ESC commander encourages mission focus during organizational changes

  • Published
  • By Patty Welsh
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  On Nov. 3, Electronic Systems Center Commander Lt. Gen. CR Davis held a Commander's Call to discuss upcoming changes regarding the Center.

On Nov. 2, the Air Force announced a civilian workforce restructuring and the Air Force Materiel Command announced its own restructure. Both of the restructures impact ESC and Hanscom.

As part of the AFMC initiative, the Electronic Systems Center will be inactivated. Most ESC personnel, while remaining in their current locations, will report to a new consolidated acquisition organization, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, headquartered at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.

Although he knows there are concerns about the upcoming changes, Davis encouraged everyone to focus on the mission.

"Keep in mind we have an enduring mission that is not affected by anything you may have heard on the news ... or any reorganizational activities," he said. "You have an important product to deliver."

Three program executive officer positions will remain, two at Hanscom and one at Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala. At Hanscom will be the PEO for C3I and Networks that General Davis now holds. However, this position will become a two-star billet. The current Battle Management and Theater C2 PEO positions will combine under Battle Management and will be led by a Senior Executive Service member. When Brig. Gen. Craig Olson moves on from being the PEO for Business and Enterprise Systems at Gunter, that PEO will also then be led by an SES member. The PEOs will continue to report directly to the Air Force Service Acquisition Executive.

Davis indicated that the PEO for C3I and Networks would serve as an integrating PEO to assist with challenges and concerns from all programs.

Regarding the ESC program level workforce, Davis said, "We know it is out-of-balance. We need to ensure priority programs are supported in the right way, with the right use of resources and the right work in the right places."

One of his hopes under the new structure would be that the LCMC can deal with certain issues so program managers can focus on executing their programs.

A Functional Operating Location will also be located at Hanscom to provide assistance with organization, training and equipment, along with LCMC reach-back support. Other Center staff functions will be consolidated at the LCMC at Wright-Patterson.

Due to the overall Air Force restructuring, base support will be affected as well.

The Air Force recognizes that the needs of Airmen and their families are evolving. Therefore, base support services are being reviewed to see what would be the best for the Hanscom community.

"The Air Force used to have to build bases to be self-sustaining," he said. "That isn't the case anymore--most are closely intertwined with local communities, so we are looking at certain functions on Air Force bases that can consolidate and how we can partner with the local community to offer some of these services."

General Davis committed to keep providing information about the changes, but also had a warning about additional future reductions.

"We've probably done more than any other base to get information out and will continue to do so," he said. "Whatever we go through now is probably not as bad as what is yet to come if more defense budget reductions are required."

However, the general continued to stress the importance of the work done. In fact, the general started and ended the call with a simple question and some proposed answers. "Who are we? And what do we want to be known for?" he asked.

"ESC will be the source the Air Force turns to when it needs capability fielded and sustained in the C3I, Network, Battle Management, Theater C2, and Business System mission areas," he noted. "We will deliver new concepts and operational capabilities based on seamless networks that support integrated sensors and advanced data systems."