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Tinker leaders stress importance of nuclear mission

  • Published
  • By Brandice J. Armstrong
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., --  Nuclear stewardship and reinvigorating the nuclear enterprise is the Air Force's top priority. On Nov. 14, several Tinker senior leaders participated in "Nuclear Immersion Day."

Led by Maj. Gen. Loren Reno, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center commander, senior leaders met with eight organizations to reemphasize the importance of the nuclear mission and the jobs Tinker personnel perform everyday to support it.

"The No. 1 priority is to reinvigorate the nuclear enterprise," the general said. "All Airmen must be good stewards of the nuclear mission entrusted to us."

While nuclear stewardship is not the largest or most recognizable mission here, it is in many ways the most important. Tinker manages at least three nuclear-certified weapons systems - Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, Northrop-Grumman B-2 Spirit and cruise missiles. Additionally, Tinker is responsible for providing safe accommodations should a nuclear weapons system make an emergency landing or layover at the base. Tinker officials also ensure individuals within the Nuclear Weapons Personnel Reliability Program, those who work in the nuclear-oriented mission, have appropriate clearance and certification. General Reno said he was pleased with what he saw throughout the day.

"I found people who are well trained, very experienced and serious about this national trust. I saw that our people are focused on precision, compliance and reliability," said General Reno. "I was also impressed with individual adherence to high Air Force standards at a personal level and the strong commitment to our core values of integrity, service before self and excellence in all we do."

Chris Mance, technical management specialist for the OC-ALC Engineering Directorate, agreed.

"Having the people and leadership on base see the commitment and dedication General Reno has to this mission helps all of us focus our efforts on what the Air Force is calling 'our highest priority,'" Mr. Mance said.

Spending up to an hour at each unit, the general visited with large and small units, such as the 540th Aircraft Sustainment Squadron's B-52 Communications Navigation and Weapons Flight, which has six people who are directly involved with the nuclear mission. They provide support to programmed depot maintenance and the warfighters, because the flight also modernizes and sustains the B-52.

"We introduced General Reno to folks who work the nuclear-related activities and had them explain [their duties] and how they do it," said William Plasters, flight chief. "They also answered questions from the visitors during the visit."

General Reno also visited with the 76th Maintenance Wing, which has approximately 175 personnel supporting the nuclear mission. They perform diverse tasks for the 76th Commodities Maintenance Group and 76th Software Maintenance Group, such as calibrate nuclear-certified test equipment, modify nuclear-certified software and provide field support to the main operating bases where nuclear weapons are stored.

Kathy Morrison, 76th MXW Nuclear Enterprise point-of-contact, said when the general visited the maintenance wing, he received an overview of the maintenance wing nuclear issues and the nuclear workload.

"Tinker has a great history of providing support to the warfighter and the nuclear mission is no different," Ms. Morrison said.

"Nuclear Immersion Day" is just one step to revitalizing the importance of the Air Force's commitment to the nuclear enterprise.

By revitalizing the nuclear enterprise effort, Mr. Mance said, the United States will continue to provide the best support to its allies while deterring enemies. Though the use of nuclear weapons is a last resort, having them may dissuade other nations from manufacturing them.

To further promote the nuclear stewardship program and its importance, General Reno will host quarterly Nuclear Council meetings with the OC-ALC and tenant organizations to share and discuss the nuclear-enterprise mission.