AFGLSC/CC talks challenges, goals during visit

Published Aug. 8, 2011
By Brandice J. O'Brien
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Roughly four years ago, Tinker welcomed Col. H. Brent Baker Sr. During that visit, the colonel spoke to the 448th Combat Sustainment Wing about an upcoming venture: the Air Force Global Logistics Support Center, in which he would be the provisional commander. Now, a brigadier general, he returned to Tinker Aug. 1-3, as the newest AFGLSC commander.

General Baker met with personnel from various 448th Supply Chain Management Wing organizations, toured the premises and met with Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center senior leaders. He also discussed upcoming challenges and goals.

"It is great to be back and visiting the great state of Oklahoma and visiting the 448th SCMW here at Tinker," said General Baker. "This organization has made great strides over the past two-and-a-half years, and I am proud I had a hand in setting the foundation for that success, but we cannot rest on these accomplishments.

"We know there are many challenges on the horizon, especially fiscal targets, and there are challenges coming our way we cannot even imagine at this point in time," the general said. "However I am confident that together, this organization can and will stand ready to meet any and all challenges head on."

Nearly three years ago, the Air Force breathed life into a new concept: a single point of entry into the Air Force supply chain and introduced the AFGLSC. At inception, there were five personnel on the center's staff.

Based at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., the center is now comprised of two wings and seven groups and has almost 5,000 personnel. In addition to the 448th SCMW, two groups -- 848th and 948th Supply Chain Management Groups -- are also at Tinker.

The wing, comprised of nearly 3,000 personnel -- of which, roughly 1,300 military and civilians are assigned here -- is the planning and execution arm of the center. Each day, the 448th SCMW focuses on supporting the warfighters' and depot maintenance supply needs throughout the Air Force.

The 448th SCMW forecasts parts support and aids foreign countries, Department of Defense services, the Air Force's major commands, various weapon supply managers and the depot maintenance wings.

General Baker acted as commander to the interim center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, from May 2007 to March 2008. He then held the positions of the center's first commander and vice commander from March 2008 to January 2009.

Upon Maj. Gen. Gary McCoy's arrival, General Baker went to Pacific Air Forces Headquarters and U.S. Pacific Command at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam where he served as the director of Logistics for Joint Task 519 and director of Logistics for the Pacific Air Forces.

There, as a customer, he saw first-hand, the AFGLSC in action and said he was impressed with the center's capability and continued to be a fan. He specifically cited the center's response to the Live Fire exercise in December 2010 when North Korea attacked South Korean islands; and Operation Tomodachi, the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan in March.

"In my humble estimation, the AFGLSC is the most visible center to the warfighter today, directly supporting war efforts, contingencies and natural disasters around the world," General Baker said. "The speed in which we were able to access the parts needed and ensure quick transport not only helped these countries in making their recovery operations quicker, but may have even helped save a few lives."

As the AFGLSC's newest commander, General Baker said his goal is to take the center to the next level and eventually "manage all classes of supply" and, it is very doable.

"I want us to not only be recognized as the premier supply chain management organization in the military, but to recognized as one of the premier supply chain management organizations in the world," the general said. "The AFGLSC has the supply chain processes in place to be the single face for customer support for any Air Force commodity. The basic supply chain management system we have works and could be adjusted to manage other classes of supply."