Wednesday, November 26, 2008

POTUS Visit

We got the call late Friday afternoon to head to Ft. Campbell KY for a visit from President George W. Bush.

We arrived Monday afternoon and set up all of our equipment just outside the hangar the President was scheduled to speak in. We set up a wireless mesh network inside the hangar for communications support for the White House Press Corps. We had the network up and operational just inside 20 minutes after our arrival. Then it was time to hurry up and wait.

The press corps and support staff arrived early Tuesday morning ahead of Air Force One. Media from all over the country and the region arrived, lining the adjacent buildings with satellite trucks. I think we counted at least seven. Before long we had at least 20 users on our network which we had linked to the press area just a few hundred feet from where the President was scheduled to speak.

Shortly after 11 a.m. Tuesday, Air Force One landed on the airfield. By 11:30, he had taken the podium to address the large gathering of troops inside the hangar. The presidents speech lasted less than an hour. After it was finished the President had his traditional Thanksgiving meal with the troops and we mobilized and returned to Murray. Just another day at the office...