HomeNewsArticle Display

Maj.Gen. McCoy visits Tinker unit, shares vision for AFGLSC

  • Published
  • By Micah Garbarino
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., --  Maj. Gen. Gary T. McCoy, commander of the Air Force Global Logistics Support Center, headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., held a town hall meeting Dec. 12 at the Tinker Base Theater for members of the 448th Supply Chain Management Wing.

During the general's visit to Tinker he said: "I am here for a mission orientation and to get acquainted with the 448th SCMW Team. My goal is to meet as many people as I can and shake as many hands as I can shake. ...I'm here to learn what you do and how you do it."

During the hour-long presentation he rattled off quips and anecdotes with a warm sense of humor that underlined his message of mission, team and family. The general, an avid football fan, sounded like a commander and a coach as he drew parallels between his favorite sport and the AFGLSC mission.

"If the (University of Oklahoma) Sooners are going to win a national championship, it will be because everyone on the team has a role and does it well. We need to think about ourselves the same way ... Sure there may be a Heisman Trophy winner or an MVP, but it's not about them, it's about the team."

The military doesn't have a "bench," the general said. Everyone, officers, enlisted, civilian and contractor have to be on the playing field and operate as a team, and it is all about the team.

The general continued to stress the respect of others stating he is a man who values those around him. He understands the importance of the mission and that only a totally committed team effort brings success.

"We have a responsibility to ensure we have equipped the warfighters with everything they need to do the job ... If we don't do our jobs, the systems we support, especially the aircraft, become static displays very quickly."

From a leadership standpoint, one of the challenges is sorting through a variety of management and transformational concepts and ideas available to use.

"We are not going to run in every direction. It's true that we must remain flexible; we must transform, but I'm a big believer in stability. Football teams don't run into the stands and look for a new playbook in the middle of the game," he said.

The general wants the AFGLSC team to "do things right, not necessarily the way we're taught." The general said there are a lot of policies and practices in place that are never questioned because the have been in place for decades, but they make little operational sense, or may even hinder the mission. He challenged the group to be watchful for those things and become part of the solution.

The general's goal is for AFGLSC to be the premier supply chain management activity for the Air Force and to continue to be an organization that other units can model, to enhance warfighting capability. The general also presented the group with his 100-day plan which includes supporting the Global War on Terror, the nuclear enterprise, meeting the team, communicating a strategic vision, establishing an operations center/battle-staff and solidifying relationships.

His final words were: "It is truly a honor and privilege to Command the Air Force Global Logistics Support Center and I look forward to working with the great men and women of the 448th Supply Chain Management Wing at Tinker."