He works in the shadows, avoids headlights, and his ideas change communications in the Polish army. Colonel Tomasz Żyto is simply a professional who builds the IT systems of the 18th Mechanized Division with clockwork precision. Buzdygan's winner proves that the modern battlefield is won not only by fire but above all by efficient data flow.
His associates and superiors talk about him: a professional in all way, and besides a actual enthusiast. He follows his own paths, frequently remains in the shadows, and his ideas are not only utilized by the Iron Division, but besides by the full army.
– Good morning, good to meet you, but now I can't truly talk... It is best to catch me before 6:00 a.m. or after 7:00 a.m. – I hear on the telephone erstwhile I call him to talk about Buzzygan. This is simply a confirmation of what my erstwhile interlocutors said about Colonel Thomas Life – a very busy man. In a minute I will besides gain confirmation of another opinion – about his modesty. The officer adds: "This is simply a very embarrassing situation for me. I work in hiding all day. And then abruptly I gotta stand in the spotlight...
In fact, the situation for the communications company is alternatively unusual. And surely for a man like Colonel Rye. – While inactive serving in the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications of the MON, he came to work on a bicycle. He put it away, sat in front of the computer, and... disappeared for hours – he says Brig-Gen Piotr Chodowiec, Head of the Management Board of Management and Command P6 at the General Staff of the HR, who has known Colonel Zito for over 20 years.
In a akin speech he speaks Gen. Dyw. Arkadiusz Szkutnik, until late commander 18th Mechanized Division. Sometimes I haven't seen him all day. He didn't come to the briefing, and I didn't even insist on it. Among the commanders we utilized to say that the comms have their own airtight language, they walk their own paths... But the crucial thing is they're doing their job. And Thomas did his occupation as small as anyone – admits the general.
Colonel Zyto went to MON in 2007, where he participated in the improvement of communication and IT systems for more than a decade. At the same time, he worked on the first cybersecurity solutions in the Polish army. But that's not all. “A large challenge has become for me to work at the organisation of the 2016 NATO Summit,” admits an officer. It was then that the leaders, ministers, military and journalists from respective twelve countries went to Warsaw. They needed to make an electronic strategy – effective and resistant to external interference. “The work was so much that for a period I practically slept at the stadium (National PGE where the summit was held)” said Colonel Zito.
The officer held positions in the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications, Inspectorate of Information Systems, then renamed the Inspectorate of Information Technology. He finished his service in Warsaw 7 years ago. He moved to Siedlec, where the 18th Mechanized Division was formed. He took care of mobile communications systems there. Soon, however, he concluded that it was time to say goodbye to his uniform.
– erstwhile I began commanding the division in 2022, Colonel Zito was in the staff reserve. I thought that specified a good expert should stay with us and I applied to the HR General Staff to make a fresh position. shortly the colonel became Assistant Chief of Staff for Communications and Computer Science. This was the first specified position in the Polish army – admits Gen. Dyw. Szkutnik. He adds that he rapidly became convinced that he had made the right decision.
Before exercise ‘bear ’22’ – The most crucial test of the year with 18 DZ, Colonel Zito was tasked to build a communication strategy covering all levels of the division. I gave him a free hand and I didn't fail. The communication worked like a clock, says Gen. Dyw. Szkutnik. It was akin during exercise ‘Iron Gate ’25’. We've been preparing for them for a fewer years. First, we played teams within the platoon. Then the platoons belong to the battalion. We were going up and up, and Thomas utilized quite a few innovative solutions. And erstwhile we went into the field, at my command post, I was able to choice up the image from all drone operating on the squad level," says the erstwhile commander.
Colonel Zyta's squad was liable for 18 DZ communication during global exercises ‘Combined Resolve’. The maneuvers were to check whether Polish officers were able to command a brigade of U.S. land troops, and this required a combination of Polish and American information systems. And that's where everything worked. The officer besides took part in setting up communication for the 18 DZ divisions, sent to the Polish-Belarusian border.
There, the strategy had to interact with another services so that uniforms could communicate without hindrance. – The solutions developed at the time benefit from further changes of soldiers active in the operation "Safe Floors" – emphasizes Brig-Gen. The rider adds: – Colonel Rye is rather a professional. And although it serves at tactical level, I frequently invitation him to our briefings. due to the fact that his ideas are being transferred to the level of the full army.
The colonel Zito himself adds: "My service to date was marked with many turbulences. And Buzdigan convinces me that you should never give up.
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