Officials Outline Challenges, Needs at Logistics Conference

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --- About 1,200 logisticians gathered at the National Logistics Officer Association Conference Oct. 13 through 16 to learn Air Force priorities, urgent warfighter needs and sustainment initiatives that will affect their profession.>> Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition Sue Payton and Gen. Bruce Carlson, the commander of Air Force Materiel Command, took the stage together during the conference in Columbus, Ohio, to provide the most current Air Force perspective on acquisition and logistics.>> Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz also spoke Oct. 13, and Ms. Payton noted his emphasis on acquisition excellence. She said the Air Force must rebuild and shape the acquisition workforce, attract proven engineering and management talent in supervisory roles, and continue to improve processes and skills.>> Acquisition reform is not the issue, Ms. Payton said.>> General Carlson outlined external challenges within the Air Force environment -- rising JP8 fuel costs, Congressional budget pressure, the average age of Air Force aircraft -- as well as challenges within the acquisition environment including funding instability, key personnel turnover, and protests.>> Kicking off the final day of the conference, Lt. Gen. Terry L. Gabreski, the AFMC vice commander, briefed on the "Future of the Sustainment Enterprise." She outlined some key challenges logisticians must confront as they take on the chief of staff's priority to "reinvigorate the Air Force nuclear enterprise." Among other issues and initiatives she also discussed, General Gabreski looked ahead to synchronizing field and depot maintenance and the challenges of increasing aircraft availability to warfighters.