AFMC Command News

Officials stand up headquarters for Global Logistics Support Center

  • Published
  • By JoAnne Rumple
  • Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  A new, permanent headquarters overseeing Air Force global logistics support is now in operation at Scott AFB.

Gen. Bruce Carlson, commander of Air Force Materiel Command, formally stood up the Air Force Global Logistics Support Center during ceremonies here March 28. General Carlson also gave command of the now-permanent unit to Col. Brent H. Baker Sr., who'd been commander of the provisional center since May 2007.

The new center and its commander -- who reports directly to General Carlson at Headquarters AFMC which is located at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio -- now operate as the hub for supply chain management, networking logistics experts from around the Air Force to link wholesale and retail logistics and to integrate and oversee all logistic processes, technology and resources. Their goal is to deliver end-to-end warfighter support more rapidly and at reduced cost.

During his remarks, General Carlson said, "As I've traveled around the Air Force, particularly to our air logistics centers, I've come to understand the magnitude of the historical step the Air Force is taking today. While we've always been effective -- getting supplies and parts where they need to be -- we've not always been efficient. In today's environment, however, where dollars are few and supply lines are long, becoming more efficient is critical.

"At a time when the Air Force is maintaining older and older aircraft -- and flying them at a higher rate than they were designed to fly -- management of our supply line as an entire enterprise becomes a necessity," General Carlson added.

AFGLSC is responsible for enterprise-wide planning of the Air Force supply chain, including planning for material, maintenance and distribution. It will maintain command and control, act as a single point of contact for customers to resolve immediate logistics issues at the point of execution, and exercise authority for supply chain strategy and integration.

Colonel Baker said the AFGLSC -- a "virtual" center -- will not only own the management processes, but will also function as the Air Operations Center for supply chain management.

"We will be managing business rules and procedures, providing functional requirements for supply chain systems, financial management and measuring, assessing and taking action to improve supply chain performance," the colonel said.

"During my tenure, we will focus on trusted support to the warfighter," Colonel Baker continued. "As we've seen in the last few years, the world is still a very dangerous place and we still have enemies. Indeed, there is no shortage of people that want to do us harm. As the single owner of the Air Force supply chain for spare parts, we will be prepared at all times to ensure our enemies do not succeed and that our customers are confident in our ability to support them 24 hours a day.

"We will also focus on continuous innovation," Col. Baker added. "The AFGLSC was born out of constant process improvement over the past 20 years and, although it is evolutionary, it will have revolutionary results."

Approximately 4,500 people will be working for the AFGLSC, though most are remaining at their current operating locations. Comprised of two wings, a direct reporting group and sub-units, the center's operating locations include Tinker, AFB, Okla.; Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Hill AFB, Utah; Robins AFB, Ga.; Langley AFB, Va.; Gunter AFS, Ala.,; as well as Scott AFB.

As commander, Colonel Baker will be able to rely on extensive experience with the Air Force supply system. The colonel, who is prior enlisted, is a 1985 graduate of Southern Illinois University. He served in numerous assignments at base-level supply, such as Chief, Material Management Flight, 8th Supply Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, and headquarters staff positions, including Chief, Supply Policy and Procedures, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.. He also served as a presidential fuels flight officer and as the 18th Mission Support Group Commander, Kadena AB, Japan. He is a fully qualified joint specialty officer.

Colonel Baker holds a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University and a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from Air Defense University, Maxwell AFB, Ala. He's also a graduate of Air War College at Maxwell AFB. The colonel has received several awards including the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal and Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters

Before assuming his current position, Col. Baker served as 95th Air Base Wing commander at Edwards AFB, Calif.