GIG facility proves dedication hard to beat

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tammie Moore
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office --  Striving for excellence is a standard for the Global Information Grid facility here -- they have placed no lower than runner-up in the Europe Defense Information Systems Agency annual awards since 2001.

They garnered a first place finish once again, capturing the DISA Outstanding GIG Facility of the Year title. Same-sized facilities across Europe within the Air Force, Army and Navy compete for this award.

There are a few factors Kevin Kuhtmann, ITT Industries contractor working for the 52nd Communications Squadron, attributes to this success.

"One of the first things is that you have to have a team of people who believe in the work that they are doing," Mr. Kuhtmann said. "They know how to do teamwork, 90 percent are retired military. The other thing is training. When there is a need for training, you can't just sit there and hope it comes your way. You have to pursue it and actually go (after it)."

This telecommunications award is based on a facility's mission accomplishments, customer support and education, facility equipment improvements and training. Throughout the year, the Spangdahlem office completed numerous projects to improve base communications, including a tech control upgrade involving the installation of additional circuitry in their facility.

"We put in edge devices at user locations which allowed us to extend the GIG closer to the user and provide a more stable communications environment," said the Spangdahlem technical control facility site manger and German country manger. "We installed these edge devices not just throughout the base, but also at Bitburg. This allows us to see communications problems more quickly and go into all of these devices remotely."

Last year they turned in more than $730,000 of equipment, with some of the returns leading to refunds for the 52nd CS. In addition, the tech controllers also worked on a large DSN trunking project impacting all DSN calls that go off base.

"All DSN calls going off base come across our trunking before going to the outside world," he said. "We took all of that stuff and cut it over to the new edge devices getting it off from old copper cables and antiquated modems. It was put on fiber cable, which is a tremendous improvement. It is easier to work and improves quality."

The 52nd Communications Squadron commander, Lt. Col. Kenneth Crane, is pleased with the support the GIG facility provides to the base.

"We couldn't be prouder of our tech control professionals who earned Sabers an unmatched reputation in long-haul communications excellence across Europe," Colonel Crane said. "These quiet technicians work around the clock in a nondescript facility to keep us and the rest of world connected to each other. In the communication business, 'no news is good news,' so when tech control excels, few people notice until an award like this turns the spotlight on." 

Mr. Kuhtmann said the base GIG facility can't take all of the credit for their continual recognition.

"We would not be able to do a lot of the things that we do if we were not getting support from the 52nd CS and USAFE," he said. "What it all boils down to is the overall team, not just us. I think it is important for everyone to know this is really a joint effort by all parties. It is not just one or two individuals; it is a complete team effort of ITT Industries, the 52nd CS and the Air Force."