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AIA member wins national recognition

Compiled by SSgt. Marilyn Holliday
HQ AIA/PA
Kelly Air Force Base, Texas`

He’s credited with rejuvenating operations security at the Air Force Information Warfare Center located at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas.

TSgt. Daniel Wilkinson Jr. was presented the National OPSEC Individual Achievement Award during the 10th National OPSEC Conference and Exhibition recently in Alexandria, Va.

Wilkinson was the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the Command and Control Warfare Operations Branch at the AFIWC before moving to the 303rd Intelligence Squadron at Osan Air Base, Korea.

Wilkinson is the first enlisted member to receive the award since its inception in 1991 when Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf was honored.

Wilkinson’s responsibilities included coordinating, scheduling and executing OPSEC multi-discipline vulnerability assessments for Air Force units throughout the world.

He was also the Air Intelligence Agency’s OPSEC program manager and provided guidance and direction for program activities at units throughout the world.

“Sergeant Wilkinson’s contributions made an indelible mark on the OPSEC community and significantly contributed to improved security awareness and practices within the Air Force and the Department of Defense,” his supervisor, Maj. Tom Ariosto, said.

He orchestrated 12 full-scale OPSEC Multi-Disciplined Vulnerability Assessments in support of seven of the eight major air commands and two joint service operations. These assessments combined the talents of professional teams of experts from signals intelligence, human intelligence, imagery intelligence, open source intelligence, communications security and computer security to emulate and simulate potential adversary collection efforts.

During these assessments, Wilkinson deftly coordinated both the low-profile and high-profile collection efforts. His teams identified 360 vulnerabilities for which they provided more than 700 recommendations to commanders on how to enhance mission security and force protection.

After completing the “hands on” phase of the assessments, he played a major role in preparing an immediate formal outbrief to each of the local commanders and their staffs.

Wilkinson was the driving force behind implementing a new type of assessment that used the OPSEC process to validate military deception plans. He created a focused methodology similar to the OMDVA to gather information to simulate what a potential adversary could use to break or foil deception operations. His extensive assessment background led to a major role in planning and conducting the first clandestine evaluation of deception activities at a Joint Special Operations Command exercise.

“As the AIA OPSEC program manager, he aggressively used his OPSEC expertise to convert a dormant program into a robust and viable process,” Ariosto said.

“Although I am very fortunate to be honored with this individual achievement award, I could not have done it alone,” Wilkinson said. “It was a true team effort of the entire C2W Operations Division. Not only did I have outstanding support and assistance, I was honored to work with and learn from the best in the OPSEC and information operations field.”

All of Wilkinson’s OPSEC programs and functions were evaluated during the 1997-98 HQ AIA Inspector General’s Military Effectiveness Inspection. His program was heralded as “a benchmark for others.”

The inspectors praised his programs for far exceeding standards and for demonstrating the sound management practices necessary to administer an effective and comprehensive program.

His computer-based training was cited as a “superb learning tool.” His efforts earned him personal recognition as an “IG Professional Performer” and his overall OPSEC program was awarded an “excellent” rating.

“Sergeant Wilkinson’s drive and enthusiasm have provided the impetus for substantially improving Air Force OPSEC awareness and compliance,” Brig. Gen. Paul Lebras, AIA vice commander, wrote in the nomination package. “He is a qualified and deserving candidate for the National OPSEC Individual Achievement Award.”