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Rob Bahnij

By establishing a site at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, MITRE has made itself more available to its customers and expanded its Air Force Electronic Systems Center presence. With more than 60 domestic and international sites, MITRE is committed to going where our sponsors need us. So far the site has been staffed by Rob Bahnij, the site leader—and sole MITRE employee.

Bahnij serves as senior technical advisor to the 505th Operations Group (OG) Commander and his senior staff at Nellis. The 505th OG sponsors the new MITRE presence and has four main focus areas: advancing the Air and Space Operations Center (AOC) Weapons System; expanding advanced continuation of Falconer Warfighter training to all Falconer divisions; tightening AF Operational Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures and AOC documentation processes; and overseeing the AOC, Control and Reporting Center, E-3, and E-8 weapon systems upgrades.

"There are so many activities going on at Nellis, and now everyone at MITRE has a person to go to at the base," emphasizes Bahnij. He was previously located at MITRE's Langley site, but he moved to Nevada last fall in order to set up shop for MITRE. "It was a real opportunity," recalls Bahnij. "Programs have come in and out of Nellis over the years, but this is the first time we have developed a permanent presence, supporting other offices and programs."

Bahnij's unique background fits the bill well. He served in the Air Force for 22 years as both an instructor fighter pilot and flight examiner. He also holds several master's degrees, including one in computer engineering from the School of Engineering at the Air Force Institute of Technology and one in systems management. "I've flown fighter jets and instructed in them, which helps me understand the air operations' domain, but I also have hands-on system and software engineering experience," he says. "I can function in both areas as a boundary spanner."

MITRE Making the Difference

The site supports the customer in a number of ways. "The biggest challenge is clear communications," says Bahnij, pointing out one of the areas in which MITRE has a key role to play. "As a technical adviser to the Operations Group, our job is to help them gain and maintain situation awareness across cross-cutting domains and assist them in making smart decisions. We also try to help facilitate clear communications between the warfighter and acquisition community.

"For example, the warfighters have needs and requirements in the cockpit as well as in the operations center," he adds. "However, they may not fully understand the acquisition process or public law. Those in the acquisition community may not have an appreciation or understanding of what the warfighters need to help them accomplish their mission.

"MITRE acts as a conduit, translating the needs, desires, and passions into appropriate words which both the warfighter and the acquisition warrior—who is also very passionate about his or her work—can truly understand."

Bahnij believes that MITRE is singularly qualified for this task. "During my six years at MITRE, I've noticed my fellow employees' willingness to share information across the corporation, not just across the Air Force Center." He calls the inclination to help each other solve respective customers' problems, "a big gift to our sponsors. We can get answers very quickly to support them. This cross-domain 'reachback' is one major key to our success. It helps us achieve our goal of providing solutions that are cost-effective and best for all."

—by Cheryl Balian

MITRE's Nellis AFB site

Maintenance troops from Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, unload a "Pave Hawk" helicopter returning from Iraq. Photo courtesy of USAF, Senior Airman Chrissy Sczepanski

MITRE established a site at Nellis AFB, which is located in the northeast corner of Las Vegas, Nevada, in the fall of 2004. Although there is no formal MITRE site office, Mr. Bahnij's primary work location is on the base and is sponsored by and supports the Air Warfare Center's 505th Operations Group (CAOC-N).