State of BES Luncheon Published March 25, 2026 By Makayla Cameron MAXWELL AFB-GUNTER ANNEX, Ala. -- On Feb. 17, 2026, Business and Enterprise Systems (BES) Program Executive Officer, Alvin Burse, provided an update on the BES Directorate during the annual State of BES Luncheon, hosted by the Montgomery Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) at the Wynlakes Golf and Country Club in Montgomery, Ala. The presentation focused on the unchanging mission and vision of the organization to provide stability while it transforms and elevates. “As we elevate and transform, the mission and vision stay consistent,” said Burse. Burse outlined efforts to retain operational responsibility while delivering integrated systems that share data and embed innovation across both new and legacy programs. He discussed BES’s distinctive role in maintaining operational control of its systems, emphasizing the importance of system integration. Burse addressed workforce changes, highlighting that BES experienced a 12% personnel reduction, including the departure of employees averaging over two decades of experience. While acknowledging the significant loss of institutional knowledge, Burse said the focus now is on replenishing talent, developing the remaining workforce, and bringing in new expertise to ensure long-term success. Burse announced that BES is undergoing a major organizational transformation, the first since the BES 2.0 overhaul. The restructuring will streamline shared services, improve contracting and delivery processes, and align operations with evolving acquisition priorities across the Department of the Air Force. He also outlined key priorities for industry partners, emphasizing on-time delivery and a shared commitment to reducing cybersecurity vulnerabilities. BES is consolidating its software pipelines and advancing innovation through automation, artificial intelligence, and legacy-system modernization to accelerate capability delivery. “Innovation isn’t just about new applications, it’s also about how we make legacy programs more efficient and effective,” said Burse. For more information on the BES Directorate, please visit https://www.aflcmc.af.mil/WELCOME/Organizations/Business-and-Enterprise-Systems- Directorate/