Center commander holds all-calls

  • Published
  • By Brian Brackens
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
The commander of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center held four different all-calls at locations throughout Wright-Patterson Air Force Base on Feb. 9 and 10 to outline objectives, recognize achievements, and encourage Airmen to watch out for one another.

Lt. Gen. John Thompson spoke about the importance of the work being done at AFLCMC as well as the role the 88th Air Base Wing plays in ensuring the center's success.

"All of the non-space materiel the Air Force uses today is provided by AFLCMC, much of which comes from Wright-Patterson AFB and is supported by the 88th Air Base Wing," said Thompson. "So the mission doesn't get done unless AFLCMC provides the materiel and the airbase units provide the security, infrastructure, medical support and services."

Thompson said that AFLCMC's workforce is like a modern day blacksmith, forging an edge to provide warfighters with the tools they need to fight and win.
"Think about it this way," he said. "The knight of the realm walks in and says, 'Hey, blacksmith, I'm getting beat in battle. The weapon I have is not effective against the enemy. Can you help me?'

"The blacksmith works with the knight to refine his requirements, then designs and builds a prototype, tests it and gives it back to the knight, who takes the weapon into battle," Thompson continued. "After the battle the knight tells the blacksmith that the weapon is great but recommends a few changes. Today we call those mods. Over the life of that weapon the blacksmith will sharpen or fix it many times - depot maintenance - and when it is no longer operationally relevant, he will throw it in the scrap pile - retirement."

Today, our blacksmiths work closely with industry and our mission partners, like AFMC's Flight Test and Sustainment Centers, to accomplish their mission.
"Just like the blacksmiths of the past, AFLCMC works to ensure our warfighters have the materiel and systems they need to be successful, but the blacksmith couldn't do his job without the village to support him. The 88th ABW is that village," Thompson said.
During the all-calls, the general recognized recent successes of AFLCMC and highlighted some of the team and individual awards the units had received during the past year. Successes from the program executive officers and functionals included delivering 193 F-155SA F110 engines ahead of schedule, awarding 26 contracts across the U.S. Air Force for the Rapid Innovation Fund Program Team, and recapitalizing the HC/MC-130.

The 88 ABW successes included the wing's Ebola virus disease response plan, numerous repair and upgrade projects, Air Force Marathon support and implementation of the network port security - the largest single base network in the Air Force.

"There are outstanding performers everywhere and when speaking with them, they almost always give credit to their team," Thompson said of the many AFLCMC award winners.

"Whether you work security forces at the gates, civil engineering, finance, contracting or program management and whether you are military, civilian or contractor, it doesn't make any difference to me because your role in this enterprise is absolutely critical," he said. "Our Air Force's capabilities count on you." 

In closing, Thompson urged members of the audience to embrace the wingman concept and look out for each other.

"We live in a stressful work environment at a very important time," he said. "Be vigilant, and be good wingmen, and watch out for your fellow Airmen. Make sure that they have the resources they need to be successful."