Marin Council Presents $2K to Sea Cadet Corps Band of the West Division
By Brett Davis
On March 6, the Marin County Council presented two $1,000 checks to Lt. Jo-Anne Dao, commanding officer of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps Band of the West Division.
The youth band met in person to practice and drill, just the second time they were able to do so after the pandemic began.
The checks were the result of the Navy League’s STEM program making available a matching grant in parallel with the council’s own funding commitment. Representing the council at the event were Steve Gilford, Merylin Wong, Kimberlee Stephens, Charles Coleman, Bill Stephens and John Gumba. The date marked exactly a year since the Marin County Council last interacted with the Band of the West for its annual inspection in 2020.
The council says thank you to the STEM Committee and, in particular, Area President Don Anderson, for assisting it in the process. The council also thanks Charlie Coleman, the Marin County Council member/secretary and judge advocate; and John Gumba, Marin County Council’s Sea Cadet Liaison; as well as Lt. Dao, all of whom worked together to submit the application for the Navy League’s consideration.
By Aileen Sainz
Legislative Affairs Manager Navy League of the United States
This is part of an ongoing series, where we look at the lives and legacies of U.S. sea service men and women.
Did you know Neil Armstrong was a Navy veteran? Not only was he the first man to walk on the moon, but he also was crucial to the U.S. during the Korean War and Cold War.
Armstrong was born on Aug. 5, 1930, in Wapakoneta, Ohio. He sought an undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering at Purdue University under the Holloway Program Scholarship, which required him to achieve a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year university and serve three years of active duty in the Navy.
In 1949, Armstrong was called to serve. He learned to fly at his first duty station, Naval Air Station Pensacola, in Florida. On Aug. 12, 1950, Armstrong was designated a naval aviator and officially commissioned an ensign in July 1951. His first assignment was at NAS North Island, in San Diego to the 7th Squadron of the Fleet Service Aircraft Service. Afterward, he served as an F9F-2B Panther pilot with VF-51. Armstrong’s final mission with the Navy was March 5, 1952, after logging a total of 2,600 hours of flight.
On Aug. 23, 1952, he entered the Navy Reserve. Armstrong flew 78 combat missions and 121 hours over Korea in USS Essex (CV-9). During his time at NAS Glenview, Illinois, he gained a promotion, leading him to become lieutenant junior grade O-2. Armstrong resigned from the Naval Reserve in 1960.
Armstrong took part in military combat, which he believed is the “highest risk” anyone could take, even compared to spaceflight. He says he was in debt to those who lost their lives during their service to our country.
Due to Armstrong’s lifelong service to our country, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal, the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, the Explorers Club Medal, the Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy and Naval Aviator Astronaut Wings, among many other special honors and recognitions from 17 countries.
Armstrong passed away on the Aug. 25, 2012, at age of 82. He was laid to rest in the Atlantic Sea during a burial aboard the USS Philippine Sea on Sept. 14, 2012.
What are your company’s main products and services offered to the sea services?
Michael Bowling, CEO
Bowling: Trenton Systems has provided and continues to provide the sea services with cybersecure, high-performance, rugged computer systems designed, manufactured, assembled, tested and supported in the United States.
The sea services have always greatly appreciated that we make our own boards right here at home, in beautiful, sunny Georgia, USA, where we’ve remained since we opened our doors in 1989.
How does your company believe it can help further the United States’ defense and security sectors?
Bowling: Trenton Systems is uniquely positioned to satisfy today’s defense and security requirements for a variety of reasons, but perhaps the single most important reason is this: We manufacture our servers and workstations with hardware, firmware, and software cybersecurity, supply chain security, and protection of sensitive data in mind from the moment our engineers begin whiteboarding, not to mention that we design, manufacture, assemble, test and provide technical support for our solutions in our secure facility, located right here in the USA.
Daily, brilliant minds working for our nation’s sea services are tasked with upholding the integrity of our country’s national security programs and initiatives. Our dedication to creating secure, made-in-USA computers provides these personnel, and our other security-conscious customers, with a certain degree of assurance that the computing solutions they’re acquiring to help defend the nation and support its critical infrastructure processes are, in fact, originating from a trusted, secure, uncompromised source.
What differentiates your company from similar players in your market?
Bowling: Trenton Systems’ competitive differentiators are numerous, but I’ll focus on the five we believe to be the most important and relevant to the sea services:
We have a Counterfeit Protection Program (CPP). The CPP detects, identifies, reports and disposes of suspected counterfeit electronic parts, ensuring that our customers receive vetted, untampered, uncompromised computing solutions.
We secure our supply chain. Our strict revision control process, supplier vetting procedures, and partnerships with manufacturers that implement similar and identical practices helps ensure the security and integrity of our supply chain, and thus, our computers.
