Photo By Candy C Knight | The 2d Theater Signal Brigade's #Spotlight shines on Sgt. 1st Class James Odum. Odum...... read more read more
The 2d Theater Signal Brigade's Spotlight shines on U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class James Odum. Odum is a Satellite Communication Systems Operator-Maintainer assigned to the 86th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 11th Corps Signal Brigade.
As a Satellite Communication Systems Operator-Maintainer, Sgt. 1st Class James Odum's duties include providing guidance and mentorship to technicians and team leads regarding the deployment and operation of their team/sections, advising leadership on processes and capabilities of satellite-based equipment, and bridging the link between the tactical/strategic networking environments.
Odum, who was recently promoted to Sergeant First Class, was part of the 11th Corps Signal Brigade team that deployed to Germany in response to the Ukrainian Conflict.
“I volunteered to come to Europe on this deployment to be a part of the initial surge regarding the Ukrainian Conflict and to experience the European theater.”
While assigned to 2d Theater Signal Brigade, Odum developed the SATCOM Enhancement Tool - Mark I, a scalable Microsoft Excel-based Wideband SATCOM mission tool which contains numerous routines designed to eliminate the dependency on external unit reporting, process large amounts of data, and aggregate meaningful data to provide decision makers valuable SATCOM mission information. The referenced tool authenticates a user and downloads the current and upcoming missions published by the four Regional SATCOM Support Centers.
“Prior to this SATCOM tool development, there was no previous product that could remotely come close to providing the theater with any situational awareness into the SATCOM mission-set outside of reports being sent up by units.”
Developing new methods to improve communications is one of Odum's favorite parts about being Satellite Communication Systems Operator-Maintainer. The vast amount of career opportunities is another reason.
“I have had the opportunity to work amongst the smartest group of people within the 25-Sierra world. The amount of training SATCOM Operator-Maintainer experience is extensive, and the career opportunities are immense. On a mission with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in Vietnam, I served as a communications specialist amongst a team of diverse skill sets from across the Joint services in order to find and repatriate fallen Service Members from the Vietnam War. After living in the Vietnam jungle for months, in an austere environment, and working on the side of a mountain where a plane was believed to have crashed some 50 years prior. We successfully found the remains of the pilot on Memorial Day 2019. Knowing that we were able to bring closure to this Service Member’s family and leave no man behind really left me feeling like I was a part of something great.”
| Date Taken: | 09.16.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 09.16.2022 07:54 |
| Story ID: | 429450 |
| Location: | WIESBADEN, HESSEN, DE |
| Hometown: | COVINGTON, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 61 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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