Laughlin XLer: Senior Airman Michael Kester, 47th CS

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  • By 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Job title and unit: 47th Communications Squadron Cyber Transport journeyman

Why he XLed: He single-handedly resolved the 47th Medical Group's non-classified internet protocol router network (SIPRNet) outage and replaced the faulty hardware associated with the outage, saving $6,000 and restoring service in less than an hour. He helped restore power during a base-wide network outage of more than 2,500 base personnel in less than two hours. He also led a network project that replaced 126 devices and increased the base network speed by 25 percent. He is the squadron booster club vice president who organized the annual squadron picnic, worked two fundraisers and helped raise $1,200 for future squadron events. He also aided in the command post's NIPRNet restoral by identifying and repairing faulty equipment which led to averting a mission stoppage.

Hometown: Rockford, Mich.

Family: Wife, Natalja; two dogs, Hoyt and Lily

Time at Laughlin: Two years

Time in military/civil service: Three years

Greatest accomplishment: Getting married and being an airman

Hobbies: Archery, hunting, going to the gym and video games

Bad habit: Doing impressions of people I meet

Favorite movies: Goodfellas, A Bronx Tale, Platoon, Braveheart and Crimson Tide

If you could spend one hour with any person, who would it be and why: My grandfather who passed away while I was in tech school. He was a World War II veteran and a big factor in me wanting to serve my country. I never got to say goodbye and it would be really nice to let him know much I miss him and that every day I do my best to make our family proud.