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October is here, and the AFCEA’s TechNet International 2011 is closer than ever. This year, the TNI is being held in Heidelberg, Germany, at the “Kongresshaus Stadthalle“. The exhibition center is located at the seat of Germany’s oldest university and world famous research centre for industry and science.
This year’s main theme is
“SUPPORTING NATO IN THE NEXT DECADE”.
One of the ways to do so is by identifying emerging technologies and new opportunities for cooperation, and that is where TechNet International will pay special attention this year.
The Agenda focuses on new technologies and their applications, including the magnificent world of “Virtual Reality”. It will be both a technological and a psychological examination and thus future applications in both our personal way of living and the defense environment will be presented – the border will be an interesting place to examine!
In less than a week I will be joining the TechNet International 2011 Conference in Heidelberg, Germany. It was a great honor to be selected among the prestigious group of student members in the AFCEA Student Club. This year’s conference topic is somehow familiar to me, since my father (MGen ret. of the Greek Army), has served NATO headquarters at AFSOUTH , Naples from 1992-1995 as a Project Officer of Land Operations Exercises in the South Region. Due to his responsibilities and duties, he had to participate in numerous conferences and meetings in other NATO bases all over Europe, where most of the times, we as family accompanied him.
When I first browsed at this year’s TechNet program I realized that this is the time to finally participate in such an event in order to gain further knowledge from the highly specialized qualified commanders and technology business executives that are participating.
Some of my expectations include meeting and contacting important people from various fields. I look forward to investigating the realm of “Cloud Computing” which is a new field of its own today as well. I feel that I am now ready, after many years of anticipation, to feed my desire to learn. Setting off for this journey for the North will not only broaden my horizons, but it will also be an opportunity of challenge for me and my limits.
Closing, I would like to underline one of my favorite quotes; which has proven to be very true for me until today:
“When you set out on your journey to Ithaca, pray that the road is long, full of adventure, full of knowledge.”
~ Constantine P. Cavafy ~
Demi Evangelatos, DEREE – The American College of Greece
Senior, School of Business Administration
International Business and European Affairs
Vice President, AFCEA Student Club
