39th ABW OPSEC program manager best in Air Force

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jeff Nevison
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Second Lieutenant Eddy Gutierrez, 39th Air Base Wing Operations Security Program manager, will soon be recognized as the 2007 Air Force OPSEC Officer of the year. 

Operations Security is a fundamental tenet of the Air Force's security program and is comprised of a variety of programs designed to protect assets and personnel. 

"I arrived here in November of 2006 and became the OPSEC program manager for the wing," said Lieutenant Gutierrez. "With the help of the individual unit OPSEC coordinators, we were able to put a top quality program in place." 

The position of wing OPSEC manager requires time, attention and teamwork from unit coordinators. The OPSEC manager's responsibilities don't remain within the confines of Incirlik. 

"Not only do we handle the Incirlik OPSEC program, but, through Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe, we work OPSEC matters for Ankara and Izmir, delegating USAFE directives to them," said Lieutenant Gutierrez. 

With a good OPSEC program put in place, violations may be more easily avoided or recognized. 

"The main reason the Air Force put OPSEC measures in place is to ensure all vital missions are protected," said Lieutenant Gutierrez. "Force Protection Condition measures alone may not prevent disclosure of our weaknesses, so we look at specific issues with the intent of preventing another Sept. 11-typ attack from happening again." 

While benefits of good OPSEC may not be noticeable to the untrained eye, these measures impact the wing. 

"You have to trust that good OPSEC is conspicuous in its absence, meaning that nothing bad happening is a good thing," said Maj. Gary Mears, 39th Communications Squadron director of operations and Lieutenant Gutierrez' supervisor. 

Major Mears recognizes Lieutenant Gutierrez' hard work. 

"His motivation is unmatched," said Major Mears. "He's what OPSEC is all about, and that's why he won this award." 

Questions regarding OPSEC may be directed to Lieutenant Gutierrez at 676-1286, or eddy.gutierrez@incirlik.af.mil.