GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Senior Airman Tristen Fortenberry is a system administrator assigned to the 17th Training Support Squadron. He joined the Air Force in September of 2017 for cyber systems operations (3D0X2). His hobbies include sports, gaming and eating. He is currently learning about personal finance and saving heavily for retirement.
Congratulations SrA Fortenberry on achieving the 17th Training Wing Spotlight!
1. How does your job support the 17th Training Wing's mission?
I provide customer assistance and technical support to five organizations on base that instruct 14,000 students a year. In order to maintain network integrity, I perform security patch updates and provide troubleshooting actions for telephones, video conferencing, and email for more than 100 group and squadron personnel.
2. What do you find most rewarding about your work?
An accomplishment at the end of the day is knowing that what I have done is helping the Air Force create outstanding Airmen in the intelligence profession.
3. What has been your biggest challenge in the military, and how did you overcome that challenge?
My biggest challenge in the military was my first deployment. I made friends and created memories that I will never forget and by volunteering for every opportunity that was in front of me.
4. What has been your most memorable experience in the military?
My most memorable experience in the military are the people and the bonds I have created. The friends I have made are better than anything I could’ve asked for. I will never forget the memories that we’ve shared.
5. What is one way that you accelerated change?
One way I accelerated change was when I assisted the transition to teleworking at the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic. I supported the set-up and distribution of 760 laptops.
6. What is one way that you have thrived?
There are too many to think of for thriving, but I would say one is that I keep myself in a very good head space and am very happy with where I’m at in life and where I’m going.
7. What is one piece of information or advice you would like to pass on?
“There is always going to be somebody who doesn’t believe that you can do something, even if it is a very simple task. Just know, no matter who it is, if you believe in yourself, you will prove them wrong,” said Senior Airman Tristen Fortenberry, 17th TRSS system administrator.