TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- With a promise to devote his full energies to sustaining an environment where all Airmen, whether civilian or military, can reach their full potential, Lt. Gen. Stacey T. Hawkins assumed command of the Air Force Sustainment Center Aug. 15 during a ceremony in Bldg. 3001 at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.
“I am so excited to be in this role,” Hawkins said. “I’m humbled, grateful, and blessed by this opportunity.”
Hawkins, who was promoted to lieutenant general in a ceremony immediately preceding the change of command, is uniquely qualified to lead AFSC, according to Gen. Duke Z. Richardson, commander of Air Force Materiel Command and presiding official for both ceremonies.
“Four master’s degrees, four times deployed, three major command [logistics leadership positions] … he’s worked on the flightline, he’s worked in the back shop … fighters, bombers, airlifters, tankers, munitions. It’s overwhelming,” Richardson said. “He is three-star ready.”
Hawkins is also a master at working toward enterprise solutions, Richardson said, and will help accelerate the change that the chief of staff of the Air Force is looking for throughout the service.
“The mission of the Air Force Sustainment Center is really vital to our nation,” Richardson said. “Most folks don’t know that, but this place generates airpower.”
More than 40,000 Airmen work within AFSC at three air logistics complexes, three air base wings and two supply chain wings located across the country.
“You’re inheriting a phenomenal team,” Richardson told Hawkins. “These are remarkable professionals. We often view them as artisans and magicians because of the condition of the airplanes that they’re asked to work on. Lead and take care of them.”
Hawkins vowed to “work relentlessly with our AFSC leadership teammates horizontally and vertically to continuously improve our production machine process, bolster our vital nuclear deterrent mission, sustain the next generation of weapon systems and preserve our legacy weapon systems, which are all vital to preserving America’s stature.”
Teamwork, accountability, respect, transparency, credibility, and engagement will all be hallmarks of the AFSC organization, he said, as the team continues to build on the success of Art of the Possible and the mission culture.
“At this consequential time in history, I feel prepared more than I ever have been to serve in this rank and to assume the role that I am going to humbly step into today.”
Hawkins takes the reins from Lt. Gen. Tom D. Miller, who is moving to the Pentagon as the deputy chief of staff for logistics, engineering and force protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Force.