AFMC successfully executes $66 billion portfolio in FY19

  • Published
  • By Marisa Alia-Novobilski
  • Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs

The Air Force Materiel Command executed a portfolio of more than $66.6 billion in fiscal year 2019, ensuring the delivery and sustainment of agile, cost-effective and war-winning capabilities to the warfighter.

“This is a team effort — all AFMC fund holders and functional partners at the center, installation and headquarters levels worked diligently to ensure sound execution and accountability of Air Force dollars,” said Brig. Gen. James D. Peccia III, AFMC financial management director and comptroller. “We had a number of challenges this year, ranging from natural disasters to high-priority Air Force funding requirements and more; nevertheless we had a good year.”

Organizationally, AFMC manages 34% of the overall budget for the Air Force; executing funds across six centers, multiple platforms and Air Force installations, with missions ranging from, but not limited to, installation support and readiness to research and development, sustainment and technology acquisition, ensuring the service’s warfighting advantage across all mission domains.

Of the $66.6 billion of AFMC funding, $35.3 billion is directly managed by the command, with the other $31.3 billion managed at the service acquisition level for science and technology, investment programs and testing. As part of the AFMC managed funding, $18.4 billion in Centralized Asset Management funds streamline programming, budgeting and sustainment of Air Force platforms and munitions at an enterprise, fleet-wide level.

In addition to resolving an $80 million deficit, the command was able to secure capital for nearly $35 million in unfunded requirements in fiscal 2019. Key projects included a $2.6 million airfield painting project at the 412th Test Wing, Air Force Test Center, which repainted fading thermo-plastic markings to ensure greater safety for vehicles and aircraft taxiing and landing in controlled movement areas. At the 96th Test Wing, AFTC, multiple projects to support next-generation weapon and airborne testing for electromagnetic warfare were funded. This included a $2.45 million Multi-Spectral Test and Training Environment site modernization project to support anti-access/area denial testing at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, and a $3.85 million contract for specialized labor and equipment repair for 13 unique threat radar systems.

On the investment side, the headquarters team worked closely with the centers and Air Staff to meet a number of key command needs. This included $380,000 for a Telescope Boom Lift at Tinker AFB, Ohio, to support maintainers and engineers at the new KC-46A Pegasus hangar in executing quick response and repair at elevated levels in the facility. A realignment of $8.5 million in funding mitigated civilian workforce pay disconnects, eliminating the need for unnecessary personnel actions that could impact mission accomplishment.

The CAM team started fiscal 2019 by realigning $539 million to support the F-22 MC-80 initiative and allocated another $840 million to fund a number of mission critical requirements. These included additional KC-135 Stratotanker programmed depot maintenance needs, B-1 Lancer full scale fatigue testing, T-1A Jayhawk engine overhauls and hail damage repairs and maintenance to the intercontinental ballistic missile Minuteman III guidance system.

Despite challenges from natural disasters including hurricanes, floods and earthquakes, along with unexpected funding requirements related to border security and a construction task order pause, the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center fully obligated $7.1 billion – a new record – in the Installation and Mission Support portfolio. Projects such as the U.S. Air Force Academy chapel renovation, Hill AFB, Utah, runway improvements and a new air traffic control tower at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, were among the largest construction projects funded under the $1.2 billion infrastructure investment funds. Quality of life improvements including body armor, food transformation, an enterprise land mobile radio system and expeditionary water and fuel repair systems kits, among other projects, rounded out the portfolio execution.

For the second year, the command executed 100% of both Commander’s Readiness Funds ($4.5 million) and Squadron Innovation Funds ($7.1 million). These funds directly support innovative ideas pitched by AFMC Airmen that have the potential to improve mission readiness and Air Force lethality for the future. Some of the larger Squadron Innovation Funds efforts included the following:

  • AirOps mobile application for automated airfield management (412th Test Wing)
  • Tinker Tower Tablets for improved Air Traffic Control operations (72nd Air Base Wing)
  • Electrostatic Discharge Workstations (72nd Air Base Wing)
  • Inclement weather safety and communication equipment (88th Air Base Wing)
  • Pump-Ops Simulator for firefighter training (75th Air Base Wing)

While a short-term continuing resolution will impact some new investments as the command enters fiscal 2020, AFMC leadership expects no impact on the operations and maintenance mission.

“We are in a strong position for FY20 and will ensure our fund holders have the required funding to continue to deliver tech superiority for our Air Force,” Peccia said. “FY20 will be another good year for AFMC.”