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  • Air Force exploring renewable energy sources

    Air Force officials are investigating the use of renewable energy like wind, solar and geothermal source for use in the future as an alternative to petroleum said the assistant secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics. William C. Anderson believes changes to how energy

  • Expeditor training part of AFSO 21 initiatives

    Members of the 60th Aerial Port Squadron here are holding a two-week class to develop ways to eliminate time aircrews and loadmasters are spending on the ground after a flight. Tech. Sgt. Ryan Holmes, a course director from the Air Mobility Warfare Center at Fort Dix, N.J., said they will train

  • AFSO 21: Fairchild initiative reduces wait for critical parts

    A maintenance technician here used to wait up to an hour to get a screw and washer before he could complete a KC-135 Stratotanker repair on the flightline. Soon, thanks to an Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century initiative at the 92nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, he is just minutes away

  • Leaders discuss reshaping of logistics

    Airmen and civilian logistics leaders throughout Pacific Air Forces gathered for a two-week conference to discuss the reshaping and recapitalization of the logistics community using Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century initiatives. Air Force Logistics covers a wide range of services

  • AFSO 21: Achieving a smarter staffing process

    Getting better and faster answers for decision makers was the goal for a team from Headquarters Air Force Space Command and the Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles AFB, Calif., which met here for an Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century Rapid Improvement Event Jan. 22 to 25.

  • Vehicle maintenance Airmen use AFSO 21 initiatives

    Airmen in the 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron's vehicle maintenance shop are improving safety in their workcenter using Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century.Mechanics in this unit work on B-2 and B-4 aircraft towing vehicles every three to four years. When that time comes around, it

  • Hickam Airmen strategize aircraft weight-reduction initiative

    Members of the Hawaii Air National Guard have been categorizing parts of a KC-135 Stratotanker to figure out what can come off during certain missions to save fuel and money for the Air Force. The project was initially launched when Dr. Ron Ritter, special assistant for Air Force Smart Operations

  • 36 graduate from AFSO 21 class at University of Tennessee

    Thirty-six military officers and civilians graduated from the first class of Level II Experts in Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century Jan. 11 at the University of Tennessee.The University of Tennessee was selected for the six-month training for "their depth and breadth of knowledge, and

  • AFSO 21 initiatives streamline PHA process

    Airmen at Misawa AB ushered in a new era as they now complete their yearly personal health assessments, or PHAs, online. The computer-based questionnaire asks the same questions that were asked on the paper worksheet during a hospital visit, but now Airmen just log into the secure Web site and

  • Ramstein passenger terminal streamlines operation

    As part of Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century, the passenger terminal here has made life easier for passengers and other customers. "Now we've mirrored ... a commercial airport," said Staff Sgt. Kristopher Worcester, who works at the 723rd Air Mobility Squadron and helped implement the

  • What AFSO 21 means

    Dr. Ronald C. Ritter, the special assistant for Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, recently visited Pacific Air Forces headquarters to review AFSO 21 strategies in the command. "AFSO 21 is important to us all," Dr. Ritter said. "It is our initiative and a way to continue our long

  • AFSO 21 event targets transportation efficiency

    Air Force leaders continue to shape wartime work processes by applying Lean principles and techniques from Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century.Functional-area experts representing the majority of the combatant commanders as well as the Joint Staff met here Jan. 8 to 12 to look at

  • USAFE commander visits units in England

    The U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander visited the geographically separated units that make up the 501st Combat Support Wing in England Jan. 8 to 10.Gen. William T. Hobbins, accompanied by his wife, Robbin Hobbins, and Chief Master Sgt. Gary Coleman, the USAFE command chief, visited with the 501st

  • Letter to Airmen focuses on 'Excellence in All We Do'

    In the latest Letter to Airmen, Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne discusses the core value of "Excellence in All We Do" and how it relates to Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century.The secretary said he was impressed with the "amazing things" Airmen are accomplishing in the Air

