Bunch encourages one enterprise mindset at commanders call

  • Published
  • By Rebecca Amber
  • Staff writer
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Maj. Gen. Arnie Bunch, Air Force Test Center commander, discussed his six strategic goals for the test center at a commander's call Oct. 14 in the base theater. His first goal is continuing to work towards a single enterprise team within the test center.

"We are doing great things where Eglin [Air Force Base, Fla.] is supporting Edwards and Edwards is supporting Eglin and we have pockets where it is phenomenal," said Bunch, adding that areas not yet working as a single enterprise will be systematically addressed.

His next goal, aligning and developing a mission-driven workforce comes from the idea that people are the foundation of the AFTC. The goal is to ensure that the workforce is prepared to address the mission of tomorrow.

"It's not the Benefield Anechoic Facility, it's not the F-35 airplane, it's not the control room, its none of the platforms that are out there. You are the intellectual capital; you are the fuel that makes this engine run."

Along with that workforce comes a need to sustain and operate quality installations. According to Bunch, the wing commander is working to provide the best quality work place possible within the current budget restraints. He encouraged anyone who has ideas for smarter ways to do things, to offer up those suggestions. A quality work environment is important but the Test Enterprise exists to support customers.

The fourth goal, to champion the value of our test and evaluation enterprise, is about finding better ways to communicate to the customers the "amazing work" that the test wing is bringing to the fight.

His final goals are to deliver the best value solutions to weapons systems acquisitions and sustainment and shaping future test and evaluation capabilities. Bunch stated that he wants to avoid the "that's how we've always done it" mentality when it comes to the test environment and instead to find the appropriate balance between efficiency and effectiveness.

"We can't be completely efficient by not testing, and we can't test things to the point that the capability never gets out into the hands of the warfighter. We've got to come somewhere in between so that we can be sure we're providing an adequate answer for what's going into the field so that it's safe and effective in its mission," said Bunch. "I don't want lieutenants flying over Afghanistan or Iraq to suddenly become test pilots because of something unusual happening in their weapon system."

Another aspect changing to an Enterprise focus is contracting methodologies.

"If we can get away from site-centric contracts and go with contracts that are more global across our enterprise we can save money."

One example of the ONE Enterprise goal in action is linking the control rooms at Eglin AFB and Edwards AFB.  "This gives us the opportunity to real-time monitor and execute test missions at either site with engineering support from the other.  This is just one example of the resource sharing opportunities we have available."

Bunch lauded the efforts of the 412th Test Wing to support the F-35 test program. 

"The dedicated efforts of the entire 412th Test Wing to increase sortie production, increase the efficient utilization of the Navy's Sea Test Ranges through partnering with the Navy, and optimization of test point execution has kept the F-35 program on track."

During his message of improvement throughout the enterprise, Bunch stressed that the professional work accomplished in the AFTC does not go unnoticed.

"The chief of staff has referenced test as a force enabler and foundational to the Air Force retaining its technological advantage.  This acknowledgement speaks volumes to the outstanding work the men and women of the Air Force Test Center accomplish each and every day."