating and have the president call your name, right? That was probably one of the cooler experiences. I would say that was the genesis of my indifference towards the bigger picture of what the Academy represents. But in that, I did come to a few moments where I realized that “Hey, you're really wasting your time here if you're going to continue behaving and really thinking about the Academy from a selfish lens.” That just goes to show it's OK to grow up. The Terrazzo-gap doesn't still have to exist. We could all kind of give back to our organization in ways that we're comfortable with, but you just got to find the avenues to do it.   Naviere Walkewicz  27:27 Well, when I think of the Next Gen community, what excites me is I think about the two cadets that I have at the Academy, and it's the Next Gen community that's going to be their mentors when they graduate. So, when you think about that, it really puts it in perspective.   Christian Evans  27:41 They'll also be their commanders too.   Naviere Walkewicz  27:43 That's right. Well, Christian, it's been a pleasure having you on Long Blue Leadership. Thank you so much for being here today.   Christian Evans  27:49 Thank you again for having me and thank you to the whole team that makes this podcast happen. I know there's a lot of work that goes into it. Thank you for having me.   Naviere Walkewicz  28:01 Thank you for joining us for this edition of Long Blue Leadership. The podcast drops every two weeks on Tuesdays and is available on all your favorite podcast apps. Send your comments and guest ideas to us at social media@usafa.org, and listen to past episodes@longblueleadership.org   KEYWORDS Leadership, mentorship, personal growth, Air Force Academy, community impact, resilience, humor in leadership, self-discovery, transition to civilian life, alumni engagement.       The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation    

Living Fearlessly 2.0 Erin Ley is a World-Class Speaker, #1 Bestselling Author and Empowerment & Success Coach. She is Host of the streaming “Life On Track” summit and TV show, inspiring viewers worldwide about making the most of life's opportunities. For decades, audiences and clients across the globe have enjoyed her warmth and wisdom, inspired by her transformational power. She is the creator of the popular “Life On Track” coaching program. They call Erin “The Miracle Maker!” As a cancer thriver at age 25, happily unstuck single Mom of 3 at age 47, successful Entrepreneur at age 50, and serial manifester when it matters most, Erin has shown thousands upon thousands across the globe, how to become victorious by being focused, fearless, and excited about life and your future! Ms. Ley is the author of several books, including the popular #1 bestseller “WORKLUV: A Love Story”. Clients are empowered for life-change through her coaching, audio programs, educational videos, and live seminars. Erin says, “Celebrate life and you'll have a life worth celebrating!” To see more about Erin and the release of her 4th book, #1 Bestseller “WORKLUV: A Love Story”, along with her “Life On Track” Course & Coaching Programs, please visit https://erinley.com/ Jeria Arthur, aka "Ace" is the mother of two. Her daughter, Jayah, and son, Jayce, are the inspiration for and the characters in her children's book, “Girls Play Football Too,” The first in her book series. Through her Girls Play Football book series, Jeria aims to uplift, inspire and encourage little girls and young women to walk out their purpose and live their dreams. Ace's brand, Ace Athletics is housed at ACEquarters, a health and wellness complex. Although she doesn't look like a football player, Ace plays the game well. She is committed to being the best version of herself and inspires others to do the same. She believes that everyone has a purpose and encourages others to walk in that purpose, no matter what it is. Find yours and live it out… make a difference and encourage others to do the same! Jeria lives by the phrase, "There is no limit to what you can achieve." She says, "If you can see it in your mind, then you will hold it in your hand!" In 2021 Jeria took on the title of “firefighter!” She underwent rigorous training and now is a fully certified member of her local fire department. Keep striving to be your very best!  http://www.girlsplayfootball.org/ Email: Theaceathletics@gmail.com Instagram: @ace_wfla, @j_ace07, @ace_athletics1 Eldonna Lewis Fernandez is CEO of Dynamic Vision International Inc., and Baskets and Beads Kenya, Eldonna Lewis Fernandez showcases leadership, communication training and negotiation skills to corporate clients and small business owners internationally. Her business and fair trade verified organization are built on a 23-year career as a contract specialist in the United States Air Force, where she negotiated hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of domestic and international contracts – everything from pens and paper to office machines, automotive parts and aircraft maintenance. After retiring from the Air Force, Eldonna worked as a contracts administrator, negotiator and systems analyst for aerospace companies such as Raytheon, Parsons and L3Harris. She worked with Raytheon and the U.S. Navy on the F-18 Radar program, and with Sparta and Parsons on satellite launch programs for the Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base and on the U.S. Navy Virginia and Columbia Submarine programs with L3Harris. She is one of 89 Accredited Speakers worldwide honored by Toastmasters International for outstanding platform and presentation skills. She animates every keynote, workshop and breakout session with experiential participation, games or simulations. “You remember it because you're experiencing the information rather than passively listening to it,” she says. Eldonna is the author of Think Like A Negotiator ~ 50 Ways to Create Win-Win Results by Understanding the Pitfalls to Avoid, and GoPINK Rules of Engagement: 5 Foundational Principles for Taking Control of the Handlebars of Your Life. She also co-authored Heart of a Military Woman, an award-winning anthology of stories by, for, and about military women and families. She is also published in 7 other books including Heart of a Woman in Business and Heart of a Toastmaster Video Version: https://youtu.be/BCPccYPWUaA Call in with a comment or Chat with Teresa during Live Show with Video Stream: Call 646-558-8656 ID: 8836953587 press #.  To Ask a Question press *9 to raise your hand. Or click YouTube icon to write a question Learn more about Teresa here: www.webebookspublishing.com http://authenticendeavorspublishing.com/

