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Show 8 HILLTOP TIMES TIMES November 26, 2008 HOFFMAN From pagei as AFMC commander, it was a privilege to serve alongside people who were unified in purpose and in decision," Carlson said. "It's a remarkable opportunity for a commander when you have a group of people like that around you. The men and women of AFMC understand the mission, comprehend the goals and work hard to ensure they are accomplished. God bless each of you for your service, and God bless the U.S. Air Force." Schwartz emphasized AFMC's vital role in the Air Force's national security capability and added that he is confident Gen. Hoffman will lead the command to acquisition and sustainment excellence. "So much of the Air Force's success hinges on leadership," Schwartz said. "General Hoffman will lead a command whose work will be critically important to our Air Force and this nation in the years ahead." Hoffman thanked Gen. Schwartz and Air Force Secretary Michael Donley for their faith in his ability to lead AFMC and then stated he was looking forward to working alongside AFMC's Airmen, civilians and contractors. Efforts protect nation 'We can indefinitely maintain the fleet through AFMCs three depots. The real question is at what price do we continue to sustain our aging fleet? Take the KC-135 for example. AFMC is changing major structural elements such as wing and fuselage skins, engines and landing gear on that aircraft. We're approaching the point where replacement parts make up more of the aircraft than original components." "Even though we replace parts and keep the current fleet flying, we're still bound by outdated technology We're replacing traditional rivets and dealing with corrosion problems. One reason we buy new weapon systems is because they are built with newer technology like composites, that requires less man-hours and less money to sustain them than the older weapon systems." GEN. DON HOFFMAN, newest commander of the Air Force Materiel Command Hpffman praised AFMC's , t work force. "The job that the people in AFMC are doing day-to-day plays a critical role in keeping our nation safe and secure," Hoffman said. "While this command is unique in that civilians comprise about 70 percent of the work force, it does not matter if someone is a blue suiter or a blue collar worker ... we're all part of the same Air Force team. I want everyone in AFMC to understand their connection to our mission." into the three-star jobs. Through job diversity and career broadening assignments, I want to ensure that when the Air Force needs another lieutenant general for one of those acquisition positions that we have a viable choice ... if not multiple candidates. The same situation applies to other career areas and to our senior civilian leadership." Aging aircraft Sustainment of the Air Force's aging aircraft is another key issue. "We can indefinitely mainPersonnel gaps tain the fleet through AFMC's three depots," Hoffman said. Hoffman acknowledged that one of his challenges will "The real question is at what price do we continue to susinvolve personnel issues. tain our aging fleet? Take the "We have experience gaps within some career fields," he KC-135 for example. AFMC is changing major structural said. "We need to positively "I'm honored to join this elements such as wing and team," Hoffman said. "Togeth- motivate people to continue fuselage skins, engines and er, we will continue to produce their service in AFMC. As a a product and provide services commander, I can help by cre- landing gear on that aircraft. ating a healthy work environ- We're approaching the point for our warfighters that will where replacement parts ment. I want people to wake dissuade and deter those who make up more of the aircraft up in the morning and look wish us harm. Your efforts than original components. forward to going to work behelp keep this nation safe." "There is a cost to those Prior to the change of com- cause they enjoy being there and because they believe that replacement parts and to the mand, Hoffman received his their work is important and man-hours involved in comfourth star during a brief valued. pleting the work," he continpromotion ceremony. After ued. "The situation our depots serving as the military deputy, "We've also got to deterface is similar to a geriatric Office of the Assistant Secre- mine a healthy pyramid that hospital that cares for older tary of the Air Force for Acwill support growth and depatients. The hospital staff quisition at the Pentagon for velopment within our work becomes more skilled in 'susthe past three years, Hoffman force," Hoffman continued. taining' the patients but each becomes the seventh AFMC "For example, there are four time the patients return to the commander since AFMC stood three-star positions in the Air hospital, they are sicker and up on July 1,1992. He will Force that require acquisirequire more difficult 'sustainnow lead a work force curtion credentials. We have to ing' by the staff. rently numbering about 74,000 determine a healthy pyramid people and manage an annual below those three-star posi"That analogy supports budget of about $59 billion. tions — appropriate jobs for the ongoing call by Air Force officials to recapitalize the During an interview preced- colonels, brigadier and major generals — to support that service's fleet and incorporate ing the change of command, new technologies. "Even though we replace parts and keep the current fleet flying, we're still bound by outdated technology," the general said. "We're replacing traditional rivets and dealing with corrosion problems. One reason we buy new weapon systems is because they are built with newer technology, like composites, that requires less man-hours and less money to sustain them than the older weapon systems. New air tanker "The Air Force needs a new tanker soon," he continued. "But I would ask, when does the Air Force want to fly its last KC-135? Consider that in 1929 the Question Mark — a modified C-2A airplane — set an air refueling record over southern California by receiving gas through hoses and supplies from a bucket. If that aircraft was still flying next year (2009) it would be 80 years old. If you walked out on a flight line and saw the Question Mark sitting next to our current fighters, bombers and airlifters, you likely would wonder how the best Air Force in the world could still be flying that ancient aircraft." "If we're able to award a tanker contract and start production in the next few years, initial projections call for purchasing about 15 tankers each year," Hoffman said. "At that rate, it will take about 35 years to recapitalize the tanker fleet. If that scenario plays out, when the last of our current tankers retires it would be in the same age bracket as if the Question Mark were still flying today." Nuclear mission interface Another topic of interest for Hoffman involves AFMC's Nuclear Weapons Center and how it interfaces with the Air Force's recently announced Global Strike Command as well as the newly created Air Staff directorate, which was aligned as A10 on the staff and officially called the Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration Office. "Global Strike Command has the operators ... they will conduct day-to-day nuclear operations on our flight lines and at our ICBM bases," Hoffman said. "Our Nuclear Weapons . Center (at Kirtland AFB, N.M.) provides a single point for sustainment of nuclear weapons — whether through space or through the air. Previously, this was a shared responsibility but today it's clearly defined and falls under the Nuclear Weapons Center. The center also provides stewardship and security of the nuclear stockpile. "If this nation makes the strategic choice to acquire replacement nuclear weapons or delivery systems for those weapons, the Nuclear Weapons Center will have a key role in the development and acquisition of those weapon systems — whether that is an ICBM, or a new aircraft or cruise missile," he continued. "At this point, we're in the sustainment mode for existing weapons to keep them viable for this nation's most critical mission." 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