Legends Panel links past, present communications Airmen

  • Published
  • By Katherine Kebisek
  • Air Force Network Integration Center
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFNS) --  Air Force Network Integration Center Airmen had a unique opportunity to meet with and ask questions of some of the organization's past commanders and members of the Communications and Information Hall of Fame during the AFNIC Legends Panel session here Jan 26.

The panel was part of a two-day heritage event the center hosted in which eight C&I Hall of Fame members, past commanders and superintendents gathered to learn more about the organization's new mission as the AFNIC, as well as share ideas and discuss emerging challenges and technologies in the cyber and communications and information world.

Retired Lt. Gen. William Donahue, retired Lt. Gen. John Fairfield, retired Maj. Gen. George Lampe and retired Col. David Kovach participated on the panel, sharing their experiences and answering questions from the audience. Questions focused on leadership, technical issues, mentorship and the organization's evolving role in the Air Force.

"We're very fortunate to have four legends in our business here to speak with us today," said AFNIC's technical director and panel moderator, Brad Ashley. "They provide a unique perspective on where we as an organization have come from and where we are going."

In their introductory comments, each panel member focused on what they said is the most important aspect of any organization: people.

"It doesn't matter what the name [of the organization] is," said General Lampe, Hall of Fame member and commander of the organization in 1993 during its transition from the Air Force Communications Command to the Air Force Command, Control, Communications and Computer Agency. "It's the people here and what the people do that really matter."

Colonel Kovach, commander of the Air Force Communications Agency from June 2002 to June 2005, echoed General Lampe's sentiment, describing the dedication and value of everyone on the Air Force team - enlisted, officer, civilian and contractor.

"Leading the organization is essentially standing up for three things that are very important: integrity, service and excellence," he said. "If you can do that you can lead an organization comprised of the best people on earth."

General Fairfield, also a Hall of Fame member and commander of the Air Force Communications Command from November 1990 to May 1993, noted the passion of communications personnel for understanding and supporting the operational mission of the Air Force. He described the motto he helped develop, "Guardians of the Fifth Dimension," and how it still applies today.

"We intentionally used the term 'guardian' because a guardian has the role to be ready to fight, be ready to defend, be ready to reroute ... that's still your job today," he said. He added that with AFNIC now aligned under Air Force Space Command, the cyberspace career field has a great opportunity to understand firsthand the operational mission it supports.

On the topic of mentorship, General Donahue, a Hall of Fame member who served as the Air Force Director of Communications and Information (to which the then- Air Force Communications Agency reported) from April 1997 until his retirement in May 2000, stressed an individual's responsibility in finding and keeping a good mentor.

"Mentorship starts with you ... you've got to find one and you've got to be committed," General Donahue said. "You have to be looking up to the right leader and be prepared to take the opportunities they give you."

General Lampe added that the higher in rank an individual is, the more time he or she should be devoting to providing mentorship.

"As you move up the most valuable thing you can do is identify the people you think have the capability and likelihood of succeeding later on," he said. "Identify those and give them opportunities. If you don't give somebody a chance to succeed, if you don't challenge them, how are you going to know if they're good?"

The panel members were also asked for their opinions on several industry and technical issues, including what lessons they can provide as the center moves forward in development and implementation of the Single Integrated Network Environment. The SINE, a major AFNIC initiative, will bring together the terrestrial, air and space network environments to provide a seamless flow of information and mission assurance to warfighters.

General Donahue suggested that in order to be successful cyberspace must be operationalized, and legal, moral, ethical, law of armed conflict, and other issues must be worked out.

"I have a remedy right now if someone enters my house; it's called trespassing and I can get them. If they break in, it's breaking and entering. If they come through my router I don't have a remedy through cyberspace," he said. "Our laws are lagging, but I think with us being part of Air Force Space Command ... the problems and challenges they faced with operationalizing space gives us a leg up in operationalizing cyberspace. It's the right kind of move at the right time."

Throughout the session the former commanders continued to stress the importance of understanding the mission and keeping an operational mindset to best support the warfighter.

"You have to have the right effect," said General Fairfield. "Everybody needs to consider themselves as operators and give the right effect to the nation."

Colonel Kovach even suggested communications personnel without an operational mindset are a significant vulnerability to cybersecurity.

"I've always been in awe of how rapidly intelligence, combat and other folks were set up and ready to go," he said, adding that communications personnel must have the same drive and sense of urgency to get the warfighter the capabilities they need.

While AFNIC has held similar heritage events in the past, this is the first time the itinerary included a panel discussion. The room was filled to capacity and very well received by all.

"It's important to look to and learn from our history to determine the best way ahead as we forge integrated cyberspace," said Col. Curt Piontkowsky, AFNIC commander. "These gentlemen established the foundation from which we continue to build and shape Air Force cyberspace operations. We're truly grateful to them for visiting with us and for their continued dedication to our organization."