  • Latest Roll Call focuses on AFSO 21

    This week's Roll Call features Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century, also known as AFSO 21, which is a program that encourages Airmen to maximize value while minimizing waste. AFSO 21 is about results. Senior leaders have identified the major result areas, which are called "Five North

  • AFSO 21 continues to improve operations

    Last year, Airmen at Spangdahlem Air Base's propulsion shop had to walk to work. But this year, thanks to Air Force Smart Operations 21, these Airmen don't have to walk for miles each day just to do their jobs. "They told us we walked 10 miles a day just going to our cage to get tools," said Staff

  • Air Force leaders develop strategic view on fuels

    Air Force leaders from major commands met here recently to discuss the service's strategic viewpoint on fuel conservation. As the Department of Defense's greatest fuel consumer, the Air Force must examine every aspect of fuel consumption while maintaining its core competencies and power-projection

  • 2006 a year of transformation for Airmen

    In a year when Air Force operations around the globe helped positively impact countless lives affected by violence, intimidation and natural disaster, 2006 also served as a platform for evaluating how such missions can be accomplished more proficiently by capitalizing on training and technology.

  • Vehicle readiness squadron jumps onboard with AFSO 21

    Airmen everywhere are coming up with new ideas to improve their work areas as part of the Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century program. The Airmen with the 435th Logistics Readiness Squadron here are no different. When Senior Airman Yan Voskanov first came to the squadron, he noticed

  • Moody pharmacy team makes AFSO 21 improvements

    The 23rd Medical Group's pharmacy is currently implementing a series of changes to improve customer service and satisfaction. The changes are a direct result of the group's first Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century Rapid Improvement Event. The first change revises the pharmacy hours from

  • Moody maintainers take initiative with AFSO 21

    A handful of Moody AFB maintenance professionals brought Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century to the forefront during a meeting Nov. 20 and 21 that reflected on improving inspections for the HC-130P. Sixteen Airmen from the 723rd Maintenance Squadron, Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and

  • AFSO 21 special assistant visits Aviano

    The secretary of the Air Force's special assistant for Air Force Smart Operations 21 visited here Nov. 29. Dr. Ron Ritter is responsible for developing and coordinating the Air Force's AFSO 21 transformational efforts. An early leader in understanding and applying lean manufacturing methods in U.S.

  • ASC leaders tackle requirements, acquisition processes

    Starting new programs correctly, ensuring customers have realistic expectations, and ending the "shoot-the-messenger" mentality were among the initiatives Aeronautical Systems Center leaders considered at a November off-site meeting. Lt. Gen. Jack Hudson, the ASC commander, along with senior leaders

  • AFSO 21 driven by Airmen ingenuity

    Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century took another step forward at Headquarters Air Mobility Command in October. A mobility air forces strategy team of nearly two dozen military and civilian subject matter experts identified a number of overarching processes that could be streamlined. AFSO

  • USAFE's 1st AFSO 21 manager to 'Lean' up Spangdahlem

    Spangdahlem Air Base is the first base in U.S. Air Forces in Europe to have a full-time program manager for Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century. The overarching goals here are to implement a change in culture and the way people think and do their jobs, officials said. Base officials also

  • AFSO 21 process gets weapons to warfighters faster

    When the AIM-120D production program manager was asked to be team leader on an Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century rapid improvement event, he was a little skeptical. "We had a very sound and fundamentally strong (acquisition) process going and I really pushed back at the idea," said

  • Mountain Home newspaper going virtual

    An era will come to an end Dec. 22 when the base newspaper here, The Gunfighter, hits the streets for the last time. The public affairs staff will become one of the first bases to transition from a traditional newspaper to a Web-based product. The transition decision is primarily in response to

  • Air Force leader praises Hill for Lean, AFSO 21 efforts

    The special assistant to the secretary of the Air Force for Air Force Smart Ops for the 21st Century, or AFSO 21, said during a late October visit here that Air Force leadership would embrace the Lean concept due in large part to the success of Air Force Materiel Command's air logistics centers. Dr.

