General Hoffman cites progress on AFMC's 2009 priorities

Published Dec. 3, 2009
By Kevin Gilmartin
66th Air Base Wing

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --

Air Force Materiel Command has made "significant progress" on five priorities for 2009 set by Gen. Donald J. Hoffman, AFMC commander, shortly after he assumed command in November 2008.

In a recent letter to the command entitled "State of the Command - 2010," General Hoffman offered his assessment of progress made by AFMC in areas ranging from reinvigorating AFMC's role in the nuclear enterprise to being good stewards of government resources.

Reinvigorating the command's role in the nuclear enterprise "continues to be our number one priority," General Hoffman wrote. He said the command "worked hard to create clear lines of authority and responsibility within AFMC's nuclear sustainment enterprise by consolidating all major nuclear sustainment and future system development activities into a single organization - the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center."

He also cited three major milestones that occurred in 2009: the stand up of the Directorate for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration (A10) at AFMC Headquarters; the designation of AFMC as the single nuclear weapons authority for all CONUS-based weapons storage area, and the approval from the HAF Nuclear Oversight Board to establish an Air Force Program Executive Officer for Strategic Systems.
On his second priority, "Implement Effective and Efficient Integrated Life Cycle Management," General Hoffman reported that the command is working hard to establish clear lines of authority and accountability.

"To establish clear lines of authority and accountability, AFMC will realign from a Wing/Group/Squadron structure to a Directorate/Division/Branch structure for most acquisition organizations," he wrote. "In addition, several new Program Executive Officer positions will be created. This will provide a greater number of experienced senior leaders to oversee the execution of our acquisition programs and address span of control issues."

Regarding the general's third priority, "Recruit, Train, and Retain a High Performing Workforce," the general noted that the command secured 518 new authorizations for AFMC's Nuclear Enterprise, which combined with intra-command transfers, increases AFMC's nuclear-focused manpower by almost 1,000 billets.

"In the acquisition arena," General Hoffman wrote, "we increased our overall end strength by hiring 1,773 new employees. Strategic hiring and recruitment approaches, such as partnering with universities, contracting with private recruitment firms, job fairs, aggressive marketing campaigns, use of expedited hiring authority, and block hiring were fully put into place across the Command. This collaborative effort enabled AFMC to execute 103% of our civilian pay budget on civilian pay. Over the next year, we will continue to face challenges in civilian hiring but must remain focused to ensure we meet our objectives."

The general said his fourth priority, "Nurture and Protect our People and Families," is necessary for the command's mission to succeed. He cited successful civilian wellness efforts that promoted healthy lifestyles including cholesterol checks, blood pressure checks, counseling and educational classes and events, and the Air Force's only smoking cessation program expanded to support civilians. The program includes medication, classes, and access to a tobacco quit-line.
"As a result of this initiative, several hundred civilians quit using tobacco, and we intend to build upon this success during the upcoming year," he wrote.

For his final priority, "Be Good Stewards of Government Resources," General Hoffman challenged every member of AFMC to "use and conserve our resources as if they were your own."

He noted 551 successful facility projects across the command that were the result of the President's 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. "These 'Shovel Ready' projects not only helped stimulate local economies, but significantly improved quality of life across the Command by repairing, sustaining, and modernizing old infrastructure and facilities," the general said.

General Hoffman also discussed the command's energy conservation efforts, noting awards for 66 facility energy projects with a value of $71 million this year, "a tremendous investment as the Command continues to reduce its energy demand and water consumption."

General Hoffman said that each of AFMC's accomplishments and successes can be attributed to "the great people" of AFMC. "Your continued efforts to improve our ability to execute the mission through innovative initiatives are impressive," he wrote. "The job is not over ... many challenges remain, but I look forward to another great year delivering war-winning expeditionary capabilities to the Warfighter! Thank you for what you do every day."