We design and manufacture our own boards in Atlanta, Georgia. The fact that we design and manufacture our own boards in the United States provides security and customization benefits to the customer. We own the design, and we own the build, which means we can modify our solutions from the board up to satisfy unique requirements and create innovative, never-before-seen servers and workstations that, quite literally, belong only to our customers.
We’ve been in business for 32 years. Trenton Systems is not a newcomer to the industry. For 31 years now, we’ve supplied major aerospace and defense customers with the computing solutions they need to defend, detect, deter, engage, neutralize, mitigate and recover.
We provide strong anti-tamper support. Trenton Systems employs a strong anti-tamper (AT) program intended to prevent and delay exploitation of critical technologies in United States weapon systems, training devices and maintenance support equipment. Of particular interest are our firmware security technologies, including Intel PFR, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot and Secure Flash.
What do you think is one of the biggest challenges addressing the sea services today?
Bowling: The biggest challenge facing the sea services today is designing a force structure that meets a new era of great uncertainty using the right supportive high-performance computing architectures built around a mission-focused, threat-resilient command that doesn’t rely on offshored high-performance computers.
What made your company decide to join the Navy League of the United States? How do you see your company participating or working with the Navy League to further their mission?
Bowling: We believe the Navy League’s mission of supporting and enhancing the morale of sea service personnel and their families is aligned with our continued support of sea service personnel relative to the provision of reliable, secure, high-performance computing architectures that power their daily tasks.
We joined not only as a show of support for the furtherance of these goals but as a commitment in allegiance to the brave sea services personnel who defend, tirelessly and diligently, our liberty, our safety and our comfortability as Americans.
Like the Navy League, Trenton Systems serves those who serve others, and we’ve done so since opening our doors 31 years ago.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Trenton Systems’ secure, rugged, high-performance computers are powering numerous sea services programs and applications right now, including, but not limited to:
The Aegis Combat System.
Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
The U.S.S. Gerald Ford’s Jet Launch Command System.
Given recent high-profile cyberattacks on both government and industry, it’s evident that procurers of high-performance computing solutions within the defense and aerospace industries are developing a novel pain point: high-performance computers that are not only cybersecure but built from the board up in the United States with trusted, counterfeit-resistant components originating from a vetted and secure supply chain.
That’s the secret sauce, and Trenton Systems, considering its locale, commitment to cybersecurity and complete control over the manufacturing process, has proven time and time and again that it is, indeed, the chef.
Navy League News
Navy League Scrolls of Honor Presented at Region Conference
Navy League Scrolls of Honor Presented at Region Conference
By Brett Davis
The Savannah Council and its president, Tom Nichols, hosted the South Atlantic Coast (SAC) Region Conference Jan. 29-30, 2021, with council representatives from North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia in attendance.
Two SAC region leaders were presented with Navy League of United States Scroll of Honor awards.
Tom Brown, South Carolina area president, was honored for his work growing area councils, encouraging them to be more active, expanding membership and working to increase corporate support.
O.C. Fowler, immediate past president, Savannah Council, was honored for his support of five local Coast Guard Units, establishing two NROTC Scholarships, increasing monetary support for three NJROTC Units, establishing a STEM/robotics annual grant, and liaising with veterans organizations.
SAC President Pat Yovich and Navy League National President Bill Stevenson presented the awards.
Council Digest
Honolulu Council Hosts 2020 American Patriot Awards
Honolulu Council Hosts 2020 American Patriot Awards
By Brett Davis
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the American Patriot Awards Dinner crowd was cut to 50 people who gathered to pay tribute to the extraordinary leadership and public service of Constance Lau and Adm. Paul Zukunft. The event was held Feb. 20, 2021.
Lau serves as chair of the Hawaii Military Affairs Council, promoting strong relationships between the community and the military. As chair of the National Infrastructure Advisory Council, she leads a nation-wide discussion on securing U.S. critical infrastructure. She is well-known for leadership in clean energy, cyber \security and humanitarian causes as president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric Industries.
Adm. Zukunft served for more than 40 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, rising to the highest leadership position as the 25th commandant of the Coast Guard from 2014-2018. During a distinguished career, he commanded at sea and ashore, including multiple tours in Hawaii and the Pacific.
What are your company’s main products and services offered to the sea services?
Michael Bowling, CEO
Bowling: Trenton Systems has provided and continues to provide the sea services with cybersecure, high-performance, rugged computer systems designed, manufactured, assembled, tested and supported in the United States.
The sea services have always greatly appreciated that we make our own boards right here at home, in beautiful, sunny Georgia, USA, where we’ve remained since we opened our doors in 1989.
How does your company believe it can help further the United States’ defense and security sectors?
