Chapter Name: The Hague (The Netherlands) By: Air Cdre RNLAF retd. Ir. Gerrit Schoonderbeek
Summary of Meeting:
On 19 March 2008 Chapter The Hague organized its meeting at the Center for Automation
of Mission-Critical Systems (CAMS-Force Vision) of the Royal Netherlands Navy
(RNLN) in Den Helder, the Netherlands. Chapter President, Rear Admiral (LH) (ret) Willem Voogt welcomed the audience and expressed his satisfaction
with the number of participants that came all the way to this northern part of
the Netherlands. He reminded everybody of the next meeting of the Chapter,
which will be held on 23 April 2008 in the Hague. The topic of that meeting will be the Dutch MIVD (Military
Intelligence and Security Service) in The Hague. He then introduced the main speaker of the day: RNLN Captain Huub Geilenkirchen, Director of
CAMS-Force Vision.
Captain Geilenkirchen (also a Boardmember
of Chapter The Hague) first gave a little background information on his
personal career at the RNLN and then started his presentation on CAMS-Force
Vision.
Force Vision is the knowledge center and the technical software systems house
of the Royal Netherlands Navy. Its core business is the design, production,
test, implementation and life-cycle maintenance of the Command, Control,
Communication, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) systems for the RNLN.
Specifically, combat systems are designed that allow the various naval commands
to carry out their tasks effectively. The lines of communication with the
end-user are short because the CAMS-Force Vision organisation
is an integral part of the RNLN.
Force Vision's focus has historically been the combat management systems for
the RNLN's frigates and submarines. In recent years
also services to other defense departments and to friendly foreign navies have
been provided.
A modern RNLN vessel consists of an integrated composition of sensor-, weapon-
and command systems. The development of extensive and complex real-time systems
requires creative, "outside of the box" thinking. The software
engineering professionals get ample opportunity to do just that.
The end product needs to be delivered within the constraints of product, time
and money. In order to achieve this use is made of productivity enhancing
means. These means consist of four components: Peopleware,
Methods and Methodologies, World-class tooling and state-of-the-art supporting
hard- and software.
People always were and will be the most essential component in the realization of
the products. Force Vision has about 165 employees, of which roughly 120 are
directly involved with software engineering. Three quarters of the personnel is
civilian, the remainder military. The binding factor between them is
Information Technology that matters. Force Vision solutions add a tangible
factor to the power and reliability of the Netherlands defense.
Force Vision is one of the oldest software engineering companies in the Netherlands and has been in business since 1967.
The presentation was followed by a guided tour to the LCF Hr.Ms.
De Ruyter.
Definition of used acronyms:
CAMS = Center for Automation of Mission-Critical Systems
RNLN = Royal Netherlands Navy
Rear Admiral (LH) = Rear
Admiral (Lower Half) = 1-star General RNLN
ret = Retired
MIVD = Military Intelligence and Security Service
C4I = Command, Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence
LCF = Luchtverdedigings- en Commando Fregat = Air Defence and Command
Frigate
Guest Speaker(s):
|
Speaker’s Full Name |
Position |
Rank |
Branch of Service |
Organization |
|
Huub Geilenkirchen |
Director |
Captain RNLN |
Navy |
CAMS-Force Vision |
Photograph #1:
Chapter President, Rear Admiral (LH) (ret) Willem Voogt presents a Certificate-of-Appreciation to
Captain Huub Geilenkirchen, Director of CAMS/Force Vision
for his presentation and for hosting AFCEA Chapter The Hague
|
Position |
Full Name |
Rank |
Branch of Service |
Organization |
|
Left |
Willem Voogt |
Rear Admiral (LH) (ret) RNLN |
Navy |
President of Chapter The Hague |
|
Right |
Huub Geilenkirchen |
Captain RNLN |
Navy |
Director CAMS-Force Vision |
Photograph #2:
Hr. Ms. De Ruyter