USTRANSCOM awarded for applying web technology

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (USTCNS) --- U.S. Transportation Command received the 2001 Federal CIO Council Center of Excellence for Information Technology (CEIT) award at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington Feb. 28.

The CEIT award recognized USTRANSCOM for successfully using the web-enabled Global Transportation Network to cut costs and enhance operational performance.

"It's nice to get this recognition," said Air Force Lt. Col. Cheryl Heimerman chief of GTN Process Management in USTRANSCOM's Logistics Programs. "The fact is that GTN has evolved over the years and many people who are no longer with the program deserve much of the credit for GTN's success. It's an honor to represent them and their hard work with the receipt of this award."

World-wide authorized users can access GTN to find key information about in-transit personnel and equipment.

GTN collects data from various defense transportation system stovepipe outputs and commercial carriers and provides refined data through an integrated database.

According to Army Maj. Robert Sadowski, GTN Outreach Program action officer, he may have the best job of all with GTN.

"I get to see it in use by the troops, said Sadowski. "It's always exciting to be working with someone in the field and give them visibility over parts or people that they've never been able to have before. I had one sailor tell me, 'You know, it would take me hours to track down that part and you showed me how to find in seconds.'"

USTRANSCOM received the award at the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association's (AFCEA) 6th annual Virtual Government Conference in Washington.

"It's quite an honor to be recognized by the CEIT since it's their business to know what's happening in the IT world," said Air Force Col. Ray Hebert, chief of the USTRANSCOM Logistics Programs. "It shows that TRANSCOM is on the leading edge of logistic system development."

USTRANSCOM will continue to find ways to improve, according to Hebert.

"Even with our success we're not sitting on our laurels," said Hebert. "We're moving forward with the development of GTN 21 which will bring an even better system to the war fighter."

USTRANSCOM is one of nine unified commands within the Department of Defense. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard officers and enlisted service members and Department of Defense civilian personnel comprise USTRANSCOM.