Dustin Johnson is a software engineer and cofounder who started his career working at the Space & Missile Systems Center in California, Boeing, a drone company & the government, and then his startup — which recently closed a Series C and is now valued at a half billion dollars.

The Space Force recently unveiled new details of its plans to establish Space Systems Command to oversee the new service's acquisition and launch service—and redesignate Space and Missile Systems Center as its headquarters. Lt Gen JT Thompson shares his insights and perspective on the standup of the new command, as well as how Space Force is working to both improve acquisition and better leverage services available in the commercial space market.

I was pleased to speak with Colonel Bryon McClain on the Acquisition Talk podcast to discuss the biggest questions facing the defense acquisition system. He is the senior acquisition course instructor at the Eisenhower School, and before that he was the materiel leader for the rapid acquisition branch in the MILSATCOM directorate at the Space and Missile Systems Center. We touch on: - The role of interservice rivalry in military innovation - How today's processes address risk but not uncertainty - Moving past cost accounting when monitoring contracts - How unintended consequences plagued the C-5 development - Whether reform should focus on workforce culture or rules and regs In the episode, Bryon suggests a framework for how to interrelate the defense acquisition system with multiple fields of thought. One interesting aspect of that is the concept of American anti-statism along the industry and political axis in which it is agreed that government won't pick winners and losers but instead write the "rules of the road." In defense, however, the government writes the contracts with industry. So it has to pick winners and losers, right? In some cases that is true -- DoD is living with the winners of previous competitions. But for disruptive capabilities, DoD could help create markets. Bryon points to the Air Force's agility prime initiative, which seeks to support commercial eVTOL companies with the expectation of military applications to follow. While government may let contracts which still has a winner/loser aspect, there are many other ways about it. For example, providing companies equal access to test ranges and facilities, or providing industry subsidies like in solar panels and electric cars. As companies move down the cost curve, DoD becomes well placed to access disruptive innovation earlier and create dynamism in its industrial base. This podcast was produced by Eric Lofgren. Soundtrack by urmymuse: "reflections of u". You can follow us on Twitter @AcqTalk and find more information at AcquisitionTalk.com.

Episode 38 is an interview with CMSgt Lisa Arnold, who is the Command Chief Master Sergeant, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles California. We talk about Chief Arnold's toughest moments, sexual harassment, surviving deep desperation, rekindling friendships, facing glass ceiling, being a good human and an optimist, her grit, her biggest fears, the importance of sleep, and much more.

