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Washburn named 448th SCMW director

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  • By John Parker
  • Staff Writer
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Frank R. Washburn Jr. was promoted to the Senior Executive Service and then assumed leadership of the 448th Supply Chain Management Wing in a Tinker Air Force Base ceremony on Tuesday.

Approximately 100 people attended the appointment of command ceremony, which was video streamed to other Air Force Sustainment Center operating locations, including Hill AFB, Utah; Robins AFB, Ga.; and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.  

AFSC Executive Director Jeffrey Allen welcomed Mr. Washburn to the prestigious Senior Executive Service and leadership for the 448th SCMW.

"When I think of Frank Washburn's active duty experience and civilian career experience in supply and transportation, I can think of no one more qualified to lead the 448th Supply Chain Management Wing," Mr. Allen said. "And, more importantly, nobody is more ready to lead that Supply Chain Management Wing."

Mr. Washburn's spouse, June, pinned the SES insignia on Mr. Washburn and Mr. Allen, also a Senior Executive, presented him the SES flag. According to the Senior Executives Association, the SES insignia or emblem on the flag "represents the critical role of the SES as a central coordinating point between government's political leadership which sets the political agenda and the line workers who implement it."
Mr. Washburn replaces Acting Director Col. Anthony Cotto. AFSC Commander Lt. Gen. Bruce Litchfield thanked Colonel Cotto for eight months of outstanding leadership in which the supply tempo spiked for anti-terrorist air operations in Syria and Iraq.

General Litchfield praised the choice of Mr. Washburn to lead the 448th in its mission of enabling cost-effective readiness for Air Force warfighters and weapon systems.

"I think the Air Force made the absolute spectacular choice for the next leader of the 448th," the general said.

Mr. Washburn was active duty Air Force for 28 years before retiring and entering civil service in 2004. He has served as a logistics systems manager, international affairs officer and deputy director and director of the 401st Supply Chain Management Squadron.

After graduation from the U.S. Air Force Air War College, Mr. Washburn became director of Tinker's 948th Supply Chain Management Group in 2013.

Mr. Washburn thanked Mr. Allen, General Litchfield, Colonel Cotto and others for their leadership and mentorship.

"I'm really privileged and thrilled that I get to remain in the 448th and be part of the organization," Mr. Washburn said. "As the 948th Group director, I had the opportunity to travel to all of our wing locations, and I'm always impressed by the pride, professionalism and the dedication of the men and women of the 448th. It's amazing what you've done across our enterprise."

Mr. Washburn noted the importance of current air operations against the Islamic State group, also known as ISIL, in Syria and Iraq.

"You think (terrorists are) going to go away easy?" the director said. "This is a battle leveraging our airpower and every tail number counts. Our job in the supply chain is to return tails to our operational customers that are fully mission capable.  I look forward to being a part of generating airpower as we make progress on our supply chain vision leading into 2015."