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My Two Days as a DV (Distinguished Visitor)
Four years ago in February, I found out that my book “GPS Declassified” had been named as recommended reading in the 2016 National Security Space Institute professional reading list. They invited my co-author and me to come out in July and address their classes. Then the commander of Air Force Space Command, Gen John Hyten (now Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) got us invited to address his staff and other military people. We flew to Denver and then drove to Colorado Springs on July 20th. I had difficulty sleeping due to the altitude but got through the next day on adrenaline. AFSC was at Peterson AFB. 2SOPS, where they control GPS, is just east at Schriever AFB. You go through the base security and then there’s another layer for 2SOPS. We met with senior people and talked about GPS for about an hour. Then we got a tour of 2SOPS. Even if was a bit of a dog and pony story, I still found the people there very impressive. The GPS satellites have individual characteristics and they adjust the constellations to optimize performance.
In the afternoon, there was the big show. We met Gen Hyten at 2:45 and then spoke for an hour. Thirty minutes were allotted for Q&A. We were told that at 4:30 all would rise and Gen Hyten would leave. Staff commented that it was rare for him to spend 90 minutes on one thing. 4:30 came and he said, “You all can leave. I’m staying.” People told me later that that had never happened before. Dang, we didn’t do too badly.
Friday, we gave three presentations to students and one to staff. There was a good line for our book signing. My wife was most impressed that we got an NSSI challenge coin. Saturday and Sunday, we walked around the Garden of the Gods. Monday, we flew back. It was nice for this obscure book author to be a DV for two days.
I look slightly dorky next to Gen Hyten.
Me in action
Signing books
I think that Jim Lovell’s books sold a few more copies than was the case for “GPS Declassified”.
Video of our presentation https://youtu.be/FSUSURff8is
Published in Science & Technology
Impressive, Richard. :)
Yes, very impressive!
Oh my! I’ve narrated two books on that list! I did “Eisenhower’s Sputnik Moment” for University Press Audiobooks before I narrated “GPS Declassified” for you. “Sputnik Moment” was written by the son of a professor who taught at Eisenhower College, and I graduated from EC in 1974.
I still have lots of review copy coupons for both books, and would love to share them with Ricochet folks!
Very cool!
Outstanding!
And if Gen Hyten ever calls you a dork, let me know. I’ll dot his i’s and cross his t’s for ya.
Ooh! Looking forward to meeting you in September in SD!
Well done!
I found the agenda. It was a busy two days!
Wow! That is great! Congratulations!
Wow, that’s power! (Should this read: “… they adjust to the constellations…”?)
See the attached about the first Gulf War from my book “GPS Declassified”.
To what “constellation” does that passage refer? The military’s array of GPS satellites?
Yes. Today GPS uses 31 satellites in six equally spaced orbital planes (60 degrees apart). The minimum standard is 24 satellites (4 per plane).