DISA US Strategic Command powers down core device, prepared to support tomorrow’s warfighter

by Bruce Kenison  
DISA U.S. Strategic Command Field Office

Air Force Col. Paul Griffin, commander, DISA U.S. Strategic Command Field Office, powered down the last Defense Information Systems Network core device Dec. 21, 2020, signifying the end of a communications technology era for USSTRATCOM Headquarters which was originally built in 1954.

USSTRATCOM built a new command and control facility to support the long-term viability and credibility of the nation’s strategic deterrent force. This new weapon system includes a state-of-theart telecommunications capability, which houses the replacement main communications node for the region. 

“From the beginning of this journey, to establish a new C2F for USSTRATCOM to its historic conclusion and daily use of a new C2F weapon system, DISA has been deeply involved and engaged in the design, development and implementation of a state-of-the-art communications environment designed to specifically meet the needs of the command,” said David Bennett, director, Operations Center. “DISA-STRATCOM Field Office leadership and on-site coordination were the key enablers that facilitated delivery of capability ahead of schedule and within budget. Their tireless efforts working with STRATCOM representatives and DISA programs ensured we were delivering what the combatant command needed.” 

The legacy telecommunications facility, operated by the 55th Communications Squadron on Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, had been home to the main communications service provider node for more than 37 years. During that time, supporting personnel have seen a vast technological change, from the analog and four-wire low speed time division multiplexing systems of the 1950s and 1960s, the X.25 protocol packet switching platforms of the 1970s and 1980s, the Asynchronous Transfer Mode protocol of the 1990s, to today’s Internet Protocol Version 6 ready systems that ride high speed, state-of-the-art fiber packet optical platforms. 

“On many occasions, DISA was recognized as the exemplar for other organizations with respect to delivering capability,” said Bennett. “My hat is off to the entire DISA team that made the C2F a reality.”

It’s only fitting that this event occurred the day of 2020’s winter solstice and also great conjunction. On that day, Jupiter and Saturn aligned in the night sky at a point closer than they had been in nearly 400 years. Truly, the stars aligned to witness this event, those stars being the men and women who tirelessly support this critical communications system for the nation’s warfighters.

Published 9 Feb. 2021