Focusing on the warfighter: Former vice commander addresses logistics challenges at LOA breakfast

Published Aug. 3, 2007
By Darren D. Heusel
Tinker Air Force Base Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- The former vice commander for the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center talked about the various challenges facing the logistics community among other things during the Logistics Officers Association breakfast July 18 at the Tinker Club.
   Maj. Gen. Polly Peyer, who served as vice commander of the OC-ALC from June 2002 to June 2003, discussed the upcoming budget cycle and its relevance to the sustainment of warfighting capabilities as well as the contributions that members of the Tinker workforce are making across the Air Force.
   "With the aggressive pursuit of continued (Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century) endeavors, the years ahead will be very interesting and challenging," said Gen. Peyer, who now serves as the director of Resource Integration, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installations and Mission Support at the Pentagon.
   "As logisticians, we keep focused on the warfighter support and keep in mind the complex and dynamic environment which surrounds us," the general added.
   Gen. Peyer and LOA members had some perceptive and interesting conversations about how Tinker supports the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force priorities.
   During her visit to Tinker, Gen. Peyer was awestruck with the changes that have taken place around the base in the last four years.
   "Luckily, I came after the continuous days of rainfall that Oklahoma experienced lately and got to see the greenery and nature's best," she said. "Across the base, I saw lots of activity while I drove around.
   "At the ALC itself, I was particularly impressed with the progress so many of the initiatives that were only a concept on paper when I left."
   As for her impressions of LOA members and the workforce in general, Gen. Peyer said, "The professionalism and the contributions that Tinker is making to our Air Force and military airpower are recognized across the services.
   "Our Airmen, including uniformed, civil service, contractors and community partners, are absolutely critical to our success as an Air Force and as a military capability."
   As director of Resource Integration, Gen. Peyer is responsible for the planning, programming, budgeting and execution of more than $23 billion annually for Air Force logistics systems and functions.
   She entered active duty as an enlisted member in July 1975 and was commissioned through Officer Training School at Lackland AFB, Texas in 1977.
   Gen. Peyer received her undergraduate degree from Florida State University and a master's degree from the University of Northern Colorado.
   Her military education includes in-residence attendance at Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College and Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
   Gen. Peyer has commanded at squadron, group and wing levels. She has held major command and headquarters-level positions and was formerly the military assistant to the acting Secretary of the Air Force.
   Prior to assuming her current position, the general serves as the director of Logistics, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam AFB, Hawaii.