Andrew Heo: Stewarding $10B in information

Name: Andrew Heo (pronounced HEE-oh)

Age: 31

Organization: Civilian: Air Force's Space Logistics Group, Sustainment Division; Reserve: 14th Test Squadron (14TS)

Title: Civilian: Information Assurance and Logistics Manager; Reserve: Information Assurance and Vulnerability Assessment Test Manager

Nominated for: His logistics, communications and test evaluation roles for the Air Force. During the past year, he overhauled the information assurance program, ensuring that $10 billion of Space-Based Infrared System assets have worldwide availability. He is an active community volunteer and was recently named a Distinguished Young AFCEAn of the Year. Heo also completed a rigorous information systems professional track at the National Defense University and is completing his doctorate in management.

First IT mentor: Col. Steve Hennessy. I was his executive officer at Scott Air Force Base, and he truly valued the power of mentoring. Col. Hennessy always made the office environment comfortable and engaging to his personnel, ensuring they had the right tools to get the job done. His ability to connect with his team and provide scaled and valuable mentoring were unparalleled in any commander I had ever seen. Additionally, he always communicated to me that being well rounded and knowing how to engage with people are valuable traits to have. Finally, the most important thing he taught me was that doing the right thing for the right reasons is critically important to being a respected leader.

Latest accomplishment on the job: Recently, I was assigned to be the sustainment lead for one of the [Space-Based Infrared System] sites to ensure that requirements directly given from operators are readily translated to our sustainment engineers. Being able to speak both languages and helping facilitate our warfighters are daily accomplishments.

Career highlight: It has been amazing to be part of the 14TS and help stand up an information assurance testing capability for the Air Force Space Command. It’s a unique team comprised of some of the hardest-working IT professionals I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. We bring our “A” game to try to meet the challenges that information assurance presents to all stakeholders of a system.

Favorite job-related bookmark: Google.com. Not only do I use this site to look up important knowledge about events going on both nationally and globally but I also use it every day to learn something new about my job and career.

Favorite app: Mint is a great application that is easy to use. It offers the ability to look at your whole financial picture in one consolidated program. It’s also a great tool to see how many times you were too lazy to make dinner and took the family out to eat instead!

Dream non-IT-related job: General manager of a professional sports franchise. It would be great to take a small-money market team and take down any of those overspending teams who always try to “buy” championships. I’ll take a team of passionate players who put out their best effort any day.