Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      To better utilize the Air Force's top secret communications system, there is a migration taking place that will consolidate all legacy Air Force and Air National Guard JWICS, synchronizing JWICS Air Force wide. Melanie Weems, program manager, AF JWICS Program Management Office, works with multiple contract personnel, like Brian Boblett, migration specialist, and Russ Williamson, migration technician lead, to complete the migration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lori A. Bultman)Intelligence communications systems migrate worldwide
                        
                        
                        Melanie Weems, an Air Force Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System program management office program manager, works with Brian Boblett, a migration specialist, and Russ Williamson, the migration technician lead, to consolidate all legacy Air Force and Air National Guard JWICS, synchronizing JWICS Air Force-wide. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lori A. Bultman)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Intelligence communications systems migrate worldwidePublished April 6, 2017
                    
                    By Lori A. Bultman
                    
                    
                    25th Air Force
            **JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO – LACKLAND, Texas (AFNS) --**While protecting the nation and seeking out the enemy, U.S. military forces must exchange sensitive information safely and securely. The Air Force Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System allows multi-media communications between authorized individuals by secure means, and in a timely manner.
 
To better utilize the Air Force’s top secret communications system, a migration is nearing completion to consolidate all legacy Air Force and Air National Guard JWICS, synchronizing JWICS Air Force-wide, said Melanie Weems, the AF JWICS program management office program manager.
 
Previously, JWICS systems were owned and operated by individual commands and units, said Michael DiCosimo, the AF JWICS migration contract project manager. More than 100 individual sites, comprising 38 legacy domains, were identified for migration.
 
The new AF JWICS will standardize the system globally, but the process for migrating such a large number of dissimilar sites has been time consuming.
 
“The migrations themselves are being done remotely, all from here at JBSA-Lackland,” DiCosimo said. “But before we migrate a single user or workstation, there are weeks and sometimes months, worth of site preparation that must occur in order to ensure mission integrity for the migrating site, and the overall success of the migration.”
 
The AF JWICS is a centrally managed system that synchronizes core services, such as active directory authentication, exchange services, Microsoft Office, patch management, file storage, anti-virus and other essentials needed to operate securely and productively, DiCosimo said. It will also include a standard desktop configuration and core operating system package used across the enterprise.
 
Legacy applications unique to a unit’s mission will still be run locally by the unit and not by the AF JWICS enterprise team in San Antonio. There are many units on AF JWICS with unique missions, such as weather or remotely piloted aircraft missions, and those specialized applications will still be managed by unit personnel, DiCosimo said.
 
The migration and consolidation of legacy JWICS sites into one unified, centrally managed enterprise will help achieve several goals. Everything will be streamlined, and security incidences are expected to decrease, said Weems.
 
“We are removing dependence on outside sources and standardizing networks and naming conventions, in addition to ensuring all anti-virus scans and security updates are run in a timely manner,” she said. “In addition to sites managing their own legacy JWICS environments, there are several Air National Guard units currently on Army JWICs, and those sites will also be moved to Air Force JWICs with this migration.”
 
Benefits the users will see post-migration are ease of access and standardization of experiences.
 
Previously, if personnel went on a temporary duty assignment, they couldn’t access their JWICS email or files, Weems said. With the migration, anyone, anywhere, with a JWICS account and access to a secure computer system, can access all of their information.
“With all JWICS programs running from a single location, collaboration will be easier and will better ensure the mission needs are met quickly and efficiently,” Weems said.
Currently, all 38 legacy domains have been migrated, Weems said. Now, the Air National Guard sites are being scheduled for the conversion.ISR 



25af 



ACC 



JB San Antonio-Lackland 



JWICS 



communications 



migration 



standardization 



consolidation. Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF, CSAF, CMSAF begin Indo-Pacific trip focused on ACE
                    
                    DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fightInnovation
                F-16s arrive to be modified for autonomous testing
                    
                    AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalistsMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil