AFMC commander emphasizes priorities during 'immersion visit'

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Robby Hedrick
  • 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  Air Force Materiel Command's new leader is looking for fresh ideas and continuous improvement across the board, but he is not planning any drastic changes in how the command accomplishes its mission.

"I was given a healthy command from prior leadership," said Gen. Donald Hoffman, who took command of AFMC Nov. 21. The previous leadership of AFMC had put into place some "major initiatives that would be coming out soon and I want to ride these out," he said.

During what he called his "immersion visit" Sunday through Tuesday, General Hoffman held a town hall meeting. In a follow-up interview he elaborated on several topics he deems important, including acquisition excellence, resource conservation, job vacancies, motivating experienced military and civilian Airmen to stay with the Air Force, work-force diversity and safety.

Noting the "creative ways used in getting the mission done" at the Ogden Air Logistics Center, General Hoffman said his visit enhanced his appreciation for the professionalism of the center work force.

That regard for military and civilian Airmen is one of the motivators the general emphasizes when he talks about achieving consistent and comprehensive excellence in the acquisition of weapon systems.

"Treat every dollar, every dime, as if it were your own," he said. While consumption of resources is necessary, he added, the command must be vigilant in doing so responsibly.

It's even more important to use human resources responsibly, and the command currently has some challenges in that arena, the general said.

"We have to get the vacancies that exist in our work force filled," General Hoffman said. "And then properly evaluate whether we need to shift the work force into different specialties, such as systems engineering, contracting or cost pricing, to meet our acquisition excellence goals."

Besides filling vacancies, retaining experienced personnel is even more important for the commander.

"If a person has worked somewhere for 15 years, it takes 15 years to replace them--not one day," he said. "We want talent to stay; we've invested in them."

The general, who leads a work force of about 74,000, also reminded people at Hill that "attitude can go a long way.

"The enthusiasm here is inspiring," he said. "I don't always see that, but it certainly applies here."

One of General Hoffman's priorities is leading the Air Force blue into greener initiatives. At every opportunity, he emphasizes alternative and renewable energy.

"We need to protect, conserve and consume resources as if they were our own," he said. "It's vitally important that we be good stewards of the taxpayers' dollars."

General Hoffman is optimistic about the future of AFMC as long as "we safely and professionally execute our mission, rebuild our work force, save our resources, and successfully accomplish our mission."