“All of physics is either impossible or trivial. It is impossible until you understand it, and then it becomes trivial.” E Rutherford Headlines- 1) Marine Corps Mastery Gunnery Sgt. Scott Stalker will take over for Space Force Chief Master Sgt. Roger Towberman a. (https://spacenews.com/marine-sergeant-named-u-s-space-commands-top-enlisted-leader/) 2. SpaceX to launch Masten lunar lander a.(https://spacenews.com/spacex-to-launch-masten-lunar-lander/) 3) The Space and Missile Systems Center needs a digital workflow system for the development of classified early-warning and communications satellites a. (https://spacenews.com/space-force-buyers-want-a-classified-cloud-to-manage-satellite-programs/) 4) NASA and Boeing outline schedule of Starliner test flights a.(https://spacenews.com/nasa-and-boeing-outline-schedule-of-starliner-test-flights/) 5) NASA delays new astronaut selection due to coronavirus constraints a.(https://www.space.com/nasa-astronaut-selection-coronavirus-delay.html) Law and policy- 1)SLS development increase a.(https://spacenews.com/nasa-increases-cost-estimate-for-sls-development/) ** WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SPACE POLICY AUGUST 23-29, 2020 a. (https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/whats-happening-in-space-policy-august-23-29-2020/) Events in August- 1) August 2020 Space Calendar of Events a.(http://spaceref.com/calendar/) 2) Launch Calendar a. (https://www.space.com/32286-space-calendar.html) Fun (https://neuralink.com/) (https://astronomy.com/news/2020/08/six-ways-to-buy-a-ticket-to-space-in-2021) Sponsor- (https://www.futureshredding.com) Contact- Twitter- @bluehelmco Instagram - @bluehelmco bluehelmco@gmail.com

Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies Corp., Hawthorne, California, has been awarded task orders for $316,000,000 for the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 contract. The NSSL Phase 2 contract is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery requirements contract for launch service procurements supporting launches planned between fiscal 2022 through fiscal 2027. This launch service contract includes early integration studies, launch service support, fleet surveillance, launch vehicle production, mission integration, mission launch operations, mission assurance, spaceflight worthiness, and mission unique activities for each mission. Work will be performed in Hawthorne, California; Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida; and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, and is expected to be completed March 2028. Future launch services and launch service support will be placed annually on subsequent task orders, and will be publically announced upon issuance. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition, and four offers were received. Fiscal 2020 space procurement funds in the amount of $316,000,000 will be obligated in the first order year for launch service and launch service support task orders to Space Exploration Technologies Corp. Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity (FA2211-20-D-0002). Become a member of Space News Pod! ►► https://www.youtube.com/spacenewspod/join ►► https://twitch.tv/eggberttv ►► https://facebook.com/spacenewspod ►► https://anchor.fm/space-news ►► https://patreon.com/spacenewspodcast ►► https://twitter.com/spacenewspod ►► https://instagram.com/thespacenewspod *As an affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. Any affiliate links above used may contribute a small commission to help me create new content. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/space-news/support

The Air Force is rushing to prepare a new generation of weather satellites. It recently decommissioned one of five existing satellites under the Defense Meterological Satellite Program. The remaining four are operating years longer than they were designed to. For a progress report the Federal Drive with Tom Temin turned to Ball Aerospace program manager Allison Barto and Low earth orbit division chief Charlotte Gerhart of the Space Force Space and Missile Systems Center

