Christopher Smith

Experience

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  United States Air Force

  Oct 1996 - Dec 2017

  Accomplishments:- Primary enlisted advisor to commanders on quality of life, morale, welfare & discipline for 345 military/civilian personnel—counseled members on financial responsibilities, family support, conduct & discipline, and professional development - Spearheaded organization awards program; awards board President/evaluated and streamlined 23 nomination packages—efforts resulted in 13 senior-level awards wins for organization nominees/7 decorations for deserving members; increased group morale- Directed Buckley Air Force Base’s 2016 First Sergeant Symposium; executed 32 action items/coordinated 40-hour event logistics with three agencies—certified 90 alternate First Sergeants/provided operationally-ready leaders for 44 organizations - Responded to high-visibility family member death; coordinated reporting actions & benefits initiation with four agencies--assured dignified transfer home for remains & guaranteed $10K funeral expense coverage for surviving family Show less Accomplishments:- Led 9-member team of military and contractor personnel dedicated to transition for $421M ground and satellite system upgrade; managed 10 operations and manpower projects—guaranteed accurate personnel apportionment for 323 active duty, AF Reserve and foreign military members - Provided 100+ hours military oversight to SBIRS Standard Space Trainer development—ensured operational user requirement satisfaction and system acceptance for $30M training system- Identified operational equipment shortfall; formed working group from five military & contractor organizations to address program discrepancy—directly resulted in Air Force Major Command leadership action to ensure on-time implementation for $16B program- Organized operations policy and weapon system transition for multi-satellite and ground station $29.4B SBIRS constellation—provided operational expertise for development of next generation SBIRS platform and associated training capabilities - Composed commercial software solution proposal to address SBIRS Increment-2 operations shortfall; engaged Air Force Space Command senior staff/four agencies—eliminated program delta for $421M system upgrade Show less Accomplishments:- Led six-member team in analyzing and implementing space system transition requirements for 60-person operations organization—ensured on-time operational acceptance of two SBIRS $948M satellite payloads by Air Force Space Command- Designed, administered and conducted initial, recurring, and special qualification evaluations for 88 military personnel—ensured highly-qualified operations crew members ready to meet U.S. Strategic Command mission - Initiated 19 critical space operations checklist and procedural updates mitigating ground and payload degradations—maximized operations availability for strategic and theater wartime taskings/$948M assets - Refocused unit operations evaluations program; detected seven critical procedural deficiencies—created 103 fixes and streamlined missile warning ops processing for maximum warfighter effect to U.S. Strategic Command and theater commanders- Managed global infrared data collection efforts for nine-person operations crew; processed over 1000 detected infrared events—assured error-free reporting of overhead persistent infrared data to USSTRATCOM, CENTCOM commanders - Created eight evaluations scenarios; executed 38 evaluations for 57 space system operators—guaranteed 100% on-time higher headquarters taskings for $948M satellite payloads were achieved Show less Accomplishments:- Supervised 15 technicians; oversaw maintenance efforts for the AN/TPS-75 long-range radar set, two AN/UPX-27 radar interrogator sets, two AN/UPA-59 radar decoder units, and all associated equipment valued at $6.2M- Overhauled Quality Assurance maintenance inspection process—eliminated eight overdue personnel evaluations backlog; oversaw operability acceptance of AN/TYQ-23 Operations Module, assuring compliance of $7.1M equipment item- Coordinated replacement of 22 antenna waveguide windows with depot agency; corrected antenna RF arcing problem preventing system transmission--restored radar set capability to support organization mission/aircrew training for Combat Air Forces - Led replacement efforts on $95K transmitter electron tube; skillfully expanded system transmit frequency agility from 10 to 58 frequencies--reinstated radar coverage/air picture for organization Formal Training Unit mission Show less Accomplishments:- Accomplished short-notice air traffic control and landing systems (ATCALS) engineering installation activities for federal agencies and allied forces to support national goals and objectives- Provided technical expertise during acceptance inspection of Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR) tower; worked with contractor to identify and correct damaging corrosion; reduced future repair costs by 40%- Deconstructed & removed over 3K feet of cabling/eight equipment cabinets during ASR system installation; coordinated proper inventory/disposal--ensured full accountability of assets during turn-in/reduced installation project downtime by 25%- Expertly localized false side-band radio-frequency harmonics to improperly-constructed filtering system; performed rapid realignment of asset--prevented time-consuming delay to project completion/saved $4K in travel costs for emergency depot team Show less Accomplishments:- Provided government oversight for the $15.5M Korean Training Range Complex contract, ensuring realistic air-to-ground weapons delivery and electronic combat scenarios for USAF, US Army, US Navy, USMC, and allied aircrews- Identified revision areas in contract statement of work, increasing efficiencies for government—eliminated potential conflicts with outside agencies on Osan AB - Coordinated contractor efforts to provide commercial electrical power to four auto-tracking threat radar sites; briefed requirements and courses of action to senior decision-makers--saved the Air Force $500K over five-year period/ensured accurate aircrew training- Detected three potential safety hazards during contractor compliance site visits; coordinated recommended fix actions between contractor, support agencies--assured zero safety mishaps at threat radar sites/continuous service to meet contracted mission Show less Accomplishments:- Inspected/maintained fixed Air Traffic Control and weather radar systems valued at $4M—directly contributed to unit receiving the 1997 Air Combat Command Maintenance Effectiveness Award/assured equipment 99% uptime availability rate- Provided in-depth training on radar certification processes required by Federal Aviation Administration—ensured certification for 12 technicians; guaranteed service for Holloman AFB, Alamogordo Civilian Airport, and White Sands Missile Range- Performed complex time-change modification to WSR-88D NEXRAD weather radar system; upgraded transmitter control assembly/corrected focus coil recycle issue—assured system met Air Force and National Weather Service safety standards- Detected GPN-20 Air Surveillance Radar transmitter magnetron mechanical failure; performed depot-level maintenance to restore system—saved the Air Force $38K in replacement costs; restored base flight line operations for four flying units- Installed two radar survey beacons; ensured accurate installation of surveillance and tracking radar processor for remoting of vital air traffic control data--validated range and azimuth data accuracy/exceeded Federal Aviation Administration flight standards - Skillfully replaced GPN-20 Air Surveillance Radar antenna drive motor; lead journeyman technician for installation process--completed complex task in 1/2 normal installation time; averted 14 days system downtime/restored base air traffic capabilities Show less

