The AJPO is supporting an effort to create an Ada-95-to-Java J-code compiler. The compiler already exists; it has been demonstrated at several conferences with more demos coming. We hope to include it in the Academic Ada tool suite offered for the Fall '96 semester. This tool greatly facilitates rapid prototyping of quality Ada 95 products.

The AJPO has also been busy in the commercial marketplace trying to create tools and bindings. We recently announced results of our Ada Technology Insertion Program-Partnerships (ATIP-P) effort, where 10 commercial companies received matching funds to create tools and bindings they will then be free to own and sell in the marketplace. The Government will recoup its investment through either free licenses or reduced license fees. (More information will be released in the very near future.)

Members of the Ada 9X Project Office, the Mapping and Revision Team, and the Ada 9X Distinguished Reviewers, along with other government employees and contractors were presented a leather-bound Special Commemorative Award Edition of the Ada 95 Reference Manual, engraved with their name.

Ms. Christine Anderson, Mr. Tucker Taft, and Mr. Erhard Ploedereder nominated the members of their Ada teams; Ms. Virginia Castor represented the government employees and contractors.

A special reward for attendees was the awarding by Secretary Paige of the Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award to Ms. Anderson for her efforts in charge of the Ada 9X Project Office and the Outstanding Public Service Award to Mr. Don Reifer for his efforts as Chief of the AJPO. Mr. Hal Hart, representing SIGAda, then presented two SIGAda awards -- to Mr. Mike Kamrad and Dr. John Goodenough. I am pleased to report that a good time was had by all.

The Honorable Emmett Paige, Jr., Assistant Secretary of Defense (C3I), presents former AJPO Chief Donald J. Reifer with the Secretary of Defense Outstanding Public Service Award.

Mr. Paige is again on hand to present former Ada 9X Project Manager Christine Anderson with the Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award.

The Information Management panel -- with such luminaries as Ed Feigenbaum, Larry Druffel, Barry Boehm, and others -- produced a well reasoned panel report. Ada was never discussed nor even mentioned. Unfortunately, in the executive summary, the author included a line that Ada was an "arcane language" and mentioned that the Air Force should use more modern languages.

Every person I mentioned here has repudiated this portion of the report. They are embarrassed by inclusion in a summary of something the panel experts never discussed. Unfortunately, this report has had a big impact; it is difficult to get a retraction that is so deserved, but actions continue to achieve a retraction.

DoD Directive 3405.1: In addition, a new version of DoD Directive 3405.1, last published in 1987, is due out shortly. In the final draft, it continues to require the use of Ada as DoD's language of choice for software development. So in policy, where it counts, Ada is still a required language for DoD.

MAISRC Reviews: Also, each Major Automated Information System (MAIS) and certain qualifying weapon systems must be reviewed annually for continued funding. This is done at the MAIS Review Council (MAISRC) and Defense Acquisition Board (DAB), respectively. New this quarter is a requirement to show the use of Ada or an approved waiver in order to receive continued funding. We are beginning to see some teeth in the Ada policy!

The first portion of the transition will occur this summer, or, in any case, not later than 30 Sep 96. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will assume full responsibility for the Ada certification system and validation testing of Ada compilers currently done by the AJPO. They already perform validation testing for all other computer languages and have worked closely with the AJPO since the very beginning. We look forward to a smooth transition.

There is more exciting news ahead that must wait until next time. Until then, we will be working to educate people about the Ada policy and to make them see the benefits of its use.

Dr. Charles B. Engle
Chief, Ada Joint Program Office