State of the ALC address: commander positive about future of logistics center Published April 10, 2009 By Brandice J. Armstrong Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- Maj. Gen. P. David Gillett Jr. said he's optimistic about the future. The Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center commander spoke April 2 about the state of the ALC. Standing before Tinker Management Association luncheon guests at the Tinker Club, the general introduced the OC-ALC's fiscal year 2010 goals and addressed the center's progress. General Gillett showcased his new vision: One team, the aerospace logistics provider of choice. "We have an exceptional workforce and we have all the elements for success here," said General Gillett. "We've got the right infrastructure. We have outstanding community support. We have the right strategy, the talent and leadership." Personnel already know the ALC's mission and their role in it. "What you do here at Tinker everyday has a direct and measurable impact on what happens in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq," the general said. "What you do is very, very important. You are the warfighter." General Gillett said the center's 2010 strategic goals were carefully considered and strongly resemble those from 2008. They are: meet the customer's aircraft availability requirements, develop and care for our people to enable success, improve depot maintenance productivity to maximize opportunities, and improve mission readiness and support. The general said the first two goals are equally significant because it's difficult to meet the customer's requirements without developing and caring for the workforce. "Every one of us has a contribution to how well we can push products out the door and whether it's done efficiently or not," General Gillett said. "Everybody has a stake in the game." The general said he is confident the goals will be achieved, as there are already action plans in place. In the meantime, the 2008 strategic goals are still being achieved every day. They include securing the right workload, leaning/transforming the center, leading aircraft availability improvement program achievement, improving OC-ALC operations through the Defense Logistics Agency and the Air Force Global Logistics Support Agency, and developing people ... better. The ALC secured several fitting workloads, such as the F101 engine intermediate-level maintenance repair workload, which powers the B-1 Lancer; the Block 40/45 modification project, which replaces the E3's current mission computer system and operators' terminals with a commercial, off-the-shelf computer system and a network of operator workstations; and the KC-10 paint upkeep work. ALC officials most notably achieved the second goal - lean/transform the OC-ALC - when the Air Force arranged to lease the former General Motors industrial plant from Oklahoma County. Renaming the complex, the Tinker Aerospace Complex, Tinker has plans to fill approximately 3.8 million square-feet. The TF33 engine workload will be leaned for efficiency and relocated to the TAC from Bldg. 3001. Sheet-metal shops, currently situated in Bldg. 2101, will also move to the TAC. The ALC also improved relationships with the AFGLSC and DLA by helping the supply chain management wing stand up at Tinker and transferring several responsibilities to DLA. "In general, the global logistics support center has done exactly what we wanted it to do," General Gillett said. "It provides a focused, enterprise look on our supply chain." The general said he credits the implementation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Voluntary Protection Program with helping Tinker personnel "own" the environment they work in and making it a safer place to work. Overall, the general said ALC personnel are making sizeable strides to "be the aerospace logistics provider of choice." "We have all the elements for success," General Gillett said. "But, the only way we can achieve that success, is through your commitment and understanding across the board that we need to move this center forward, to meet mission requirements and to remain competitive for the future."