Join the N&T COI for a panel discussion on the outcomes and deliverables of the "Operational Use of Non-Terrestrial Networks" project.
Topic: Panel Discussion covering the use of non-terrestrial network technology to provide real-world solutions for government agencies and tribal communities with network connectivity challenges.
Description: Join the N&T COI and a panel of subject matter experts who will provide details about their own lessons learned and experiences using non-terrestrial network technology, as described in the “Operational Use of Non-Terrestrial Network Technology” report recently completed by this committee. Hear more about their individual use case applications in a variety of locations; how they chose the technologies used; outcomes of their deployment; and, testing to enhance communications and provide reliable solutions to meet each of their unique challenges.
Format: Virtual event; meeting details provided upon registration.
Moderator:
CAPT Joseph Baczkowski, NOAA N-Wave
Panelists:
Richard Vogel, NOAA NWS
Donald Jones, NOAA OMAO
Andrew Wiedlea, DOE ESnet
Kevin Hamer, Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Tribal Broadband Consortium
Sharon Hamer, Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Tribal Broadband Consortium
Speaker Bios
CAPT Joseph Baczkowski
N-Wave Engagement & Outreach Manager
Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
CAPT Joseph Baczkowski transferred to N-Wave January of 2023 as the manager of the Engagement and Outreach portfolio. He is a US Public Health Service Commissioned Officer attached to NOAA since 2009. His assignments include Chief Information Officer of NOAA’s Office of Marine and Aviation Operations and Acting Director of NOAA’s Cloud Program Office.
Prior to NOAA he has held various cyber roles on government and military assignments. He also served eight years in the US Army Infantry as a signal specialist and three years in the US Air Force as a cyber and satellite operator.
Richard Vogel, who holds a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science, is currently serving as Lead Communication Engineer for NWS/Office of Observations/Surface and Upper-Air Division/Program Management Branch. Primary focus at this time is the transformation of the communications architecture for the 900+ Automated Surface Observing Systems (ASOS) installations. These encompass every medium and large scale airport within the FAA National Airspace, US Navy Air Stations and roughly 40 non-airport climate based installations.
Prior to his current duties that started in Jan 2023, Richard spent 19 years with the NWS National Reconditioning Center in the Kansas City, MO area. He started in 2003 after 10 years as a Navy Electronics Technician working as a depot-level bench repair technician and worked his way up to the Senior Engineer position in 2021.
Mr. Vogel lives in Lee's Summit, MO with his wife Kim of 30 years and three children spread out between 28, 24 and 16 years of age. While he hates to own the fact, he also has four dogs that roam the house. When not spending time with family and friends, Richard enjoys python programming and hardware development projects.
Donald E Jones, Chief, Emerging Technologies; Marine Operations – Engineering
I have been with NOAA for 19-1/2 years, starting as a Rotating Electronics Technician on NOAA Ships in March 2004. I transitioned to a Fleet IT Specialist in 2008 and assisted with the re-design/development/configuration/implementation of the shipboard Active Directory network structure and fleet email system modernization effort. I was promoted to Chief of the Electronics Engineering Branch in 2011 where I managed the Rotating Electronics personnel and the maintenance of all shipboard electronics, communications and IT equipment. When the Marine Operations – Engineering branch was formed by combining the Mechanical Engineering Branch and the Electronics Engineering Branch in 2019, I transitioned to Chief, Emerging Technologies and have been involved with equipment and technology upgrades since.
Andrew Wiedlea is a Senior Computer Systems Engineer with the Energy Sciences Network (ESnet). In this role, he is developing capabilities supporting extension of ESnet to support energy, earth and environmental scientists operating in locations where fiber connectivity is unavailable, as part of fulfilling ESnet's mission of freeing scientists from geographical constraints.
Kevin Hamer is a former federal government IT senior executive who integrates edge creativity and lean agile practices to deliver technically innovative, valuable, user-centric solutions. His 34-year federal government career included leading change for billions of dollars of national digital transformation and IT modernization programs for multiple Agencies.
A true servant leader, Kevin’s second career is focused on driving economic opportunity for his family’s Tribe, the Akiak Native Community, in remote SW Alaska. He cofounded five for-profit and two nonprofit companies to serve Tribal communities including Akiak Technology, LLC in 2019. Akiak Technology is the first SBA certified tribal owed 8(a) company in western Alaska.
Akiak Technology’s ground-breaking Broadband Feasibility Study led to the Akiak Low Earth Orbit (LEO) project. The Akiak LEO project delivered the historic first publicly offered broadband in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (YKD) to 100 percent of the Akiak Native Community in less than five months. Turned on in November 2021, Akiak is the first OneWeb LEO community in the world. The Akiak LEO terrestrial infrastructure and services are all tribally owned and operated.
Kevin is the CEO of Akiak Holdings and the General Manager of the YKD Tribal Broadband Consortium, a 501(c)3 nonprofit Alaskan Tribal Organization dedicated to bringing affordable broadband internet and digital equity to the 56 YKD tribal communities.
Kevin and his wife, Sharon, an enrolled member of the Akiak Native Community, split their time between Alexandria VA and Bethel AK. He has a BA from the University of Notre Dame and a MS in IT from the University of Virginia.
Sharon Hamer is a retired Federal Senior Manager who became a business entrepreneur in 2019 to pursue her passion to provide a better economic future for her Indigenous people in Southwest Alaska. Sharon’s strong leadership combined with her IT and facility systems expertise helped deliver nationwide Integrated Facilities Management (IFM) systems that improved occupant safety, facility security, and sustainability for tens of thousands of government and contractor employees.
Sharon Hamer is Yup’ik and an enrolled member of the Akiak Native Community, a federally recognized Tribe in Akiak, Alaska. She is the first Indigenous woman President of the first-tribally owned 8(a) company in Southwestern Alaska. Sharon cofounded seven for profit Tribal companies and one nonprofit Tribal Organization. In recognition of her many accomplishments, Sharon was named SBA’s Virgnia Small Businessperson of the Year in 2023, SBA’s Washington Metropolitan Area District Small Business Person of the Year in 2023, and the 2024 Native Woman Business Owner of the Year by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED).
United States