ALTUS — Western Oklahoma State College recently honored Altus Air Force Base with the Business Partnership Excellence Award through the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the college announced.
The award program recognizes outstanding partnerships that lead to significant contributions in educating and developing the state’s workforce.
The Altus-based 97th Air Mobility Wing has become a major asset to western Oklahoma since the multi-engine flight training school was activated in 1943, according to the news release.
“Throughout the years, Western has strived to provide resources of assistance and meet the needs of AAFB,” the college said. “Through communication among leadership from both entities, several initiatives have taken place to form a strong partnership.”
WOSC recently teamed up with the 97th Communications Squadron to provide resources to meet workforce needs in cybersecurity and information technology, according to the news release. Among other tasks, the squadron is responsible for operating and maintaining a $25 million network infrastructure and client support missions.
The squadron also provides communications security to support the KC-46 Pegasus, C-17 Globemaster III and KC-135 Stratotanker.
Other initiatives include:
• Western became an Authorized Academy Partner with CompTIA to develop a non-credit-bearing microcredential in Security Plus. Active-duty and civilian students received scholarships for the Security Plus prep certificate course and completed the course free of charge. The air base covered the cost of the certificate exam for eligible employees.
• In November 2022, the air base was a partner for Western’s Workforce Readiness Summit and Career Fair, which guided participants to a career path and taught them best practices for interviewing and resume writing.