An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

NEWS | April 27, 2022

Cyber warrior Arctic Guardians help protect Alaska skies

By Staff Sgt. Kelly Willett 176th Wing Public Affairs

The 176th Wing of the Alaska Air National Guard is prepared to answer the call of the state and nation, no matter the time, no matter the place. 

This paradigm might elicit thoughts of gray planes in the sky and boots on the ground. What it might not elicit are thoughts of men and women of the 176th Air Defense Squadron protecting against cyber attacks and keeping 176th ADS systems running every day, so they may complete their missions. 

Alaska Air National Guard Master Sgt. Philip Whipkey, 176th ADS Cyber Operations superintendent, explained his section’s mission.

“Cyber Airmen are on call with staffing 24 hours a day,” he said. “We have to support the system, or else we’re not watching the skies and not supporting the operators with the NORAD mission.” 

Whipkey said the unit watches for potential cyber attacks on more than 20 radar sites and their accompanying computer systems across Alaska. This is no small task, and cyber experts are on call to fulfill the demanding mission. 

To stay ready for this important mission, the 176th Wing cyber Airmen participate in exercises across the country such as Cyber Shield, Whipkey said, practicing counterattacks and thwarting hackers through intensive training and real-world scenarios.

The 176th ADS main area of responsibility is the Alaskan NORAD Region, and they use many  different tools  to detect and interdict cyber attacks.

Whipkey said there are four to five main components to defending systems in the cyber world, including an intrusion detection system and a variety of firewalls. All of these systems create layers of security. 

“We’re cyber maintainers,” Whipkey said. “We fix computers, servers and switches, but we are also steadily moving towards cyber protection and warfare on a bigger scale.” 

To become a cyber Airman, Guardsmen are expected to go through Basic Military Training followed by an eight-month technical school at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. 

Whipkey said cyber warfare is a relatively new and ever-developing Air Force career field with growth potential given the quickly evolving threats that the United States and Alaska currently face.
 

Alaska Air Guardsmen assist National Park Service rescue of Denali climber
May 24, 2023
Alaska Air Guardsmen assist National Park Service rescue of Denali climber

Alaska National Guardsmen, State Defense Force deploy to Bethel, Circle to assist with flood recovery
May 23, 2023
Senior Airman Sean Lake, 168th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard, loads gear at Eielson Air Force Base in preparation to help with debris-clearing operations in Circle, Alaska, May 23, 2023. Four Guardsmen and one member of the Alaska State Defense Force will assist with cleanup and flood recovery efforts at the request of the Alaska State Emergency Operations Center. (Alaska Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Julie Avey)

Alaska's Best Warrior Competition Award Ceremony
May 21, 2023
Command Sgt. Maj. John Phlegar, left, the state command sergeant major of the Alaska Army National Guard, pins the Army Commendation Medal on the 2023 Soldier of the Year, Spc. Adam Macro, a military police Soldier from Alpha Company, 49th Missile Defense Battalion during the Best Warrior Competition awards ceremony held at Camp Carroll, Alaska, May 21, 2023. Throughout the week of May 16, 2023, the Best Warrior Competition tested Soldiers on their physical and mental readiness as well as their knowledge of Army doctrine and common warrior tasks.

Alaska Army National Guard HH-60 hoists injured backcountry skier off Girdwood mountainside
April 20, 2023
On April 19, 2023, an avalanche broke loose at the top of a mountain near Girdwood, Alaska, pulling a backcountry skier 800 to 1000 feet down the face. The red box indicates the injured skier and rescue team. The Alaska Army National Guard’s Golf Company, 2-211th General Aviation Support Battalion received mission request from the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center and rescued the skier with a hoist-capable HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter specially designed for medical evacuations.

Bartlett High School JROTC Takes Flight With Alaska Army National Guard
April 14, 2023
Bartlett High School JROTC Takes Flight with Alaska Army National Guard

National Guard, tribal consortium team up in St. Mary’s, Western Alaska
April 6, 2023
Alaska Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Sharon Queenie, a surveillance technician with the 176th Air Defense Squadron, gives a presentation to students from her hometown of St. Mary’s, Alaska, during a recruiting initiative in partnership with the Association of Village Council Presidents at the Andreafski High School, March 31, 2023. The Association of Village Council Presidents recently partnered with the Alaska National Guard to provide recruiting information and resources through their Tribal Job Centers. The initiative kicked off in St. Mary’s with presentations from AVCP and AKNG, where representatives interacted with students, parents, teachers, and community members. AVCP provides community development, education, social services, culturally relevant programs, and advocacy for the people and 56 tribes of Western Alaska.

Alaska Air Guardsmen medevac patient from Little Diomede
April 5, 2023
Alaska Air Guardsmen medevac patient from Little Diomede

Alaska Army National Guard ‘First Scouts’ awarded state’s highest heroism medal for 1955 rescue
March 29, 2023
Alaska Heroism Medals sit ready March 28, 2023, for the ceremony at the John Apangalook Memorial High School gymnasium honoring 16 Alaska Army National Guard First Scouts for their heroism during a 1955 rescue mission after two Russian MiG-15s shot down a U.S. Navy P2V-5 Neptune plane flying a routine maritime patrol over the Bering Sea with 11 sailors on board.

Bethel’s Cama-i weekend a flurry of activity for Alaska National Guard
March 27, 2023
Bethel’s Cama-i weekend a flurry of activity for Alaska National Guard

Alaska Guard, Reserve interoperability aid arctic mobilization proficiency
March 24, 2023
Alaska Guard, Reserve interoperability aid arctic mobilization proficiency