AFMC Commander to visit Hanscom next week

  • Published
  • By Kevin Gilmartin
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  Gen. Bruce Carlson, commander of Air Force Materiel Command, will be visiting Hanscom Jan. 28 and 29 to learn about the progress Electronic Systems Center and the base are making on a number of AFMC initiatives.

"The general is visiting several bases in the command to look at how implementation of initiatives such as the Voluntary Protection Program and Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century are coming along," said Col. Russ Blaine, ESC chief of staff. "He's also interested in how the wings, groups and squadrons are working out, and how we are developing our workforce through various personnel development programs."

The colonel said that, during General Carlson's previous visits to Hanscom, the center has been able to show him how well ESC is supporting America's warfighters by successfully executing its programs, but on this visit, the general is focusing more on programs that affect people.

"General Carlson is looking forward to meeting some of our junior civilians and officers currently participating in development programs to talk with them about how successfully those intern programs are working," Colonel Blaine said.

Hanscom has been among the first group of Air Force bases to participate in the Voluntary Protection Program, a concept based on cooperative relationships between management, labor and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to develop and promote a comprehensive safety and occupational health management system. OSHA recognizes exemplary organizations that have comprehensive, successful safety and health management systems with a top VPP rating of Star Status.

"VPP takes us beyond a mindset of mere compliance, and puts safety first in everything we do," said Col. Tom Schluckebier, 66th Air Base Wing commander. "To earn star status from OSHA, we have to make safety an integral part of the fabric our culture."

The major milestone for Hanscom's VPP program comes in May, with an audit of the base's VPP efforts to date by a team from OSHA. The OSHA team will conduct an in-depth audit, touring work centers to examine physical conditions, reviewing safety programs and interviewing employees. If deficiencies are identified, the facility has 90 days to correct them.

"We're excited about showing the general the progress we've made so far on VPP," Colonel Schluckebier said.

Hanscom has a number of success stories to tell General Carlson about the AFSO 21 program, which focuses on improving processes and eliminating waste. Using Lean techniques, value stream mapping and Rapid Improvement Events, organizations on base have identified areas for improvement and implemented changes that have resulted in savings of time and money.

The general has also expressed interest in learning how the transfer of Program Executive Officer responsibilities from the Pentagon to AFMC product center commanders is progressing, and how ESC Commander Lt. Gen. Ted Bowlds is managing and tracking the programs in his PEO portfolio.

General Carlson's wife, Vicki Carlson, will be accompanying him on his trip to Hanscom. She will be touring a number of organizations on base, including the Air Force Band of Liberty and the Airmen and Family Readiness Center. She will also be traveling to the Veterans Administration Hospital in West Roxbury to learn about a cooperative program between the 66th Medical Group and the VA that provides Hanscom's nurses valuable experience.

On Jan. 29, the general will also be visiting Army Soldiers Systems Center in nearby Natick for an orientation on the products developed there that support warfighters.

"We've got a lot of great things going on here at Hanscom every day, and we're proud to be able to show them to General Carlson," Colonel Blaine said.