Another enemy tactic foiled by Airmen; Airman receives recognition for working to advance RIPRNET

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ashley Coomes
  • Editor, Public Affairs
Grand Forks AFB, ND --  A Grand Forks Air Force Base Airman was recently notified that he is the recipient of the United States Air Force Chief Scientist's 2006 Air Force Science and Engineering Award (Engineering Achievement). 

Senior Airman Daniel Urbanski, 319th Communications Squadron was recognized as a member of the award-winning Radio-Over-Internet Protocol Routed Network team he was on during a deployment to Iraq from September 2005 to January 2006. 

"You never expect to come into the Air Force to do great things," said Airman Urbanski. "It's just part of your job to support the war." 

Part of his job on the team was installing RIPRNET radios in theater. RIPRNET provides a new technology for use in the combat environment--leveraging the ability to convert radio signaling to an IP-based transmission. 

"Senior Airman Urbanski was instrumental in several successful radio installations during AEF 7/8 and kept us on track," said Col. Gregory Touhill, Air Mobility Command Director of Communications. 

The RIPRNET was used in Southwest Asia operations to enhance the command and control of air defense assets protecting Baghdad; improve the communication abilities for those supporting convoy operations; and improve air-to-ground support of forces. 
The new radio system replaces antiquated equipment that was prone to dead spots or areas where there was no radio signal. 

"The enemy knows where these dead spots are and use the vulnerability to their advantage," said Airman Urbanski. 

In addition to saving countless lives, Airman Urbanski's contributions to the team potentially saved billions of dollars. 

"RIPRNET was one of those situations where we were thrown into a new area, saw a shortfall, and figured out how to do it ... now... not ten years from now at a billion dollar cost," said General Ronald Keys, Commander of Air Combat Command. "(This) is certainly worthy of the premier AF S&T award."