HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- What.We.Do. spotlights the units and organizations that make up Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts.
This edition has members of the 66th Communications and Information Division, or SC as it is known locally, explain how they support our warfighters and the mission.
In today’s Air Force, the digital domain is as critical as the physical one. A working computer, a clear phone line and a stable internet connection are daily expectations.
The team responsible for maintaining the networks providing these functions is the 66th Communications and Information Division.
Their mission is to integrate, operate and defend the installation’s cyberspace capabilities.
While much of its work happens behind the scenes, SC forms the technological backbone that enables every unit on the installation to perform their mission.
The division's operations are vast, covering everything from the base’s multi-million-dollar IT budget to the individual computer on a user’s desk.
“Basically, if a unit has a capability that they need, and they need a network to use it, they rely on us,” said Dan Szilagyi, chief, Client and Network Operations Flight. “If our network is not working, a user is not able to do their job.”
Szilagyi’s flight manages the infrastructure users interact with daily. From the servers and switches in data centers to the radios used by security forces and first responders, his team ensures thousands of users remain connected.
That connection is sustained through deliberate planning and resourcing, a responsibility handled by the Resource Management Flight.
“Without what we’re doing, no one would work,” said Heather Haynes, acting chief, Resource Management Flight.
Haynes’ team manages the division’s budget, oversees major IT support contracts and directs the approval process for new technology connecting to base networks.
Approving new technology ensures every piece of hardware and software is funded, secure and compatible with existing infrastructure.
“It’s a lot of anticipating needs and working with contracting,” said Haynes.
With more than 100 contractors providing direct IT support across the installation, maintaining a high standard of service is essential. This is where the Quality Assurance Flight comes in.
Led by Ellen Soper, chief, Quality Assurance Flight, the team conducts inspections, oversees contract performance and ensures critical communication platforms remain ready, including the base’s emergency notification systems.
For Soper, who has been part of Team Hanscom for over 30 years, the unit’s strength lies in its unified approach.
“When things go down or there are problems, I’m super proud of the way we come together as a team and just get it fixed, whatever it takes,” she said. “We’ve never had somebody say, ‘No, I can’t do it.’”
From financial planners and contract specialists to network engineers and help desk technicians, SC works cohesively to provide a seamless network experience for the installation.
Though their work may often go unnoticed, their impact is evident every time a user logs on to a computer, a phone call connects and a mission is accomplished.
This proactive, team-oriented approach allows Team Hanscom to focus on its varied missions, confident that the technology they depend on will be there when they need it.
For more information on the Communications and Information Division, the 66th Air Base Group, or Hanscom AFB, visit https://www.hanscom.af.mil/.