  • Automation efforts to aid disaster response teams

    Aeronautical System Center's Enterprise Knowledge Management experts may have found a way to help Air Force initial response forces and similar groups respond to disasters faster and more effectively. The team is working to automate some of the functions of Air Force command posts, battlestaffs and

  • Charleston Aerial Port Squadron 'Leans' forward

    Members of the 437th Aerial Port Squadron here have leaned forward to streamline processes to save money while getting vital equipment to the warfighter faster. Using Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century, 437th APS officials re-evaluated several of their workflow processes and developed

  • Airmen learn how to LEAN

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney McKinley, along with 11 Airmen representing every major command in the Air Force, took a major step toward implementing Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century by visiting United Airlines administrative and maintenance offices at the San Francisco

  • Simple AFSO 21 effort to reap big savings for Hanscom

    By eliminating unused phone lines, Hanscom AFB officials are potentially saving more than $200,000 annually using Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century initiatives.The 66th Air Base Wing Communication and Information Division and the Electronic Systems Center Plans and Programs office led

  • ACC assists maintainers with AFSO 21

    Moody AFB officials recently welcomed a delegation of Air Combat Command facilitators for a five-day Rapid Improvement Event to assist the base with its Air Force Smart Operations 21 initiatives. The visit was designed to assist maintenance leadership on procedures that can save the Air Force time

  • AFSO 21 tools enable Air Force to improve process

    Using Air Force Smart Operations 21, Fairchild AFB members are on a journey of self-improvement as they work to save time and money."You can do more with less, if you have less waste in your process," said Bill Long, Fairchild AFB's AFSO 21 consultant. AFSO 21 is an Air Force unique

  • AFMC seeks to streamline test, evaluation processes

    If changes to the test and evaluation phases of new concept cars would improve mass production processes and reduce recalls, wouldn't it make sense for an auto manufacturer to spend $1 now if it meant saving $10 later? Officials at Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command think so and are applying

  • Innovative calendar system tracks VIPs

    After employing a relatively simple Air Force Smart Operations 21 tool, Electronic Systems Center protocol office members here now have an innovative calendar system for tracking distinguished visitor information. AFSO 21 was designed to trigger ideas throughout the Air Force about how to streamline

  • Command chief panel discusses enlisted issues

    Change, readiness and winning the war on terrorism were the three top issues discussed during the command chiefs' forum at the 2006 Air Force Association Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 25."We must deal with changes and focus on the No. 1 priority facing us today:

  • Chief McKinley offers AFSO 21 perspective

    In his latest "Enlisted Perspective," Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley discusses Air Force Smart Operations 21 and how Airmen should explore its processes."Air Force Smart Operations 21 gives us the tools we need to shed unneeded work and make sure every Airman's efforts are

  • Maintainers improving system through AFSO 21

    If you could reduce the number of steps an Airman in the 92nd Maintenance Squadron's Periodic Inspection Element has to climb every day, you could give him back a lot of time. It would also be an excellent example of Air Force Smart Operations 21 in action. Until recently, working inside the cargo

  • Leaders at all levels must be aware of AFSO 21 efforts

    General officers gathered here Sept. 6 to present their plans for streamlining the processes that govern the Air Force. As part of Air Force Smart Operations 21, or AFSO 21, the Air Force Smart Operations Process Council, made up of senior Air Force leaders, guides and integrates the transformation

  • USAFE sets course with AFSO 21

    To best meet the challenges of the road ahead, the U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander assembled leaders throughout the command here to initiate USAFE-wide implementation of Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century. "We're going to determine where we're going in the future, and AFSO 21 will

  • AFSO 21 team learns 'Lean' lessons from Dover Airmen

    An Air Force Smart Operations 21 team from the office of the secretary of the Air Force gained valuable insight into how to "Lean" a work process during a visit to Dover Air Force Base, Del., Aug. 21 to 25. The AFSO 21 team from the Pentagon is comprised of 72 master process officers going through a

