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.

Airman serves with a ‘passion’ for computer systems

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Dan Heaton
  • 127th Wing Public Affairs
SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. --  A move to the Michigan Air National Guard is providing an ideal set of opportunities for one Airman.

Staff Sgt. Chris Jones recently joined the Michigan ANG's 127th Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base after completing an initial enlistment of four years in the active-duty Air Force. The change also allowed Jones to make a change in his Air Force career field, moving into the computer network administration field, after serving as an intelligence analyst.

"My wife and I decided we wanted to move back home (to Michigan) and raise our family here," Jones said. "And I wanted to build on a career I already started in the Air Force."

So now the Airman, who says he's always had a "passion" for working with computer systems, says he is indeed right at home, working in the Network Control Center with the 127th Communications Squadron at Selfridge.

"SSgt. Jones brings an eagerness and a high-level of energy to his job," said Master Sgt. Annette Young, the NCC supervisor for the 127th. "He has a natural aptitude for computer network operations and has quickly made a positive impact on our team."

Jones said working with computer systems comes natural to him: "It clicks with my head," he said.

Officially, Jones' works in the Cyber Systems Operations. Translated into layman's terms, that means he helps to ensure that Air Force computer systems and network servers are working smoothly and securely at Selfridge.

Prior to attending his technical training school at Keesler Air Force Base, where he spent three months gaining an overview of the career field with plenty of hands-on training, Jones worked as a computer help desk technician for Hewlett-Packard. Following the conclusion of his formal military training at Keesler, he spending a couple of additional months on "seasoning" training time on active duty with the ANG at Selfridge.

"In my position on the base, I'm working both with the hardware and the software parts of the system," Jones said. "I think in the civilian sector, it's a bit more of an either-or situation. I enjoy the variety of doing both."

Core competencies for Cyber System Operators in the Air Force include server operating systems, database administration and web technologies. The Airmen administers or help to administer server-based operating systems, distributed applications, network storage, messaging, and application monitoring, required to integrate cyber systems and applications.

"I've been into computers since I was a little kid," Jones said. "So this is an ideal situation for me."

About the 127th Wing
Comprised of approximately 1,700 personnel and flying both the A-10 Thunderbolt II and the KC-135 Stratotanker, the 127th Wing supports Air Mobility Command, Air Combat Command and Air Force Special Operation Command by providing highly-skilled Airmen to missions domestically and overseas. The 127th Wing is the host unit at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, which marks its 97th year of continuous military air operations in 2014.