In a step towards the formal standup of the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center in 2015, the Air Force realigned four operating agencies and two other organizations under Air Force Materiel Command, according to a release. As of Oct. 1, now under AFMC are: the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, Air Force Financial Services Center, Air Force Installation Contracting Agency, Air Force Security Forces Center, Air Force Cost Analysis Agency’s Financial Management Center of Expertise, and the Air Force Personnel Center’s Services Directorate. The Air Force activated AFIMSC (Provisional) in August and temporarily located it at JB Andrews, Md. The center is meant to consolidate major command-level installation and mission support activities and save the service money. “Centralized management of installation support capabilities at AFIMSC affords opportunity to make strategic decisions for the Air Force on installation support, maximizing the available resources,” said Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger, AFMC commander. The Air Force is scheduled to select a permanent location for the center from 10 candidate locations in early 2015.
The new defense reconciliation bill includes $7.2 billion for Air Force and Navy aviation accounts, almost half of which will buy more F-15EXs. While electronic warfare, drones, connectivity and airlift all get attention, the F-35 was conspicuously absent from the package, with no explanation given.