Join the fan chat on Discord! Link: https://discord.gg/FupzWf Daredevil 'Mad' Mike Hughes Killed In Crash Of Homemade Rocket Link: https://www.npr.org/2020/02/23/808645524/daredevil-mad-mike-hughes-killed-in-crash-of-homemade-rocket The daredevil "Mad" Mike Hughes was killed in a rocket launch gone wrong Saturday in Barstow, Calif., two witnesses to the accident confirmed. He was 64. It was the third launch for Hughes in one of his homemade rockets and part of his eventual plan to be able to determine for himself, up in the sky, if Earth was as flat as he proclaimed to believe. A steel ladder was attached to the rocket's launch ramp to make it easier for Hughes to enter the cockpit. But when the rocket launched, it hit the ladder, setting the launch on course for disaster. "It ripped off a parachute can, which deployed the parachute, which got caught in the thrust of the rocket and kind of took the rocket off course a little bit," said Justin Chapman, a freelance journalist who was at the launch site. The steam-powered rocket wobbled and did a huge arc before crashing less than a minute later. "He went way up in the sky," Chapman said. "I'm not sure how high. But his goal was 5,000 feet. Then it did an arc and then came straight down and nose-dived into the desert floor about half a mile away from the launch pad." Hughes also launched in Winkelman, Ariz., in 2014, traveling 1,374 feet, according to the AP. Before taking up rocketry, Hughes was a stuntman who jumped limousines. He holds the record for the longest limousine ramp jump, according to Guinness World Records. Hughes jumped a 6,500-pound Lincoln Town Car stretch limo 103 feet at Perris Auto Speedway in 2002. "He was trying to re-create the Snake River Canyon jump that Evel Knievel tried years ago," Chapman said. "And I think that ultimately didn't come together. But he did just jump limos over big distances and then moved on to building his own rockets and launching himself that way." "He was often lonely and felt his accomplishments as a daredevil had been forgotten," they wrote. "Ultimately, he just wanted to lead a meaningful life. He had very little money, but he found a way to bring excitement and purpose to his life by doing affordable stunts with rockets that he built himself using spare parts." Chapman says that Hughes "fully understood the risks" of his rocket launches. "He knew very well, he said very often, that this thing could kill you, he was very well aware of that. He was a daredevil and he was driven by this compulsion to do extraordinary things and inspire people, as he put it." Stakes simply called Hughes the "greatest daredevil this country has ever seen." Launch Service Agreement contract winners Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman and United Launch Alliance have filed 'motions to intervene' in the lawsuit filed by SpaceX Link: https://spacenews.com/spacex-launches-new-legal-battle-against-u-s-air-force/ WASHINGTON — A lawsuit filed May 17 by SpaceX against the U.S. government was made public on Wednesday. In the 79-page redacted bid protest, SpaceX challenges the U.S. Air Force's Oct. 10 decision to award development contracts to its competitors and exclude SpaceX. SpaceX's bid protest with the Court of Federal Claims challenges the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center's decision to deny SpaceX a Launch Service Agreement contract as “arbitrary and capricious and contrary to law.” Will SpaceX and OneWeb help the military stay connected in the Arctic? Link: https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/c2-comms/2020/02/24/will-spacex-and-oneweb-help-the-military-stay-connected-in-the-arctic/ The military wants to experiment with commercial satellites from OneWeb and SpaceX's Starlink mega-constellations to keep war fighters connected in the Arctic, but it will need extra funding to do so. Those companies aim to provide internet access via proliferated constellations made up of thousands of small satellites in low earth orbit. The military has been keen on leveraging this growing commercial capability, and the Air Force has awarded contracts to test how the satellite broadband service can be used by war fighters. Show Stuff The Dark Horde Podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-dark-horde The Dark Horde, LLC – http://www.thedarkhorde.com Twitter @DarkHorde or https://twitter.com/HordeDark TeePublic Store - Get your UBR goodies today! http://tee.pub/lic/2GQuXxn79dg UBR Truth Seekers Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/216706068856746 UFO Buster Radio: https://www.facebook.com/UFOBusterRadio YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCggl8-aPBDo7wXJQ43TiluA To contact Manny: manny@ufobusterradio.com, or on Twitter @ufobusterradio Call the show anytime at (972) 290-1329 and leave us a message with your point of view, UFO sighting, and ghostly experiences or join the discussion on www.ufobusterradio.com For Skype Users: bosscrawler

Join the fan chat on Discord! Link: https://discord.gg/FupzWf Daredevil 'Mad' Mike Hughes Killed In Crash Of Homemade Rocket Link: https://www.npr.org/2020/02/23/808645524/daredevil-mad-mike-hughes-killed-in-crash-of-homemade-rocket The daredevil "Mad" Mike Hughes was killed in a rocket launch gone wrong Saturday in Barstow, Calif., two witnesses to the accident confirmed. He was 64. It was the third launch for Hughes in one of his homemade rockets and part of his eventual plan to be able to determine for himself, up in the sky, if Earth was as flat as he proclaimed to believe. A steel ladder was attached to the rocket's launch ramp to make it easier for Hughes to enter the cockpit. But when the rocket launched, it hit the ladder, setting the launch on course for disaster. "It ripped off a parachute can, which deployed the parachute, which got caught in the thrust of the rocket and kind of took the rocket off course a little bit," said Justin Chapman, a freelance journalist who was at the launch site. The steam-powered rocket wobbled and did a huge arc before crashing less than a minute later. "He went way up in the sky," Chapman said. "I'm not sure how high. But his goal was 5,000 feet. Then it did an arc and then came straight down and nose-dived into the desert floor about half a mile away from the launch pad." Hughes also launched in Winkelman, Ariz., in 2014, traveling 1,374 feet, according to the AP. Before taking up rocketry, Hughes was a stuntman who jumped limousines. He holds the record for the longest limousine ramp jump, according to Guinness World Records. Hughes jumped a 6,500-pound Lincoln Town Car stretch limo 103 feet at Perris Auto Speedway in 2002. "He was trying to re-create the Snake River Canyon jump that Evel Knievel tried years ago," Chapman said. "And I think that ultimately didn't come together. But he did just jump limos over big distances and then moved on to building his own rockets and launching himself that way." "He was often lonely and felt his accomplishments as a daredevil had been forgotten," they wrote. "Ultimately, he just wanted to lead a meaningful life. He had very little money, but he found a way to bring excitement and purpose to his life by doing affordable stunts with rockets that he built himself using spare parts." Chapman says that Hughes "fully understood the risks" of his rocket launches. "He knew very well, he said very often, that this thing could kill you, he was very well aware of that. He was a daredevil and he was driven by this compulsion to do extraordinary things and inspire people, as he put it." Stakes simply called Hughes the "greatest daredevil this country has ever seen." Launch Service Agreement contract winners Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman and United Launch Alliance have filed 'motions to intervene' in the lawsuit filed by SpaceX Link: https://spacenews.com/spacex-launches-new-legal-battle-against-u-s-air-force/ WASHINGTON — A lawsuit filed May 17 by SpaceX against the U.S. government was made public on Wednesday. In the 79-page redacted bid protest, SpaceX challenges the U.S. Air Force's Oct. 10 decision to award development contracts to its competitors and exclude SpaceX. SpaceX's bid protest with the Court of Federal Claims challenges the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center's decision to deny SpaceX a Launch Service Agreement contract as “arbitrary and capricious and contrary to law.” Will SpaceX and OneWeb help the military stay connected in the Arctic? Link: https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/c2-comms/2020/02/24/will-spacex-and-oneweb-help-the-military-stay-connected-in-the-arctic/ The military wants to experiment with commercial satellites from OneWeb and SpaceX's Starlink mega-constellations to keep war fighters connected in the Arctic, but it will need extra funding to do so. Those companies aim to provide internet access via proliferated constellations made up of thousands of small satellites in low earth orbit. The military has been keen on leveraging this growing commercial capability, and the Air Force has awarded contracts to test how the satellite broadband service can be used by war fighters. Show Stuff The Dark Horde Podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-dark-horde The Dark Horde, LLC – http://www.thedarkhorde.com Twitter @DarkHorde or https://twitter.com/HordeDark TeePublic Store - Get your UBR goodies today! http://tee.pub/lic/2GQuXxn79dg UBR Truth Seekers Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/216706068856746 UFO Buster Radio: https://www.facebook.com/UFOBusterRadio YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCggl8-aPBDo7wXJQ43TiluA To contact Manny: manny@ufobusterradio.com, or on Twitter @ufobusterradio Call the show anytime at (972) 290-1329 and leave us a message with your point of view, UFO sighting, and ghostly experiences or join the discussion on www.ufobusterradio.com For Skype Users: bosscrawler

