KC-135 colonel achieved dream job, ready to retire Published June 14, 2013 By Brandice J. O'Brien Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- When Col. Bob "Wrench" Torick commissioned into the Air Force nearly 27 years ago, he said he had a specific goal in mind. He knew exactly what he wanted to do. The Air Force had other plans. Despite the difference in opinion, Colonel Torick has no regrets. He is grateful for his experiences, Air Force career and particularly his time at Tinker. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Legacy Tanker Division chief and KC-135 System Program manager retires Sept. 1, but his Tinker ceremony is June 18. Shortly thereafter, he will venture back to Utah where he currently owns a home. "It worked out well and it's been great. I deployed once, went on temporary duty to a lot of great countries including Portugal, Denmark, Turkey and Chile to name a few," Colonel Torick said. "I got to see a lot of the world and also as an acquisition guy, I was home a lot. I got to see my kids grow up. It was a pretty good balance." Colonel Torick said when he began his Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at Fairleigh Dickinson University, N.J., he intended to become a fighter pilot. The Air Force had other plans. Following his graduation and commissioning in 1986, the Air Force sent him to a NASA facility in Cleveland where he worked as a rocket engine test engineer. After two years, he continued with his engineering career path at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn., when he was sent to be a rocket propulsion test manager. Colonel Torick said it wasn't until he was a young captain when he figured out a new goal. "I'm doing it today," he said. "Planets aligned, the dice got rolled correctly, whatever it was, here I am today as a colonel running a major weapons system. That's pretty cool stuff." But, the road to managing the KC-135 weapons system didn't happen overnight. Colonel Torick transitioned from engineering to acquisitions. He traveled around the country gaining experience and life lessons before coming to Tinker in June 2009. When he first arrived, he was named the 827th Aircraft Sustainment Group commander. Through reorganizations, his job title changed, but the mission remained focused on the KC-135 Stratotanker program and the warfighter. Since his arrival, Colonel Torick and his team have contributed to transformation of KC-135 processes, a challenge which has both amazed and impressed him. He said it couldn't have been done without the dedication and perseverance of his team, which often required them to step outside their comfort zones. "To achieve a lot of the goals, there's a lot of hard work you have to put in," the colonel said. "It's not always easy. It's moving people out of a comfort zone to an uncomfortable zone, but once you do that they can do some great things." They were key to leaning the programmed depot maintenance flow days from 200-plus days to approximately 130 days. The program office was a critical participant in that transformation. "We also had some in-house work to do. We looked at our technical response time back to the PDM and reduced that from weeks to a day or less," said Colonel Torick. "Now the line is at roughly 120 flow days." Colonel Torick said the team extends beyond the people in the program office and includes mechanics, supply, contracting, finance and contractors working with a common vision. "Everyone is working to get the job and mission done," he said. Because of that, Colonel Torick said he will miss the people at Tinker as well as Oklahoma. "I'll miss the pace and the challenges we get to work every day. It's because of the team that makes me want to get up and go to work," he said. "I really have enjoyed my time here. I enjoyed the area, living in Oklahoma, the folks here are just fantastic and it's been a great place to have my last assignment." Tinker will miss him. "Col. 'Wrench' Torick is an acquisition pro with the heart of a maintenance officer, and this has proven to be the perfect combination for the KC-135 program," said Col. Mark Beierle, recently retired AFLCMC special assistant. "It's been my honor to serve with Colonel Torick in three different assignments -- at the Pentagon, Hill Air Force Base, Utah; and Tinker -- and he has excelled at each. Becky and I wish him and Dana the very best as we celebrate Colonel Torick's retirement." Colonel Torick's retirement ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. June 18 at the Tinker Club.