End of an era for Tinker software unit Published May 19, 2009 By Brandice J. Armstrong Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- History was made April 30. The 754th Electronic Systems Group disbanded as a civilian unit and reformed as a contracted organization. Despite the change in personnel, the ELSG still performs the same function -- supporting the three air logistics centers' software maintenance systems. The decision to change the unit from a civilian-run organization to a contracted group began several years ago and was ultimately implemented due to budget constraints. 754th ELSG civilian personnel who worked for the unit have since retired or in the process of being placed in another unit. "It's the end of an era," said Shelly Harris, former 754th ELSG Logistics and Readiness Organization director. "We've had such a long history." The 754th ELSG has an extensive history. It first formed in 1967 as the Advanced Logistics Support Center, but nine years later was disbanded by Congress. In 1983, it was reborn as the Logistics Management Systems Center. Its purpose was to improve the Air Force Logistics Command's automated systems, manage the acquisition of new computer systems and merge the old and new programs. In 1992, when AFLC and Air Force Systems Command was renamed Air Force Materiel Command, LMSC was renamed Materiel Systems Center. In 1994, the MSC was reassigned to the Electronic System Center and managed more than 230 wholesale logistic information systems. The MSC also managed programs for other Air Force and Department of Defense customers. In 1995, MSC became the Materiel Systems Group, but still reported to the ESC. Three years later, the group formed a software factory. In 2005, the MSG was restructured and stood up as the Operations Support Systems Wing and is headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The wing has several groups, including the Operations and Sustainment Systems Group at Maxwell AFB - Gunter Annex, Ala., which is home to the Tinker Operating Location. A year later in 2006, when the Air Force restructured its wings, the ESC and OSSW became the 554th Electronic Systems Wing and the 754th ELSG, respectively. Before the Tinker's Operating Location became a contracted unit, it had 16 civilians and 12 contractors. The group managed six software maintenance systems including the Aircraft Structural Integrity Management Information Systems, which gathers data about an aircraft's flight for airframes; and Quality Information Management Standard System, which documents quality assurance inspection and process improvement recommendations for the repair community. The contracted-run unit has 19 contractors and is still aligned with the ELSG and managed out of Wright-Patterson AFB.