Hanscom moves to AFMC regional e-mail environment

  • Published
  • By Dave Latina
  • Hanscom Information Technology operations manager
Hanscom e-mail accounts will migrate to the Air Force Materiel Command's Advanced Messaging System, or AAMS, beginning Tuesday. 

This move is a culmination of ongoing work since 2003, when AFMC embarked upon an initiative to develop an enterprise-wide system hosted on Microsoft Exchange 2003 Servers in Regional Data Centers. The system architecture has been designed to provide enhanced usability, security, collaborative opportunities and functionality. 

Hanscom users' mailboxes will be migrated to e-mail servers located at the Regional Data Center at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., beginning Tuesday. Local e-mail servers will no longer be physically located at Hanscom. 

"Small groups of test users will be migrated first, followed by approximately 1,200 mailboxes per night during the next two weeks," said Steve Swane, Information Technology Services Site manager, Northrop Grumman. "The mailboxes of senior leadership and their staff will be migrated on April 29. By May 4, all Hanscom e-mail accounts will be hosted on the new system." 

The Hanscom Information Technology Operations Team worked continuously over the past several years to ensure the transition to the AAMS is smooth. "More than 60 Hanscom personnel have actually been using the system for approximately three years," Mr. Swane said. 

The AAMS provides a robust, reliable messaging service while reducing the total cost of ownership for AFMC. By utilizing computing resources more efficiently, AFMC is able to increase service levels, improve availability, reduce floor space demands at the bases and provide a better way to access and manage AFMC information and resources, according to personnel in the AFMC Regional Services Consolidation Program Office.

The AAMS provides access to Hanscom e-mail anytime, anywhere, anyplace. From home, a hotel room on TDY or the office cubicle, you can connect directly to the e-mail system if you have a Web connection, Common Access Card and card reader, office personnel state. 

Migration: what to expect 

Hanscom users will receive direct communication from their organizational Client Support Administrators and the Response Center in order to facilitate the migration. Users will receive instructions on how to prepare work stations for the migration, e-mail notifications and user guides that cover the AAMS, Blackberry and Outlook Web Access use. Technical representatives from the AAMS Team and Hanscom will be on base to assist users during the migration. 

Additional information can be found on CenterNet and the Response Center Web sites.

What to do if problems arise 

After the migration, the first line of support will continue to be the organization's CSA. The Hanscom Response Center will also continue to administer e-mail accounts and provide client-side troubleshooting as required. There are no changes in the email support process from the user's perspective. 

"This is a significant change that will directly support USAF transformation efforts to leverage commercial best practices for IT service delivery," said Lt. Col. William Ross, 66th Mission Support Group Communications and Information Division director. "I encourage all Hanscom e-mail users to review the information provided by CSAs and on the Response Center Web site to be best prepared for a smooth migration."