TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Brig. Gen. Gregory Gutterman, director of the Air Force Security Assistance and Cooperation Directorate, visited Tinker to participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Mission Support Office, Bldg. 4001.
The ribbon cutting ceremony marked a significant achievement for the AFSAC Directorate and the Tinker Mission Support Office. A $25,000 investment was made on behalf of AFSAC to improve and upgrade its satellite footprint at Tinker.
During the general’s visit, he provided an overview of the foreign military sales enterprise guidance and its status. Gutterman discussed the establishment and delivery of training as well as the intention to convene on a semi-annual basis. A massive industry, the FMS enterprise rakes in approximately $160 billion in revenue.
With 109 partnering nations around the globe, Gutterman praised the room of FMS analysts and officers for their role in providing blankets of security. The general also compared the timeline of the deliberate process in which FMS sales and security operates, “lightning fast.”
“Right now our number one problem is not having the stability on our returns,” Gutterman said. Though the FMS world ramps through tremendously fast, the general acknowledged the challenge by then-Secretary of the Air Force, Deborah James, to go even faster. In order to achieve that, the stability needs to improve and be maintained.
Furthermore, the general discussed the importance of improving Security Cooperation Officers, who are a critical element in helping partner nations develop and establish their needs and requirements. “SCOs must be acquisition savvy,” he said. “It’s really important that we implement a process to pick and train our SCOs so they’re properly equipped.”
Providing better training across the board, and working on initiatives that provide better stability are priorities that work towards another 10 percent reduction, resulting in an overall 50 percent reduction in cycle time. The general added that since calendar year 2013, AFSAC has experienced 40 percent reduction, a huge time savings, adding to the dominance and superiority FMS provides.
The Air Force Sustainment Center is the Air Force’s premier provider of weapon system sustainment support. Additionally, Foreign Military Sales at Tinker account for an approximate total value of $2.7 billion invested by foreign countries in Air Force weapons and sustainment support services.
General Gutterman also spoke to the financial terms of foreign military sales and security. With only 6.5 percent of American funds given to countries during sales, the significantly low statistic allows for a stronger economy and GDP. The general announced that FMS accounts for 75 percent of revenue for all of Air Force Life Cycle Management.
Though overall the general had an uplifting report, in the interest of transparency he acknowledged some of the challenges that accompany the process. Administrative changes are part of the delays. For example, when Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was appointed, the transition halted any approvals or offers of foreign sales. Any pending actions previously signed by then-Secretary of State John Kerry had to be re-signed and submitted by Secretary Tillerson.
Most importantly noted by the AFSAC director was the overall positive standings revealed during his visit.
“It’s tedious, but it’s all about a ‘culture of yes’,” he said. “If you want it and it’s your money, you’ve got to find a way to get it. And that applies to everything you do in providing that blanket of security.”
The Mission Support Office provides an AFSAC satellite office for Foreign Military Sales programs, Foreign Disclosure, Foreign Liaison Officer support, manpower and workforce management, and other essential mission functions.
AFSAC remains committed to “delivering airpower capability to strengthen international partnerships and advance national security.” The Mission Support Office helps streamline procedures, instill reforms and expedites the processes that help deliver capability to its partners.