Bill Rowan is the Information Technology Specialist at Ansbach Logistics Readiness Center, 405th Army Field Support Brigade. Rowan was a military kid in his youth and he also served 7.5 years as an active duty soldier. For Rowan, the military is a way of life. “It’s in my genes and in my DNA,” he said.
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Name: Bill Rowan
Job title: Information technology specialist
Awarded: Ansbach Logistics Readiness Center, 405th Army Field Support Brigade
Location: Barton Barracks
Live: I have worked at LRC Ansbach for three years. Before that, I worked at the Ansbach Stock Exchange as a salesman for nearly seven years.
Other Service: I served 7.5 years in the military as a computer scientist and was a sergeant when I left active duty.
Hometown: I’m a military kid, born in Fort Polk, Louisiana. We moved a lot because my father was an active military man. He finished his military career in Germany – and my mother is German – so I would consider Butzbach in Hesse, Germany as the closest I have to a hometown. This is where I spent much of my youth.
Family: I have been married to my wife, Sandra, for almost 17 years. We have two daughters – Kim-Sarah (25) and Lea Erika (16).
Q: Can you explain to us what your duties are at LRC Ansbach?
A: My daily tasks include IT support and operational maintenance of all LRC Ansbach systems. If anyone at LRC Ansbach has any issues with their laptop or computer – software or connectivity related – I support them. I also ensure that everyone at LRC Ansbach adheres to all IT regulations and policies, and I manage all requirements of LRC Ansbach’s IT Lifecycle Replacement Program. I am the only IT specialist at LRC Ansbach, responsible for over 50 active users. I am their first level of support if they need help or have a computer problem. I also liaise with the 405th AFSB IT department when there are new requirements, updates, etc. – for example, the latest Windows 10 updates and the migration to Office 365. For the Office 365 migration, I physically visited more than 75% of active users of LRC Ansbach or remotely in their IT systems to perform the migration.
Q: Why is your position at LRC Ansbach so important?
A: Before starting work here in April 2019, LRC Ansbach had not had an IT person for about 10 months. During this time, they had major problems with IT support. Either they called 119 for help or someone from Kaiserslautern had to come to Ansbach on temporary duty to correct their problems and meet the requirements of the lifecycle replacement program. Since I wasn’t in the job yet, everything related to IT and IT was delayed, but when I started working things changed quickly. Everyone at LRC Ansbach was thrilled to finally have their own IT specialist. They no longer had to wait days for someone to process their requests for help. I am able to swap computer systems, re-image computers, install and configure printers and more – all practical requirements that are nearly impossible to do without someone physically in the field – assigned to LRC Ansbach . In the computer world, things have changed a lot over the years. All information is now processed and treated confidentially in accordance with regulations. I act as a gatekeeper, responsible for ensuring that all employees assigned to LRC Ansbach comply with all required regulations and policies regarding electronic communications and information technology.
Q: What do you like about your job and what motivates you?
A: For me, personally, it’s important the support I give to the Army – the same Army that has given me so many opportunities in my life. I grew up an army kid. I served for almost eight years as an army soldier. I know the army very well. It’s a way of life for me. It’s in my genes and in my DNA. In this position, I do not work directly with the soldiers, but I indirectly support the soldiers because I support all the directorates of LRC Ansbach. In turn, LRC Ansbach runs a variety of activities and operations in support of soldiers and their families.
LRC Ansbach and 405th AFSB: LRC Ansbach is one of seven LRCs under the command and control of the 405th AFSB. LRCs perform facility logistics support and services to include supply, maintenance, transportation and food service management as well as apparel distribution facility operations, hazardous materials management, personal property and household items, passenger movement, management of non-tactical vehicles and garrison equipment, and property book operations. When it comes to providing day-to-day installation services, LRC Ansbach directs, manages, and coordinates a variety of operations and activities in support of U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach.
LRC Ansbach reports to the 405th AFSB, which is assigned to the US Army Sustainment Command and under the operational control of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, US Army Europe and Africa. The brigade is headquartered in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and provides material support to U.S. forces throughout Europe and Africa – providing theater support logistics; synchronize acquisition, logistics and technology; and leveraging the U.S. Army Materiel Command Materiel Enterprise to support joint forces. For more information on the 405th AFSB, visit the official site and the official Facebook site.