AFCEA names Hanscom captain as IT leadership award recipient

  • Published
  • By Justin Oakes
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  A member of Team Hanscom recently earned high honors in the field of information technology.

Capt. Gary Priest of the Battle Management Division here was awarded the 2014 Joint Officer Information Technology Leadership Award by the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association during a ceremony in Washington, D.C., May 15.

"I was deeply honored to receive the award," said Priest. "This means a lot to both me and my wife."

Priest's recognition stemmed from a long list of accomplishments that accumulated during a recent one-year deployment to the U.S. Air Forces Central Command's area of responsibility. His leadership and IT contributions had a direct impact on fellow warfighters and the Operation Enduring Freedom mission.

As a theater engineer within Headquarters AFCENT's Command, Control, Communications and Computers Directorate, one of his initial feats included an Air Force first.

The captain contributed to the Service's first beyond line-of-sight secure communications or "chat" capability for tanker aircraft - a communication effort that resulted in more than 40 refuelers flying 15,000 sorties and successfully offloading 980 million pounds of fuel.

"There's a lot on the line when an aircraft undergoes aerial refueling," Priest said. "Reliable communication amongst the aircrews is crucial."

In addition, Priest led a Coalition satellite communications initiative. This effort supported the first French AWACS flight in the Gulf region, which significantly enhanced coalition C4 intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities within the AOR.

After a stint at the Combined Air Operations Center, Priest later found himself forward deployed to other locations, including Jordan, where he served as AFCENT's lead communications contingency planner.

"This was one of my most challenging roles," Priest said.

There, the captain worked with Jordanian air forces in response to violence in Syria and the resultant refugee crisis. Despite the threat of increasing armed conflict and civil unrest, Priest participated in the planning to secure the border and maintain peace within the region.

"It was a great feeling knowing we were building upon our international relationship," Priest said. "The Jordanians were very grateful for our assistance, and I was glad I could be a part of the joint effort."

While in Jordan, Priest continued to make a name for himself by spearheading an international air defense capability.

He successfully led several communications and IT teams, enabling them to form an air picture for 250 U.S. service members and 90 Royal Jordanian air force personnel -- ultimately supporting the Combined Force Air Component Commander's vision of an integrated U.S./Jordan operation.

The air picture allowed for positive command and control and enabled successful testing of newly modified tactics, techniques and procedures. According to AFCENT leadership, this helped grow the delicate U.S./Jordan military and diplomatic relationship.

Another accolade during his time as a communications planner included his appointment as the junior officer air planner for President Barack Obama's visit to Jordan.

Priest served as the AFCENT point of contact for communications support for the commander in chief. He established C2 capabilities within the Air Defense Operations Center, where he monitored radar scope operations and associated combat air patrol sorties to safeguard the president.

"It was a unique experience, one that I won't soon forget," Priest said.

Of course, these are just a few of the highlights that earned Priest his high honors as the 2014 Joint Officer Information Technology Leadership Award recipient.

Priest was assigned to Hanscom AFB in October 2010, where he currently serves in the C2ISR Division.

"AFCEA made the right choice," said Col. Fred Kennedy, C2ISR Division senior materiel leader. "Gary has really gone above and beyond in his service downrange. And what's great for us is that he's putting that same energy and skill into building a new intelligence exploitation network for the Air Force. I can't tell you how proud we are to have him in the C2ISR family."