Air Force Life Cycle Management Center commander addresses Tinker employees Published Dec. 12, 2014 By John Parker Staff Writer TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The new commander of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center told hundreds of Team Tinker members that they're a vital part of the Air Force mission and it is an "honor and privilege" to lead them. Lt. Gen. John F. Thompson, commander of AFLCMC, headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, held his first Tinker all-call on Dec. 3 to an overflow audience at the Tinker Auditorium. He became AFLCMC's commander on Oct. 2. General Thompson said the 26,000 people in AFLCMC, including about 1,700 at Tinker, equate to only 4 percent of Air Force personnel, but the enterprise spends about a third of the service's budget -- $48 billion last year. "So I'm pretty sure we're pretty important to a lot of people," the general said. "It may not seem like it. We may not get that pat on the back that we deserve every once in a while. But the Air Force wouldn't go if we didn't do what we do every day to make sure the materiel that we provide ... gets to the warfighter." "It doesn't make any difference what your role is -- thanks for that," he added. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center has eight major operating locations with dozens of satellite offices worldwide and is responsible for managing the life cycle "from cradle to grave" of all aircraft, engines, munitions and electronics -- everything except for space operations. As the new commander, General Thompson said he has no plans to change AFLCMC's big-picture mission of "providing the warfighter's edge," the organization's motto. "We're not going to waste one minute trying to redo our vision, our mission, our goals, our guiding principles, because they're all about right," General Thompson said. "They send the right message to all of us." General Thompson said AFLCMC team members should remain focused on continuously improving processes, looking for taxpayer savings when possible and delivering the best equipment to the warfighter. General Thompson also emphasized flexibility and new ideas. As an example, the commander said standardized work processes are important to sustain quality across all AFLCMC operating locations, including Tinker, but they do not have to be rote. "The type of standardization I'm talking about is like a cookbook [with overarching direction]," the commander said. "It's like being a chef. He's got a cookbook, got a recipe and follows the recipe. But, you know, I've had baked chicken a lot in my life, and I don't think it's ever been prepared the exact same way twice." General Thompson served at Tinker from 2003 to 2006, first as the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center's Propulsion director, then as commander of the 327th Aircraft Sustainment Wing. AFLCMC organizations at Tinker are responsible for about 1,000 aircraft and 25,000 engines, he said. Although no major changes are on the horizon, the commander said "we may have some initiatives that we do a little bit differently." "We're going to stay on the same path," the commander said. "We're going to navigate some potholes on that path. We may step on the accelerator a little bit harder and try to get ... further down the road a little bit faster. "But we're going to get better at executing the mission. We're going to standardize our work, and we're going to continuously improve, but we're not going to freak out about it." General Thompson said he and his leadership team will work hard to fix problems and improve efficiency for all AFLCMC members. "It's my honor and privilege to be your new commander, and I will work myself to the death to address those challenges that you have, because what you do is truly important."