Agile Combat Support impacts every Airman and aircraft...EVERY DAY

  • Published
  • By Andreas Walsh
  • AFLCMC
With regard to equipment and resources, have you ever wondered which Air Force organization delivers helmets and aircraft simulators to operators? What about precision measurement, ever curious as to who develops and sustains it for air and space systems? Ever pondered who is responsible for Air Force support equipment and vehicles, automatic test systems, and electronic warfare and avionics systems acquisition and product support?

Shifting to matters involving past and present Airmen, ever wondered where the Airman Battle Uniform originated or what agency identifies POW/MIA remains?

The organization in question is the Agile Combat Support (ACS) Directorate. It is one of 10 Program Executive Officer directorates within the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. Headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, ACS has other major units at Robins AFB, Ga., and Heath, Ohio. ACS consists of more than 1,700 personnel and over 600 programs that span Wright Patterson AFB as well as 10 additional geographically separated units.

According to John Miller, the organization's PEO and a member of the Senior Executive Service, ACS touches all facets of the Air Force.

"As part of the AFLCMC team, our job is to acquire and support war-enabling capabilities professionally and affordably. It's that simple," Miller said. "From the time Airmen enter basic training and put their uniform on for the first time, to assisting in the search for a fallen comrade, to supporting, retiring or disposing of weapon systems or support items, ACS plays a role."

At Wright Patterson AFB, those efforts range from acquiring helmets, uniforms, and laser eye protection, to fully concurrent aircraft simulators. They also include aircraft low observable technology enhancements and providing acquisition environmental expertise for AFLCMC programs.

Miller explains that ACS does not deliver major weapons systems, but focuses on delivering "enabling capabilities" to make them fully mission capable.

"I liken our efforts to the batteries and the controllers of a Wii console," Miller said. "While other organizations within AFLCMC deliver the Wii consoles themselves - i.e., the major weapon systems - they would be at 'mission stop' without the Wii batteries and Wii controllers we provide - i.e., the supporting systems and equipment.

"Our task is to deliver those capabilities in line with Lt. Gen. (C.D.) Moore's (II, AFLCMC commander) fundamental tenets - emphasizing speed with discipline for our acquisition and product support responsibilities, ensuring unity of purpose with all stakeholders, and instilling trust and confidence in our ability to deliver excellence!" Miller added.

According to Col. Bill Gideon, ACS's deputy director and deputy PEO, people "continue to be amazed when we get the chance to explain to them our story and what we do to support the warfighter. Often times they cannot believe the effect that ACS has on the mission of our Air Force."

Gideon noted that ACS's span of control extends well beyond the gates of Area B.

"With three development and product support divisions at Robins AFB, responsibility for four Air Force industrial plants, and with Air Force-wide responsibility for metrology, you can begin to imagine a day in the life of this directorate," the colonel said.

ACS headquarters is in Bldg. 12 in Area B. From 1935 to 1940, the building housed the first Army Air Corps museum. Later, during the 1980s, it was home to the F-16 System Program Office. Miller said he believes that history now serves as ACS's guide.

"The artifacts on display in the Army Air Corps museum here represented the finest acquisition efforts of that era - putting capability in the hands of the warfighter," Miller said. "The men and women working in that same building today are charged with delivering the very same thing - the finest acquisition efforts to put today's best capabilities in the hands of today's warfighter.

"I encourage Air Force Materiel Command's work force to become familiar with what the men and women in ACS deliver to our Air Force," Miller continued. "They have responsibilities that affect all of us."

Additional information about ACS mission areas can be viewed on a video entitled "Every Airman - Every Aircraft - Every Day" on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2Gwvax-Ie4.