When seconds matter: Command post modernization strengthens 23d Wing Communications
That was all it took for 23d Wing Command Post controllers to contact every group commander on base and pass critical information during a recent real-world situation.
The response put the command post’s new communications capabilities to the test and showed Staff Sgt. Cannon Munn, 23d Wing command and control operations systems non-commissioned officer in charge, exactly what the system was designed to do.
“Using our pre-programmed touchscreen system, we reached every single one of them and passed the critical information in less than 10 minutes,” Munn said.
The new process cuts the original task time in half, allowing Command Post controllers to complete the same task more efficiently.
Controllers must be able to rapidly communicate with the people and agencies they need during routine operations, emergencies and high-tempo events. The previous system had become a liability to that mission. Munn said the modernization project began more than 2.5 years ago because the Command Post was falling behind the standard, with controllers relying on legacy voice over internet protocol phones that required them to manually dial individual numbers.
“In a job where our primary duty is maintaining rapid contact with every entity on base, manually dialing out was a bottleneck,” Munn said. “At our operations tempo, punching in individual digits on a keypad was no longer acceptable.”
The new system changed that process.
A touchscreen interface allows controllers to build and maintain a digital phonebook while providing pre-programmed access to key contacts. Instead of searching for a number and manually dialing it, controllers can reach critical contacts with a single touch.
“The new touchscreen system completely eliminates that struggle,” Munn said. “It allows us to build and store an unlimited digital phonebook directly in the interface, turning what used to be a frantic search into a single tap on a screen.”
Behind that single tap was a years-long effort to bring the modernization from an idea to reality.
The modernization effort began with discussions around 2020. An initial purchase request was submitted in October 2021, setting a process in motion that culminated in the contract being awarded in 2025. The budget evolved over time, increasing from approximately $330,000 in 2021 to roughly $376,000 in 2025 as the scope developed.
Staff Sgt. June Alba, 23d Contracting Squadron non-commissioned officer in charge of the base infrastructure flight, said understanding the history behind the requirement was one of the biggest challenges.
“The biggest challenge was what is the turnover?” Alba said. “What happened in the past and how do I understand all that data over the past five years?”
Contracting personnel managed the acquisition process and worked to translate the command post’s needs into a workable requirement, while command post operators identified the operational problems with the legacy system and the capabilities controllers needed to communicate quickly. Communications professionals evaluated the technical requirements and ensured the new system could integrate with existing infrastructure and meet established standards.
“Not one person could have done this alone.,” Alba said. “You saw the collaborative effort. It's really cool because when we all get together, the amount of things that we can do is amazing.”
The completed modernization replaced an outdated Command Post console and its associated hardware and software. The new system extends beyond basic telephone communications by integrating radio monitoring, single-touch speed dialing, quick-conference capabilities and kill-line features.
“The implementation of this system introduces critical capabilities that fundamentally transform our operational posture, particularly during high-stakes and crisis-response scenarios,” Munn said.
During emergencies, controllers serve as a critical link between the information coming into the command post and the leaders and agencies responsible for responding to it. Faster communication gives decision-makers information sooner and helps synchronize actions across the installation.
The modernization also supports Air Combat Command’s focus on bringing the future forward and adapting to the strategic environment. By replacing a legacy process with a more integrated and responsive system, the Command Post is better positioned to support commanders, mission partners and higher headquarters as operational demands change, improving interoperability and providing a more resilient communications architecture.
“Since implementing the new system, our response times have improved dramatically,” he said. “We’ve eliminated the lag between receiving an emergency notification and establishing contact with commanders, SELs, first sergeants and emergency services.”
The improved response time was the result of more than new technology. It also took a willingness to challenge the status quo and find a better way forward.
“We have to be willing and have that courage to kind of just sign on the dotted line and say, ‘No, I approve it and we’ll figure it out,’” Alba said. “Just because it was done this way in the past doesn’t mean it has to be done the same exact way in the future. We got to adapt, innovate and try new things.”
That mindset turned a years-long effort into a modern command post capability built to keep leaders connected when it matters most. What began as an infrastructure requirement now gives controllers faster, more reliable tools to support commanders and mission partners when every second counts.
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