|
Air Force Materiel Command, with headquarters at Wright-Patterson
Air Force Base, Ohio, was created July 1, 1992. The command was formed
through the reorganization of Air Force Logistics Command and Air Force
Systems
Command.
Mission
AFMC's mission is to develop, deliver and sustain the best products
for the world's best Air Force. It is the Air Force's largest command
in terms of employees and funding. AFMC supports other U.S. military
forces and allies and handles major aerospace responsibilities for the
Department of Defense. This includes research, development, testing,
and evaluation of satellites, boosters, space probes and associated systems
needed to support specific National Aeronautics and Space Administration
projects.
AFMC researches, develops, tests, acquires, delivers and logistically
supports every Air Force weapon system as well as other military non-weapon
systems. AFMC works closely with its customers - the operational commands
- to ensure each has the most capable aircraft, missiles and support
equipment possible. AFMC uses five goals to help build a better Air Force:
- Satisfies its customers' needs in war and peace
- Enables its people to excel
- Sustains technological superiority
- Enhances the excellence of its business practices
- Operates quality installations
 Personnel and Resources
AFMC employs a highly professional and skilled command work force of
about 108,000 military and civilian employees. It is the Air Force's
largest command in terms of employees and funding, as it manages 57 percent
of the total Air Force budget. The command's work force operates major
product centers throughout the United States.
AFMC fulfills its
mission of equipping the Air Force with the best weapons systems through
a series of facilities that foster "cradle-to-grave" oversight
for aircraft, missiles, munitions and the people who operate them. Weapon
systems, such as aircraft and missiles, are developed and acquired through
four product centers, using science and technology from the research
sites that make up the Air Force Research Laboratory. The systems are
tested in AFMC's three test centers, then are serviced and receive major
repairs over their lifetime at the command's five air logistics centers.
The command's specialized centers perform many other development and
logistics functions. Eventually, aircraft and missiles are "retired" to
AFMC's Arizona desert facility.
Product Centers
Aeronautical Systems Center, at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is
responsible for research, development, test, evaluation and initial acquisition
of aeronautical systems and related equipment for the Air Force. Its
major active programs are the B-2 and B-1B bombers, C-17 airlifter, F-22
fighter and continuing work on the F-117A fighter, F-15 Eagle and F-16
Fighting Falcon.
Electronic Systems Center, at Hanscom AFB, Mass., develops and
acquires command, control, communications, computer and intelligence
systems. Among the systems developed by the center are mission planning
systems, the Airborne Warning and Control System, the Ballistic Missile
Early Warning System, the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System
and the North American Aerospace Defense Command Center in Cheyenne Mountain,
Colo.
Space and Missile Systems Center, at Los Angeles AFB, Calif.,
designs and acquires all Air Force and most DOD space systems. It oversees
launches, completes on-orbit checkouts, then turns systems over to user
agencies. It supports the Program Executive Office for Space on the Navstar
Global Positioning, Defense Satellite Communications and Milstar systems.
SMSC also supports the Titan IV, Defense Meteorological Satellite and
Defense Support programs, and Follow-on Early Warning System. In addition,
it supports development and acquisition of land-based intercontinental
ballistic missiles for the Air Force Program Executive Office - Strategic
Systems.
Human Systems Center, at Brooks AFB, Texas, has the role of integrating
and maintaining people in Air Force systems and operations. The center
concentrates on crew-system integration, crew protection, environmental
protection and force readiness (human resources and aerospace medicine).
It develops and acquires systems such as life support, chemical warfare
defense, air base support and aeromedical casualty.
Air Force Research Laboratory
The Air Force Research Laboratory's mission is to identify and
provide advanced, affordable, integrated technologies to keep the U.S.
Air Force the best in the world. As a full-spectrum laboratory, it is
responsible for planning and executing the Air Force's entire science
and technology budget. The headquarters, located at Wright-Patterson
AFB, directs the activities of research facilities across the nation.
Test Centers
Arnold Engineering Development Center, at Arnold AFB, Tenn.,
has the nation's most advanced and largest complex of flight simulation
test facilities. The center has more than 50 aerodynamic and propulsion
wind tunnels, rocket and turbine engine test cells, space environmental
chambers, arc heaters, ballistics ranges and other units. The center
tests aircraft, missiles and space systems and subsystems at flight conditions
they will experience during a mission.
Air Force Development Test Center, at Eglin AFB, Fla., tests
and evaluates non-nuclear munitions, electronic combat systems, and navigation
and guidance systems. The center's test wing manages all of the large
test ranges on the 724-square-mile Eglin complex, as well as 97,963 square
miles of water ranges in the adjacent Gulf of Mexico. Major tests include
aircraft systems and subsystems, missiles, guns, bombs, rockets, targets
and drones, high-powered radar and airborne electronic countermeasures
equipment.
