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Colonel Azzano takes pride in accomplishments during tenure

  • Published
  • By Kimberly Woodruff
  • Staff Writer
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, OKLA. --  It's been an assignment filled with challenges, but there have also been high times that make the 72nd Air Base Wing commander take pride in the wing's accomplishments.

On Wednesday, Col. Christopher Azzano, 72nd ABW and Tinker installation commander, will bid a fond farewell to the wing he's commanded since June 2013.
The Azzano family will head to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., where Colonel Azzano will become the 96th Test Wing commander. Prior to serving at Tinker, the colonel joined the test community nearly 15 years ago.

"This has been a team sport and I couldn't be more proud of my family," said Colonel Azzano. "Jennifer has worked so hard with the other senior spouses and has devoted an incredible amount of time to making Tinker a better place for families."

Colonel Azzano said it will be fun to take everything he's learned about mission and installation support and mix that with the mission of ground and flight test.

"The 96th TW has an important mission, to develop and test new weapons and software, primarily for fighter aircraft," he said. "They also support the largest base in terms of land area in the Air Force. Tinker has prepared me well."

Though Colonel Azzano was here a short two years, he faced several challenges along the way. He said the biggest has been operating in an environment of sequestration.

"It brought a 40 percent reduction in operations and maintenance budgets since 2010, furloughs in 2013 and the government shutdown later in 2013," he said. "We had civilian reductions and military force shaping, so holding everything together with so much change and uncertainty was a challenge."

The budget constraints have shaped how the 72nd ABW and the base operate.

"We have been intensely focused on cost savings.  Innovation has truly become a part of the ABW and Tinker culture. We look at what we have to do and then ask how we can be more cost effective," said Colonel Azzano. "The ABW has saved $24 million in the last two years, and I'm very proud of the wing for giving that money back for other priorities."

One of the highlights of his time here was the 2014 Star Spangled Salute air show and open house.

"It was a big hit, the first air show in four years and the largest ever at Tinker," the colonel said, adding that the wing spent $200,000 less than on previous air shows.
Aside from budgetary constraints, other outside influences affected the workforce at Tinker.

The May 20, 2013, tornado that hit Moore and surrounding areas affected just about everyone at Tinker.

"The resilience of Oklahomans is on display every day," said the colonel. "The base and community demonstrated tremendous servant leadership. Tragically, several of our Tinker families lost loved ones and quite a few lost their homes. It says a lot about our bond as uniformed and civilian Airmen and Sailors that we support each other through such difficult ordeals."

The colonel reflected on the environment at Tinker and looked back at where it was two years ago compared to where it is now in terms of collaboration and solidarity.

"I'm really proud of each mission partner reaching outside their organizations to better understand what is going on across Tinker and how it impacts national defense. That increased awareness helps us operate within budget and manpower restrictions in a uniquely synergistic way," Colonel Azzano said. "The collaboration is wonderful. People feel like they are a part of Team Tinker and have ownership for everyone's collective success."

Colonel Azzano said he's proud of the 72nd ABW.

"Throughout the challenges we've faced, I've seen the Wildcatter pride shine through, knowing that we enable our mission partners in some absolutely critical mission areas," he said. "Even among the challenges of sequestration, furloughs, government shut downs, UEIs, CCRIs and all the things that define the last two years, they see what they need to do and they take pride in the mission and get it done."

Colonel Azzano said there have been zero instances of mission failure over the last two years. "Looking back to 2013 and knowing what was likely ahead, to make such a prediction over that stretch would have been almost unthinkable.  Yet here we are two years later with not a single instance of mission failure," he said.

Another highlight of his time at Tinker is how the base has implemented the new Air Force Inspection System. The colonel said because of the effective implementation, the base has instituted several best practices and leaders across the Air Force have taken notice.

"We get calls from other bases and other major commands asking us how we do it," he said. "We're setting the standard for AFIS."

Tinker best practices include the use of a Self-Assessment Program (SAP) maturity index for commanders to determine how well they've implemented the fundamental principles of AFIS.  The 72nd  ABW has also implemented a risk-based approach to inspections, which helps them determine how often within the Commander's Inspection Program (CCIP) to visit each of the units based on their level of compliance, their level of maturity, and risk factors in their missions. It allows the 72nd ABW/IG to do a better job of spreading very thin resources across a large organization.

The colonel has three words of advice for incoming commander, Col. Stephanie Wilson: "Trust your people."

"You have wonderful people working for you who want to succeed," he said. "Be there, support them and knock the obstacles out of the way and let them run -- they are the experts and are devoted to the mission."

To his Wildcatters in the 72nd Air Base Wing, the colonel offers his thanks for the hard work.

"I know there has been a lot of personal sacrifice over the last few years and concern for our military and the future of Tinker," he said. "Wildcatters report to work with pride and execute jobs with excellence. Thank you for making Tinker a great place to live and work and for supporting our nation's defense in a truly extraordinary way."

"We've had our struggles and that is only natural. Missions are getting flown, aircraft and engines are getting fixed, and parts are going where they need to be. Tinker is doing well and we are looking forward to a very bright future."