TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The 76th Commodities Maintenance Group welcomed Col. James Petrick as their new commander in a formal ceremony June 22, relieving duties from Col. Robert Jackson II.
Petrick joins the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex directly from serving as commander of the 673rd Logistics Readiness Group. As a career logistics officer with outstanding credentials, OC-ALC Commander Brig. Gen. Tom Miller was confident Petrick’s vast experience and knowledge, matched with the success set up by the outgoing commander, would undoubtedly lead to continued feats accomplished by the CMXG.
“This unique opportunity will allow me to gain a perspective in production that is not afforded to many,” Petrick expressed. “I’m looking forward to connecting the dots between production and supply chain, and am genuinely interested in hitting the pavement and hearing ideas from the workforce.”
The Commodities Maintenance Group is comprised of more than 2,000 professionals who are dispersed across 21 major production facilities across the installation. CMXG facilities provide manufacture, repair, overhaul and test of more than 75,000 aircraft and missile components each year. The group is the Air Force Technology Repair Center for all accessories, constant speed drives, fuel controls and oxygen related items.
Upon bidding a fond farewell to outgoing CMXG Commander Col. Robert Jackson II, General Miller noted some of his most prominent contributions and accomplishments.
“Colonel Jackson led his team to generate more than 4.3 million hours of overhaul for the U.S. Air Force as well as other customers, exceeded production by over 50,000 hours, all while reducing labor cost,” Miller stated. CMXG also slashed prices by 18 percent and increased personnel by 10 percent under Jackson’s leadership. A big advocate for additive manufacturing, Miller praised the outgoing commander, whose next assignment is with Air Mobility Command, for always focusing on the bigger picture and bringing so much passion to the workforce.
During Jackson’s tenure, the strong and stable-as-ever Commodities Maintenance Group has stepped up to every objective and delivered.
“Four of four squadrons are exceeding [448th Supply Chain Management Wing Director Frank Washburn’s] requisition objectives, and two of four are exceeding the Art of the Possible 80 percent requisition goals,” the outgoing commander noted.
Proud to have asset availability at an all-time high across the board, the commander commented on the significant impact that is felt in the field as a result of the hard work his team puts forward.
“The heart and soul of combat airpower in America is here,” Jackson said. “We are pushing the bounds of cutting edge technologies in the realm of reverse engineering, rapid prototyping, 3-D scanning, modeling and printing.”
Leaving his team of trailblazers in capable hands, a very satisfied Colonel Jackson encouraged the group to continue to apply techniques to production challenges for today and for the future, as the 76th CMXG strives for premier aerospace excellence.