DISA celebrates Air Force’s 71st birthday

Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) employees celebrated the Air Force’s 71st birthday at their headquarters on Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, Sept. 18.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Brian Dravis, director of the Joint Service Provider and mobilization assistant to the director of DISA, spoke at the event.

Dravis began his comments by stating that at this moment, all who serve in the U.S. Air Force serve in the most powerful and capable air force on the planet.

“I don’t say that with bravado or conceit,” said Dravis, “I say it with sincerity and humility. There are a lot of reasons why I say that, but first and foremost is the unparalleled professionalism, quality, discipline, and capability of our noncommissioned officers (NCOs).”

“All you have to do is look at what you do every day here in DISA, or the Joint Forces Headquarters - DODIN, or across the way at the National Security Agency, or Cyber Command, or anywhere else out in the field where airmen serve,” said Dravis.

Dravis then spoke of the evolution of the force, starting from the establishment of the Aeronautical Division of the U.S. Army Signal Corps in 1907, then the Army Air Service in 1918, the Army Air Corps in 1926, and the Army Air Force in 194. The Air Force was formally established when President Harry Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947.

“A new capability, in this case air power, comes into the service and the service struggles with how to use it, what to call it, where to place it, and how to organize, train, or equip around that new capability,” said Dravis. “Does this sound familiar to anyone here? It provides an interesting comparison, if you ribbon tape the evolution of aerospace and airpower from its beginnings through today, and do the same for information technology and the catch-all word, cyber.”

After sharing some stories, Dravis returned to the core of what he mentioned was crucial to the service.

“When I spoke earlier about the quality of our Air Force and our NCO’s,” said Dravis, “I believe a crucial part of the quality is the Air Force core values of integrity, service, and excellence. These are central to who you are as airmen, and your personal and individual success. If you sacrifice one you will have sacrificed all. We are the best Air Force because we have the best airmen, and that can only be true while each of you maintain your own personal readiness standards based on these core values.”

The ceremony concluded with the Air Force tradition of cutting the cake. Dravis and DISA Chief of Staff Air Force Col. Bradley Barnhart were joined by Air Force Col. Jon “Chris” Autrey, the oldest airman present, and Air Force Senior Airman Munkhzaya Iderbat, DISA’s youngest airman present, to cut the cake. As part of the tradition, Autrey served the first piece of cake to Iderbat, symbolizing the passing of experience and knowledge while also demonstrating that the Air Force cares for its young airmen.

Airmen — past and present — were then asked to stand and join in the recital of The Airman’s Creed, which was followed by singing of the U.S. Air Force song

Posted September 18, 2018