Communications and information service consolidation eases MAJCOM workloads

  • Published
  • By Katherine Kebisek
  • Air Force Network Integration Center
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFNS) --  The transition of common communication and information workloads from major commands to the Air Force Network Integration Center is complete, enabling MAJCOM communications and information staffs to further focus on core warfighting missions and information needs.

The transfer centralized 10 services originally performed by each MAJCOM and the Air National Guard including common core training, long haul communications (circuit management functions), certification validation, publications and forms management, command records management, information assurance management, maintenance and sustainment, information technology asset management, video teleconference management, and high frequency global communications systems.

"Centralizing these services benefits everyone," said Col. John Odey, the AFNIC commander. "The AFNIC is now postured to provide the Air Force with standardized processes and streamlined policy for key cyber capabilities, as well as track workload and performance."

As Air Force officials continue efforts to improve their processes and efficiency, the enterprise approach to managing certain functions has proven valuable in reducing policy conflict, reducing reviews and revalidations, developing standardized systems, and saving money and resources.

"The centralized support is a more efficient use of manpower because the enterprise now has one point of contact at AFNIC rather than 11 across the Air Force," said Fred Chambers, the chief of the MAJCOM support transition cell.

The transfer, originally directed under Program Budget Decision 720, began in July 2007 and was led by the former AFNIC Commander's Transformation team. Mutually agreed upon transition plans and memorandums of agreement signed by MAJCOM vice commanders and the Secretary of the Air Force's Information Dominance and Chief Information Officer directorate, previously known as SAF/XC, were established to provide a roadmap for transition.

"The process was challenging," said Mr. Chambers, who helped complete the transition. "In some cases the MAJCOMs had higher mission priorities which prevented them from fully performing these duties, so it was difficult determining a baseline of where to start."

The AFNIC team worked closely with the MAJCOMs to develop transition plans that outlined the exact workload that would be transitioned and how, as well as helped the MAJCOMs prepare to migrate the duties. Once each MAJCOM was ready, functions transitioned to AFNIC and service-level agreements were developed to identify roles and responsibilities. The SLAs will be reviewed and updated annually until the responsibilities are codified within Air Force policy.

With the consolidation now complete, MAJCOMs can focus on their mission priorities, while being confident that the requirements for the 10 functions are met.

"The transition of these capabilities proves the value of an enterprise approach," Colonel Odey said. "We look forward to continuing our work with the MAJCOMs to improve processes and achieve maximum benefit to the Air Force and our joint warfighters."