Mike Heister
Program Manager
Branch of the military served/serve:
U.S. Army
Units within the branch served/serve:
1-501 Attack Aviation Battalion, 1st Armored Division
Term/years of service:
R.O.T.C: 1994-1999; Active Duty: 1999-2003
Last rank achieved:
Captain (O-3)
Current Artel role/title:
Program Manager
What is the most important or memorable aspect of your military service?
Working with soldiers, and learning to see the world from a new perspective. The lessons and friendships I’ve taken with me.
How have you related your military service experiences to your role at Artel, LLC?
It’s helped me maintain a “mission first, people always” approach to solving problems and dealing with colleagues and customers.
Alan Gerber
European Program Manager
Branch of the military served/serve:
U.S. Air Force
Units within the branch served/serve:
571 SMS, 390 SMW , Tucson, AZ
Term/years of service:
4 Years (1970 – 1974)
Last rank achieved:
Captain
Current Artel role/title:
European Program Manager
What is the most important or memorable aspect of your military service?
Know your job, and knowledge in few additional areas is helpful.
How have you related your military service experiences to your role at Artel, LLC?
Promoting consideration and cooperation among team members who have differing social/political agendas.
Ashis Roy
Terrestrial Capture and Solution Support
Branch of the military served/serve:
U.S. Army – New York National Guard
Units within the branch served/serve:
C. Co 101st Expeditionary Signal Battalion
Term/years of service:
6 Years
Last rank achieved:
Specialist/E-4
Current Artel role/title:
Terrestrial Capture and Solution Support
What is the most important or memorable aspect of your military service?
Military service is not about me, its about us. We stand together as a team to defend our country.
How have you related your military service experiences to your role at Artel, LLC?
As I am making my transition from military to civilian career in Artel, I see opportunities to apply my military leadership and technical expertise. I am particularly excited about my role in Artel that I can continue to support U.S. Government and military missions to serve our country.
Troy Anderson
Firewall (Perimeter Security) Analyst
Branch of the military served/serve:
U.S. Air Force
Units within the branch served/serve:
84th Test Squadron, 5th Communications Squadron, and 92nd Information Warfare Aggressor Squadron.
Term/years of service:
1996-1999 – 84th Test Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Florida – Electronics Specialist, Enlisted, E-4
1999-2001 – Air Force ROTC at University of Iowa. Bachelors in Computer Science
2001-2005 – 5th Communications Squadron, Minot AFB, ND (Flight Commander, Network Communications Center, 2nd/1st Lieutenant)
2005-2007 – 92nd Information Warfare Aggressor Squadron, Kelly AFB, Tx (C4 Systems Security Engineer, Captain)
Last rank achieved:
Captain
Current Artel role/title:
Firewall (Perimeter Security) Analyst
What is the most important or memorable aspect of your military service?
Serving my country has been an amazing experience, and I learned so much from the people I served with. The camaraderie I found there will be something I will never forget. I often think back on those people and experiences with a humble heart, and feel very honored to have been able to serve my country.
How have you related your military service experiences to your role at Artel, LLC?
I have been with Artel for 6 years, and have been very happy to have found the same type of camaraderie with my colleagues as I have in the military. In my role at the Regional Cyber Center – Europe (RCC-E), no 2 days are ever the same. Our team relies heavily on each other to find solutions for our customer to keep the mission pushing forward. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about.
Jim McDonald
Network Administrator
Branch of the military served/serve:
U.S. Air Force
Units within the branch served/serve:
Units I served with: 6th Mobile Weather Squadron, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma; Detachment 19, 15th Weather Squadron, Lajes AB, Azores, Portugal; 54th Weather Reconnaisance Squadron, Anderson AFB, Guam; Detachment 7, 5th Weather Squadron, Langley AFB, VA, Detachment; US Army Combat Weather Support Team, Fort Riley, KS; Air Force Global Weather Center, Offutt AFB, NE.
Term/years of service:
15 Years (1969 – 1984)
Last rank achieved:
TSgt
Current Artel role/title:
Network Administrator
What is the most important or memorable aspect of your military service?
I volunteered to serve my country during a time of war. I felt an obligation to serve my country; to give back for my own freedoms. My time in the military taught me that life is what you make of it. Nothing is guaranteed. I lost friends, and I gained many more. These are friendships that will last my entire lifetime. I wish that every person would serve their country as I did, then they might appreciate what they have so much more.
How have you related your military service experiences to your role at Artel, LLC?
The military taught me how important teamwork is. There is no “I” in TEAM. As a member of a C-130 flight crew, I relied on five other crew members to do their jobs, in order to ensure that all of us could make it back home safely after each mission. My job here may not be life-or-death, but it is definitely “teamwork” at its best. I cannot do my job without the others around me doing theirs, and vice versa. I am still serving my country, and loving it. That is, perhaps, the best part of working here.
Nina Vargas
Network Administrator
Branch of the military served/serve:
U.S. Navy
Units within the branch served/serve:
Stationed at NSGA Misawa, Japan, USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) in Norfolk, Virginia and NOSC Denver, Colorado
Term/years of service:
11 Years (2001 – 2012)
Last rank achieved:
Cryptologic Technician-Special Warfare (CTR1[SW])
Current Artel role/title:
Network Administrator
What is the most important or memorable aspect of your military service?
My biggest lesson from my service is that everything, from school, work, relationships, etc. is what you make of it. If you approach a situation thinking the worst, then your expectations will be met. Thinking positively and keeping an open mind about an experience will allow you to make the most of the situation, learn from it, and enjoy it.
How have you related your military service experiences to your role at Artel, LLC?
My current role allows me to work side by side with soldiers and allows me to share my network knowledge as well as important lessons I learned in the Navy. I like to share educational advice with the soldiers that will help them make the most of their time while maximizing their benefits.
Artel Overview
Artel provides secure network communication solutions that ensure reliable connectivity and provide cost-effective delivery of global terrestrial, satellite, cyber, and IT services.
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