MARTINSBURG, W.Va. –
Tech. Sgt. Alex Whalton is a client systems technician for the 167th Communications Flight. He has served in the wing for eight years.
Prior to joining the 167th Airlift Wing, he spent four years on active duty at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base where he served as a crew chief on A-10 Warthogs. He then transferred to the Air Force Reserves where he was a crew chief on HH-60 Blackhawks.
Whalton was a flight engineer on the C-5 Galaxy aircraft here at the 167th AW before moving into his current position.
As a client systems technician, Whalton provides critical communication networking expertise. He configures, maintains and secures the information network, to include mission critical applications and services so that Airmen can complete their respective tasks.
“We work with the end users to troubleshoot and repair network access issues, software issues, computer hardware issues, and data storage,” Whalton said.
The 167th Communications Flight Commander, Maj. Brad Runkles, said Whalton has been heavily relied on recently as many full-time communication technicians have been deployed.
“He consistently provides professional customer service, along with accurate responses to questions and inquiries covering a variety of [information technology] policies and directives,” Runkles said. “This requires the correct knowledge, training, application, concepts and practices of administering the base network, peripherals, shared permissions, and ticketing system to produce accurate results and meet our customers’ requirements.”
Whalton has a Regents Bachelor of Arts with a focus in small business management and entrepreneurship. He was finalist in the West Virginia Collegiate Business Plan competition for the 2014-15 academic year.
In addition to working full-time at the 167th AW, he also provides community support for Microsoft’s AltspaceVR, a virtual reality company.
Whalton said virtual reality and all things related to technology is his hobby.
One of his goals is to continue his work in the virtual reality industry, focusing on improving the education of children.
“My goal for the military is to continue to serve in the best way I can by providing innovation and enthusiasm to whatever position I am currently working,” he said.
In spite of his career accomplishments, his family is his greatest source of pride.
“I am most proud of my family and how we have grown together and enable each other to be the best we can be each and every day,” he said.