Army techie joins Beetle Bailey crew

An Army information technology officer will sign up with Gen. Halftrack and the Camp Swampy crew this week. The new character in the 52-year-old Beetle Bailey cartoon strip will debut at the FOSE 2002 trade show, running March 19-21 at the Washington, D.C., Convention Center.

Will the IT officer become Sarge's constant dining companion? Miss Buxley's new love interest? Beetle's foil? Will he bring new tech savvy to the gang? Ask strip creator Mort Walker, who will appear with the new character at the Beetle Bailey booth March 21. The new character will be on display all three days of the show.

More than 17,000 government and military IT professionals are expected to attend FOSE 2002, the nation's largest and most comprehensive technology exhibition for the government.

A contest to pick the name and rank of the IT officer will kick off at the FOSE show. Walker will choose the winner, whose name will be mentioned in the first cartoon featuring the new character.

All entries placed at FOSE 2002 will be entered into a drawing for a one-year lease on a new Jeep Wrangler. The drawing for the Jeep will take place at FOSE March 21.

FOSE 2002 attendees stopping at the Beetle Bailey booth can get their picture taken with Beetle Bailey characters for a donation to the Fisher House, a nonprofit organization providing support to military families during medical crises.

FOSE 2002 is owned and operated by PostNewsweek Tech Media, publisher of Washington Technology.