SSgt. Kurtis Harrison, a command, control, communications, and computers systems project manager with the 96th Communications Squadron at Eglin AFB, Fla., is one of the Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2015. Harrison was selected as AFMC’s Outstanding Cable and Antenna Systems NCO of the Year while serving as C4 systems project manager. He accelerated weapons data fielding by engineering a cable purchasing solution that reduced acquisitions processing time from 105 days to 14 and was instrumental in the awarding of a $5-million telecommunications contract that expedited C4 requirements and eliminated a two-year backlog. He also managed a $1.1-million tool program that certified 931 assets and was named a “Best Practice” by the inspector general during the wing’s unit effectiveness inspection. Harrison completed six college classes, earning 18 credits toward a Bachelor of Science degree in information systems management and was named to the dean’s list. Air Force Magazine is shining the spotlight on each OAY in the days leading up to AFA’s Air & Space Conference, which starts Sept. 14 in National Harbor, Md. Also featured were: SrA. Allen Cherry, SrA. Meaghan Holley, SrA. Mason Meherg, SSgt. Kresston Davis, and SSgt. Lindsey Fuentes.
The Chinese spy balloon may have popped, but funding to protect against similar threats is inflating, according to the Department of Defense. The high-attitude surveillance balloon that traversed the U.S. in late January and early February prompted last-minute additions to the Pentagon's budget of around $90 million for measures to…