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Rheay leads team of detectives to resolve ACES computer problems

Who are you going to call when your computer goes down and you're at a College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Science (ACES) off-campus location? Don Rheay and his team of system analysts, computer specialists and technicians.

As manager of the college's computer support services, Rheay has been resolving computer problems for the Extension Service and Agricultural Science Center offices for 10 years. He joined NMSU's ICT team after working for the New Mexico District Attorney's administrative offices, where he developed his skills at resolving computer problems.

Don Rheay and his staff pose for a group photo outside Gerald Thomas Hall. Front row, left to right: Della Sanchez, Ashley Michalenko, Carlos Herrera, Sonja Jo Serna, Tess Bader Middle row, left to right: Polo Orta, Fabiola Garcia, Don Rheay, Kevin Hammond, Robert Jobe Back row, left to right: Manny Medrano, Andres Saiz, Amber Clark Not pictured are Jay Nemrow, Brian Hinds and Stephen Johnson.

"The challenges are similar with NMSU and the District Attorney or other state agencies - remote offices working on the agency's network," he said. "The biggest problem is the geographical distance between these offices and campus. Using network systems allows us to bring off-campus offices into our system to give them an on-campus presence."

ACES has approximately 400 computers in its County Extension, Agricultural Science Centers, Tribal Extension Specialists and New Mexico Works offices across the state. Helping to keep them up and running is the 12-person IT department, including four road warriors who travel to outlaying offices to service computers.

Rheay's staff members are Amber Clark, Kevin Don Hammond, Brian Hinds, Robert Jobe, Manuel Medrano, Jay Nemrow, Polo Orta, Della Sanchez, Sonja Jo Serna, Carlos Herrera and Stephen Johnson. Student assistants include Tess Bader, Genny Darling, Fabiola Garcia, Ashley Michelenko and Andres Saiz.

These individuals are detectives that have to root out the problem that has infected the computer. It is that challenge that Rheay says makes the job interesting.

"There is a different challenge every day," he said. "What might appear one way on a computer will not necessarily be the same problem when another computer has similar symptoms. Our most common problems are issues relating to Malware getting into the computers. Most times these problems can be resolved through remote technology, but they are still time-intensive to fix."

So for NMSU's ACES 475 personnel off-campus, Rheay, and his staff, is the first person they call when their computers don't want to boot up and work.

Written by Jane Moorman.