SCANG Spotlight, Senior Airman David Wilkins

Published July 25, 2016
By Senior Airman Ashleigh Pavelek
169th Fighter Wing

MCENTIRE JOINT NATIONAL GUARD, S.C. -- U.S. Air Force Senior Airman David Wilkins serves to ensure that the South Carolina Air National Guard's electronic data and information systems are secure.

"My job is to secure information, classified or unclassified, according to procedure on computer, communication and security emissions," said Wilkins, a cyber surety journeyman assigned to the 169th Communications Flight.

Wilkins, a Spartanburg South Carolina native, is a graduate of the University of South Carolina, and earned his bachelor's degree in information management systems.

Being technologically savvy runs in his family. Wilkins' father and brother both graduated college with degrees in computer science.

Wilkins is a believer in choosing a career that he was naturally drawn.

"Information technology is interesting to me," said Wilkins. "I chose a career that gave me an avenue for me to grow through my military and civilian career."

Wilkins enlisted in the South Carolina Air National Guard in January 2012. Unlike his father and brother, who served active duty in the U.S. Navy, Wilkins chose the SCANG because it allowed him the flexibility to receive education benefits while being stationed close to the university to finish his degree.

"I wanted to commit to something that is bigger than myself," said Wilkins. "Learning the perspective of the military and their fundamentals and discipline provides a foundation and support that can't be learned in a civilian position."

Furthering his professional military education, Wilkin's is currently enrolled in the U.S. Air Force Airman Leadership School Distance Learning Course.

Wilkins takes pride in improving personal and professional development in himself and in those around him. He currently leads the Airmen's Council, serving as the president in his second elected term.

"I am here to help," said Wilkins. "I invite ideas and want to know what is meaningful to the Airmen."

Wilkins said even if the task or project is only placing a box in our units for a food drive, there is no task too small or big if it brings Swamp Fox Airmen together.

Wilkins believes that the essence of continuous improvement is learning about people and then helping them accomplish their goals.

His desire to help Airmen prosper in the SCANG starts upon their arrival to McEntire and led him to volunteer as a student flight sponsor to help new Swamp Fox Airmen with their transition into our unit. He further pioneers this effort by creating the first wing instruction manual on this subject for his unit.

"If people see a need for something, then it is my responsibility to make sure that their needs are met if it helps everyone," said Wilkins.

Wilkins plans to go back to college within the next year to earn his master's degree, and is considering a path to a commissioning opportunity as a SCANG officer.