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72nd ABW commander shares vision

  • Published
  • By Brandice J. Armstrong
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Col. Bob LaBrutta is a man with a plan, or rather a vision.

The new 72nd Air Base Wing commander said he intends to work with his team of 3,000-plus professionals to propel the air base wing to be "the premiere in-garrison and expeditionary service and support organization in the Air Force."

"We have a very important role to play," Colonel LaBrutta said. "We provide support to the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, five wings and 45 associate units who are providing direct support to the warfighter. Moreover, we are a nation at war and we have an obligation to make sure we are accomplishing our mission to the best of our abilities for the taxpayer and our nation.

"We need our American citizens to be confident in the security that we're providing and that when they take a look at us and what we're doing, they believe we're doing the right thing - all the time," the colonel said.

Colonel LaBrutta came to Tinker from Langley Air Force Base, Va., where he had served as the director of Manpower, Personnel and Services at Air Combat Command Headquarters since 2008. In his 28 year career, the transplanted Texan has spent a majority of his assignments in ACC and Air Education and Training Command organizations.

Prior to his arrival here, he had only spent one assignment at an AFMC base and it was in 1989. As a second lieutenant, he served as chief of the Personnel Utilization Section, chief of the Quality Force Section and chief of the Personnel Programs Section at Brooks Air Force Base, Texas.

The colonel said he doesn't look at his lack of AFMC familiarity as a hindrance; instead he sees the background and experiences he brings to the job as positives and calls himself a "product of the Air Force."

Through the military, Colonel LaBrutta attended the Community College of the Air Force as an enlisted member, earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program from Texas Lutheran College. He also attained three masters' degrees.

"The United States Air Force has provided me great mentors who provided me wonderful opportunities to perform and placed confidence in my abilities to lead," Colonel LaBrutta said.

Now at Tinker and within the air base wing, the colonel said he will support Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center Commander Maj. Gen. David Gillett's strategic plan. The 72nd Air Base Wing is directly responsible for two of the center's objectives -- developing and caring for people and improving depot maintenance productivity, specifically in the field of energy efficiency.

"We will do our best to excel in these areas of expertise," the colonel said.

To accomplish this, Colonel LaBrutta said he will set priority objectives and stretch goals with specifically designed metrics and also institute milestones and action plans to keep the wing moving forward and on target.

"I'm very excited and proud to be here," he said. "I'm looking forward to working with all of our mission partners here on Tinker Air Force Base and contributing to the great Oklahoma City surrounding community that supports us."

His vice commander, Col. Scott Merrell, said Colonel LaBrutta has what it takes to get the job done and looks forward to working with him.

"I've been most impressed with his focus on communication, collaboration and customer service, which are the bedrock of any successful organization when you get right down to it," Colonel Merrell said. "As he moves forward with getting to know the people and business of Tinker and makes clear his goals and priorities to support the ALC and all our customers, we can expect some dramatic improvements in our capabilities and, as a result, the support we provide to the crucial missions across this installation."

Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center Command Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Vegas agreed.

"When you look at Colonel LaBrutta's career from his beginning as an Air Force enlisted airman to his most recent position as the director of Manpower, Personnel and Services at ACC Headquarters, you realize that no one is better qualified to command the 72nd Air Base Wing," Chief Vegas said. "We are fortunate to have a commander who has unwavering commitment to the dedicated Airmen and their supportive families under his command and I look forward to great things he is going to accomplish at Tinker Air Force Base."