On this episode of the Business Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests include Lt. Gen. John "JT" Thompson, USAF, Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. and then we discuss the week on world markets with “Rocket Ron” Epstein, PhD, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group consultancy and Sash Tusa of Agency Partners. Topics: — Priorities for the US Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center   — Widening global economic impact of coronavirus, especially on commercial air travel — Boeing’s move to secure $12 billion in financing as it works to return 737 Max to service — Trump administration move to levy tariffs on Airbus jetliners — Washington state’s decision to cease tax breaks on Boeing as World Trade Organization prepares to issue decision on government support for American jetliner giant — Trump administration about face on blocking CFM International’s Leap 1C engine export to China for Comac 919 program — BAE and MTU 2019 results — GE Aviation’s decision to pursue Airbus orders

(l to r) Brig. Gen. Donna D. Shipton, Vice Commander, Space & Missile Systems Center, Lt. Gen. John Thompson, Commander, Space & Missile Systems Center, Emily and John Goodwin, Honorary Commanders Space & Missile Systems Center at the Ft. MacArthur Centennial Celebration. — Opening ceremony by Colonel Ann Igl, Commander, 61st Air Base Group. — Interview with Lt. Gen. Thompson on the role of Space & Missile Systems Center — The history of Ft MacArthur by museum guide, Francisco Lacey — At the Gold Star Pavillion, Ken Sturgill talks about what "Service before Self" really means

The official podcast of Air Force Space Command returns to the Space and Missile Systems Center in L.A. to talk upgrades. SMC's job is to develop, acquire, field and sustain military space systems. Now, they're revolutionizing the way they do business, and it's called SMC 2.0. We're talking with Lt Col Heather Bogstie and Capt Stuart Everson, two key players in the transformation. (U.S. Air Force audio by Jacob Mosolf) The views and opinions expressed or implied in this podcast are those of the participants and should not be construed as carrying the official sanction of the Department of Defense, Air Force, Air Force Space Command, or other agencies or departments of the US government.

The official video podcast of Air Force Space Command hits the road! This time, we're at the Space and Missile Systems Center in Los Angeles to have a conversation about GPS III with Lt. Col. Erin Gulden and Capt. Steven Futch. Our launches are coming fast and furious this summer, so stay tuned for GPS III Part 2, next Friday! (U.S. Air Force video by Staff Sgt. J.T. Armstrong and Jacob Mosolf) The views and opinions expressed or implied in this podcast are those of the participants and should not be construed as carrying the official sanction of the Department of Defense, Air Force, Air Force Space Command, or other agencies or departments of the US government.

The official video podcast of Air Force Space Command hits the road! This time, we're at the Space and Missile Systems Center in Los Angeles to have a conversation with two USAFA (U.S. Air Force Academy) Graduates: Capt. Woody Go and 1Lt. Cecily Agu. They're telling us about the satellites they worked on at the Academy that are now heading to space! Our launches are coming fast and furious this summer, so stay tuned for GPS III next Friday! (U.S. Air Force video by Staff Sgt. J.T. Armstrong, Dave Grim and Jacob Mosolf) The views and opinions expressed or implied in this podcast are those of the participants and should not be construed as carrying the official sanction of the Department of Defense, Air Force, Air Force Space Command, or other agencies or departments of the US government.

Today's story: The U.S. Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center and its mission partners, NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association recently launched the DOD's Space Test Program-2, or STP-2 mission from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex.

