WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- During the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) Commander's fall virtual town hall on Nov. 6, 2024, Lt. Gen. Donna Shipton and other center leaders shared updates on Great Power Competition (GPC) re-optimization progress, center successes, current AFLCMC deployments, and a chaplain update.
Commander Lt. Gen. Donna Shipton was joined by AFLCMC leadership including
Executive Director Dennis D’Angelo, Deputy Commander Col. John Kurian, Command Chief Master Sergeant Timothy Wieser and
88th ABW Chaplain Col. Joshua Payne.
Much of the town hall focused on organizational changes resulting from re-optimization. Several key changes impacting Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) and AFLCMC are already complete. Big accomplishments include the finalization of four alignment memos signed by
Hon. Andrew Hunter. These alignments impact more than 360 programs across the Center.
Completion of 20
transition support plans (TSP) enabled the realignment of more than 300 Center programs. (TSPs relate to manpower and funding. TSP forms document the process that transfers workload from one organization to another).
AFLCMC Airmen have successfully established two new PEOs and nine existing PEOs have new names and artwork. 4,800 Center positions were realigned across eight PEOs with all work completed in under six months. This was met with a big thanks from the Commander with an enthusiastic nod to “extreme teaming.”
Phase II of re-optimization requires the stand-up of the Integrated Development Office (IDO). Most of the enabling directorate previously known as Architecture and Integration (XA) now comprise the IDO staff. AFMC Commander
Gen. Duke Richardson takes on a dual-hatted role as Capability Development Executive Officer.
The purpose of the IDO is to acquire the right capabilities for the warfighter and field them faster across AFMC and Air Force enterprise.
Another major GPC action now in motion is the creation of the Integrated Capabilities Command (ICC). This provisional command is working on force modernization efforts. ICC is expected to be fully operational during 2025 and will be led by provisional commander
Maj. Gen. Mark Mitchum.
Shipton mentioned that advisory teams from each AFLCMC directorate are helping shape the establishment of both the Air Force Air Dominance Systems Center (AFADSC) and the Air Force Information Dominance Systems Center (AFIDSC). These director-level advisors are looking to minimize "pain points" for staff as the organization split continues. The Air Force basing process for AFIDSC continues and no announcement on the location was made during the town hall.
Shipton highlighted several successes during her presentation. The
Air Force Security Assistance and Cooperation Directorate's (AFSAC) International Division was praised for their rapid support to Ukraine after the Russian invasion. The
Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Special Operations Forces (ISR-SOF) directorate returned PC-12 aircraft to Uzbekistan. American-trained Afghan pilots rescued the planes from Taliban control. The planes will help Uzbekistan conduct surveillance missions.
The
Acquisition Excellence (AQ-AZ) team was recognized for their
Financial Improvement and Audit Remediation (FIAR) audit approach to military equipment valuation (MEV). The team developed controls and automation to execute quarterly checklists to align with auditor requirements, improving response time by 50%. The MEV audit process also analyzed 730 AFLCMC programs. The change in approach gets the Center closer to FIAR compliance. The approach has Air Force-level interest.
Shipton reminded town hall participants of the 113 AFLCMC members currently deployed around the world. She encouraged everyone to think of these individuals often and to reach out if possible. The mention of deployed Center Airmen was a good segue to 88th ABW chaplain Col. Joshua Payne. His message focused on "navigating seasonal change;" urging everyone to pause and reflect on past seasons and patterns of life. The chaplain also reminded listeners to "leave some things behind as we go forward" and that we are approaching a "season to bring healing to our own communities."
In this season of change, remember that Chaplain Payne is available for support and guidance at [
joshua.payne@us.af.mil] if you need help or are seeking religious information.
A few questions were submitted from employees, including one addressed to Command Chief Wieser on how young Airmen can grow their careers. "Anytime you can -- latch on to those around you," Chief Wieser said. "Learn from the people around you, the officers, civilians and enlisted because this command is very important to where we see ourselves. Not only today but in the next 10 to 20 years. So, link up and learn from your peers and subordinates but most of all your superiors that you sit with on a daily basis. When it comes to developmental opportunities… being here at Wright-Patterson is a blessing. There’s over 100 mission partners on this installation alone. We really get the whole essence of the Air Force here. So, continue to reach out to your mission partners on development opportunities as well."
Shipton agreed with the Chief’s comments and reminded the town hall audience that every AFLCMC installation has mission partners and development opportunities. Shipton closed the town hall event on an upbeat note, commenting that she is "…amazed at the work that goes on across this Center!"