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Comm experts ensure inspection success

  • Published
  • By Steve Berry
  • 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  After months of toil in preparation for the base-wide Enhanced Compliance Validation inspection, Col. Gary Goldstone, 375th Airlift Wing commander, announced Friday that Scott scored very well in the inspection. 

The ECV was conducted last week by a nine-person Defense Information Systems Agency team who examined the security of Scott's information technology. The base was found to be largely in compliance with their regulations. 

ECVs carry four possible ratings. The top rating is called "no concern."
"Colloquially I call that getting an 'A,'" said Lt. Col. Eric Oliver, 375th Communications Squadron commander. "Nobody in the Department of Defense has ever received an 'A' on one of these." 

The next highest rating is dubbed "compliance monitor," which is what Scott was rated.
"It means they (DISA) are going to continue to monitor our compliance to make sure we improve," said Colonel Oliver. 

The two bottom ratings indicate that a base is not in compliance with security regulations. Colonel Oliver said an Air Force Base was recently disconnected from the Global Information Grid for failing the ECV. 

The week-long ECV looked at electronic information systems such as e-mail and the intranet. 

"It is more than just the security of the systems themselves, it's also physical security," he explained. "They actually go around and make sure you have locks on doors where they are supposed to be. It's a very broad reaching inspection ... anything relating to securing the computers and the information they store." 

Every computer on base was scanned from a central location, as well as contractor's computers off base. 

"When I say it's a very broad reaching inspection, I really mean that," he said.
The 375th Communications Squadron, 375th Communications Support Squadron, 561st Network Operations Squadron Detachment 3, and Client System Administrators from across Scott and the Air Force ensured Scott's success. 

The 375th CS personnel began preparing for the inspection in February. Starting June 3, personnel began working six days per week, 12 hours a day to prepare. 

To help those working long hours, the squadron organized teams of people who helped take care of their families and routine chores such as mowing lawns. 

"It was a massive team effort," said Colonel Oliver. 

During an out-briefing Friday about the ECV, Colonel Goldstone praised the efforts of everyone involved with ECV preparations. 

"I want to thank those who performed superbly and who reached out as a team to make this happen," he said "I'm proud of your efforts and happy to still be connected to the GIG. We need to continue with our efforts to ensure security because there are many critical missions relying on us to keep them connected and communicating properly."