PACAF logistics director visits Kadena

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nestor Cruz
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  The Pacific Air Forces director of logistics outlined changes in the Air Force and what those changes mean to the logistics community within the command during a recent visit to Kadena Feb. 26 and 27. 

"In regards to our mission in the Pacific, our number one challenge is maintaining regional stability out here in the largest area of responsibility in the world," said Brig. Gen. Frank Bruno, director of logistics, Headquarters PACAF at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. "From an Air Force perspective, we have Program Budget Directive 720 cuts happening as we speak. What this means for our logistics people, including maintenance, transportation and supply, is that our manpower will be reduced by 1,000 (Airmen) in the next couple of years. Clearly, we are going to lose production capability. What we must do is think about how we can use Air Force Smart Operations 21 and process improvements to recapture some of that production capability." 

General Bruno said he is a "huge" advocate of the AFSO 21 initiative and believes it will help Airmen bring the Air Force to the next level. 

"I've spent the last few years at Air Force Materiel Command and it was there I saw AFSO 21 in action, and it works," he said. "It's a powerful tool for gaining visibility of our processes, breaking them down so we can understand the integral pieces of those processes and figuring out what adds value to our processes and what doesn't." 

General Bruno talked about AFSO 21 during a luncheon with the Kadena Logistics Officer Association. In his speech, the general highlighted the role of AFSO 21 at the Air Force, major command and at base levels. 

"I'm asking our logisticians to think about the local processes they rely on every day to produce airpower here in the Pacific," General Bruno said. "If we give our Airmen these AFSO 21 tools, instruct them on Lean manufacturing and give them the information they need to understand the Theory of Constraints and Six Sigma, we will restore our production capability resulting from PBD 720 cuts." 

Calling the logistics community an "airpower factory," General Bruno said PACAF's logisticians can overcome the challenges of PBD 720 and provide Air Force and PACAF leadership sovereign options to deal with threats within the area of responsibility. 

"Manpower cuts, funding and other constraints clearly pose challenges, but I'm convinced we have the right leadership," he added. "If we dedicate ourselves to understanding the tools we have with AFSO 21, we will beat these challenges head on and improve the airpower product we continue to deliver to our warfighters and our nation." 

The modernization of the Air Force is another aspect of change that General Bruno believes will help improve mission capability. 

"The Secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force Chief of Staff have made modernization a priority so we can give our successors a better Air Force," General Bruno said. "We're trying to give our future successors leading-edge technology so our pilots and operators have a decided advantage over our adversaries. That's why the Air Force is pushing for the F-22, joint strike fighters, transport capability with the C-17 and the ability to reach out globally with a new tanker. 

These are great capabilities to help our folks complete the mission today and take the Air Force into the future," General Bruno added. "In addition, many older aircraft, including the F-15, F-16, KC-135 and E-3, have been upgraded with modifications over the years to give them a leading-edge capability, and the Air Force will continue to see that capability in the future." 

In spite of the challenges of a changing Air Force, General Bruno wants Airmen to understand that they have the innovation required to ensure mission success. 

"I came in the Air Force in 1979, almost 28 years ago, and one thing is constant and that's change," the general said. "With change come challenges. What I would tell our Airmen is we have the leadership, resolve and resources to overcome those challenges. 

"It won't be easy, and that means we need to support SECAF Michael W. Wynne and CSAF Gen. T. Michael Moseley in making tough decisions," he continued. "To quote Winston Churchill, 'We're out of money, now we must think.' Our Airmen have great ideas on a daily basis. We need to tap those ideas, incorporate those into our future processes so all of us can rise to the future challenge." 

General Bruno summarized by pointing out that a synergetic relationship between Airmen and Air Force leadership can bring today's Air Force well into the future. 

"Our Airmen are members of the greatest Air Force in the history of mankind. That is an awesome responsibility and also something to be especially proud of," General Bruno said. "The most important message I want to convey to our Airmen is that Air Force leadership -- from the SECAF and the CSAF, down through Gen. Paul Hester, PACAF commander; myself; and Brig. Gen. Punch Moulton, 18th Wing commander -- care about our Airmen and the mission. We are all dedicated to taking care of our Airmen and helping them prepare our Air Force for future responsibilities."