The official podcast of Air Force Space Command hits the road! This time, we're at the Space and Missile Systems Center in Los Angeles to have a conversation with two of our wingmen who launch satellites for a living: Dr. Walt Lauderdale and 1st Lt. Rob Larue. Our launches are coming fast and furious this summer, so find out all about it here. (U.S. Air Force podcast by Jacob Mosolf and Dave Grim) The views and opinions expressed or implied in this podcast are those of the participants and should not be construed as carrying the official sanction of the Department of Defense, Air Force, Air Force Space Command, or other agencies or departments of the US government.

As CEO of Dynamic Vision International Inc., Eldonna Lewis Fernandez dispenses leadership, negotiation and communication training to corporate clients and small business owners internationally. Her business is built on a 23-year career as a contract specialist in the Air Force, where she negotiated hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of domestic and international contracts – everything from pens and paper to office machines, automotive parts, and aircraft maintenance. After retiring from the Air Force, Eldonna spent 10 years as a contracts administrator, negotiator and systems analyst for aerospace companies such as Raytheon, Sparta, and Parsons. She worked with Raytheon and the U.S. Navy on the F-18 Radar program, and with Sparta and Parsons on satellite launch programs for Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base. Today, her corporate workshops and keynotes cover a variety of topics – everything from negotiating skills to leading effective meetings and becoming a self-leader, which she defines as “asking for what you want, and owning the power to stand up for yourself.” The award-winning speaker and author is one of 69 Toastmaster Accredited Speakers worldwide. She enlivens every keynote, workshop or breakout session with games or simulations. “You remember it because you’re experiencing the information rather than passively listening to it,” she says. Eldonna has written two books: Think Like A Negotiator ~ 50 Ways to Create Win-Win Results by Understanding the Pitfalls to Avoid and GoPINK Rules of Engagement: 5 Foundational Principles for Taking Control of the Handlebars of Your Life.  She also co-authored Heart of a Military Woman, a compilation of stories by, for, and about military women. TOP POINTS FROM THE EPISODE: 1. In order to give love you have to love yourself. 2. Think like a negotiator: Own your power. Speaking up when you need to, stand up for yourself! Ask for exactly what you want! Is it fair and reasonable? 3. Get in there and do it! You can’t be an expert my switching on a light. 4. Be prepared! You decide in advance what your bottom line is! Decide your walk away point! STAY CONNECTED:  www.EldonnaLewisFernandez.com , eldonna@thinklikeanegotiator.com, https://www.facebook.com/ThinkLikeANegotiator, @EldonnaF on twitter and Instagram Thank you again for joining us today please check out our webpage at www.riseupforyou.com for more podcast episodes, webinars, articles, free resources, and events to help you get to the next level in your life! You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Google+, and Youtube @riseupforyou If you know anybody that would benefit from this episode please share it with them and help spread the knowledge and motivation. Please support Rise Up For You by writing a review on iTunes. Your feedback will really help the success of our show and push us to continuously be better!  So don’t forget to show your support! SUBSCRIBE TODAY FOR WEEKLY EPISODES AT YOUR FINGERTIPS https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/rise-up-for-you/id1041139377?mt=2

Eldonna Lewis Fernandez has some fascinating stories to tell, illustrating what happens when you say YES to opportunities. As CEO of Dynamic Vision International Inc., Eldonna Lewis Fernandez dispenses leadership, negotiation and communication training to corporate clients and small business owners internationally. Her business is built on a 23-year career as a contract specialist in the Air Force, where she negotiated hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of domestic and international contracts – everything from pens and paper to office machines, automotive parts and aircraft maintenance. After retiring from the Air Force, Eldonna spent 10 years as a contracts administrator, negotiator and systems analyst for aerospace companies such as Raytheon, Sparta and Parsons. She worked with Raytheon and the U.S. Navy on the F-18 Radar program, and with Sparta and Parsons on satellite launch programs for the Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base. Today, her corporate workshops and keynotes cover a variety of topics – everything from negotiating skills to leading effective meetings and becoming a self-leader, which she defines as “asking for what you want, and owning the power to stand up for yourself.” The award-winning speaker and author is one of 69 Toastmaster Accredited Speakers worldwide. She enlivens every keynote, workshop or breakout session with games or simulations. “You remember it because you are experiencing the information rather than passively listening to it,” she says. Eldonna has written two books: Think Like A Negotiator, 50 Ways to Create Win Win Results by Understanding the Pitfalls to Avoid and GoPINK Rules of Engagement: 5 Foundational Principles for Taking Control of the Handlebars of Your Life. She also co-authored Heart of a Military Woman, a compilation of stories by, for and about military women. Among her many media credits, she has appeared on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox Business, Fox News and CNN, and been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Forbes and The Huffington Post.

Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 84! The interview in the SPaMCAST 84 is with Ricardo Valerdi.  We discussed software cost estimation and behavioral economics.  This was a great interview that anyone working in the IT field will find immediately useful and thought provoking in the long term. Dr. Valerdi's current research interests include systems engineering cost estimation, system level metrics and models, dynamics in large-scale government system acquisition, and system-of-systems ontologies. His contributions to the field include the Constructive Systems Engineering Cost Model (COSYSMO), a model for estimating systems engineering effort, which has been calibrated with data provided by BAE Systems, Boeing, General Dynamics, L-3 Communications, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and SAIC. He is also the co-founder of the Systems Engineering Advancement Research Initiative (SEAri), which was launched in 2007. He received his B.S./B.A. in electrical engineering from the University of San Diego in 1999, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in systems architecting and engineering from USC in 2002 and 2005. Between 1999 and 2002, he worked as a systems engineer at Motorola where he was responsible for the design and implementation of mission critical public safety communications systems for clients such as the Los Angeles Police Department, Orange County Sheriff, and San Diego Police Department. He has been affiliated with The Aerospace Corporation's Economic and Market Analysis Center as a member of the technical staff since 2003 and he supports cost analysis of programs for the Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center at the Los Angeles Air Force Base. Dr. Valerdi is the author of more than 45 technical publications for IEEE, AIAA, and INCOSE conferences. His work has appeared in several journals, including Journal of Systems Engineering, Journal of Systems and Software, and CrossTalk - The Journal of Defense Software Engineering. He has also served as a reviewer for IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management and IEEE Software. He served as program chair of the 20th Forum on COCOMO and Software Cost Modeling and is involved with INCOSE in the Measurement Working Group, the Systems Engineering and Architecting Doctoral Student Network, and since 2007 has served on the Board of Directors as associate director for international growth. He is a visiting associate at the Center for Systems & Software Engineering at USC. Contact information:Email:      rvalerdi@mit.edu Website:  http://rvalerdi.mit.edu Remember to check out GoTo Assist Express! The essay is titled Outsourcing:  Metrics and Governance.  The essay  discusses why it is important to get the link between metrics and governance right in outsourcing contracts.  It goes on to stress why it is important to engage process and metrics experts when negotiating the linkages.  One of the new features you will notice in SPaMCAST 84 is an ad.  I do not take adding ads lightly  but have decide to occasionally run ads to help defray the cost of hosting, bandwidth and equipment.  When I do run ads I will only run those I feel comfortable with.  Let me know your thoughts on the matter. Contact information for the Software Process and Measurement Cast Email:  spamcastinfo@gmail.com Voicemail:  +1-206-888-6111 Website: www.spamcast.net Twitter: www.twitter.com/tcagley Facebook:  http://bit.ly/16fBWV Conferences and Speaking Engagements in 2010 (To Date)   ISMA Cinco in São Paulo September 13-15.  I will be one of the featured speakers.  More on the topic the near future.  The website to get more information is http://www.ifpug.org/conferences/  I hope to see you there! Next! The interview in the SPaMCAST 85 is with Cory Foy.  We talked agile and agile coaching.  Whether you are using SCRUM, xP or any software development methodology I think you will have a lot to think about after listening to Cory.