AFCEA, (Armed Forces Communications and ElectronicsAssociation) is a non-profit membership association serving the military,government, industry, and academia as an ethical forum for advancingprofessional knowledge and relationships in the fields of communications,IT, intelligence, and global security.

Founded in 1946, AFCEA International’s roots trace back to theAmerican Civil War. Today, AFCEA serves as a bridge betweengovernment requirements and industry capabilities, representing the topgovernment, industry, and military professionals in the fields of informationtechnology, communications, and intelligence.

AFCEA International has 134 worldwide chapters with 19,000individual members, 13,000 corporate associates from government,military, and industry.

Over 1,600 corporate member sponsors, representing the World’sleading designers, planners, manufacturers, testers and users of systems,services and components for IT, communications, and intelligence.

AFCEA individual chapters have long enjoyed a reputation as thepremier professional association for individuals committed to excellence inthe previously mentioned disciplines. That reputation was built byvolunteers… intelligent, focused, and dedicated professionals worldwide.

The Blue Angels Pensacola AFCEA chapter’s primary goals are toprovide a strong ethical forum where C4I professionals can exchange ideasand learn of the latest technologies available in order to satisfy commandand control, electronics, and intelligence requirements and awardscholarships to those in pursuit of such endeavors. Our chapter helpsfoster close cooperative relationships among civil government agencies,the military and industry.

Chapter events include luncheons featuring distinguished guestspeakers, scholarships and awards, annual scholarship fund raising golftournament, and access to annual banquets, conferences/symposia thatbring in leading edge technology and Chief Information Officers from alloccupations to discuss information technology issues.

All of these events provide excellent opportunities for members tointerface with government, military, commercial industry, and educationalfoundations in a common forum to exchange ideas and solutions.

The AFCEA Awards and Scholarship program promotes academicexcellence in science and engineering at the graduate, undergraduate andROTC program levels with the Blue Angels Pensacola chapter supportingeducational and merit endeavors by elementary through high school,community colleges and universities. The mission is to supportdevelopment of engineers and technical personnel through selectivemotivational awards, prizes and scholarships, grants for educationalactivities of unique and high value and professional educational programs.

The primary fund raising event for the Blue Angels PensacolaChapter’s Awards and Scholarship Fund is our annual Golf Tournament.Past events have provided for the funding for scholarship awards to localdeserving students. Support for higher education is a primary focus for theorganization at the local and national level. In recent years, localengineering and technology students received several thousands of dollarsin scholarships.

In 2003 $750 Scholarship was awarded to Paul Jones, University ofWest Florida student, while pursuing his Bachelor of Science degree inElectrical Engineering. Same year, $750 Scholarship was awarded to TinaTallon, Pensacola Junior College student, with a Computer Science major.

In 2004 Liann Lofton was selected to receive the General EmmettPaige Scholarship, and was presented this award at a Pensacola chaptermeeting by LTG John Dubia, Executive Vice President for AFCEAInternational.

In 2005 two students from the University of West Florida were eachawarded significant scholarships with the support of AFCEA International.Liann Lofton received her second General Emmett Paige Scholarship in theamount of $2,000. Jenni Williams was one of eleven students nationwidewho received the General John A. Wickham Scholarship in the amount of$2,000.

In 2006 with the support of AFCEA International, Rick O’Conner,Marine Science Instructor, Institute of Maritime Studies, Washington High School, Pensacola was awarded a $1,000 Scholarship as a recipient of theAFCEA Educational Foundation’s Science Teaching Tools Award program.

In 2006 a cash offering of $500 was awarded to the AFCEA Czechchapter in support of International membership, growth and AFCEA, (Armed Forces Communications and ElectronicsAssociation) is a non-profit membership association serving the military,government, industry, and academia as an ethical forum for advancingprofessional knowledge and relationships in the fields of communications,IT, intelligence, and global security.

In 2007 two $500 scholarships were provided from the Blue AngelsPensacola (2005) fund raiser chapter golf tournament. The first $500 wasawarded to Scott T. Murphy, University of South Florida student, for hispursuit in Nuclear Engineering, and a Tampa AFCEA chapter member.The second scholarship was awarded to his twin brother, Sam C. Murphy,a Florida State University student also pursuing education in NuclearEngineering, and a Pensacola AFCEA chapter member. Both young mengraduated from Gulf Breeze High School in 2006.

In 2007 two $1,000 scholarships, from the Blue Angels Pensacola(2006) fund raiser chapter golf tournament were awarded to University ofWest Florida and Pensacola Junior College. Bob Pierce, VP Awards andEducation, Pensacola Chapter verified each college recipient met awardcriteria.

In 2008 (for 2007) the following scholarships will be awarded:$1,000 Scholarship as a recipient of the AFCEA Educational Foundation’sScience Teaching Tools Award program. Shannon Farrell, ScienceTeacher Woodlawn Beach Middle School, (Teacher of the Year 2007-2008WBMS). Farrell played an instrumental part in the WBMS Robotics Teamand their participation in the Boosting Engineering, Science, andTechnology (BEST) local competition, which they won and then went on tocompete at state title level.$1,000 Scholarship to Sam Murphy, Pensacola AFCEA chapter member.Sam will be in his third year at Florida State University, participating in theFlorida A& M University/Navy ROTC program.$1,000 Scholarship to the University of West Florida Foundation, via Ms.Gretchen Van Valkenburg to be awarded to a student in pursuit of highereducation in the Division of Engineering, Computer Sciences, and/orInformation Technology fields.$1,000 Scholarship to the Pensacola Junior College Foundation, via Ms.Meredith Jones-Wolf to be awarded to a student in pursuit of highereducation in the Division of Engineering, Computer Sciences, and/orInformation Technology fields.

In the past, the Blue Angels Pensacola chapter, representing AFCEAInternational, has presented UWF Cadet Second Lieutenant Kenneth Torres, UWF Cadet Jenni Williams, UWF Cadet Jonathan Berg, and UWFCadet Joseph M. McCandless with AFCEA Honor Awards.

In addition to our scholarships, our fund raising golf tournamentshave allowed us in the past to be a sponsor of the Pensacola Bay AreaChamber of Commerce Military Appreciation Month (MAM) Student EssayContest and to participate in annual MAM Golf Tournaments.

We anticipate an increase in our return from this year’s and futureannual golf tournaments to further enhance our ability to provide awardsand scholarship assistance to deserving students. While the AFCEA BlueAngels Pensacola Florida Chapter is still a very young organization, it hasmade significant strides in becoming a major contributor in the affairs of theGulf Coast community. The chapter has received awards for outstandingachievements as the “Model Chapter of the Year” in 2003 and 2005. Thechapter received the “Albert J. Myer Award for Achievement” in recognitionfor total membership growth in 2003 and 2005.