JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Senior Airman Luke Braun is a member of the 628th Communications Squadron and has been stationed at Joint Base Charleston for more than three years. After completing initial technical training in 2007, he arrived in Charleston with his family, his wife, Jennifer, and their son William.
Currently, Airman Braun is serving on a deployment at an undisclosed location in the Middle East with the 386th Expeditionary Communications Squadron as the unit's communications security manager. In this position, Airman Braun is the base focal point for digital cryptographic security codes, which encrypt global positioning satellite devices on aircraft, land radios and secure computer networks.
"Without the codes my shop and I provide, all of the C-17s would be grounded due to the fact that they have no secure communications," said Airman Braun.
In his deployed unit, Airman Braun performs many of the same duties as those assigned to him at Joint Base Charleston. His skills honed at home station earned him the distinction of being named his deployed unit's "Airman of the Month" for June.
"Airman Braun is a valuable asset to this organization and is a stellar communications security manager for our deployed air base here," said Senior Master Sgt. Ronald Batten, Plans and Implementation Flight superintendent with the 386 ECS. "It is no wonder he has been chosen as 'warrior of the week' ".
"His performance has been nothing short of exceptional in the inspection of 11 communication security sub-accounts where he has heightened secure communications for 2,200 deployed Airmen," he added. "Identifying a need for secure voice training, he trained 12 individuals on proper voice communications, allowing for the security of our $14 million Air Expeditionary Wing Cyber Security Program."
This "warrior of the week" hails from Trego, Mont., and enlisted in the Air Force in September 2006 with hopes of traveling and seeing the world, Airman Braun said. His current goal is to work on completing his Community College of the Air Force degree and has long-term plans to make a successful career for himself in the Air Force.
"I look forward to spending some much needed quality time with my family when I get back," Airman Braun said. "Six months is a long time to be away from family."