Air Force Flight Test Center, at Edwards AFB, Calif., covers
301,000 acres on the western edge of the Mojave Desert. It has tested
all the aircraft in the Air Force inventory. The nation's first jet-
and rocket-powered aircraft completed their first flights at Edwards.
The center is where piloted aircraft first exceeded Mach 1 through 6.
It is also the site of lifting-body research flights, critical to the
design and development of the space shuttle.
Air Logistics Centers
Ogden Air Logistics Center, at Hill AFB, Utah, provides logistics
support for the entire Air Force inventory of intercontinental ballistic
missiles, as well as depot-level maintenance for F/RF-4, F-16 and C-130
aircraft. Other responsibilities include management of the Maverick air-to-ground
missile, GBU-15 and laser-guided bombs and the Emergency Rocket Communications
Systems. The center is the logistics manager for all landing gear, air
munitions, solid propellants and explosive devices used by the Air Force.
Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, at Tinker AFB, Okla., provides
worldwide logistics support and depot-level maintenance for a variety
of weapons systems, including the B-1B, B-52, multipurpose 135-series
aircraft, the E-3, E-4 and management of the B-2 bomber. It supports
the short-range attack missile and the air-launched cruise missile. The
center also manages a large variety of aircraft engines.
Sacramento Air Logistics Center, at McClellan AFB, Calif., provides
worldwide logistics management and depot-level maintenance for a number
of aircraft, including the F-111, A-10, C-12, C-21, T-39 and F-117A.
It has worldwide responsibility for ground communications electronics,
which includes several space-support programs and major ground-communications
electronics system networks. The center will support the F-22 air superiority
fighter
San Antonio Air Logistics Center, at Kelly AFB, Texas, provides
worldwide logistics support for such weapon systems as the C-17, T-37
and T-38 aircraft. The center manages the Air Force's nuclear ordnance
and fuels, liquid propellants and lubricants used by the Air Force, NASA
and other agencies.
Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, at Robins AFB, Ga., provides
worldwide logistics management and depot-level maintenance for the C-5,
C-141, C-130 and F-15 aircraft. In addition, the ALC has worldwide management
responsibilities for the U-2, all Air Force helicopters, all special
operations aircraft and their avionics systems. Also, the center provides
logistics support for all Air Force missiles, vehicles, general purpose
computers and many avionics and electronic warfare systems used on most
Air Force aircraft.
Major Specialized Centers
Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center, at Davis-Monthan
AFB, Ariz., is the site for storing surplus aircraft and for aircraft
regeneration. The center stores preserved aircraft indefinitely with
minimum deterioration and corrosion because of the meager rainfall, low
humidity and alkaline soil in the Tucson area. It presently stores more
than 3,600 aircraft from all the services. When production of older aircraft
ceases, the center sometimes is the sole source for parts. Reclamation
projects have become a major part of the center's work load.
Air Force Security Assistance Center, at Wright-Patterson AFB,
Ohio, integrates and coordinates the security assistance activities of
Air Force Materiel Command. The center ensures fulfillment of Air Force
commitments for goods and services to its foreign customers - more than
80 foreign governments, allies and international organizations. The center
is responsible for information systems and process management that support
the logistics and financial management of security-assistance programs.
Joint Logistics System Center, at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio,
equips forces with improved, standardized and interoperable logistics
processes, systems and information. The center's item entry control process
compares and technically assesses the form, fit, function and safety
requirements of new items against currently cataloged items. This prevents
duplicating in the inventory. Its logistics data management division
develops, monitors and updates logistics data on all supply items used
by the Air Force. A customer support division provides users with information
on stock and part numbers and the interchangeability of spare parts.
History
AFMC traces its heritage to 1917 when the Equipment Division of the
U.S. Army Signal Corps established a headquarters for its new Airplane
Engineering Department at McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio, a World War I experimental
engineering facility.
Functionally divided during World War II, research and development,
and logistics were reunited for several years as Air Materiel Command
during the late 1940s. In 1950, the Air Research and Development Command
became a separate organization devoted strictly to research and development.
In 1961, Air Materiel Command was redesignated Air Force Logistics Command
while Air Research and Development Command, gaining responsibility for
weapon system acquisition, was redesignated Air Force Systems Command.
The two commands were integrated to form Air Force Materiel Command July
1, 1992.
POINT OF CONTACT
Air Force Materiel Command, Public Affairs Office; 4375 Chidlaw Road,
Ste 6; Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433-5006; DSN 787-7592 or (937) 257-7592.
Above Information Courtesy
of United States Air Force
|
