New 848th SCMG/CC says team is ‘amazing’ Published Sept. 19, 2013 By Brandice J. O'Brien Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- In his 21-year career, Col. Rod Bloker said he's seen the gamut of Air Force and air bases. He's supported a variety of missions, but never seen anything quite like Tinker. Since arriving in mid-July, the 848th Supply Chain Management Group commander said he is in awe. Two other recurring adjectives he uses also include fascinating and amazing. The colonel said he is mostly amazed by the vast number of people in the Air Force Sustainment Center who do the work they do with the passion and drive that they have. He is fascinated by the interior workings of the depot and the behind the scenes work that keep aircraft in the air. "I'm used to very tip of the spear, front-end operations that directly put jets in the air," said Colonel Bloker. "The operational impact that this organization has on the whole Air Force is just incredible. I can very clearly see how the work someone is doing in one of these cubicles impacts the ability for a B-2 Spirit to take off. "Since I've been here I've been amazed by the passion and seriousness about what they do," the colonel said. "While most of the Air Force probably doesn't understand what they do or even know they're here doing it, I do appreciate it. Literally without them, the planes wouldn't be in the air." The colonel said he now has a better understanding of the components and variety of internal and external organizations that make the AFSC successful. His goal is to continue that success, improve cost effective readiness, and increase aircraft availability. "Tinker is very much collaborative organization and every meeting I'm in seems to be a teleconference," Colonel Bloker said. "People are calling in from everywhere and there's no way to achieve these goals without building very strong partnerships within the center, with our suppliers, and with other links within the supply chain that are out there." To achieve his goals, the colonel said he will challenge his squadrons to continually improve their processes, encourage personnel to reduce cost while still being effective and safe. For his part, Colonel Bloker said he will "listen, learn and lead." "This place is full of very experienced civilians who have been doing the supply chain business for a long time. They know the business and what they're talking about," the colonel said. "I will learn as much as I can, as fast as I can and then use the skills and leadership I've gained over the past 21 years and get it done." Colonel Bloker, a native Floridian, arrived at Tinker from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where he served as the 86th Logistics Readiness Group deputy commander. Though his career has taken him around the world and introduced him to logistics and missiles, it was not his first love. Just prior to his 1986 high school graduation, a teacher asked him what he wanted to do with his life. He said he wanted to be an engineer and build the first space station. Yet, a blockbuster movie and Reserve Officers' Training Corps briefing at college orientation soon changed his mind. Upon seeing actors Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer take to the skies in the Navy hit, "Top Gun," the colonel had a brewing interest in the military. He enrolled in the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Central Florida. "I didn't have a plan to go into the Air Force at all, but somehow those events came together that summer," he said. "I just loved it. I loved the organization, discipline, hard work, and for whatever reason it just felt right." Today, it still feels right. "These are phenomenal people making day-to-day mission impact in the 848th SCMG and I'm glad to be a part of their team," Colonel Bloker said.