[applause] >> thank you, it's such a privilege to join you for ndi's warfare conference on behalf of ndi's chair michael bear and the ceo david norquist, a privilege to visit with you this morning, as the past year chairman and emeritus, and heading up the emerging technoloies institute. and this meeting comes at a time when we remember the marines and sailors who fought at iwo jima 78 years ago this month. as someone who had the privilege of commanding the 4th marine division for three years, i'm keenly aware of the legacy of the 70,000 marines and sailors, primarily the 4th and 5th divisions whose, quote, uncommon valor was a common virtue, end quote. tomorrow is the 78th anniversary of the flag raising, and when i was staff director at the committee, joe rosen thal, the famed photographer who took that, signed a copy of his famous photograph, but frankly, all he wanted to talk about was the courage and bravery of the marines and sailors that day, such that 27 medal of honor recipients, the most in any battle in american history to this very day. if you go into the building, and i