DISA wins first, second place at DoD CIO Awards

By Defense Information Systems Agency Strategic CommunicationsNovember 2, 2012

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1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Teri Takai, the DoD chief information officer, presents Miyi Chung, the deputy commander and technical director at the DISA Pacific Korea Field Office, with the first-place DoD CIO individual award. DISA Director Air Force Lt. Gen. Ronnie D. Hawkins ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (Nov. 1, 2012) -- The Defense Information Systems Agency was the recipient of two of this year's Department of Defense Chief Information Officer Awards at a ceremony held Oct. 19 at the Pentagon.

Miyi Chung, the deputy commander and technical director at the DISA Pacific Korea Field Office, won the first-place award in the individual category.

The White House Communications Agency Cyber Operations Team won second place in the team category.

The DoD CIO award is the DoD's highest recognition for outstanding achievement in information management, information technology, information resource management, information assurance and cyber security achievements by government civilian and military teams and individuals.

"This is the premier event from the DoD CIO perspective," said Teri Takai, the DoD chief information officer.

Takai emphasized the growing importance of information technology and cyber security and expressed appreciation to all those working in support of the warfighters.

"When talking about our warfighters, there is nothing more important than communications," she said.

The DoD CIO received 102 nominations from around the world, representing hundreds of professionals in DoD. Only 10 nominations were selected as finalists: five in the team category and five in the individual category.

Nominations were judged according to their information delivery and dissemination, management efficiency and effectiveness, cost avoidance and savings, a broad user base, processes, net-centricity and mission.

Chung, who won first place in the individual category, was selected for her work in supporting U.S. Forces Korea. Her work with USFK ensures warfighters have information dominance and superiority while operating in a secure and robust Global Information Grid and cyberspace environment.

Chung coordinated the first IA professional development effort in a sub-unified command. In that role, she provided and sponsored more than 80 IA training classes for 1,500 students across all services, components and agencies. The effort resulted in a savings of more than $4.5 million in temporary-duty funding across the Western Pacific region.

Chung also was selected for being a team builder and collaborator. She established the USFK Infrastructure Working Group to address Korea theater of operation infrastructure-related issues to ensure 99.99 percent reliable service. The USFK J6 recognizes the USFK Infrastructure Working Group as the most effective senior communicator forum focused on transport and Defense Information Systems Network services.

Additionally, Chung is credited for pioneering new capabilities in the Western Pacific region. She served as a catalyst to gain program management office and mission partner buy-in for the implementation of enterprise and net-centric solutions including the DoD Visitor Program, GIG Content Delivery Service, and DoD Enterprise Email.

"[Winning] was unexpected," Chung said. "It is an honor to be nominated, and even more so to make it as a finalist. It's a pleasant surprise."

The WHCA Cyber Operations Team, which won second place in the team category, led the DoD and the Presidential Community of Interest in innovation, pushing the edge of technology to provide the best possible support to the president and the warfighter.

The WHCA Cyber Operations Team became the first DoD unit to develop and field a new, near real-time, mobile device intrusion-detection system. The new approach gave the White House Military Office the ability to instantly detect anomalous activity on its BlackBerry handheld devices and provide continuous global monitoring, regardless of device location.

This capability eliminated manual scans with active monitoring, resulting in a reduction of more than 3,200 man-hours of work per trip -- totaling roughly 19,200 man-hours on travel missions. Implementation marked the first-ever enterprise-wide network defense coverage for all BlackBerry devices in the WHCA inventory.

Additionally, the WHCA Cyber Operations Team deployed more than 250 different applications, enabling significant collaboration across the PCI networks, including the development of a Common Operational Picture for use by the White House to directly support the military aides to the president and the president's Emergency Operations Center.

WHCA's Cyber Operations Team also takes credit for developing a robust manifest system for Air Force One. The system provides WHMO with the ability to monitor -- in real time -- the seats available on the aircraft and obtain up-to-the-minute snapshots of passengers onboard.

"It is an honor to get recognized," said Navy Senior Chief Tanya Whitner, the WHCA branch chief for J3 Cyber Network Compliance. "I appreciate that cyber security is becoming more commonplace and that it is being taken more seriously. It helps us move our cause along."

DISA Director Air Force Lt. Gen. Ronnie D. Hawkins attended the event to honor and give recognition to the DISA and other DoD nominees.

Takai closed the ceremony with words of appreciation and thanks.

"These awards are a token of appreciation for all the work that all of you do," Takai said.

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