Espionage and the PRC Challenge

04/27/2011
By Edward Timperlake 04/27/2011 - Testimony on cyber-attacks, espionage, and technology transfers to the People’s Republic of China, before the Foreign Affairs Committee, United States House of Representatives. Friday April 15, 2011 *** Mr. Chairman and distinguished members of the Committee, it is an honor to be asked to testify…

Leveraging the Advantages of the USN-USMC Team

04/27/2011
04/27/2011 - In late March 2011, Second Line of Defense visited San Diego to discuss the evolution of the USN-USMC team as seen by key members of the staff of Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.  At a time when the nation is remembering the 100 years of Naval Aviation,…

Building the LPD-17

04/27/2011
04/27/2011 - In late March 2011, prior to the christening of the LPD-24 at the Ingalls Shipyards in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Second Line of Defense interviewed the LPD 17 program manager, Doug Lounsberry.  Lounsberry provided an overview to the challenges of building this class of ship and the advantages, which the…

EMB314: Which Gender Issue?

04/21/2011
The Political Silly Season has now entered into an AF source selection By Ed Timperlake 04/21/2011 - One of the strangest arguments ever made about competing aircraft in a source selection was recently made in an article in The Hill. The general vice president of the International Association of Machinists…

The ARG: A Core National Capability

04/20/2011
The Amphibious Ready Group: A Core National Capability An Interview With Colonel "Ozzie" Osborn, Former 15th MEU Commander 04/20/2011 - Second Line of Defense during its interview with Colonel “Ozzie” Osborn discussed the flexibility of the Amphibious Ready Group and Marine Expeditionary Unit team. Colonel Osborn provided an overview of…

French Ops in Libya

04/20/2011
Preliminary Lessons Learned By General Jean-Patrick Gaviard Photo Credit: Libya: Operation Harmattan, EMA / Armée de l’Air – Marine Nationale, March 2011 04/20/2011 - In the aftermath of several weeks of bombings above Libya, it might be of interest to attempt to decrypt two key events which happened as this…

Shaping a 21st Century USCG: The Key Role for Maritime Patrol Aircraft

04/19/2011
­­­By Dr. Robbin F. Laird 04/19/2011 - The Obama Administration has come to power at a global turning point.  The President has underscored the importance of working with allies and shaping a new global engagement for the United States. At the same time, he has emphasized the need to enhance…

The Chemical Weapons Threat Remains: Shaping a Way Forward

04/19/2011
By Richard Weitz 04/ 19/2011 - The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (commonly referred to as the Chemical Weapons Convention and abbreviated as the CWC bans the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, transfer, and use of offensive chemical…