  • Fairchild combines wing functions to streamline operations

    Members of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing opened the doors Aug. 29 to a facility responsible for three key functions for Fairchild Air Force Base's expeditionary success.The Expeditionary Airmen's Center of Excellence will synergize the 92nd ARW's Air Expeditionary Force, Air Force Smart Operations for

  • AFSO 21 a success at McChord

    The banner hanging above the shop floor of the 62nd Maintenance Squadron wheel and tire shop is a sign of the success here for Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century. The 2005 Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award banner recognizes outstanding team performance and promotion of systematic

  • AFSO 21 breathes new life into old system

    The 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron here has streamlined the way its receiving shop conducts business using the Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century concept.The material maintenance flight began by assembling a team from the traffic management, vehicle operations and supply offices

  • Handbook helps weapon systems get to warfighter quicker

    The Department of Defense is constantly looking for ways to reduce the time it takes to get new weapon systems in the hands of the warfighter. The acquisition community at Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command here is helping the DOD do just that. The acquisition logistics division recently rolled

  • Medical squadron takes on AFSO 21 challenge

    The 71st Medical Support Squadron's radiology section wasted little time following the Air Force Smart Operations 21 announcement to roll out a smarter, less expensive way of conducting their business. The X-ray department recently switched to a photo archiving and communications system, or PACS.

  • AFSO 21 streamlines logistics processes

    Airmen with the 39th Logistics Readiness Squadron Material Management Flight are implementing a new way of thinking by streamlining their process of asset distribution at Incirlik and collocating people into one building. "We are wringing out the water and giving time back to our Airmen," said Capt.

  • Hydraulics shop ‘Leans’ into AFSO 21

    By discussing processes during continuous improvement workshops, called Kaizen, the 56th Component Maintenance Squadron is able to develop smarter operations by just using common sense. Industry-proven process improvement programs such as Lean that use techniques like Kaizen are being used to

  • Leaders hold key to AFSO 21 success

    A cornerstone of the secretary of the Air Force’s tenure is Air Force Smart Operations 21. He recently said that Air Force leaders hold the key to success for the initiative. "I have told our leaders that we cannot allow AFSO 21 to escape the wing leadership, whether that is the wing commander,

  • AFSO 21 initiative leads to safer flying at Lakenheath

    As Air Force Smart Operations 21 went Air Force-wide this year, the 48th Fighter Wing here jump-started its program with weekly AFSO 21 initiatives briefed at wing stand-up. “I want every Airman, civilian and (Ministry of Defense) employee on this base to understand, first of all, what AFSO 21 is,

  • AFSO 21 crucial to achieving new vision

    Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century will be crucial to achieving the 50th Space Wing’s new vision, said Col. John Hyten, wing commander. “If someone asks you how we can do things smarter, tell them AFSO 21 gives us free rein to cut through red tape,” Colonel Hyten said. “With AFSO 21, we

  • Secretary Wynne considers Airmen as diplomats

    Warfighting is about relationship building as the Air Force moves forward in the 21st century, especially in the Pacific where bilateral exercises are taking on increasing importance. That was one of the messages from the secretary of the Air Force as he addressed a crowd of about a thousand Airmen

  • Smart Ops 21: Improving the Air Force one process at a time

    “What have I improved today?” That’s a question Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne urged Airmen to ask themselves in his March 8 Letter to Airmen titled Air Force Smart Operations 21. Airmen in Air Force Space Command will soon drive improvements through the Smart Ops 21 program, which

  • Command tasking process gets "quick win"

    The way Air Force Materiel Command delegates and tracks suspenses just received an upgrade thanks to people from across the command who met here during an efficiency event March 6 to 10. When Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century kicked off in AFMC, the tasking process was immediately

  • SECAF releases latest Letter to Airmen

    In his latest Letter to Airmen, released March 8, Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne focused on Air Force Smart Operations 21. The program is based on both Lean and Six Sigma business process improvement tools. These tools were developed chiefly in the private sector to focus on increasing