  • First Sergeant/Personnel Supervisor

    Feb 2015 - Dec 2017

  • Flight/Team Chief, Space-Based Infrared Systems (SBIRS) Future Development

    Nov 2011 - Feb 2015

  • Noncommissioned Officer In Charge (NCOIC)/Manager, Standardizations and Evaluations

    Jun 2007 - Nov 2011

  • Assistant Noncommissioned Officer In Charge (NCOIC)/Manager, Ground Radar Systems Maintenance

    Apr 2003 - Jun 2007

  • Combat Engineering & Installation Team Member

    Oct 2001 - Apr 2003

  • Quality Assurance Evaluator

    Nov 2000 - Oct 2001

  • Air Traffic Control Radar Maintenance Journeyman

    Oct 1996 - Nov 2000
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  LinQuest

  Jan 2018 - Oct 2021

  Accomplishments:- 460 OSS Standard Space Trainer (SST) Transition Project Manager; provides training expertise to manage $6M program implementation; primary liaison to Space & Missile Systems Center (SMC) and Sonalysts, Inc. for SST Transition Working Group - Represented customer during AFSPC Mission Design Series (MDS) Volume Writing Conference / Product Review; drafted comprehensive roles & responsibilities for 15 functions—ensured 460 OG interests represented for milestone AF-level guidance- Created Form 1067 / justification package to replace deficient training voice communication system; identified solution, worked with industry to estimate costs, and coordinated approvals through AFSPC/A5 and A4—on-track for SMC / program approvals- Identified requirement / developed solution to relocate 13 legacy SBIRS Increment-1 Training System (ITS/SITS) workstations; coordinated relocation project schedule with Lockheed Martin—on-time schedule for 18-console SST installation / $6M delivery- Managed comprehensive review of SST / training system capabilities; evaluated 80+ Master Task List requirements, compiled / drafted analysis report, briefed results to 460 OG / SMC—provided gov’t decision-makers vital data to focus development efforts- Represents customer for numerous government forums such as the Government Deficiency Review Board (GDRB), AFSPC Training Planning Team (TPT), and SBIRS Fixed Site IPT—provided extensive experience for operations interest prioritization- Drafted SST development priorities for customer, coordinated package approvals through 460 OG and SMC’s Space Training Acquisition Office (STAO)—instrumental in $9.1M funding approval for SBIRS GEO-5/6, Advanced Training SST integration - Initiated / coordinated network infrastructure, electrical power, and HVAC support for SST domain server equipment and 56-workstation installation project; secured required actions from five organizations—assured 33% increased training capabilities Show less Accomplishments:- Appointed by military customer (460th Operations Group) as Buckley AFB’s PEX Mayor—manages 450+ accounts, provides guidance/oversight to 12 Patriot Excalibur (PEX) system administrators and represents Buckley AFB PEX interests to HQ AFSPC/A3/6TT- Configured PEX Personnel, Qualification Training, Continuation Training, 623, Stan/Eval, and Go/No-Go modules for 460th Operations Group (460 OG); drafted system implementation plan for eight organizations—first-ever customer capabilities- Subject Matter Expert; drafted 460 OG Crew Force Management guidance and policies for the AFSPC Guidance Memorandum 13-1, Ready Spacecrew Program—standardized spacecrew operations for customer; revitalized neglected customer functional area- Developed PEX training curriculum for 350 personnel; established 11 training products and conducted over 20 hours of PEX classroom instruction—provided first-time system knowledge to 45 administrators, instructors, evaluators, supervisors & users- Audited and updated 450 PEX records/files; assured personnel record accuracy for qualification training, continuation and advanced training, and evaluation task completion—provided customer 160 certified personnel to operate $32B SBIRS system- Analyzed 12 customer change requests for PEX Go/No-Go Module development; 1 of 5 Subject Matter Experts appointed by AFSPC A2/3/6TT to work with Jacobs Technology, Inc.—prioritized software development requests; ensured customer needs - Created PEX Master Task List (MTL) for 460 OG Overhead Persistent Infrared Battlespace Awareness Center (OBAC); built 15 task requirements and programmed PEX with customer-requested data—eliminated legacy paper records for training/evaluations- Conducted training task loading and positional association for 2.2K Continuation/Advanced Training (CT/AT) tasks for initial PEX Letter of X module configuration—established first-time PEX system capability for 460 OG customer Show less

  • Senior Operations Specialist / Contracted Technical Advisor

    Apr 2019 - Oct 2021

  • Senior Operations Specialist / Crew Force Manager

    Jan 2018 - Apr 2019
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  Sonalysts, Inc.

  Aug 2021 - now

  SBIRS Training Support Specialist