Site Lead represents AFLCMC at Hill

  • Published
  • By Brian Brackens

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- With approximately 26,000 employees in more than 60 operating locations around the globe, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center – charged with the life cycle management of Air Force weapons systems from their inception to retirement – headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, is committed to ensuring that every employee has the resources they need to be successful.

Robert Colvin, senior site lead, serves as the representative for AFLCMC’s operating location at Hill Air Force Base, Utah and part of his job includes being a conduit between the approximately 1,680 AFLCMC employees at Hill AFB and senior leadership at Wright-Patterson AFB.

“My job is to be the eyes, ears and voice for AFLCMC senior leaders at Wright-Patt,” Colvin said. “I represent AFLCMC from a senior site lead, I attend all of the [75th] Air Base Wing meetings such as the Team Hill Mission Partners Operational Review and the Community Action Information Board which addresses general and specific information that affects the base as a whole. I also have a duty as a voting member on the facilities, space and NAF boards. Whenever something affects AFLCMC, the [75th ABW] commander shares with me first and I spread the information around to the AFLCMC senior leaders and others who may need to know. As the senior site lead, I attend a variety of meetings with the Complexes Air Force Sustainment Center leadership with emphasis on sharing common information and growing relationships.”

Colvin’s duties include leading the Acquisition Center of Excellence which provides guidance and advice to program and service professionals as they work through the process of acquiring new systems, parts or services for the Air Force. He is also responsible for all acquisition program manager hiring and oversees the acquisition version of the Palace Acquire Program. In addition, Colvin has two commander support staff military members who provide a full range of services to the 152 assigned military positions under AFLCMC at Hill.

“We provide a source selection advisory service,” said Colvin. “Anytime they [any of the nine AFLCMC divisions and five small offices or the AFSC and Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center at Hill AFB] are trying to implement a new program or service into their existing weapon system or support contract, they typically have to open the contract for competition. Our customers will come to our office and work with my experts who will advise them on the rules and how to proceed.”

Colvin also provides direct oversight authority over the AFLCMC Logistics Office which has broad scope and serves 80 percent of the personnel assigned to AFLCMC Hill. The LG Office is responsible for hiring and training logistics professionals and managing the logistics Palace Acquire Program at Hill. 

As a way to spread the word about services the Acquisition Center of Excellence and the Logistics Office provides, Colvin’s team put on what they call their Operating Location Road Show in which they travel to AFLCMC divisions and among complex mission partners to talk about what they do and how they may be of service to base organizations. 

Colvin said that he was proud of his office team.

“I will tell you that all of the folks here have been handpicked based upon their knowledge, communication skills and commitment to serving,” he said. “We are not a large office, but we do have a big impact.”