System Studies & Simulation Inc.
Kachemak Bay Flying Service (KBFS) recently acquired two new aircraft (a Robinson R-44 Helicopter and a Cessna 172) to support its Temple, TX operations.
KBFS will use the Robinson R44 Helicopter in support of its Part 135 Certificate, as well as other flight tasks and certificates.
R44
The R44 is a small, multi-role aircraft that can be used for passenger transport, flight training, air tours, utility/survey operations, and limited external loads. This aircraft is very economical for its class, and is a proven platform that is surprisingly robust for its size. In addition to the Part 135 support, KBFS intends to incorporate the R44 in operations under our Part 141, Part 133 Certificates, and Part 91.147 Authorization.
C172
KBFS purchased the Cessna 172 to support our expanding flight training under CFR 14, Part 141, and Part 61. This purchase will allow us to expand our flight training schedule to accommodate more students.
KBFS is a wholly owned subsidiary of System Studies and Simulation, Inc. (S3) and conduct rotary wing and fixed wing operations at Draughon-Miller Temple Regional Airport in Temple, TX, and at Bob Sikes Airport in Crestview, FL.
L-R: Doug Martinson – Board Chair, CAP&GOWN Project; Devyn Keith – Exec. Dir., CAP&GOWN Project; Jan Smith – CEO, S³; Stuart Oberman – President/CEO, Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville
With assistance from the Huntsville Community Foundation, CEO Jan Smith founded the CAP & GOWN Project Fund to provide college access opportunities to underrepresented high school students. The Foundation translated Ms. Smith’s passion for local youth education in the Huntsville/Madison County community into a funding vehicle that allows other donors to help as well. With a clear vision of what this effort could do for these students, Ms. Smith put her own resources to work and received generous support from others to launch an independent nonprofit agency.
Jan Smith’s Passion – “There is a great sense of fulfillment that comes with knowing that when I had a chance to make a difference, I took that step.” Ms. Smith’s philanthropic goals focus on improving quality of life in our community and helping the families and companies that support Redstone Arsenal (RSA). The Community Foundation helps her connect with regional and national nonprofit organizations that advance quality of life initiatives throughout the Greater Huntsville area. As a result, Ms. Smith sees more families choosing to live, work, and play in our community and support critical programs at RSA.
“Today, I am able to support diverse causes with great flexibility. I’m able to see the impact of each gift and new opportunities that can make a difference in our community,” said Ms. Smith.
The Community Foundation provides resources, recommendations and opportunities that encourage the missions of worthy nonprofit organizations focused on expanding Huntsville area tourism, improving quality of life for those who are in need, and enhancing education to maximize our students’ potential.
CAP&GOWN will be awarding the Jan Smith Award to others in the future who demonstrate a high level of generosity and passion for supporting our mission
L-R, Instructor Steve Davidson, members of Class 17B, Instructor John Totty
S3/KBFS with VTS Aviation recently completed the team’s third Mi-24 Adversary course for the USAF Weapons School. This particular class was a joint operation with students from the 34th Weapons Squadron (Nellis AFB) and a representative from the US Army’s Directorate of Training Development (DOTD). Initiated in 2016, the Mi-24 Adversary Familiarization Course presents “graduate level” academics and flight training for the USAF’s premier training organization, the USAF Weapons School. The course offers detailed instruction on the Mi-24/35’s capabilities and limitations, performance planning, combat employment, and student flight training in the front seat of this venerable attack helicopter. The most recent class (prepared and executed by KBFS Senior Manager John Totty at Lancaster, TX) solidifies a growing relationship between the USAF Weapons School and the principal companies making this training possible – S3/KBFS and VTS Aviation.
Lockwood Hills Federal, LLC (a subsidiary of Akima, LLC) was recently awarded a 5-year contract for the 1109th Theater Aviation Maintenance Sustainment Group (TASMG) Support with the Connecticut National Guard. Global Logistics Support Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of S3, was part of the Lockwood Hills Team that received the award to provide aircraft and aircraft component repair that includes depot level maintenance support, limited helicopter and subsystem rebuild, corrosion control, allied trades, rotor blade repair, and environmental support services. The award is the S3 subsidiary’s second major win in helicopter repair services, having won the USAF Contract Field Team IDIQ in December 2016.
