WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio (AFMCNS) — In a flash, 2003 has come and gone, and with it the year’s many challenges and successes.

Regardless of the situation, obstacle or challenge, our Air Force Materiel Command team came together and got the job done, keeping America’s Air Force the premier power in the world. When you look at our military’s ability to fight and the weapons and technology warfighters take to the battlefield, you can take pride in knowing you’ve made that happen.

You carried out the AFMC mission by delivering war-winning, expeditionary capabilities to the warfighter; war-winning technology; war-winning acquisition support; and war-winning sustainment.

America’s overwhelming success in places like Afghanistan and Iraq came riding in on your backs. Don’t ever underestimate your value to this command, the Air Force or our great nation.

We did a lot in 2003. AFMC logistics operations reduced non-mission capable hours due to supply problems by 37 percent from September 2002 to the same time in 2003. This, in turn, reduced the Air Force fleet average total not mission capable rate for supply from 10.2 percent in fiscal year 2002 to 9.2 percent in fiscal 2003.

Our air logistics centers and their contract partners did not exceed planned expense rates in 2003, resulting in no final bill to the corporate Air Force for the first time in half a decade.

Maintainers at Robins AFB, Ga., shaved four months off individual C-5 Galaxy programmed depot maintenance time which allowed them to deliver an unprecedented 23 aircraft back to the warfighter this year; 17 had been the previous high mark. They’re doing similar things with the C-130 aircraft, and cut 30 days off PDM time for four Air Force Special Operations Command aircraft.

Maintenance professionals at Tinker AFB, Okla., did their part in finding new efficiencies. Because of that, they have more net serviceable fighter aircraft engines on hand than required to meet the Air Force’s warfighting needs, a first since the Gulf War.

And the list goes on. Two F-16 aircraft, deliberately approaching each other head on during a test at Edwards AFB, Calif., went into automated maneuvers to avoid collision via the Automatic Air Collision Avoidance System. The ACAS will help alleviate midair collisions and save lives and tax dollars.

Experts at Eglin AFB, Fla., developed a Miniature Air-Launched Decoy that will entice enemy forces to prematurely disclose their air defense locations, keeping pilots further out of harm’s way.

And as F-16s flying missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom were having problems delivering their munitions, experts at Hill AFB, Utah, Edwards and China Lake, Calif., worked together and found a fix an amazing 30 hours later. That’s the kind of warfighter support our Air Force wants, needs and continues to get.

But 2004 is now waiting in the wings with a new set of challenges.

First among those is ensuring the programmed executive officer restructuring is successful. I think it has the potential for creating the most positive and important improvement in our acquisition capability since we established AFMC more than a decade ago.

Next, we have to make sure that, in the process of executing that restructure, we remain focused on developing Air Force capabilities. We’ve taken great strides in this area, but the programs and systems we develop should always be oriented toward the contributions they make toward enhanced capabilities. We’ll be taking a good look at how we are structured to make sure we’re as efficient in this area as we can and should be.

Thirdly, throughout this entire process, we have world-class science and technologies that will play into each of those systems. We have to make sure they are totally connected in every aspect of our weapon system development from concept to ultimate demilitarization.

To do that, we have to make sure that our people are continuing to develop and improve our expeditionary force structure. So, while we are restructuring to connect AFMC and our acquisition community better than ever before, and make sure they’re focused on the capabilities in integrating technology, we’re also putting them out in the field as part of our expeditionary deployments, which is very exciting for the people because they’re connected with what the warfighters are doing operationally.

And the next logical step be to make sure we’re doing everything we can to develop our people for the responsibilities we want them to assume as time goes on. We must understand the expeditionary nature, the S&T priorities and capabilities and ultimately manage the program development so all those aspect and characteristics are considered.

This is exciting and I’m thrilled to be a part of it. I’ve always been amazed at what our AFMC team can accomplish as evidenced in the successes from 2003. Challenges lie ahead in this new year, but we stand ready to overcome them all through teamwork and dedication.
I’m proud to be your commander and am looking forward to the great things you’re going to do in 2004. God bless you all, and God bless America.