Unit Spotlight: 552nd Computer Systems Squadron Published Oct. 3, 2007 By Cheryl Stefenel and Janice Johnson 552nd Computer Systems Squadron TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- The mission of the 552nd Computer Systems Squadron is to develop/maintain the software that forms the heart and soul of the Airborne Warning and Control System E-3 aircraft. The 552nd CSS provides 24 hour a day software support to improve the overall effectiveness of the E-3 Sentry aircraft and AWACS mission crews. The 552nd CSS delivers combat, mission support, and information systems software for the 552nd Air Control Wing supporting training, exercise, contingency and wartime operations. Sounds complicated? It is. It takes many people to ensure this happens; military, civilian and contractors. The 552nd CSS makes changes to the E-3 Airborne Operation Computer Program, the combat decision making software that enables the wing to execute its air battle management mission, that take 24 months to release to the field. Inherent with older combat platforms AOCP development still occurs on a legacy mainframe computer using a less known programming language -- Jules Own Version of the International Algorithmic Language. Without AOCP we do not have AWACS. Without AWACS we do not have effective, war-winning airpower. Without the communications and computer system in the back, the E-3 is just a Boeing 707 turning JP-8 fuel into noise. It all starts with the customer requesting a change, modification or creation of new software. The customer can be a member of the Operations Community, a programmer, testers, or contractor. The programmers and customer work together as a cohesive team to make the change a reality. With a precisely honed and repeatable software engineering process, code is designed and tested to ensure the changes work both individually and integrate seamlessly with existing Air Force, Joint and Coalition partner systems. The members of the 552nd CSS develop and maintain five E3 system operational databases: the E-3 Joint Tactical Information Distribution System, Electronic Support Measures, Calculate Adaptation Function, Mission Area Plan and Digital Land Mass Blanking. You will find members of the squadron performing data link interoperability testing and certification of E-3 aircraft with other joint and allied command, control and communications platforms (i.e. Joint Stars, Rivet Joint, Navy C-2 aircraft, etc.) Not only do they develop and maintain the code they also take their knowledge to the customer, training aircrews on recent software changes and providing worldwide deployed software support teams. Using data reduction and analysis techniques, the deployed team can replay downloaded missions, an invaluable tool when used for accident investigations, search and rescue operations, training, and for developing new tactics, techniques and procedures for improving future AWACS missions. They also play a critical role in reconstructing activity to analyze international incidents. This coming year will present many challenges --among them are downsizing and working within the $117k budget. The squadron is also training for a huge software upgrade from Boeing known as Block 40/45. When squadron personnel were asked questions on pride and ownership in their professions, a sampling of the following replies came flooding in: · The ability to track and schedule planes and crews for missions; ability to give timely information to the war fighting aircraft in the AWACS vicinity; ensuring we have qualified crew members and ground personnel performing mission essential tasks. · We are the "eye in the sky" on the battlefield. We provide precise details of location, speed, and heading of our enemies and our allies. Knowing when I see the E-3 in the air, taking off from Oklahoma USA, that I have a part in their successful mission wherever in the world they go. · Personnel rallying around a problem, getting it fixed and out to the customer, and then finding why it happened and correcting and improving the situation. · The people's sense of family and taking care and caring for one another. · National recognition, counter drug operations, military support/protection of our country. · Our outstanding record of rising to the challenge and exceeding expectations. · Low level rules! High quality software we produce. · I am proud to have a part in helping the warfighter accomplish their mission and to hopefully help them return home safely. · Knowing how our jobs impact the overall mission is very satisfying. Senior management gives us the freedom to step out of our cubicles and try new things. In 2006, the unit efforts resulted in outstanding results -- zero "Does not comply" rating; the best rating in Air Combat Command since 2000; with one team superior performer and 14 individual superior performers. The unit received an outstanding rating in the last Operational Readiness Inspection. The 552nd CSS is known as the small squadron with a big heart. During 2006, the squadron had six blood drives with 304 units being donated. Another big undertaking is the "Rebuilding Together With Christmas In April" program. In the past 121 years, the group has donated 7,573 hours with 767 volunteers. The squadron is lead by Lt. Col. Arthur Moore III. The deputy commander is Maj. Bruce Carver, and the superintendent is Senior Master Sgt. James Griffin. The 552nd Communications Group shares one First Sergeant, Master Sgt. Kevin Grice. The battle cry of the 552nd Computer Systems Squadron ("Sentry Comm ..... We code it -- You kill it. Aaaaaarrrrrrrrgh!") exemplifies the enthusiasm and esprit de corps the airmen feel as they play a critical role in the E-3's rapid and accurate identification of friend and foe alike and, when necessary, direct the application of deadly force. The guttural explanation at the end represents airmen romanticizing themselves as "software pirates" with unrestricted freedom to make changes to improve the E-3 software. The 552nd Computer Systems Squadron stands ready to answer our nation's call and defend freedom on all fronts.