16 August 2017–Congratulations to Ms. Caroline Greene! She has been selected as this years’ recipient of S³s Corporate Matching AAAA Scholarship. This is a 2 year scholarship providing $1,000 each year . Ms. Greene is the daughter of Thomas Greene (Retired MAJ) who has been an S³ Simulations Training Analyst since 2010. Caroline is from Orem, Utah and will be attending Brigham Young University.
The 2017 AAAA Scholarship Selection Committee along with volunteers from the AAAA National Executive Board, the AAAASFI Board of Governors and Chapter Officers performed an outstanding job of evaluating and nominating over 400 applicants in this 2017 competition. There were 287 awards made for a total of $473,000.00. S³ is proud to support this program.
S3 is a long serving and active participant of the AAAA Scholarship Program. S3 supports AAAA scholarship activities at the annual AAAA National gatherings and participating in the scholarship selection process. S3 employees donate their personal time, and corporate S3 donates resources to further AAAA scholarship awards.
The AAAA Scholarship Foundation, Inc., is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation established to render financial assistance for the college-level education of members of the Army Aviation Association of America, Inc. (AAAA). The spouses, unmarried siblings, children and grandchildren of current and deceased AAAA members are also eligible. 100% of every dollar donated to the Scholarship Foundation goes to a scholarship or endowed principal based on the AAAA paying all overhead expenses for the Scholarship Foundation.
Visit http://www.quad-a.org for more details about the scholarship.
Once again, congratulations to Ms. Greene and good luck as she pursues her undergraduate degree at Brigham Young University.
Huntsville, AL– 6 June 2017– Classified Forum was a resounding success with 120 attendees at planned capacity and 155 in actual attendance. An additional 35 people were turned away at the door due to the limited seating. Classified material and briefings from the National Security Agency (NSA), US Cyber Command, and Army Cyber were shared along with SMDC/ARSTRAT and the Threat Systems Management Office (TSMO) Red Team. Topics ranged from automated Computer Network Defense (CND) responses and the role of Offensive Cyber in CND strategy, to low tech situational awareness and the human element in Network Security.
MD-530F helicopter used for training USAF students
Temple, Texas – On 12 May 2017, S3/KBFS graduated its seventh USAF MD-530F pilot, who will be assigned to the Afghan Theater of Operations as a Combat Air Advisor to the Afghan Air Force in the MD-530F. Instructor Pilot Bobby Kramer led the USAF Captain through more than 40 hours of academic training and 18 hours of flight training, culminating with his 2-hour evaluation and subsequent designation as an Air Force Instructor Pilot in the MD-530F. Over the course of the 2-week qualification in Temple, TX, USAF students receive instruction in aircraft systems, emergency procedures, low-level tactics, and remote operations.
USAF MD-530F students come from various USAF weapon systems and bases around the world, and are selected for MD-530F instructor duty at the 438th Air Expeditionary Squadron in Kabul, Afghanistan, based on their aptitude and previous instructor ability. The MD-530F has been in service in Afghanistan since 2014, and remains the squadron’s only dedicated, armed rotary-wing platform.
Mi-24 Instructor Pilot John Totty provides specialized instruction in the Mi-24.
Lancaster, Texas – In April, 2017, S3/KBFS completed its second iteration of Mi-24 Adversary Training for the USAF Weapons School. Begun in 2016, the Mi-24 Adversary Familiarization Course provides graduate level academic and flight training for the USAF’s premier training school. The course offers detailed, in-depth instruction on Mi-24/35 Capabilities and Limitations, Mi-24 Performance Planning, Mi-24/35 Combat Employment, Mi-24 Front Seat Orientation and actual flight training in the front seat. During the flight, students learn the handling characteristics and operate the Mi-24 weapons systems while flying in formation with a second Mi-24.
The USAF Weapons School is highly selective, providing graduate-level tactics training to more than 150 Air Force instructors annually in more than 20 weapons systems. The school is based at Nellis AFB, NV and is under the command of the 57th Fighter Wing. Mi-24 Instructor Pilot John Totty has flown the Mi-24 since 2002, and is a former USAFWS cadre instructor.
S³ CEO Jan Smith congratulated members of the PFRMS proposal team. Pictured from left to right are Jan Smith, SVP Bob Johnson, PM Dean Reese, Pricing Manager Dianna Dabbs, and Proposal Manager Linda Dykes.
