The Signature: 2020 Year In Review
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NCTS SICILY
aval Computer and Telecommunications Station (NCTS) Sicily experienced a 2020 full of recognition, challenges and opportunities. In 2020, the command was recognized as European DISA End Switch Facility of Year for 2019 and by the Navy for Retention Excellence. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly challenged our Sailors and operational model; however, it also created opportunity for us to innovate how we execute our mission, sustain our readiness and ensure our resiliency. NCTS Sicily has a 24/7 mission executed across three watchfloors located in three geographically dispersed locations. The nature of our operations means that reduced manning or telework are not an option, so NCTS Sicily Sailors had to stand the watch. Nevertheless, safety was a top priority. Demonstrating exceptional agility and resiliency, the watchteams modified workstation layouts, revised watch schedules, and self-enforced mask protocols. These efforts ensured that throughout 2020, COVID-19 had zero impact on NCTS’s 24/7 electromagnetic spectrum and cyberspace missions that enable assured command and control for Navy, joint & coalition forces across the European Command (EUCOM), Africa Command (AFRICOM) & Central Command (CENTCOM) theaters. While our mission continued uninterrupted, COVID-19 did impact NCTS Sicily in a number of significant ways. Most notable, all of our externallysupported maintenance and system upgrades planned for 2020 were deferred indefinitely. Again, NCTS Sailors demonstrated their focused commitment to warfighting readiness, advocating successfully for Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) support to correct issues with the ultra-high frequency satellite communications and data link equipment on NCTS Sicily’s tactical support
communications (TSCOMM) watchfloor. A combined team of NCTS information systems technicians (ITs), electronics technicians (ETs) and NIWC engineers worked around-the-clock for two weeks to restore maximum readiness for systems directly enabling Commander, Task Force 67 operations. Additionally, NCTS was able to commence a year-long fire suppression upgrade to our headquarters building, commence a SIPRNET upgrade to our command and control capability, and partner with the NASSIG Public Works Department to take on operations and maintenance responsibilities for four backup diesel generators supporting our facilities. Of all the months in 2020, August was probably the most eventful for NCTS Sicily. It began with a series of brush fires at Navy Radio and Transmitter Facility (NRTF) Niscemi. During one of these brush fires, intense flames came within several hundred feet of the main building, significantly threatening equipment worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Battling the flames and 95 degree heat, NCTS and NASSIG Security Sailors worked together with the support of local firefighting helicopters and personnel to extinguish the blaze. Coincidently, both the NCTS Senior Enlisted Leader, Senior Chief Lewis, and the NASSIG Command Master Chief, Master Chief Wood, were on hand to lead the combined NCTS-NASSIG team. During the month, our team also worked closely with the NASSIG Security Office to enhance our combined agility and readiness to protect NCTS’s national-level strategic mission conducted at NRTF Niscemi. August ended on a high note with an open house designed to provide NCTS families an opportunity to see and understand the critical work and mission their Sailors do every day. The event was a huge success, featuring tours of our tech control facility and our iconic satellite
