Pacific Air Forces has a great deal of capability spread across its area of responsibility, but innovations from airmen at the squadron level are making the difference in how US Pacific Command and the Defense Department posture in the region, said PACAF Commander Gen. Hawk Carlisle, on Thursday. Speaking at AFA’s Pacific Air & Space Symposium in Los Angeles, Carlisle highlighted TSgt. Matthew Woodward, a B-52 maintainer deployed to Andersen AFB, Guam. Woodward studied the history of logistical support for the B-52s involved in the continual bomber presence on Guam, said Carlisle. Woodward then came up with a streamlined deployment package to support those B-52 rotations from Barksdale AFB, La., and Minot AFB, N.D. That package, which previously required four C-17s to transport to Guam, now only requires one C-17, said Carlisle.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.