‘1000s of Hands’ Project: 455th ECES Staff Sgt. Russell Dutcher

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Cierra Presentado | U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Russell Dutcher, 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, HVAC technician, poses for a photo June 30, 2015, at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. Dutcher who is part of the 1000s of Hands Project, is responsible for responding to all work orders dealing with AC problems as well as keeping Bagram’s mission equipment such as computers and servers cool. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cierra Presentado/Released)  

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

07.01.2015

Story by Senior Airman Cierra Presentado 

455th Air Expeditionary Wing   

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Staff Sgt. Russell Dutcher, 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning technician, is responsible for keeping people and equipment cool so Bagram Airmen are able to perform and support the mission.

As an HVAC technician, Dutcher responds to calls from various base agencies to fix air conditioning units on a daily basis. Not only does he repair units for personnel, but also for mission essential equipment such as computers and servers and communications equipment.

“People need their cooling to perform their job and actually come to work and perform their part of the mission,” Dutcher said. “During the summer when it starts to get hot, we get a lot of calls from people that want their AC fixed and we try to get out and fix it as soon as possible. It’s a bit stressful at times because we are a very small shop and there are a large number of customers to take care of, but it’s really a good and challenging job and I enjoy it.”

Dutcher is part of the “1000s of Hands” of 455 AEW Airmen who are crucial to the wing’s mission to generate and sustain airpower on the combat frontier of Afghanistan’s NATO’s Resolute Support mission and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. The “1000s of Hands” project highlights Vulture Airmen who have a hand in delivering a blanket of steel, technology and courage to protect the force in the field and support Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.

• Date Taken: 07.01.2015
• Date Posted: 07.02.2015 09:12
• Story ID: 168882
• Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF