AFMC Command News

  • Team improving precision of high altitude airdrops

    A team here is working to improve safety for warfighters by increasing accuracy of high altitude airdrops with mission planning tools.The Joint Precision Airdrop System, or JPADS, is a family of equipment that consists of parachutes, mission planning systems, global positioning systems and computer

  • Defense Acquisition University registration to open in May

    Defense Acquisition University registration will open online May 16, 2013, and students should apply as soon as possible since classes fill quickly. Members' applications will be processed by priority, supervisor approval date and class start date, with Priority 1 students taking

  • New parachute test to provide AC-130 aircrew with the best

    There's a lot to be said by AC-130 gunship aircrew members who are proud of their heavily armed aircraft. The aircraft has the latest in sophisticated weapons, high tech sensors, navigation and fire control systems; however, it lacked one thing -- a lightweight parachute that was agile enough for

  • X-51A Waverider achieves history in final flight

    The final flight of the X-51A Waverider test program has accomplished a breakthrough in the development of flight reaching Mach 5.1 over the Pacific Ocean on May 1, 2013. "It was a full mission success," said Charlie Brink, X-51A program manager for the Air Force Research Laboratory Aerospace

  • AFMC announces senior leader changes

    Air Force Materiel Command officials announced May 2, 2013, that its executive director, Dr. Steve Butler, will retire effective June 30 after 35 years of service. He will be replaced by Michael Gill, currently executive director of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.Patsy Reeves, currently

  • AF awards KC-46A Aircrew Training System contract

    The Air Force today awarded a contract to FlightSafety Services Corporation, taking a major step forward in achieving the service's top acquisition priority - delivering a new aerial refueling capability to the warfighter. The contract, a Fixed Price Incentive Firm (FPIF) and Firm Fixed Price (FFP)

  • Hagel to make furlough decision soon, press secretary says

    Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will make a decision soon on the scope of civilian furloughs in response to sequestration spending cuts, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said today.Hagel is reviewing analysis on the budget "and he'll reach a decision in the near future," Little told

  • AFMC recognizes first quarter “Graduates”

    Congratulations to the following members of the Air Force Materiel Command team on completing a degree or certificate program during the first quarter of 2013, AFMC's "Year of the Graduate."The goal of YoGrad is to inspire those considering or currently working on an education plan to start,

  • SecAF: Hanscom enabling linked AF future

    Systems that help collect, process and push data to where it's needed quickly and securely are vital to Air Force operations, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley said during a visit here April 25."Working independently and also with world-class high tech talent in the Boston area, you help

  • Realistic training simulates host of scenarios for battle damage unit

    Handpicked from throughout the Air Force, members of the Expeditionary Depot Maintenance team from Robins train all year to remain ready to deploy at a moment's notice.The highly-specialized aircraft battle damage repair unit trains five times a year to remain proficient in its skills. Its mission

  • Kirtland space unit aids NASA in mission to moon

    The Space Development and Test Directorate at Kirtland is helping NASA launch a spacecraft to the moon this summer.NASA is sending the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer, or LADEE, to orbit the moon and study the moon's atmosphere. LADEE will be launched into space from a rocket the SDTD

  • AFMC commander visits Sustainment Center, air logistics complexes

    Air Force Materiel Command Commander Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger and AFMC Command Chief, Chief Master Sgt. Michael Warner visited the command's air logistics complexes the week of April 15 for the first time since AFMC declared initial operational capability of its 5-Center reorganization Oct. 1,

  • Edwards test team extends KC-135 capabilities

    Known as "The Mighty War Wagon" of the United States Air Force, the KC-135 Stratotanker has proven to be the core aerial refueling capability for the Air Force for more than 50 years.With the help of the 418th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards, along with a multitude of testers, the KC-135 Block 45

  • AFMC embraces 'Every dollar counts' initiative, new culture of savings

    Air Force Materiel Command leaders are pledging their support for a new money-saving Air Force initiative dubbed Every Dollar Counts.In the wake of sequestration and reduced budgets, the initiative calls on Airmen to submit their money-saving ideas as part of a new culture of savings. "This is an

  • Base generates $1M savings for DOD

    As a result of a significant Team Robins effort, Robins Air Force Base is one of two Defense Department locations able to provide a powerful capability in support of the National Airborne Operations Center. Four trilectron generators assigned to support the JSTARS fleet underwent modifications here