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New OC-ALC/XP director aims to make center preeminent ALC, focus in on his staff

  • Published
  • By Brandice J. Armstrong
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Col. Lawrence Gatti is new to Air Force Materiel Command and Oklahoma. But, he said he's no stranger to meeting the mission and getting the job done.

Having recently returned from a year-long assignment in Afghanistan, serving as the 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Group commander, the new director of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center Plans and Programs Directorate said he has the warfighter's perspective on what support is needed from the ALC. In this assignment, he will "help make the center the preeminent air logistics center in the Air Force."

"I understand everybody has constrained resources, but I will try to focus our resources and people on the things that are most beneficial to Tinker's growth," the colonel said. "I also want to achieve the strategic vision for the center devised by Maj. Gen. David Gillett, OC-ALC commander."

General Gillett said he's confident in Colonel Gatti's abilities, believing he's the right person for the job.

"Colonel Gatti has many years of deep logistics experience and is one of the Air Force's best logistics leaders," the general said. "He just returned from a combat tour in Afghanistan, so he has a great perspective on what the warfighter needs and the challenges they face. He is a great addition to the OC-ALC leadership team."

Colonel Gatti, an Ohio native, enlisted in the Air Force in 1975 because he wanted to help defend the country and because he loved being around airplanes. In 1986, after graduating from Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program.

In his 35-year career, the colonel has been stationed primarily in Air Combat Command assignments, but has had unique opportunities along the way. After pursuing a Masters Degree in History from Ohio State in 1994, Colonel Gatti, then a captain, served as an assistant professor at the Air Force Academy for four years, teaching History.

When the colonel arrived at Tinker in July, he said he'd received words of wisdom from former OC-ALC/XP Director Col. Randall Burke. Not only does he agree with the advice, but said he will apply it during his tenure.

"Colonel Burke left me with a very well-organized and strong-performing directorate and said, 'You have good folks, let them do their job.' That's exactly what I'm going to do,"
Colonel Gatti said. "I just want to ask the Plans and Programs Directorate to continue to do the great work they're doing. They have my support and will receive anything they need help in to achieve our mission."