Bowling: Trenton Systems is uniquely positioned to satisfy today’s defense and security requirements for a variety of reasons, but perhaps the single most important reason is this: We manufacture our servers and workstations with hardware, firmware, and software cybersecurity, supply chain security, and protection of sensitive data in mind from the moment our engineers begin whiteboarding, not to mention that we design, manufacture, assemble, test and provide technical support for our solutions in our secure facility, located right here in the USA.
Daily, brilliant minds working for our nation’s sea services are tasked with upholding the integrity of our country’s national security programs and initiatives. Our dedication to creating secure, made-in-USA computers provides these personnel, and our other security-conscious customers, with a certain degree of assurance that the computing solutions they’re acquiring to help defend the nation and support its critical infrastructure processes are, in fact, originating from a trusted, secure, uncompromised source.
What differentiates your company from similar players in your market?
Bowling: Trenton Systems’ competitive differentiators are numerous, but I’ll focus on the five we believe to be the most important and relevant to the sea services:
We have a Counterfeit Protection Program (CPP). The CPP detects, identifies, reports and disposes of suspected counterfeit electronic parts, ensuring that our customers receive vetted, untampered, uncompromised computing solutions.
We secure our supply chain. Our strict revision control process, supplier vetting procedures, and partnerships with manufacturers that implement similar and identical practices helps ensure the security and integrity of our supply chain, and thus, our computers.
We design and manufacture our own boards in Atlanta, Georgia. The fact that we design and manufacture our own boards in the United States provides security and customization benefits to the customer. We own the design, and we own the build, which means we can modify our solutions from the board up to satisfy unique requirements and create innovative, never-before-seen servers and workstations that, quite literally, belong only to our customers.
We’ve been in business for 32 years. Trenton Systems is not a newcomer to the industry. For 31 years now, we’ve supplied major aerospace and defense customers with the computing solutions they need to defend, detect, deter, engage, neutralize, mitigate and recover.
We provide strong anti-tamper support. Trenton Systems employs a strong anti-tamper (AT) program intended to prevent and delay exploitation of critical technologies in United States weapon systems, training devices and maintenance support equipment. Of particular interest are our firmware security technologies, including Intel PFR, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot and Secure Flash.
What do you think is one of the biggest challenges addressing the sea services today?
Bowling: The biggest challenge facing the sea services today is designing a force structure that meets a new era of great uncertainty using the right supportive high-performance computing architectures built around a mission-focused, threat-resilient command that doesn’t rely on offshored high-performance computers.
What made your company decide to join the Navy League of the United States? How do you see your company participating or working with the Navy League to further their mission?
Bowling: We believe the Navy League’s mission of supporting and enhancing the morale of sea service personnel and their families is aligned with our continued support of sea service personnel relative to the provision of reliable, secure, high-performance computing architectures that power their daily tasks.
We joined not only as a show of support for the furtherance of these goals but as a commitment in allegiance to the brave sea services personnel who defend, tirelessly and diligently, our liberty, our safety and our comfortability as Americans.
Like the Navy League, Trenton Systems serves those who serve others, and we’ve done so since opening our doors 31 years ago.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Trenton Systems’ secure, rugged, high-performance computers are powering numerous sea services programs and applications right now, including, but not limited to:
The Aegis Combat System.
Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
The U.S.S. Gerald Ford’s Jet Launch Command System.
Given recent high-profile cyberattacks on both government and industry, it’s evident that procurers of high-performance computing solutions within the defense and aerospace industries are developing a novel pain point: high-performance computers that are not only cybersecure but built from the board up in the United States with trusted, counterfeit-resistant components originating from a vetted and secure supply chain.
That’s the secret sauce, and Trenton Systems, considering its locale, commitment to cybersecurity and complete control over the manufacturing process, has proven time and time and again that it is, indeed, the chef.
President's Message
Standing in the President’s Circle With Matthew Hsu
The Navy League of the United States created the President’s Circle in 2000 to recognize and highlight the importance of charitable contributions to our initiatives on behalf of our nation’s sea services. It is a select giving society that recognizes steadfast supporters who make an annual gift of $1,000 or more to any Navy League-affiliated programs, includes gifts to the Navy League Foundation and Naval STEM Institute.
With the roll out of our newly reinvigorated President’s Circle, we will be featuring current members and the reasons why they chose to “Stand in the Circle” this year. Many have been members of the President’s Circle for multiple years. We would like to recognize them for their financial commitment, leadership, and support to our mission.
President’s Circle Spotlight: Matthew Hsu
Member of the President’s Circle Since 2021
Vice Admiral Level
Why did you donate to Navy League of the United States at the President’s Circle level?
I believe in the Navy League’s mission to support our sea service men and women, and helping their kids in science, technology, engineering and math to create the next generation of innovators.
What inspired your gift?
I am inspired by the dedication of the men and women who serve in the Navy.
