An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : News
JBSA News
NEWS | June 28, 2018

25th Air Force mission leader recognized for life-long dedication to ISR networks

By Lori A. Bultman 25th Air Force Public Affairs

When Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance computer networks have outages, Chuck Ham is the man to call.

 

A Mission Operations shift leader in the 625th Operations Center, 25th Air Force, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Ham was recently recognized for his incredible, life-long dedication to the Intelligence Community when he was presented the Meritorious Service to the Intelligence Community Award by the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association.

“Chuck has an amazing track record of accomplishments,” said Joe Sanchez, chief, Network Operations Division, 625th OC. “His 2017 contributions demonstrated excellence, time and time again. He coordinated and led operational mission responses, creating tactical, strategic and national mission effects, and inspiring others to excel.”

 

A proven, peerless 625th OC force multiplier, Ham’s leadership ensured system administrators were provided time to respond during critical situations, Sanchez said. “His efforts regularly averted the potential loss of situational awareness for ISR-derived data supporting Coalition and Joint Force Air Component commanders executing global operations.”  

 

In the fast-paced environment of ISR, when issues arise, solutions must be just as prompt.

 

“Twenty-Fifth Air Force is a critical warfighting capability, reporting to Air Combat Command, providing multisource ISR products, applications, capabilities and resources, including cyber and geospatial forces and expertise,” Sanchez said. “At the highest operational level, Chuck is the focal point for ensuring the commander at 25th Air Force, and senior staff members, are apprised of any operational ISR impact resulting from network outages.”

 

Col. Christopher Russell, commander, 625th OC, was not surprised by Ham’s selection for this prestigious award from the many nominees across AFCEA International’s 139 worldwide chapters.

 

“From the standup of the 625th Operations Center in 2016, Chuck has been the architect behind the Network Operations Division’s ability to map the enterprise, as well as smartly identifying how a circuit or network outage affects the Air Force’s worldwide ISR operations and support to Combatant Commands,” Russell said. “He demonstrated his talents recently by dynamically correcting a complex circuit outage deemed essential to imminent Air Force operations.” 

At the strategic level, Ham ensured redundant communications capabilities for critical threat warning data were deployed for ISR Airman operating in contested airspace, Sanchez said.

 

His career expertise and experience working with the global Air Force Distributed Common Ground System enterprise have contributed to major network modernization projects, improving security and effectiveness, he said.

 

“Chuck’s intrinsic knowledge of mission systems and tools leveraged during the DCGS production, exploitation and dissemination cycle make him the Air Force’s ‘go-to’ expert for Air Force ISR technical support and continuous evolution of capability,” Sanchez continued. “Chuck’s career-long commitment to operational excellence has ensured mission success. His wealth of knowledge, leadership and mentorship led to the development of operationally-focused ISR professionals setting a gold standard for other professionals to emulate.”

 

Russell echoed that sentiment.

 

“Charles “Chuck” Ham is clearly deserving of AFCEA International’s 2018 Meritorious Service to Intelligence Community Award,” he said. “On behalf of the 625th Operations Center, I thank Chuck for his steadfast, persistent delivery of cyber operations supporting the Intelligence Community, and I personally thank the Alamo AFCEA Chapter’s fantastic leadership team, who greatly assisted in Chuck being recognized with this international award.”