Q: What was your path to AGE?
Title: Senior Master Sgt.
Company: US Air Force
A: I entered the service in July of 1982. Prior to joining the service I had chosen the mechanical field and, more specifically, the aerospace ground equipment career field. One of the biggest reasons I chose AGE was the sheer excitement of directly supporting major airframes in the world's most powerful Air Force. Plus, at 22 weeks, AGE had the longest-running and most challenging tech school offered in the mechanical field. In our career field we're trained on a vast array of ground support equipment; everything from air conditioning, hydraulics and air compressors to electronics, diesel and turbine engines.
Q: What are your responsibilities?
A: I am the ground support equipment program manager for the entire Air Force which means I am the watchdog for Air Staff, 9 MAJCOMs and the Air National Guard on all GSE acquisition and sustainment issues and processes. I review acquisition policies and procedures and provide technical guidance to 50 program managers and engineers on 100 percent of all AGE acquisition and modification programs. I oversee all new AF acquisitions on aircraft ground support equipment and I provide technical guidance on design of new equipment. My job is to identify quality, reliability, maintainability and safety issues and propose viable and timely solutions during operational test and evaluation of new support equipment acquisitions. I am also the chairperson of the Aerospace Ground Equipment Product Improvement Working Group and the co-chairperson of the Aircraft Ground Support Equipment Working Group, both vital Air Force-wide decision-making bodie.
Q: What are some of the day-to-day challenges you encounter?
A: Sustainment is by far the biggest challenge we face as we are keeping items in the inventory well beyond their initial expected service life. Our challenges arise due to lack of parts availability, obsolescence, and manufacturers going out of business, but we can't let these major obstacles keep our jets from flying.
Working at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center (WR-ALC) we do whatever is necessary, be it market research, reverse engineering, and/or equipment modification to keep the equipment running and the flightline moving.
Our Product Improvement Working Group meets twice a year at this ALC to discuss sustainment and equipment improvements. The group, consisting of career field experts across the Air Force, brings viable solutions to the table.
Q: What are some of the changes/trends you have seen in AGE?
A: We're always striving to inject new technology into the equipment coming on board. This new technology will help the reliability of the equipment by lessening the failure rate on parts and components. One of our main focuses is on alternate fuel sources such as fuel cell technology and electric-driven equipment which will drastically reduce the logistics footprint and environmental concerns. Further testing with this technology, however, is key before full implementation.
Q: Has the war changed your operations?
A: The "ops tempo" has definitely increased but our people's resolve and dedication are just as fervent as ever. There's no Airpower without Groundpower!
