Wild Weasel of the Week: Staff Sgt. Auguste Archer

Each week a member of the 35th Fighter Wing is selected as the Wild Weasel of the Week. This individual is recognized based on superior performance, outstanding work ethic, and overall good conduct and discipline.

The 35th Communications Squadron chose Staff Sgt. Auguste Archer, cyber security technician, to be their Wild Weasel of the Week.

What is your daily mission?
Securing the Air Force Information Network. My unit defends and responds to any and all cyber attacks and issues on the network. We manage all cyber security liaisons across the units on base, and ensure that the end user has the response and technical information they need. We have also recently branched out and partnered with intelligence, Air Force Office of Special Investigations and security forces to assess and mitigate certain threats.

What do you enjoy about your job?
Providing first-line defense for one of the world's largest enterprise networks is extremely rewarding. We get to provide support not just for our network here at Misawa but for the Department of Defense as a whole by effectively securing this piece of the DOD's information network.

Why did you choose to serve in the Air Force?
The opportunity to learn not only a job but a career coupled with fantastic education benefits made the choice an obvious one for me. When I looked into joining the military, the opportunities afforded by the Air Force were second to none.

What is your favorite thing about living in Japan?
Travel is a life goal of mine, so being able to travel here is amazing. From learning to snowboard and adventuring in Aomori to spending time in Tokyo and seeing things like Shibuya Crossing, I've been humbled by the breadth and depth of Japanese culture from day one.

Who has been your best mentor and what have they taught you?
Staff Sgt. Marques Smith has helped me to learn not just to be a great member of the cyber security team, but also a how to be a great NCO.

How long have you been stationed at Misawa? 2 years

How long have you been in the Air Force? 4-and-a-half years

What goals do you want to meet while at Misawa?
Finishing my bachelor's degree as well as continuing to contribute to the best cyber security team in the Air Force.

What goals do you want to meet during your Air Force career?
I want to continue to advance both in rank and my specialty, as well as always giving back to an organization that has consistently given to me.

Supervisor's comments:
"I can't say enough about Sergeant Archer and what kind of asset he has been for the base and the Air Force as a whole. When he arrived here, he was a senior airman and had already hit the ground running at an NCO level, tackling projects and completing them well before the suspense. He had been here for less than six months and had already changed the DOD as a whole by personally coordinating services with a $33 billion company, Netflix, to allow streaming media services to overseas military members. That drive and work ethic continues to be perpetual which is apparent by numerous awards and recognitions including 5th Air Force and Pacific Air Forces level annual awards.  Archer is always eager to learn and do more, and jumps at the opportunity to help any individual, no matter how daunting the task. His leadership and work ethic is outstanding, and represents the Air Force's optimal vision of an NCO. Archer will do very well throughout the rest of his Air Force career." - Staff Sgt. Smith, 35 CS NCO in charge of cyber security