Phone operations relocate to Texas Published July 23, 2009 By Senior Airman R. J. BIERMANN 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- More than one year after Air Education and Training Command officials announced the creation of a consolidated telephone operator's call center, Luke Air Force Base's telephone operations will be among the final AETC bases to relocate to San Antonio in September. "Equipment will start to arrive next month and the installation team will be at Luke from Sept. 8 to 18 with the actual transition expected to occur Sept. 16," said Lt. Col. David Hillman, 56th Communications Squadron commander. The remaining six bases include Goodfellow AFB, Texas; Tyndall AFB, Fla.; Maxwell AFB, Ala.; Columbus AFB, Miss.; Sheppard AFB, Texas; and Luke will all relocate sometime between July and September. Randolph AFB, Texas; Altus AFB, Okla.; Laughlin AFB, Texas; Vance AFB, Okla.; and Keesler AFB, Miss., have already transitioned to the new system with no problems. "Although the actual operators supporting Luke will be located in San Antonio, the call center will provide the same operator-assisted services we've come to expect, i.e., base locator, directory assistance, official on- and off-net, and morale call assistance," Colonel Hillman said. The consolidated center, which began to take shape in March through a phase system, provides operators with upgraded equipment to better provide telephone service for all AETC bases. The system included for several milestones to be met and new capabilities to be available before completion of the transition, according to officials. "An added benefit for Luke users, and especially for deployed personnel, is they'll now have access 24/7 to switchboard service," Colonel Hillman said. "Users will still just have to press '0' or call (623) 856-1110. Our goal is for this transition to be transparent to the base community." Aside from better service and added capabilities, the primary focus of the center is communication efficiency, according to Col. Curt Locke, AETC Communications deputy director. "We have accomplished another milestone in our continuing effort to maximize communications efficiencies by showcasing the CONUS' first and largest of its kind consolidated telephone operators call center," the colonel said. "We anticipate a seamless transition and are excited about being the first command to move in this direction." For more information, go to www.aetc.af.mil/news/story_print.asp?id=123150477.