AFMC Intelligence Squadron redesignated as 21st Intelligence Squadron Published Oct. 26, 2012 By Amy Rollins Skywrighter Staff WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio -- One of the last key pieces of the new five-center construct of Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) fell in place Oct. 12. As part of its move from HQ AFMC to the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), the AFMC Intelligence Squadron, based at Wright-Patter-son Air Force Base, was redesignated as the 21st Intelligence Squadron. A ceremony presided over by Lt. Gen. C.D. Moore II, commander, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, was held at Bane Auditorium, Air Force Institute of Technology. General Moore said he wanted to participate in the event because of his passion for intelligence's role in not only AFLCMC's mission but also the MAJCOM's mission of taking care of the warfighter. "Our mission at AFLCMC is to acquire and support war-winning capabilities, and that's for all aircraft, engines, munitions, electronics, cyber systems -- a tremendous breadth of responsibility, and we do it most effectively when closely coupled with our intelligence professionals," General Moore said. He recalled the amount of transition and change of the last seven years since the intelligence squadron was assigned to AFMC. "Today we've consolidated all of that mission to a new center and so, in my mind, it makes complete, logical sense to now align the squadron to this new organization. "The mission of the 21st Intelligence Squadron is an essential part of the AFLCMC mission as we acquire and support war-winning capabilities," he said. "We must ensure intelligence supportability for those new Air Force systems. ... We must enhance the interoperability between all those Air Force systems as a result of that intelligence support. We must promote the common intelligence solutions across the life cycle for all the Air Force systems. It's a big job." He congratulated Lt. Col. Scott Davis as he assumed command of the 21st Intelligence Squadron. Col. Anthony Willis, AFMC senior intelligence officer, recalled that on Sept. 13, 2007, the AFMC Intelligence Squadron was activated to provide AFMC with a core analytical capability to ensure intelligence support is adequate and available for new Air Force systems. "With the impressive professionalism that we've seen, it wasn't just new weapons systems that came along; there's a whole lot of existing weapons systems that were maintained and taken care of in all of that time, too. You all have met that challenge and a whole lot more." Colonel Willis highlighted the many accomplishments of the AFMC Intelligence Squadron, not only at the Air Force level but also across the Department of Defense. "You are pushing into the future with how we need to continue to do acquisition intelligence. ... I expect your support to develop new material solutions for our Air Force to continue to improve," Colonel Willis said. Col. Peter Bailey, AFLCMC director of intelligence, noted that redesignations go back to almost to the birth of air power. The oldest continuously operating squadron in the U.S. Air Force is currently known as the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, based at Beale AFB, near Marysville, Calif. It has been redesignated 10 times, he said. He also noted that "doing acquisition without intelligence is kind of like trying to predict the weather inside with a blindfold. The threat requirements and how those affect programs, the infrastructure requirements that posture us to support these programs, and the intelligence mission data that is required to fully operate these systems at their peak potential -- all is heavily reliant on intelligence early on in the planning process." He said to Colonel Davis, "I'm sure your squadron will play an integral role in achieving the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's mission in the near future." In multiple visits to the squadron, Colonel Bailey said he has been impressed with its knowledge, experience and professionalism. "I am grateful that your squadron will bring its resources, its contacts, its professionalism and expertise in helping accomplish the acquisition intelligence mission of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Air Force Materiel Command," Colonel Bailey said. The redesignation ceremony of furling and unfurling the appropriate guidons and then the symbolic passing of the new 21st Intelligence Squadron's guidon took place. Colonel Davis outlined what the new squadron, 55 military and civilian strong, brings to the fight: · Special Security Office · Systems Integration Management Office · Acquisition formal intelligence · Acquisition intelligence guidance, processes and tools · Cross-program analysis · Intelligence costing · Matrix support for Big Safari. He complimented his team for its backtrack efforts, CRADAs (Cooperative Research and Development Agreement) and the oncoming AFMC geospatial production cell, among other accomplishments. "They're very professional, very motivated, they think outside the box, and I've been very impressed and I am very happy to be the squadron commander here," Colonel Davis said. "As you can see, the Intelligence Squadron does bring a lot of capability and we hope to apply that well within AFLCMC." The 21st Intelligence Squadron redesignation did not come with any heraldry, he noted. "But I look at that as a positive because from this day forward, we get to write the history of the 21st Intelligence Squadron. We get a blank slate. I actually like that. We have a great start. Sir, the men and women of the Intelligence Squadron are ready to support." The redesignation ceremony ended with the addition of Colonel Davis' name to the squadron's proper board.