HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Every installation has a member in charge of the constant rotation and flow of deploying service members and civilians.
Rob Schenk, 66th Logistics Readiness Squadron and Hanscom’s new installation deployment officer, has recently taken responsibility of ensuring the men and women of Hanscom are ready to go to war.
“My job is to make sure our units and commanders are up to date on requirements, so when the tasking comes down from headquarters, our warfighters are ready to support,” said Schenk.
Once orders are cut for a mission, Schenk and his team of logistic specialists interpret the tasking and decipher the coding. From there, they work directly with the units across New England and New York areas, on details of support.
“We translate to the units exactly what the deployment calls for,” he said. “We decipher what person, with what skillsets, where and when they’ll go and how they will get there.”
A retired Air Force master sergeant, Schenk has 24 years of logistics experience.
“After I retired in 2015, I just missed the controlled chaos,” said the Atlanta native. “My ultimate dream was to come back and be an IDO.”
Schenk arrived at Hanscom mid-November and said he is learning all he can about the Air Force Materiel Command and Hanscom way of doing business.
“I’m in observation mode now, but I can tell you there’s a really well established program here,” he said. “I’m looking to maintain status quo and look for places that need improvement if it’s needed at all.”
Moving forward, Schenk and his team will continue to work behind the scenes to make deployments as seamless as possible for Airmen.
“If an Airman is going out the door, there’s a ton of work and chaos that goes on in this office to make that happen,” said Schenk. “The Airman is under enough stress already; as long as their only concern is the notification, gearing up and going, I’ve done my job.”
For questions or more information email hanscom.ido@us.af.mil.