System reboot: Travis set to receive largest technical refresh in years

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Charles Rivezzo
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Nearly a quarter of Travis' computer users - roughly 3,000 people - can look forward to a technical refresh in the coming months as the information technology asset management work center here works to inventory and prep one of the largest computer shipments the installation has seen in quite some time.

As part of an effort to leverage end-of-year funding, the wing and Air Mobility Command secured a $3 million purchase of 3,009 laptops - many of which feature the latest version of the Air Force's Standard Desktop Configuration - in order to update numerous outdated and ageing operating systems across the base.

With more than 1,500 computers having already arrived, the task of bringing these systems online rests upon the shoulders of merely a handful of skilled information technology professionals.

Currently outnumbered 150-to-1 by the latest shipment of laptops, it's difficult to find space to move around the ITAM work center; let alone inventory and install the necessary software and security patches needed prior to being added to an Air Force network.

"This is hands down one of the largest technical refreshes Travis has seen in years," said Master Sgt. Jamie Lowe, 60th Communications Squadron computer system technician section chief. "We are looking at a minimum of 4,500 man hours just to properly install the necessary software and security patches to get these computers out the door and to the units."

Those set to receive the new computer equipment can also expect to see a much different operating system than what they may be comfortable with, as most of the laptops will feature the Windows 8 operating system.

Windows 8 will introduce major changes to the system's platform targeted at improving the user's experience. In particular, these changes feature an emphasis on touchscreen capability, online integration with various applications and built-in antivirus software.

"It's a big change moving from Windows 7 to Windows 8," said Tech. Sgt. Francius Chery, 60th CS noncommissioned officer-in charge of assets management. "It may take some time getting used to, as some of our customers might be a little surprised when they initially log on. Tasks such as simply navigating to your desktop will be different under the new update."

Although some users might need additional time to make the leap from Windows 7 to Windows 8, Chery noted that the unit is in the process of creating a presentation to assist users with the new features.

"We want to make this a smooth transition for our users," Chery said. "While there may be some hiccups early on due to unfamiliarity, we feel that in the end this will be a much more user-friendly and effective operating system."

Unit officials confirmed the final phase of shipments and software updates are expected to conclude sometime in early spring 2015.