ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. -- May is in the rearview, closing the books on another National OPSEC Awareness Month.
Throughout May, the Arnold Engineering Development Complex Information Protection team at Arnold Air Force Base, headquarters of AEDC, marked the occasion with several events to promote the awareness of Operations Security, more commonly referred to as OPSEC.
Although the calendar has turned to June, the message the IP team looked to convey throughout May persists. The group stresses that, regardless of the time of year, OPSEC is vital to complex operations.
Holly Jones, OPSEC program manager for the AEDC IP Office, described OPSEC as a proactive approach to risk management that helps protect the nation’s most valuable assets and interests.
“It’s a continuous process of awareness, assessment and mitigation that is essential for maintaining our security and prosperity in a complex and dangerous world,” she said. “A strong OPSEC program is a critical component of a robust national security strategy.”
Sara Liner, deputy chief of the AEDC IP Office, added that individuals can practice OPSEC by being mindful of their actions and communications to protect sensitive information and prevent adversaries from gaining an advantage.
“It’s not just about secrets,” she said. “It’s about protecting information that could be used against you or your organization. Think of it like this: Imagine you’re planning a surprise birthday party. The information you want to protect is the date, time and location of the party. Potential vulnerabilities might be accidentally mentioning the party details within earshot of the birthday person, posting pictures of party supplies on social media before the party or leaving a shopping list for the party lying around.
“OPSEC would be taking steps to avoid these vulnerabilities, like whispering about the party, waiting to post pictures and shredding the shopping list.”
OPSEC is especially important at AEDC, as the work performed across the complex impacts not only the world now, but serves as the foundation for the next generation of airborne technology, said Jared Allen, chief of the AEDC IP Office.
“We have the great honor of knowing that our children and grandchildren will look to the skies and see the fruits of what we do today,” he said. “With that honor comes the responsibility to safeguard that future from those who would see it taken. As AEDC engages in the development of new technologies, it is vital that we protect those technologies, and OPSEC is the best method of denying our adversaries a window into what we do.”
Allen added that, as a research, development, test and evaluation facility, AEDC has unique OPSEC concerns.
“Where and when we test, how we route power and water, the identity of our test customers, or the countries with whom we do business are all examples of AEDC OPSEC concerns,” he said. “This is especially true now as AEDC develops new technologies and facilities across the Wing.”
Examples of OPSEC concerns include casual conversations about work-related topics in public places, such as airports, restaurants and at social gatherings, where they could be overheard. Another example is someone posting details about their job, location or work activities on social media, as this could reveal information about the employee’s organization or its operations.
OPSEC is not solely the responsibility of security professionals, Liner said, but the responsibility of every employee, contactor and visitor at AEDC.
“Everyone has a role to play in protecting sensitive information and ensuring the security of the complex,” she said. “Thinking that OPSEC is ‘someone else’s job’ is a dangerous mindset that can lead to vulnerabilities and potential security breaches.”
“There is no unimportant job at AEDC, and everything we do tells a story,” Allen added. “How much food we order, when people go through the gates, how often the grass is mowed, when deliveries occur, etcetera, all contribute to the narrative of what the base is doing. OPSEC is absolutely the responsibility of everyone at AEDC because we’re all responsible for our part in the AEDC story, and we share an obligation to safeguard that story.”
Being aware of one’s surroundings and remaining cognizant of information that should not be freely shared is one way AEDC team members can protect OPSEC, Jones said. She added that not everyone who expresses an interest has a valid need to know and that the IP team encourages personnel to always report suspicious activity.
“If you see something, say something,” she said.
AEDC employees needing to report such activity or express security concerns may do so by contacting the AEDC IP Office, the Office of Special Investigations, Security Forces or their company’s Facility Security Officer.
“Don’t worry about finding the right office in the group,” Allen said. “A report to one makes its way to all.”
National OPSEC Awareness Month was formally initiated in January 2023. The recognition has since played a role in the implementation and integration of the National OPSEC Program across U.S. Government Executive Branch departments and agencies, according to Jones.
“OPSEC Awareness Month has grown since its inception as the Air Force has come to realize the importance of protecting information and the value that information has to our adversaries,” Allen said.
This year, National OPSEC Awareness Month was moved from January to May and, each week throughout May, the AEDC IP team created and distributed newsletters to Team AEDC with each edition highlighting a different principle of OPSEC.
To kick off the month, the group set up a table in Hap’s Eatery in the Administration and Engineering Building at Arnold AFB. This exhibit provided guidance on ways for visitors to protect OPSEC.
The team held other events throughout the month to boost OPSEC awareness among the AEDC workforce. The IP Office came up with the “Dog Days of OPSEC” theme for National OPSEC Month at Arnold. In commemoration, the team held its “Operation Pupsicle” event on May 15, during which visitors were reminded of the importance of OPSEC, were offered popsicles to “ice out the adversary” and got the opportunity to meet dogs belonging to IP team members and AEDC leadership.
The IP team followed this by offering donut holes on the morning of May 22 to those entering Arnold through the Main Gate. All the while, members of the team stood outside the gate and held signs reading “Donut Sleep on OPSEC” and “Donut Forget OPSEC.” On May 29, the team gave away cookies to Arnold team members on May 29 as part of its “Bake the World a Better Place. Practice Good OPSEC” event.
Jones, who was responsible for developing the activities, classified National OPSEC Month at Arnold as a success.
“We had tremendous engagement from the workforce,” she said. “I am already looking forward to next year.”
Until then, the AEDC IP Team urges those across the complex to “think OPSEC.”
“It’s always a valuable reminder to be mindful of your actions and communications and to protect sensitive information,” Liner said.