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New ANG personnel working in Air Combat Command's Logistics

  • Published
  • By Col. Roy Ingram
  • Air National Guard Advisor to Air Combat Command Director of Logistics
JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va --  The Air National Guard has integrated aircraft maintenance and logisticians personnel within Air Combat Commands Logistics directorate for more than fifteen years.

Since inception, the goal was to ensure ANG personnel enhanced combat capability for the commander of ACC and the ANG.

So how is that goal accomplished? It is through embedding ANG enlisted and officers within the various weapons systems teams. These teams support every mission design series assigned to ACC; for example: Air Force F-15 Eagle aircraft, F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, F-22 Raptor aircraft, F-35 Lightning II, A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft, E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft, remotely piloted aircraft, C-130 Hercules aircraft, and HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter to name a few. Within the WST you have personnel assigned from varied Air Force Specialty Codes who manage all these MDSs from cradle to grave. They ensure our limited resources; people and money maximize weapons system sustainment, modernization, supply chain management, equipment management, and policy guidance for example.

But first, let me provide a little background about members within the ANG. Members of the ANG are what we call "Citizen Airman" meaning they live and work within their local communities and also support our Nation when called upon by our President or Governor. Those Citizen Airman are either "Drill Status Guardsmen" who work part time; one weekend a month and two weeks a year for the ANG and are employed fulltime in the private sector or those we call "Military Technicians" who work for the ANG fulltime. The fulltime technician's primary job is to maintain the local units daily mission needs and readiness, but equally important, they provide training needs for the readiness of our DSGs. This ensures mission readiness at all times if called upon to support the needs of the nation.

Secondly, members of the ANG have two missions they support. One is our federal mission supporting the needs of the President and the other is our state mission supporting the needs of the governor. For example; Citizen Airman may be called to assist the state where they can leverage skills learned for their federal mission to support our state mission.

Here's an example, if a member is a vehicle operator for his federal mission; the training and experience gained could be leveraged to assist with driving water trucks fighting fires. I hope this explains in a nutshell the two different but equally important mission's members of the ANG support. Now, here is more about the mission assisting within ACC logistics.

Currently, all of the staff members of the ANG who support the director of logistics for ACC are on orders supporting the federal mission. They have been called to active duty to provide combat power for the commander of ACC and the ANG. This integrated ANG staff is comprised of Lt. Col. Gregory Johnson, Maj. Ingo Wyman, Chief Master Sgt. Gregory Garcia, Senior Master Sgt. Paul Carpenter, Mrs. Nancy Oliver and me, Col. Roy Ingram. Let me expand and give you a little background on three members of my staff in this article and how they enhance combat power.

Johnson was previously assigned to the 162nd Fighter Wing with the Arizona ANG in Tucson, Arizona, as the aircraft maintenance squadron commander. In this position he was responsible for 75 F-16s and 340 aircraft maintenance personnel. Johnson is a "fulltime" ANG member, meaning this is his fulltime job. Previous to his assignment at the 162nd FW, he was assigned to the Air National Guard Readiness Center at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, within the National Guard Bureau. In this capacity he worked manpower and funding needs for the entire ANG logistics community in the field as well as missions within eight Major Commands.

Johnson is currently assigned to ACC logistics supporting F-22s and the F-35s. These two weapons systems; F-22s and F-35s, are called "5th generation fighters" as they are the newest and most advanced. He assists within the WST supporting all F-22 and F-35 units. Johnson's skills as a recent aircraft maintenance squadron commander, coupled with his experience with funds and manpower gained while assigned to NGB are significant attributes he can leverage for the current and future needs of our field units.

Wyman was previously assigned to the 138th FW with the Oklahoma ANG in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as the aircraft maintenance squadron commander responsible for 24 F-16s and 220 aircraft maintenance personnel. Wyman is a "Drill Status Guardsman" and is employed fulltime with American Airlines. He is the director of aircraft maintenance at American Airlines, managing their fixed based maintenance facility, and is on a leave of absence from his normal position with American Airlines while on active duty.

Wyman is currently assigned to ACC logistics supporting F-15s and F-16s. These two weapons systems; F-15s and F-16s are called "legacy fighters" as they have been in service a very long time. His skills as an aircraft maintenance squadron commander coupled with his airline aircraft maintenance background make him a valued asset within the WST. Wyman's ability to balance current and future maintenance needs of the legacy fleet while developing an aircraft retirement road map require a solid aircraft maintenance background.

Garcia was previously assigned to the 163rd Intelligence Wing at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, California, as the maintenance quality assurance chief and also the 163rd Engine Shop chief for the maintenance group commander. He is also a "fulltime" ANG member.

Garcia's skills learned in the engine shop and quality assurance couple with his strong leadership, where critical during the unit's conversion from Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft to Air Force MQ-1 Predator remotely piloted aircraft. Garcia even volunteered to assist the NGB logistics staff for 18 months assisting establishment of the foundational ground work for future converting units to RPA. The skills he brings to the RPA WST are his previous experience with bedding down RPAs at his home unit and being recognized by the RPA community as a subject matter expert make him a perfect fit to continue helping the RPA community.

These are three of the new ANG personnel working in ACC logistics and as you can see they bring a varied and strong foundational work ethic and corporate experience to the ACC logistics staff. They work very hard to provide ANG inputs into ACC logistics courses of action as well as providing ACC inputs into ANG logistics courses of action for future plans.

At the end of the day, the goal is to enhance and increase the decision making process by integrating the equities of all participants, thus enhancing the decision matrix for success.