USAFSAM Rising to Challenges of Upcoming BRAC Move

  • Published
  • By Jay Marquart
  • AFRL 711 HPW/XPO
As anyone who's ever relocated knows, moving involves a lot of planning and hard work!

With its BRAC-initiated move to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio beginning later this year, the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine at Brooks City-Base continues to address a range of challenges as it readies for this shift. Some have been anticipated, while others simply pop up during each day.

Perhaps leading the list is how to maintain mission efficiency while preparing to get off base at Brooks. Unlike other operations under similar circumstances, many USAFSAM components, especially its laboratories, can't afford a disruption.

"The clinical and radiological labs get specimens from everybody," said Maj. Donna Fox, a clinical scientist with USAFSAM's Preventive Medicine and Public Health Department and a BRAC coordinator. "The Epi [Epidemiology] Lab alone receives 5,000 specimens a day. We simply can't stop this mission."

To keep this program on track during the transition, Maj. Fox cited a planned short-term redundancy in lab services at Brooks, temporary facilities at Wright-Patterson, and, eventually, at the unit's new home, the Armstrong Complex, currently under construction.

"At some point, we'll have ops going in three separate buildings," Fox said, adding that the key to this arrangement is ensuring more than 200 DoD customers always have the correct address for where to send specimens.

To retired Air Force colonel John Garland, now a BRAC coordinator, the pressing issue is maintaining USAFSAM's capability to support Airmen during the move.

"We've become so technology dependent. To do my job, I rely on the computer in front of me and its connectivity. It's a challenge for USAFSAM to have its data and IT services moving," Garland said.

Garland praised the cooperation between Brooks and Wright-Patterson IT personnel to ensure USAFSAM of uninterrupted access to digital resources throughout the move, and to certify the unit's software on Wright-Patterson's servers.

Another factor is maintaining continuity of personnel. USAFSAM has a nearly even mix of military, civilian, and contract staffers. While much attention has been focused on retaining key civilian and military personnel, according to Garland, "Our contracting team is critical to our success. A main task is finding people in the contract positions up there that can do the things we need them to do."

To guarantee this, the 711th Human Performance Wing recently began a partnership with six major contract companies that will bridge the move to Wright-Patt and therefore be equipped to provide continuity in contractor support.

While USAFSAM officials acknowledge some expertise will be lost from personnel who do not move, they are encouraged by the number willing to relocate - a retention of intellectual capital vital to the unit's mission. Garland credits the Wright-Patterson team and the Dayton community for fostering this continuity.

"Mr. Wells [Thomas Wells, 711th HPW director] has worked hard to encourage people to take jobs in Ohio. The Dayton [Development] Coalition has also been helpful, coming down here to speak not only to the civilians but to the military folks as well."

For Herb Klein, BRAC director for Brooks City-Base, the greatest challenge is keeping tabs on it all.

"Right now, not just for USAFSAM but for all of Brooks, I've got thousands of line items associated with this BRAC-directed move," Klein said. "We've got detailed implementation plans we've worked on for three or four years, but it's a feat to keep everybody on the same page while working under a very compressed timeline."

Garland also emphasized the number of tasks and the importance of managing even the ones that seem "small," such as securing a 1-800 telephone number that will remain with USAFSAM throughout the move.

"You'd be surprised at how hard it is to make some things happen. We want to identify the show stoppers before they stop the show," he said.

True to the spirit of the Air Force, USAFSAM is tackling each challenge with determination. In fact, many staffers with BRAC responsibilities routinely take work home to ensure their mission and the BRAC initiative continues forward.

As the finish line comes into view, BRAC planners are optimistic.

"I'm confident our planning will pay dividends and minimize the hiccups we encounter when we move," concluded Herb Klein. "Hopefully, they'll be few and far between."