Business minded: Assistant SECAF attends Tinker and the Primes

Published Nov. 15, 2007
By Kandis West
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- More than 1,600 business and community leaders including William C. Anderson, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics, gathered at the Reed Conference Center in Midwest City Nov. 6-7 to participate in the annual Tinker and the Primes business event.
   The multi-faceted two-day event gave professionals nationwide an avenue to explore business opportunities available with Tinker Air Force Base, Tinker's prime contractors and other government agencies. Ninety-three exhibitors attended the business fair.
   The event offered sessions that provided insight and guidance on how to conduct business with prime contractors like Pratt & Whitney, Boeing and government organizations like the Federal Aviation Administration and the Defense Logistics Agency. Other sessions helped businesses connect with the Small Business Association as well as match large Air Force contractors of interest to the various small businesses.
   The annual meeting climaxed with a Wednesday luncheon. Mr. Anderson, the keynote speaker, discussed the importance of the community to Air Force bases and the Air Force goals for the future.
   "I have been absolutely impressed by the degree of commitment that those communities have to the bases which are important for economic viability," Mr. Anderson said. "When they (Airmen) can see and know that the communities will never allow an Airmen's family to drift while the Airman is gone, it keeps them focused on the mission."
   Among the constant Air Force priorities of winning the global war on terror, developing Airmen and recapping and modernizing fleets, Mr. Anderson focused on the current initiatives of cyberspace, energy and lean transformations.
   "We see it as imperative that we decisively move toward an operational command in cyberspace," he said.
   Mr. Anderson said whether it is gaining access to sensitive data or someone detonating an improvised explosive device by a cellular phone, the cyber world is the domain of the future.
   Being energy efficient is a common national theme and a top priority for the Department of Defense.
   "The global community needs to move quickly to develop environmentally friendly ways to refine and burn fossil fuels," the assistant secretary said.
   The Air Force's three-tier energy approach includes reducing demand, increasing supply and, most importantly, changing the culture, Mr. Anderson said.
   "From basic training to the Secretary of the Air Force fellows (professional internship) program, energy is becoming a larger part of the Air Force curriculum," he said.
   Mr. Anderson also addressed lean transformations and process improvements for the Expeditionary Logistics for the 21st Century campaign.
   "Your Air Force is transforming to a leaner, more expeditionary force," he said.
   The transformations will result in increased aircraft availability and ultimately improve combat capability, Mr. Anderson said.
   During the course of his two-day visit at Tinker, Mr. Anderson had the chance to witness the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Voluntary Protection Program in action.
   "At the forefront of this program is Team Tinker who has not only blazed a trail for local implementation, but also held a key role in developing a concept of operations for VPP across the entire Air Force," Mr. Anderson said.