Welcome to the February edition of Defense Operational Energy Highlights, published by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Operational Energy Plans and Programs!
In February's newsletter:
- OEPP Releases FY14 Call for OECIF (Innovation Fund) Proposals
- "South Sandy" Exercise Outbrief
- ASD Burke speaks at the Defense Logistics Agency's Joint Petroleum Seminar
- Best of the Blog: February Edition (New Business Opportunities, PACOM Energy Strategy, FOB Energy Tools, and Natural Gas in Military Vehicles)
- Rapid Equipping Force (REF) to Stay Open
- Tweet of the Month
OECIF (OEPP's Innovation Fund) Releases FY14 Call for Proposals
OEPP's Operational Energy Capabilities Improvement Fund (OECIF), which seeks to improve the energy performance of our forces in the field, has released its FY14 Call for Proposals. This year's call is focused on improving energy decision-making with new and improved analytic methods.
Specifically, OECIF seeks to support the development of analytic methods that can tell us how decisions involving operational energy will affect how well we fight. These analytic methods should generally focus on issues above the level of individual systems (i.e. planes, ships, vehicles) to analyze how energy shapes the military effectiveness of our force elements (i.e. a Brigade Combat Team or a Marine Expeditionary Unit.)
Proposals may be either new programs or can build on existing efforts, but they must come from DoD components, rather than non-government organizations. Those programs chosen for funding will be managed by the Services or other elements of DoD, with oversight by OEPP.
Read ASD Burke's memo and the Call for Proposals here:
go.usa.gov/Bupe.
--
"South Sandy" Exercise Outbrief
On February 10, ASD Burke and Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Infrastructure Protection Caitlin Durkovich hosted a Senior Leadership Briefing, addressing lessons learned from the December 2013 South Sandy Power Restoration workshop. In her opening remarks, ASD Burke described the challenges that might face utilities and the military had Hurricane Sandy come ashore in the National Capital Region. She highlighted that the purpose of the workshop and briefing was to identify areas for further thinking and actions on DoD's power restoration priorities. Assistant Secretary Durkovich seconded this need, as well as the need for a whole of government approach to prioritize restoration activities.
During the briefing, senior leadership from DoD, various Federal agencies, electrical power utilities, and other stakeholders in the Washington area received an overview of the workshop. The overview highlighted knowledge gained by their personnel, existing activities that strengthen and aid in power restoration, and some of the gaps identified by workshop participants.
Following the overview, the discussion centered on workshop participants' proposed mitigations to improve DoD's power resiliency posture. Senior leaders also discussed the Power Resiliency Working Group. This working group has activities underway to gain a better understanding of the Department's power resiliency posture. Finally, OUSD (HD ASA) agreed to carry the momentum of the workshop forward to understand how DOD can prioritize its missions and energy loads to make better informed decisions in the case of an extreme event.
For more information about the South Sandy Workshop, email OEPP's Deputy Director for Mission Assurance, Sam Clements at
samuel.clements6.civ@mail.mil.
--
ASD Burke speaks at the Defense Logistics Agency's Joint Petroleum Seminar
In January, ASD Burke spoke at the 11th Joint Petroleum Seminar, a gathering of American military officers who are responsible for managing petroleum logistics. The seminar was organized by the Defense Logistics Agency for Energy, along with the Joint Staff Petroleum office. This year, representatives from the French equivalent of the Defense Logistics Agency also participated in the seminar.
At the seminar, ASD Burke spoke about Operational Energy strategy, noting that "It's in our interest as a military force to consume less fuel." More than a cost issue, though, she argued that efficient fuel consumption is a tactical imperative.
DLA's Public Affairs team wrote about the event. Read more here:
http://go.usa.gov/By6d.
--
Best of the Blog: February Edition
US Pacific Command (PACOM) Releases Energy Strategy
Recently, US Pacific Command (PACOM) published an energy strategy for the Asia-Pacific Region, in support of PACOM's broader strategic vision and as a complement to the Operational Energy Strategy and Implementation plan. OEPP's Deputy Director for Policy, Rachel Posner, breaks down PACOM's work on energy for OEPP's blog here:
go.usa.gov/BNEP.
Knowledge is Power
In mid-February, Armed with Science, DoD's science and technology blog, posted a story about how CERDEC, the Army's Communications-Electronics Center of the Research Development and Engineering Command, built a new tool to help forward operating bases maximize their energy efficiency. The story is available on OEPP's blog here:
go.usa.gov/BuXd.
