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All posts from Don Jewell

Don Jewell served 30 years in the United States Air Force, as an aviator and a space subject-matter expert. Don’s involvement with GPS and other critical space systems began with their inception, either as a test system evaluator or user. He served two command assignments at Schriever AFB, the home of GPS, and retired as Deputy Chief Scientist for Air Force Space Command. Don also served as a Politico Military Affairs Officer during the Regan administration, working with 32 foreign embassies and serving as a Foreign Disclosure Officer making critical export control decisions concerning sophisticated military hardware and software. After retiring from the USAF, Don served seven years as the senior space marketer and subject-matter expert for two of the largest government contractors dealing in space software and hardware. Don currently serves on two independent GPS review teams he helped found, and on three independent assessment teams at the Institute for Defense Analyses, dealing with critical issues for the U.S. government. Don has served on numerous Air Force and Defense Scientific Advisory Boards. He writes and speaks extensively on technical issues concerning the U.S. government. Don earned his Bachelor’s degree and MBA; the Ph.D. is in progress.
  • Trends in GPS/PNT User Equipment

    May 15, 2013 4 Comments

    “A Guide to Trends in GPS/PNT User Equipment” Presentation to the 11th Meeting of the PNT Advisory Board The following is an abbreviated transcript of Don Jewell’s briefing to the PNT Advisory Board at its meeting on Tuesday, May 7. The slides from Jewell’s briefing and the o...

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  • The 29th Annual National Space Symposium: Better Every Year

    Apr 10, 2013 No Comments

    Neither rain, sleet, snow, hail, wind, nor dark of night will deter… Loosely Translated, Herodotus, Histories (8.98) …attendees at the 29th National Space Symposium from their appointed rounds. Seriously, folks, with apologies to postal workers everywhere, here in the Rocky Mountains it was 72 d...

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  • When Am I?: The Importance of Time in Navigation

    Mar 12, 2013 8 Comments

    A few months ago, many of you may remember that I wrote about an encounter with a rather well-known female journalist who, after listening to one of my GPS presentations, said something like this, “I came here today to learn more about GPS and so far all you have talked about is atomic reference s...

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  • BYO What?

    Feb 26, 2013 No Comments

    Every time I see a headline or read an article concerning BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) from a government source, where that source details only the risk associated with BYOD, especially where GPS/PNT (position, navigation and timing) is concerned, I am incredulous. Consider these recent BYOD headlin...

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  • 2C or not 2C: An Important Signal Question

    Jan 09, 2013 No Comments

    Don Jewell With apologies to the Bard of Avon, as I paraphrase his prose, 2C or not 2C — that is the question for millions of GPS users and has been for several years. Indeed, over the past seven years hardly a week has gone by without an email or inquiry about the status of the GPS L2C signal. Th...

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  • A Conversation with General William Shelton, Commander, Air Force Space Command

    Sep 13, 2012 No Comments

    General (USAF) William Shelton, Commander, Air Force Space Command Don Jewell It happened over 20 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday. Three young U.S. Air Force officers stood respectfully in the office of Lt Gen Thomas Moorman, then Vice Commander of Air Force Space Command. All thre...

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  • No Status Quo for GPS

    Aug 15, 2012 No Comments

    Defense PNT Newsletter By Don Jewell The huge white charger galloped into the clearing. The destrier slid to a stop, steam snorting from his nostrils, as he pranced to a huge oak tree where the four-star Templar Knight astride the magnificent equine posted an urgent message for all to see in status ...

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  • My First-Hand Experience with the Waldo Canyon Wildfire and GPS

    Jul 10, 2012 1 Comment

    By Don Jewell Tuesday, the 26th of June, started off as a beautiful day in Colorado Springs, if you ignored the towering plume of smoke to the west from the Waldo Canyon Wildfire. The wildfire started three days before in the popular Waldo Canyon hiking area in the Rocky Mountains just off Highway ...

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