S3 has received notification of award of the AMCOM Express Task Order (TO) to provide Technical Support to Army PEO Missile & Space Precision Fires Rocket and Missile Systems (PFRMS) Project Office (PO). The PFRMS PO has fielded launchers and weapons to the US Army, Joint programs, other US Military Services, and FMS customers for more than 30 years. The Project Office requires highly skilled and experienced engineers and technical systems experts to help develop, field and upgrade these weapon systems. S3 engineering will support the development, preparation, and coordination of plans for systems improvements to address Insensitive Munitions (IM) requirements, safety and hazard classification, propulsion systems, fuzes, alternative warheads and payloads, launch pod redesign, launcher improvements, and technology initiatives.
Over the next five years, S3 and its Teammates will provide technical expertise to address all lifecycles to assess, field, modify, improve, and mature systems across an extensive range of functional support areas. These areas include electrical/electronic engineering, systems engineering, mechanical engineering, quality engineering, production engineering, configuration and data management, GPS technology and policy, software development, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) for a significant number of field artillery launchers and other products and systems. Launchers, rockets, and missiles that are supported by this task order include the M270A1, M270A1 variants, High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and HIMARS variants, the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) and ATACMS variants, Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) and GMLRS variants, and Long Range Precision Fires type munitions.
S3 has proudly supported the PFRMS PO as the incumbent prime technical contractor for the past 17 years, and previously supported this Project Office for more than five years prior to the first O2K award in 2005. S3 has been truly fortunate to assemble and maintain an impressive professional group of six incredibly qualified teammates that include Banner Defense, CGI Federal, Lacey Nichole Enterprise, SPARTA/Parsons, TMI, and NTA on the current contract. To meet projected new challenges under this just awarded task order, S3 added three additional teammates: Gleason Research Associates, AI Signal Research, and Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation. We are extremely proud of the teamwork, professionalism, and dedication of these companies and their employees who provide critical support to the PO, have contributed immensely to our success to date, and made this award possible through their outstanding contributions to this team.
Mr. Dean Reese who reports to the S3 Director of AMCOM EXPRESS, Mr. Will Stewart, will continue to manage this very important TO. Located onsite at the PFRMS PO, Mr. Reese is readily available and empowered to execute the day-to-day management activities and to provide technical support to the munitions programs.
Upon notification of award, S3 CEO Jan Smith commented: “We are very excited and humbled to have been selected to continue our support the PFRMS PMO in support of the warfighter. We have always pointed to this work as one of our most significant achievements for AMCOM. We are truly thankful that we have been recognized by our customer with this award. We also appreciate very much our teammates for staying with this Team and all the employees (theirs and ours) who have made this work so successful.”
Jan Smith, CEO of S3, presents the donation to GEN (R) Sullivan (second from left). Also pictured are Jim Barclay, President of S3 (far right), and Bob Johnson, Sr. VP of the SETA Services Business Unit (far left).
S3 joins the Three Star Circle of Distinction with its financial support to the National Museum of the United States Army. The Company’s contribution to the Army Historical Foundation honors the American Soldier by helping establish the 185,000 square foot National Army Museum to be located on 80 acres at Fort Belvoir, VA.
After nearly 241 years of courageous and selfless service to our country, the Army is the only U.S. military service that does not have a national museum to call its own. The museum will tell the complete history of the US Army; educate the expected 750,000 annual visitors about the myriad roles the Army has played throughout the history of our country; and inspire pride in service for the more than 30 million men and women who have served since 1775.
Groundbreaking for the museum occurred in the autumn of 2016. According to GEN (R) Gordon Sullivan, this event has generated significant momentum in three areas: public awareness, fundraising, and site preparation with a goal to open the museum in 2019.
S3 has always provided its heartfelt support to our soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines. Today, veterans make up eighty-one percent of our employees. Jan Smith, founder and CEO of S3, recently commented, “We founded our company with the U.S Army as our principal customer in the early years. Today, more than 50 percent of our business is still with the U.S. Army. We feel very fortunate to have this opportunity to participate in this tribute to our Nation, its Army, and the brave and dedicated soldiers who have defended our liberties for nearly two and a half centuries.”
S3 encourages other companies and individuals to contribute to this very important campaign which honors so many who have made sacrifices for our way of life – from the birth of the Continental Army in 1775 to the continuing struggle in 2017 against determined foes around the world.
More information can be obtained by reviewing their web site at www.armyhistory.org or by contacting Elizabeth Moloney, Director, Major Gifts, at elizabeth.moloney@armyhistory.org.
