HomeNewsArticle Display

Tinker celebrates during Air Force Ball

  • Published
  • By Howdy Stout
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Speed and efficiency will remain important aspects of work done by the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center regardless of changes to the Air Force's future equipment and missions, said retired Air Force Gen. Paul Hester.

Speaking at Tinker's Air Force Ball Sept. 25, General Hester said the ALC will continue to play a part in sustaining Air Force operations by maintaining and modifying existing "legacy" systems. A veteran combat pilot, General Hester retired in 2008 after commanding the Pacific Air Forces and the Air Force Special Operations Command.

"The Tinker ALC will be at the forefront of keeping our Air Force alive for the foreseeable future," he said.

Working with limited budgets will require the Air Force to become more efficient, a situation General Hester says the ALC is already familiar with through its Lean and other transformation programs. Most important to doing the job better will be the workers who take ownership over their own processes.

That ownership is exemplified by an Airman General Hester met 20 years ago at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The young Airman was the assistant crew chief who presented the F-15 and attending forms before a flight with the words, "Colonel, welcome to my jet."

"I did something I'd never done before and never done since," he explained. "I zipped up my G-suit and climbed in the jet. No preflight, no walk-around ... I knew I'd met an Air Force professional."

Although the Airman was only the assistant crew chief, General Hester explained, the young Airman made it clear that he took ownership of the jet and his job in maintaining it. That same dedication to service will carry the Air Force through the future, he added.

"The roar of the future will start with the individual," he said.

Nearly 800 Airmen attended this year's ball, held at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in Norman. In addition to guest speaker General Hester, the evening contained several displays of historical uniforms and artifacts from the U.S. Air Force's 62-year history in addition to its Army Air Force and Corps predecessors.

Aside from celebrating the Air Force's 62nd founding as an independent service in 1947, the ball also celebrated the 70th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force song. Adopted in 1939, the song was selected from among numerous entries as part of a competition held by Liberty magazine.

Unveiled at the Cleveland Air Races and sung by the composer, the song that became the official anthem of the Air Force was selected by a committee of Air Force wives.

More than 700 entries were submitted with the composition from Capt. Robert Crawford finally being selected by the committee, which included Madeline Tinker, wife of Gen. Clarence Tinker. The original Army Air Corps song became the U.S. Air Force song in 1947 as the then-Army Air Force became an independent service of the United States.