HILL AIR FORCE BASE — Flow day reduction and workload updates were discussed when 24 distinguished visitors — including Utah state senators and representatives, mayors, Congressional staff delegates and local civic leaders — visited the Ogden Air Logistics Complex on April 24.
Leaders updated the visitors on the F-35 workload, explained the recent F-22 “Road to 30 Percent Depot Flow Day Reduction” initiative and briefed them on the overall Ogden ALC mission.
Brig. Gen. Carl Buhler, Ogden ALC commander, began the Ogden ALC Mission Brief with a personal story and reminded the visitors of what really matters by relaying how the daily actions of Team Hill directly affects ongoing combat missions. The brief highlighted the mission of Air Force Materiel Command and the structure of the Ogden ALC, noting the widespread responsibility of the organization, including 10 geographically separated units spanning from Florida to California to Japan.
During the mission brief, Capt. Nick Lee, a logistics career broadening officer at the Ogden ALC, explained how the Air Force Sustainment Center Way increases capacity, improves readiness, and yields increased efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
The tenets of the AFSC Way are especially important as they relate to aging aircraft, Lee said. As the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen. Mark Welsh, recently stated, the U.S. Air Force currently has 12 fleets of aircraft that qualify for antique license plates.
When Buhler asked who in the room drives a car more than 25 years old, retired Maj. Gen. Pat Condon responded, “I do, but I only drive it around the neighborhood and definitely not across the country.” Referring to the sustainment maintenance activities of the aging “legacy” fleets at the three Air Logistics Complexes — Ogden ALC, Oklahoma City ALC, and Warner Robins ALC — Buhler commented that this is a big part of what these depots do for the Air Force.
During a discussion of software sustainment, attendees were amazed to learn that since the introduction of third-generation aircraft in 1965, functions performed by software have increased 82 percent. This comparison to the amount of functions performed by software on today’s fifth-generation aircraft brings special attention to the science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, skills necessary for the future of the Air Force.
State congressmen and mayors were expressly interested in support Utah provides Hill AFB for an educated and skilled work force. Joyce Peters, from Team Hill’s Workforce Strategic Planning and Partnership Office, spoke about the importance of STEM education and career fields, as well as how vital those skills are to the Ogden ALC and Team Hill mission.
In transition to the fifth-generation aircraft production lines, Lt. Col. Dave Moreland, Director of Ogden ALC F-35 Sustainment, provided an overview of the F-35 program and capabilities of the platform. Next, Col. Stan Springer, Commander of the 309th Aircraft Maintenance Group, and Lt. Col. Rod Stevens, Director of the F-22 System Program Office, briefed the capabilities of the F-22 and reviewed the “Road to 30 Percent Depot Flow Day Reduction” initiative.
The event culminated with a tour of the F-22 production line and an F-35 static display at Hill AFB.
“My team and I are committed to providing quality products for the warfighter — products that are timely and cost effective,” Buhler said. “In addition, ensuring our community leaders are up-to-date on our efforts is key to that success. It’s a true honor to be able to host an event such as we did today, as our state and local leaders are able to learn more about our current and future capabilities.”