Why you are drawn to supporting our sea services?
I support because the Navy is vital in ensuring the security and prosperity of our country.
What does the Navy League mission mean to you?
I am particularly attracted to the mission of supporting youth programs and providing civilians and veterans the opportunity to support those that serve.
If you could solve one problem for the sea services today, what would it be?
To ensure that our sea service men and women have all the resources they need and enable them with the most innovative and modern equipment at sea.
Why should others consider giving to the Navy League of the United States?
The Navy League is well run and is committed to helping our sea service personnel and their families succeed in the years to come. I am certainly proud to be a member of the Navy League.
Do you have any closing thoughts?
Aside from being the largest Navy, we need to always strive to be the most technological and advanced navy in the world to preserve the freedom of the seas.
If you are interested in donating to the Navy League in any capacity, please do so by clicking the button below.
By Aileen Sainz
Legislative Affairs Manager Navy League of the United States
This is part of an ongoing series, where we look at the lives and legacies of U.S. sea service men and women.
Did you know Neil Armstrong was a Navy veteran? Not only was he the first man to walk on the moon, but he also was crucial to the U.S. during the Korean War and Cold War.
Armstrong was born on Aug. 5, 1930, in Wapakoneta, Ohio. He sought an undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering at Purdue University under the Holloway Program Scholarship, which required him to achieve a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year university and serve three years of active duty in the Navy.
In 1949, Armstrong was called to serve. He learned to fly at his first duty station, Naval Air Station Pensacola, in Florida. On Aug. 12, 1950, Armstrong was designated a naval aviator and officially commissioned an ensign in July 1951. His first assignment was at NAS North Island, in San Diego to the 7th Squadron of the Fleet Service Aircraft Service. Afterward, he served as an F9F-2B Panther pilot with VF-51. Armstrong’s final mission with the Navy was March 5, 1952, after logging a total of 2,600 hours of flight.
On Aug. 23, 1952, he entered the Navy Reserve. Armstrong flew 78 combat missions and 121 hours over Korea in USS Essex (CV-9). During his time at NAS Glenview, Illinois, he gained a promotion, leading him to become lieutenant junior grade O-2. Armstrong resigned from the Naval Reserve in 1960.
Armstrong took part in military combat, which he believed is the “highest risk” anyone could take, even compared to spaceflight. He says he was in debt to those who lost their lives during their service to our country.
Due to Armstrong’s lifelong service to our country, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal, the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, the Explorers Club Medal, the Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy and Naval Aviator Astronaut Wings, among many other special honors and recognitions from 17 countries.
Armstrong passed away on the Aug. 25, 2012, at age of 82. He was laid to rest in the Atlantic Sea during a burial aboard the USS Philippine Sea on Sept. 14, 2012.
By Aileen Sainz
Legislative Affairs Manager Navy League of the United States
This is part of an ongoing series, where we look at the lives and legacies of U.S. sea service men and women.
Did you know Neil Armstrong was a Navy veteran? Not only was he the first man to walk on the moon, but he also was crucial to the U.S. during the Korean War and Cold War.
Armstrong was born on Aug. 5, 1930, in Wapakoneta, Ohio. He sought an undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering at Purdue University under the Holloway Program Scholarship, which required him to achieve a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year university and serve three years of active duty in the Navy.
In 1949, Armstrong was called to serve. He learned to fly at his first duty station, Naval Air Station Pensacola, in Florida. On Aug. 12, 1950, Armstrong was designated a naval aviator and officially commissioned an ensign in July 1951. His first assignment was at NAS North Island, in San Diego to the 7th Squadron of the Fleet Service Aircraft Service. Afterward, he served as an F9F-2B Panther pilot with VF-51. Armstrong’s final mission with the Navy was March 5, 1952, after logging a total of 2,600 hours of flight.
On Aug. 23, 1952, he entered the Navy Reserve. Armstrong flew 78 combat missions and 121 hours over Korea in USS Essex (CV-9). During his time at NAS Glenview, Illinois, he gained a promotion, leading him to become lieutenant junior grade O-2. Armstrong resigned from the Naval Reserve in 1960.
Armstrong took part in military combat, which he believed is the “highest risk” anyone could take, even compared to spaceflight. He says he was in debt to those who lost their lives during their service to our country.
Due to Armstrong’s lifelong service to our country, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal, the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, the Explorers Club Medal, the Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy and Naval Aviator Astronaut Wings, among many other special honors and recognitions from 17 countries.
Armstrong passed away on the Aug. 25, 2012, at age of 82. He was laid to rest in the Atlantic Sea during a burial aboard the USS Philippine Sea on Sept. 14, 2012.
Did you know Neil Armstrong was a Navy veteran? Not only was he the first man to walk on the moon, but he also was crucial to the U.S. during the Korean War and Cold War.
