Rising Star: Capt. Keely J. Carrigan
Operations Flight Commander, 707th Communications Squadron, U.S. Air Force
In less than a year as the operations flight commander for the 707th Communications Squadron, Capt. Keely Carrigan has had a transformative impact. Under her guidance, 99 direct reports are performing active cryptologic network integration, cyberspace and nuclear operations, signals intelligence and communications in support of missions for the intelligence community, the Defense Department and mission partners.
That progress builds on Carrigan’s previous work as flight commander for plans and resources, where she oversaw a Global Wing IT system upgrade to enhance cybersecurity. The upgrade deployed more than 1,300 systems to 35 operating locations worldwide.
“Her initiative, vision and negotiating skills with key leaders were pivotal” to successfully conducting a $22 million Major Automated Information System acquisition program for DOD that will provide a more secure and robust network infrastructure, said Lt. Col. Mark Betters, commander of the 707th Communications Squadron.
Thanks to Carrigan, “the 707th Communications Squadron is now better postured to execute global communications planning, and all local personnel for future rotations will be supported by an enterprise IT support contract,” Betters said, adding that Carrigan also oversaw a Microsoft Windows 10 migration for almost 6,000 personnel.
“She has clearly made an impact here and will continue to do so as a rising leader in the United States Air Force,” Betters said.