From the bridge of the Bertholf

07/05/2011
07/05/2011 MONDAY, MAY 9, 2011 As one of the Coast Guard’s newest assets, the national security cutters bring operational capabilities the fleet needs for mission success. Compass has asked the wardroom of Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf, the service’s first NSC, to share their unique perspective on how the fleet’s newest…

An Unheralded Victory for the 12th Air Force

06/28/2011
06/28/2011 by Ed Timperlake “Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.” John Lennon A tremendous and unnoticed US Air Force victory is being won right off the shores of America.  And this victory highlights the impact of a Hi-Lo mix of technology. “Brazilian planes silence Dominican…

French “Vampires” and US Air/Sea Battle

06/19/2011
06/19/2011 by Ed Timperlake CNN recently reported from the deck of a French assault ship that as the night arrives over Libya.  French Attack helicopters go into battle. The Tiger helicopter is being used in Afghanistan and operates off of French helo carriers as well.  Helicopter gun ships leave as…

Insights from the TACC

06/16/2011
A Wrap Up Discussion with Captain Brockhoff 06/16/2011 - After an overview briefing and a visit to the Tanker Airlift Control Center (TACC) command center, Second Line of Defense sat down with Captain Brockhoff to focus on several items highlighted in the morning briefing. Captain Justin Brockhoff is the Chief…

Crafting Solutions at the TACC in Dialogue with USTRANSCOM

06/16/2011
The Planning Piece An Interview with Major Fuller [caption id="attachment_18862" align="alignleft" width="180" caption="Major Fuller During the SLD Interview (Credit: SLD)"][/caption] 06/16/2011 - Major Christopher Fuller of the Tanker Airlift Control Center (TACC) kicked off the roundtable by discussing airlift planning for missions into Iraq, Afghanistan and for humanitarian operations.  A…

A Spanish Approach to Maritime Security: The Role of Salvamento Marítimo

06/16/2011
06/16/2011: A very interesting presentation by one user of Airbus Military products at the Airbus Military Trade Media event was by Néstor Perales, Surveillance and Prediction Manager at Salvamento Marítimo. http://www.salvamentomaritimo.es/ The organization provided a different business model for the use of a fleet of planes and ships to deliver…

The Portuguese 502 Squadron “Elefantes”: Leveraging the C-295M

06/14/2011
06/14/2011: During the Airbus Trade Media event, the 502 Squadron Commander, Major Dina Azevedo, discussed the mission sets, which the Command performed, and how they used the C-295M in meeting mission needs. She has been based at Seville, Spain as part of the initial acceptance team and then became the…

Evolving Air Power Paradigms

06/13/2011
The Emergence of the Three Dimensional Warriors By Robbin Laird 06/16/2011 - As we look forward to the next decade of air power, the question of how best to understand the way forward is rooted in an understanding that past is not prologue.  The leveraging of new technologies in preparing…