Pentagon Energy Security Event focuses on the importance of Energy in today's military

By Dennis K. Bohannon, ASA IE&EOctober 24, 2011

Pentagon Energy Security Event
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Mike Reid, a U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center engineer, explains the new Ground Systems Power and Energy Laboratory to Katherine Hammack, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations, Energy and Environment) du... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Pentagon Energy Security Event
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delivers keynote remarks during the Pentagon Energy Security Event's panel discussion Oct. 18, 2011. "We're still engaged in a seemingly endless search and quest in the pursuit of energy,... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Pentagon Energy Security Event
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sharon E. Burke, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Operational Energy Plans and Program, far left, moderates a warfighter discussion on how the services are approaching energy security needs during the Pentagon Energy Security Event Oct. 18, 2011. F... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Pentagon Energy Security Event
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – From left: Terry Tamminen and Richard Kidd, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Energy & Sustainability), pose with the Fuel Efficient Ground Vehicle Demonstrator during the Pentagon Energy Security Event Oct. 18, 2011. Tamminen has been recogni... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

PENTAGON, Washington D.C. -- The Department of Defense recognized Energy Awareness Month with a week-long energy security event which began Oct. 17, 2011.

The event was designed to focus senior Government, Department of Defense leaders, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines on the importance energy and energy security plays in today's military environment.

The weeklong event features an Energy and Sustainability Technology Fair in the Pentagon courtyard, where vendors touted their latest technological advances in everything from Soldier power and energy efficient vehicles to water purification and solar power blankets.

Monday, Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, Katherine Hammack and Maj. Gen. Raymond V. Mason, Army Deputy G-4 toured the opening of the Energy and Sustainability Technology Fair.

Tuesday morning, Hammack, hosted 19 House and Senate Energy Staffers for breakfast at the Pentagon Dining Room. After the breakfast, Hammack led a 30-minute tour of energy displays.

The highlight of the activities was an Energy Security Forum held in the Pentagon Auditorium Tuesday morning. The keynote address was given by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey. His address was followed by top-level Department Of Defense leadership engaged in panel discussions about energy and its impact on military operations.

The panel was moderated by HON Sharon E. Burke, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Operational Energy Plans and Programs, and featured Army Colonel Peter A. Newell, Marine Corps Major Sean Sadlier, Air Force Colonel Marvin Smith and Navy Captain Jeffrey Dodson. The Honorable Dr. Dorothy Robyn, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Installations and Environment gave closing remarks.

Following the panel: Dr. Dorothy Robyn; Ms. Katherine Hammack; Mr. Terry A. Yonkers,

Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics; and Mr. Thomas Hicks, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy took part in an Energy Panel for Defense News.

Topics included battery technology to reduce individual Soldier load; the importance of reducing energy consumption at Army installations, especially as the price of energy is increasing; the importance to invest in energy saving technology to save money in the future; and that saving energy saves lives.

Vago Muradian of Defense News hosted the panel. The broadcast will air Sunday: at 11 a.m. on WUSA in Washington, D.C.; at 6 a.m. on KHOU in Houston; at 9:30 a.m. on WJXX in Jacksonville, Fla.; at 11 a.m. on WVEC in Norfolk, Va.; and Saturday at 12:30 p.m. on WMAZ in Macon, Ga.; at 7 p.m. on WLTX in Columbia, S.C.; and internationally on American Forces Network.

Related Links:

HON Hammack stresses importance of Energy Security and Sustainability

Energy, Sustainability Technology fair kicks off at Pentagon

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Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff discusses importance of 'energy' in today's military

REF striving to save energy, lives on battlefield

Army War fighter joins Pentagon Energy Security Forum

View "DefenseNews' report on Energy & The U.S. Military (Energy Forum)