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ASSIGNMENTS / APPOINTMENTS / ANNOUNCEMENTS

VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA REPORTS NOVEMBER 2014 SALES

· November sales total 31,725 units, representing a 3.2 percent increase over November 2013
· Jetta sedan delivered 14,268 units for the month, a 31.8 increase
· The all-new Golf delivered 2,149 units for the month, marking a 85.9 percent increase in sales for the model over the previous November
· The Golf GTI delivered 1,725 units, a 64.8 percent increase
· TDI Clean Diesel sales amounted to 17.2 percent of total November sales

SOURCE:  Volkswagen Group

Herndon, VA — Volkswagen of America, Inc. (VWoA) reported 31,725 units delivered in November.

The Jetta, refreshed for the 2015 model year with a suite of driver assistance features, continued to show its strength as a core model, with14, 268 units delivered, marking a 31.8 percent increase.

The all-new Golf family continued to find success in both deliveries and accolades. In November, Volkswagen was awarded the 2015 Motor Trend Car of the Year, in recognition of the full Golf family. The prestigious award joins additional Golf family accolades including Green Car Reports “Best Car to Buy in 2015” for the e-Golf and the 2015 Yahoo Autos Car of the Year for the Golf GTI. Golf family sales in November included 2,149 Golf units, 1,725 Golf GTIs and 119 e-Golf units.

“We are thrilled with the accolades the Golf family of vehicles has received, including the 2015 Motor Trend Car of the Year. These awards applaud the line up’s versatility, quality and value,” said Mark McNabb, chief operating officer, Volkswagen of America. “Partnered with the refreshed Jetta and upcoming redesigned Touareg, the potential for increased showroom traffic looks promising.”

The Chattanooga-built Passat totaled 6,966 units delivered for the month. The Touareg delivered 578 units, 319 of which were Clean Diesel TDI, amounting to 55.2 percent of sales of the model. The Tiguan delivered 2,082 units.

General Officer Assignments

SOURCE:  DOD

PHOTO(s) OF THE DAY

SOURCE:  Department of Defense /Defense News Lead Photo

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama bring bags of toys to support the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C. Dec. 12, 2014. (DoD News photo by EJ Hersom)

Fubini Award Honors Longtime Defense Science Board Member

By Terri Moon Cronk
SOURCE:  DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, DC – Defense Undersecretary for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Frank Kendall presented the coveted 2014 Eugene G. Fubini Award to longtime Defense Science Board member Robert Stein in a Pentagon ceremony today.

Since 1996, the Fubini Award has recognized an individual from the private sector who made highly significant advisory contributions to the Defense Department over a sustained period of time, Pentagon officials said.

Stein, of Boston, said he was surprised and humbled when he learned he would receive the Fubini Award, noting that he knew award namesake Gene Fubini and many awardees.

“It’s really humbling to me to be associated with that crowd of people,” Stein said of the honor.

Stein retired from Raytheon Co. in 2000, and now serves as an adviser for Lincoln Laboratories. He also is a previous member of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency Advisory Committee.

Under Raytheon, Stein developed advanced systems and concepts for the company’s existing and future government product lines – including modern missiles, radar, electro-optical sensors, integrated systems and associated technologies.

Awardee Had Major Security Impacts

As a key member of many DoD studies, Stein’s advisory work had major impact in defining future national security systems, technology and policy directions.

Affiliated with DSB studies for 25 years, Stein was part of a team that defined advanced air-directed surface-to-air missile architecture concepts.

His system analysis and recommendations influenced the development of the Joint Land-Attack Elevated Netted Sensor program, which is now a part of several new programs for wide-area defense against low-flying targets, including the Enhanced Regional Surveillance Architecture program for the defense of the National Capital Region, officials said.

Work Integral to DARPA

As a former member of the DSB task force on investment strategy for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in 1999, Stein was a key figure in recommending that DARPA invest in affordable standoff precision-target engagement systems. That effort also led to related DARPA programs and other task force recommendations that greatly influenced the DARPA system and technology investment portfolio, officials noted.

Stein also served as co-chair of the DSB task force on improvised explosive devices in 2006, where he led a methodical effects-chain analysis of several IED approaches, and highlighted the need for improved intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems to detect new IED-related signatures.

The task force later influenced areas of emphasis for the Joint IED Defeat Organization, officials added.

Stein was co-chair of an extended DSB Summer Study on Electronic Warfare in 2013, a study in which he assembled a membership that included much of the top electronic warfare talent from across the nation.

The study highlighted areas that were clear near-term needs for enhancing U.S. electronic attack and electronic protection systems. The study also recommended organizational structures to better lead the development of new electronic warfare systems in a more rapid and effective way, officials said.

Served as Missile Defense Adviser

Stein additionally supported activities across DoD for the Mitre Corp., and the Missile Defense Agency.

He has been a principal speaker, panel member and session chairman at numerous national, European and Asian symposia on air and missile defense, the impact of advanced technology on the evolving security environment, the interplay between defense and commercial technology, the military use of space and the role of system engineering and operations analysis in support of military programs, officials said.

Of Stein’s many accomplishments in the defense arena, it is his affiliation with DSB of which he says he is most proud.

“I have an abiding respect for [DSB],” Stein said. “It’s a phenomenal institution that deals with very difficult problems that cross technology, culture, bureaucracy and all kinds of issues.”