New Defense Energy Solicitations Posted!
On our blog, at go.usa.gov/Bum4, we keep a list of open defense energy solicitations. Three new solicitations have come out in recent weeks:
- The Army is seeking information on the benefits of an Ultra Light Combat Vehicle to support Infantry Brigade Combat Team soldiers. More information and apply at: go.usa.gov/BYdm
- Transformative Reductions in Operational Energy Consumption (TROPEC), an OECIF funded program, is seeking submissions for 2014 that could be used to reduce energy in fields including: reducing water consumption at expeditionary bases, as well as water purification, and more efficient electronics. Learn more and apply here: go.usa.gov/Bum4
- OSD's Rapid Reaction Technology office is working with the Army and Marine Corps to reduce the power and weight demands placed on dismounted soldiers. They are seeking technologies for troop wearable or portable power, power distribution and management, energy harvesting, and wearable electronics. Apply here: go.usa.gov/BzbT
--
Natural Gas as a Fuel for Military Vehicles
Natural gas is increasingly being considered by businesses across the US as an inexpensive, domestic, clean-burning alternative to petroleum fuels for transportation. Bret Strogen, OEPP's American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow, offers an overview of natural gas use by DoD on the blog. Read his take here:
go.usa.gov/Budh.
--
Rapid Equipping Force (REF) To Stay Open
At the end of January, the Army announced that the Rapid Equipping Force (REF) would stay open even after the war in Afghanistan winds down. Created in 2002 to develop quick fixes for battlefield problems, including energy challenges, the REF has focused in particular on developing solutions to these challenges using readily available commercial or government technology.
The REF is credited with the innovative deployment of cameras that can be thrown over walls to assess risky environments without endangering life or limb. The REF also deployed energy advisors to troops in the field, in order to help them use their equipment more efficiently. In some cases, this included the establishment of basic mini-grid systems.
At present, the REF will continue to focus on soldiers deployed in Afghanistan.
Visit REF's webpage at
http://www.ref.army.mil/, where you can submit your ideas and technologies for rapid battlefield energy solutions.
--
Tweets of the Month
ARPA-E Video Showcases Improvements in Mission Readiness for the Military
Last week, the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E), released a video showcasing their work in energy innovation that can improve mission readiness for the US military. ARPA-E programs have looked at how to help US forces increase energy efficiency and use more renewable energy.
The Department of Defense's official twitter, @DeptofDefense, tweeted the following out to their 380K+ followers:
New Report on Veterans in Solar Power
Last week, the Solar Foundation and Operation Free released a report that found that nearly 1 in 10 solar industry workers are veterans. Our veterans are using the skills they learned in combat - including leadership and technical know-how - to serve the country in a new way.
As the report launched, Operation Free (@OperationFree) tweeted one of the report's main findings:
Fleet Energy Training at Naval Base San Diego
Recently, Naval Base San Diego hosted the inaugural Fleet Energy Training event. The event highlighted the latest developments in the Navy's pursuit of its energy goals, recognized commands that have excelled in energy conservation, and provided training to help apply best practices.
Task Force Energy (@NavalEnergy) live-tweeted out remarks from ADM Harris, commander of US Pacific Fleet:
More information on the event can be found here:
http://go.usa.gov/Byum.
**************************************************************************
For all the latest updates, follow us online and visit our webpage:
@ASD_SharonBurke on Twitter
facebook.com/DoDEnergy
http://energy.defense.gov
OSD.ENERGY@mail.mil
If you do not wish to receive these emails from OEPP in the future, please reply with the word 'unsubscribe.'
Defense Operational Energy Highlights is a monthly newsletter that highlights DoD operational energy news, including policy announcements, technology deployments, and federal business opportunities. This newsletter is open to all, so please share it with your colleagues and networks and encourage others to subscribe by emailing
OSD.ENERGY@mail.mil.
About DoD Operational Energy Plans and Programs:
Established in 2010, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Operational Energy was created to strengthen the energy security of U.S. military operations. The mission of the office is to help the military services and combatant commands improve military capabilities, cut costs, and lower operational and strategic risk through better energy accounting, planning, management, and innovation. Operational energy, or the energy required to train, move, and sustain forces, weapons, and equipment for military operations, accounted for 80 percent of all energy used by the Department of Defense in 2012.