George Washington (CVN 73) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 410 text:

ET2 Spencer Bend ET2 William Best IC2(SW) Thomas Cornwall ET2 Scott Fledderjohann ET2 Robert Goolsby ET2 Michael Hanke ET2 Jeffrey Johnson IC2(SW AW) Marccllous Thornton III ET3 Jose Araujocorniel ET3 James Fitzsimmons IC3 Cedric Glover ET3 Christopher Knox ET3 Craig Nannini ET3 Brian Russell ET3 Joseph Wheller ETSN Kaccy Preston 406 ISD

Page 409 text:

IS-5 Division IS-5, the External Communications Maintenance Division, is comprised of 21 Electronics Technicians and five Interior Communications Electricians responsible for performing maintenance on George Washington's impressive array of external communications, ship's entertainment and training television, secure briefing and teleconferencing systems, and flight deck and portable communications radios. IS-5’s technicians were responsible for upkeep on the systems that provided the ship's company. GW Battle Group and the various embarked staffs with voice and data command and control communications. These systems ranged from bridge-to-bridge voice communications nets critical during operations in the Persian Gulf; to the state of the art Joint Broadcasting System installed just prior to deployment (with GW again selected for the role as test platform for advanced telecommunications systems); to the Challenge Athena system, which provided satellite access for intelligence data, teleconferencing, and the Sprint phones used by the crew to keep in touch with family and friends while deployed. A highlight of IS-5’s deployment was the first-ever live underway news broadcast combining civilian and military technology. Six live broadcasts were made from GW to the Denver. Colorado ABC affiliate during operations in the Adriatic Sea in support of Operation Decisive Endeavor. These broadcasts brought home in real time the impact of GWs dedicated Sailors on the NATO mission in Bosnia and evoked rave reviews from the CNO and Secretary of the Navy. LTJG Walter Griffin ETC SW FPJ) Daniel Cosine ICC(SW) Stephen Magee ETC Eric Morris ICI(SW) Gerald Alston ETI(SW) Jeff Marks

Page 411 text:

IS-6 Division IS-6. responsible for the ship’s data systems, is composed of four work centers whose personnel performed maintenance on highly complex data systems such as the Advanced Combat Direction System (ACDS), Carrier Anti-Submarine Warfare Module (CV-ASWM), Joint Maritime Command Information System (JMCIS), Tactical Aircraft Mission Planning System, and the Integrated Shipboard Information System. The Combat Direction Center and Tactical Flag Command Center relied on these cutting edge computer technologies to interpret, disseminate, and display the vital information that decision makers require to safely, strategically, and successfully direct the battle group. ACDS was at the heart of the ship’s combat direction system, providing a seamless computer interface that put operators in immediate touch with the ship’s various air, surface, and navigation radar systems for display and manipulation of data. JMCIS and other data links provided the ships in the battle group, selected shore activities, and even other DOD components with the capability to share tactical information literally around the world. IS-6 also maintained the ship’s reprographic equipment, maintaining 43 copiers which produced over 250,000 copies per week. In addition. IS6’s Module Test and Repair Facility, named best in the Atlantic Fleet, was instrumental in maintaining the entire battle group at the highest state of readiness throughout the deployment by providing electronic circuit card repair to the component level.