JOINT BASE ANDREWS-NAVAL AIR FACILITY WASHINGTON, Md. — Six Air Force organizations moved under Air Force Materiel Command Oct. 1 in a step toward integrating and forming the foundation of the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center when the Center is formally activated in 2015.
The Air Force realigned four field operating agencies — the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, Air Force Financial Services Center, Air Force Installation Contracting Agency and Air Force Security Forces Center — to AFMC. Two additional organizations — the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency’s Financial Management Center of Expertise and the Air Force Personnel Center’s Services Directorate — were also realigned to the command.
Activated provisionally Aug. 8, AFIMSC will be the single intermediate-level headquarters providing installation and expeditionary support for commanders at Air Force installations and Major Commands, said Maj. Gen. Theresa Carter, the center’s provisional commander.
“Our Major Commands have told us they are committed to making the AFIMSC successful. When asked to define what it means to be successful, they said it needs to be a responsive, mission-focused organization that uses transparent processes to integrate requirements and deliver support to our installations, our Airmen and their families. The six organizations joining the AFMC and AFIMSC(P) team today will help us meet those requirements, now and in the future.”
The center will provide program management, resourcing and support activities in key areas previously provided by 10 major commands, two direct reporting units and multiple field operating agencies. AFIMSC’s installation support capabilities will include security forces, civil engineering, base communications, logistics readiness, installation ministry programs, services and operational contracting.
In addition to helping the Air Force make the best use of limited resources to manage and operate its installations, the activation of AFIMSC will help the Department of Defense reduce costs and management staff levels by at least 20 percent.
“Centralized management of installation support capabilities at AFIMSC affords opportunity to make strategic decisions for the Air Force on installation support, maximizing the available resources,” said Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger, AFMC commander.
The Air Force is using its standard strategic basing process to evaluate candidate locations for AFIMSC headquarters and is scheduled to select a permanent location that best serves the mission of the center in early 2015. Eventually 350 people will be assigned to the headquarters.
The 10 candidate headquarters locations are Barksdale Air Force Base, La.; Ellsworth AFB, S.D.; Hurlburt Field, Fla.; Joint Base Andrews-Naval Air Facility Washington, Md.; Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.; Joint Base San Antonio, Texas; Peterson AFB, Colo.; Scott AFB, Ill.; Tyndall AFB, Fla.; and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
