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No weak links in the 90th Communications Squadron

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Mikayla Gomez
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs

Sometimes we don’t realize how dependent we are on something until it’s gone. The 90th Communications Squadron is a prime example of this. This small squadron has the very important task of providing network assurance for all 9,600 square miles of the F.E. Warren installation. While they face numerous challenges every day, they do their best to overcome them and support the base that relies on them so heavily.

“Everyone’s job revolves around the network to some extent, so if we don’t do our job, people on base won’t be able to do their jobs,” said Airman 1st Class Trevin Tindall, 90th CS client systems technician. “We keep the network up and the mission going.”

A few ways they keep the mission going is by providing communications support to all of our missile alert facilities, security forces units and dispatches, and by creating customer tickets through the communications focal point, according to 1st Lt. Kristopher Hug, 90th CS operations flight commander.

“We also have a plans and programs office, which takes care of all the contractual potions of our job,” Hug said. “We have our hands in everything on base.”

Captain Jeffrey Rees, 90th MW executive officer, can attest to the importance of the 90th CS mission.

“Reliable communications is critical in the entire 90th Missile Wing’s day-to-day mission,” said Rees. “It's easy to take for granted when everything is working, but the day the shared drives or the email goes down, the wing quickly realizes how dependent we are on our connectivity.”

Due to the critical mission of the 90th CS is, they work extra hard to rise above the numerous challenges they face, including the fact that they are very undermanned.

“We currently have four CSTs including myself who can fix network issues on the installation—that’s about four technicians for well over 4,000 people working on base,” Tindall said. “Due to large projects we’re working, only two of the four are able to leave the office to fix those issues.”

The 90th CS finds ways to overcome low manning, according to Lt Col Josef Chesney, 90th CS commander.

“We triage things as they come in,” Chesney said. “Although we have huge mandated projects like swapping out every base computer, our technicians are able to prioritize tasks in order to solve your IT problems.”

In addition to working Air Force-wide projects and IT issues, the 90th CS protects the nuclear force at F.E. Warren against network vulnerabilities. 

“Cyber threats are evolving so quickly, but we have to keep up with them,” Hug said.

While it is difficult, Chesney said the 90th CS maintains cyber security by staying highly educated on what the enemy is doing.

“We keep our ears to the rail—the enemy is always shifting and trying to attack,” Chesney said. “It’s a huge job, but we’re able to look at how we’re currently being attacked and expecting to be attacked in the future.”

Hug said it’s important that the entire F.E. Warren community helps the 90th CS vigilantly maintain cyber security.

“A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and that is so true with communications,” Hug said. “All it takes is one person to leave something vulnerable, and that’s an entry point into the whole network.”

Hug explained common access cards are the number one line of defense between your information and an intrusion, so they shouldn’t be left in computers. It’s also important to follow 90th CS notifications and update your computer.  

“Many people click out of the notifications, but most of those only push once and then don’t come up again,” Hug expressed. “We see higher threat levels on our machines because they’re not updated.”

Hug said the 90th CS truly cares about their mission, and they appreciate people being so patient with them as they continue to work through their challenges in supporting the base the best they can.