Senior DoD human systems leaders seek synergy at WPAFB meeting

  • Published
  • By John Schutte
  • 711th Human Performance Wing
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  A historic Human Systems Senior Leader Forum was held 24-25 June 2009 at Wright-Patterson AFB, hosted by the Air Force Research Laboratory's 711th Human Performance Wing.

Department of Defense leaders at the general officer and senior executive service level gathered to share perspectives on their human systems mission activities and to explore potential synergies and collaborations. 

"This meeting was a great success," said Thomas S. Wells, 711 HPW director. "Our individual organizations are truly impressive but combined we deliver incredibly broad-based capabilities for ensuring superior human performance for DoD warfighters and the nation. It is exciting to be part of this community." 

The group discussed service-level human systems programs and key technology initiatives, opportunities for cooperative technical and strategic alignment, technology "seams" between human systems and other human-centric capabilities described in the Joint Human Performance Enhancement area of the Joint Force Health Protection CONOPS, the way ahead for human systems in the Joint world, and a US approach to NATO's Long Term Capability Requirement on Human Performance.
 
Mr. Wells explained that the human systems community worked together through the former science and technology.  Reliance process for over a decade and leaders believe that continued dialog will be beneficial.
 
"We formed the 711 HPW by combining three organizations that have multivariate aspects of human performance," Mr. Wells said. "Given all the change across the Department of Defense, I suspect many alterations have occurred in other human systems organizations also, so it's good to keep in touch like this." 

Within the 711 HPW, the Human Effectiveness Directorate (711 HPW/RH) has the charter for Air Force human-centric science and technology.  The Human Performance Integration Directorate focuses on system acquisition and sustainment, and the USAF School of Aerospace is responsible for training aerospace medical personnel and assuring operational health and safety.
 
The 711 HPW also executes the Air Force's aerospace medical research program.
The forum provided the services a unique opportunity to share their latest visions, mission briefs, and major focus areas for the future. 

"We can use these shared perspectives to discover new collaborative opportunities, synergy, and openings for expanded support to our soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen," Mr. Wells said.