HomeNewsArticle Display

General Johnson takes command of OC-ALC

  • Published
  • By John Parker
  • Staff Writer
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Brig. Gen. Mark K. Johnson assumed command of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex Tuesday, pledging to continue and build on the outstanding work of the 8,600-member depot that is critical to the nation's defense.

"To those who get the job done every day, the men and women of this great complex, please know that I am humbled, I am honored and I am proud to be your commander," General Johnson told the audience.

Lt. Gen. Bruce Litchfield, Air Force Sustainment Center commander, presided over the change of command ceremony. General Johnson succeeds Brig. Gen. Gene Kirkland, who will become the logistics director for Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. More than 250 people, including five former Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center commanders, attended the event at Hollywood and Vine in Bldg. 3001.

"These are folks (Generals Kirkland and Johnson) that I admire and respect greatly for their leadership, for their mentorship, for their steadfast devotion to mission and for just being great people in our Air Force," said General Litchfield.

General Johnson comes to Tinker from service as the commander of Defense Logistics Agency Aviation in Richmond, Va. The combat logistics agency supports more than 1,800 weapon systems and supply chain sales of more than $4.4 billion a year.

The complex commander praised the OC-ALC's teamwork in successfully carrying out the AFSC Way, the single-enterprise concept for Air Force Sustainment Center operations at OC-ALC, Ogden Air Logistics Complex, Utah, and Warner-Robins Air Logistics Complex, Ga.

"We absolutely must succeed in our primary mission: delivering the highest quality aircraft, engines, commodities and software safely, on time and in a cost-effective manner," General Johnson said. "The only way to do that is to work together. This is a team of teams. From Supply Chain, to the Air Base Wing, to DLA, to the union, to industry, to the community -- all of us need to rededicate ourselves to that mission."
Success is formed on trust and transparency, the general said. He encouraged team members to build solid relationships that foster openness.

"Tell me where the road blocks are and the leadership team and I will work together to remove them," General Johnson said. "And in return, I expect your best effort, no matter where you work in this organization. We owe that to each other, to this community, to our warfighting customers and ultimately to our Air Force and our nation."

During the ceremony, General Litchfield continued to cite the leadership and accomplishments of both General Kirkland and General Johnson.

"When I look at what you (General Kirkland) have done during this period of time, I can only say one thing and that is your response to change has been absolutely remarkable. Whether it was being here as we stood up the new reorganization and all the changes that came with new responsibilities, to the AFSC Way, your tenure is marked by great change. And during change we really find out who the leaders are, and your leadership has been paramount to the success of this organization."

General Litchfield also credited General Kirkland for achieving, for the first time among any Tinker logistics commanders, 100 percent green engines for the Air Force that are organically supported.

"Not a bad set of accomplishments," General Litchfield said.

In his departing comments, General Kirkland remarked that the changes also included the world becoming "a noticeably more dangerous and unstable place."

"What hasn't changed are the talented men and women who step up every day and do the work to deliver engines, components, aircraft and software to our nation's warfighters," General Kirkland said. "It is they who continue to build our nation's strength and make possible our Air Force's ability to put targets at risk wherever they may be. I am thankful to have worked amongst these patriots."

Turning his attention to General Johnson, the AFSC commander said, "... someone with your experience and accomplishments -- a career filled with the toughest jobs and all that you've done to succeed -- you're well prepared to take on this awesome challenge."

General Litchfield told the OC-ALC workforce in attendance, "You can leave here knowing that your commander is going to make the tough decisions that are going to be necessary to adapt to the future.  There is no doubt in my mind that you'll succeed like you've succeeded in the past, and you'll succeed in the future in ways that we can't even imagine." 

A career logistics readiness officer, General Johnson's 27 years in the Air Force have included commands at the squadron, group and wing level. He has served in staff positions at Air Force Headquarters and joint commands.