Pawlikowski maps out AFMC way-ahead during Hanscom visit

  • Published
  • By Justin Oakes
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Gen. Ellen M. Pawlikowski visited Hanscom AFB for the first time since taking the reins as the commander of Air Force Materiel Command and gave Airmen a first-hand glimpse into the current state of affairs for the command.

With 33 years of acquisition experience, Pawlikowski is no stranger to defense acquisition or to Hanscom's mission of delivering affordable and sustainable war-winning capabilities.

During a base-wide address, the AFMC commander touched on personnel issues, emphasized retaining a culture of respect and resiliency and spoke about strategic agility.

The general highlighted the roles of AFMC and Hanscom, as well as current strategies, specifically with regard to agility, stating that systems fielded and supported by the command must be flexible enough to meet emerging combat needs.

"Everything that happens in the Air Force, we (AFMC) touch," Pawlikowski said while discussing the Air Force's five core missions of air and space superiority; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; rapid global mobility; global strike; and command and control.

Pawlikowski cited America's Air Force: A Call to the Future saying, "We must transform into a more agile enterprise to maintain our edge in the emerging environment and leverage the full innovative potential resident in our Airmen."

America's Air Force is a strategic guidance document published last year.

From F-22 Raptors flying sorties over Syria to remotely piloted aircraft providing support in Africa, AFMC has a hand in it all, as does Hanscom, specifically with regard to C2ISR and the Joint STARS recapitalization, the general said.

"JSTARS is one of the most sought after assets by our combatant commanders," Pawlikowski said about the system managed right here that is undergoing a major modernization.

She stressed that in today's fight, the Air Force must produce capabilities able to operate in multi-domain environments. For those Airmen responsible for using these capabilities in battle, systems will have to be adaptable and agile.

Pawlikowski also advised Airmen to be on the lookout in January for a new AFMC strategic plan specifically addressing agility.

The commander later switched gears and focused on personnel issues.

Military members and civilian employees alike breathed a sigh of relief after hearing there were no force shaping or reductions on the horizon for AFMC personnel.

"We are not forecasting any force shaping or civilian reductions this year," said Pawlikowski. According to the commander, retention in the Air Force remains at an all-time high.

The Air Force is targeting efforts for an increase in total force personnel - to the tune of approximately 5,000 people in future years. The growth in personnel will focus on critical manning gaps related to the nuclear, maintenance, cyber, ISR, and support career fields.

Pawlikowski also encouraged any Air Force member who supervises enlisted Airmen to familiarize themselves with the new enlisted evaluation system.

"Take the time to understand it," the AFMC commander said. "It's a new system designed to promote based on performance."

Transitioning from manning and personnel topics, Pawlikowski emphasized the importance of fostering a culture of respect and resiliency within the workplace.

The commander reflected on past experiences during her time coming up through the years and working in predominately male-dominated career fields.

"I always felt like part of the team and respected, and I want others to feel that way too," Pawlikowski said.

If we have an environment where everyone feels empowered to succeed, our Air Force will be that much better, the general said.

In addition to addressing respect, the commander also focused on resiliency and the well-known wingman concept.

Pawlikowski shared personal memories, recalling back to 2010 when she suffered the loss of loved ones.

"Until that time, I never thought about needing a wingman," the general said. "Fortunately, I was part of a family," referencing her extended military family.

She urged Hanscom members to think about the importance of wingman training and the significant impact it can have on those in need.

The AFMC commander concluded the all-call by saying, "there's a lot of talent here" and thanking the Hanscom workforce for all it does on a daily basis to provide U.S. warfighters with the tools needed to get the job done.

During her two-day visit to the Hanscom area, Pawlikowski received program demonstrations from both base directorates, briefings on several Air Base Group offices, toured two federally funded research and development centers and met with local and state officials.