HEATH, Ohio – Lt. Gen. Robert McMurry, commander of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, recently visited the Air Force Metrology and Calibration (AFMETCAL) program here, to meet with employees, tour work sections and hold an All Call.
Located on the site of the former Newark Air Force Base, and organized under AFLCMC’s Agile Combat Support Directorate, the AFMETCAL is responsible for the development and sustainment of the Air Force’s precision measurement capabilities, ensuring the accuracy of air and space system performance through proper calibration.
In essence, the AFMETCAL verifies that the measurement tools the Air Force uses in a variety of career fields are accurate.
“We check the devices that you use to do your work,” said Neil Erno, AFMETCAL director. “If it has a needle, an indication, digital readout and you want that to be accurate, it has to be calibrated, which is what we do.”
During the visit, McMurry saw first-hand the work the organization is doing on behalf of the warfighter. He stopped by more than 20 work sections, talked with employees and learned more about the importance of the AFMETCAL mission.
The work the organization does touches Airmen around the world in day-to-day operations.
For example, the AFMETCAL ensures that dosimeters – device that measures exposure to radiation – used by Air Force employees such as medical professionals, give accurate readings to users.
In addition, the organization also ensures the accuracy of devices in aircraft that measure the distance of the plane from the ground.
Overall the organization is responsible for certifying the accuracy of approximately 600,000 devices.
During the All Call, McMurry shared his vision and highlighted his priorities for the center. He also recognized a number of outstanding employees.
His message to the AFMETCAL team was what they do for the Air Force matters.
While in town, McMurry met with local community leaders and thanked them for the support they provide to the Air Force. He also toured a science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning facility for children, and discussed the impact of STEM on his life and its importance to the Air Force.
“Lt. Gen. McMurry's visit was a great honor and pleasure for AFMETCAL,” Erno said. “His comments to state and local leaders were most encouraging as we strive to stand up STEM activities to inspire local youth. Showing the kids a different future [in the STEM disciplines] is the first key step in nurturing the STEM graduates we need to fill high technology jobs in Ohio and in AFMETCAL.”