With topics for the 2021 Installation and Mission Support Weapons and Tactics Conference announced in November, all that remained was deciding who would lead the Mission Area Working Groups, or MAWGs, charged with helping shape the future of Air Force combat support.

Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center officials announced the names of the four chairs Dec. 2. Each chair will lead a team whose members will take on one of the four topics previously selected by a panel of general officers and senior civilians.

Topic 1 – Right Size the Foundation: Optimize Installation & Mission Support for the Air Force We Need; Chair: Lt. Col. Raymond Fortner, AFIMSC Det. 6, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Topic 2 – Strategic Mission Dependency Index for Targeted National Defense Strategy Investment; Chair: Capt. Jamela Satterfield, AFIMSC Installation Support Directorate, JB San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

Topic 3 – Supply Chain Vulnerabilities in the Future “Way We Fight;” Chair: Capt. Zachary Kauth, Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.

Topic 4 – Institutionalize Readiness as a Foundational Competency to Develop Mission-Ready Airmen; Chair: Chief Master Sgt. Jeremiah Grisham, 436th Mission Support Group, Dover AFB, Delaware.

I-WEPTAC tackles the challenges facing agile combat support by leveraging the expertise and experience of Airmen from around the world. The MAWG chairs will round out their teams with approximately 100 Airmen in the weeks ahead.

“I-WEPTAC is on and we’re looking for innovative ideas from those of you out there in our installation and mission support arena,” said Maj. Gen. Tom Wilcox, commander of AFIMSC. “I know there are good ideas out there. Join the team and bring them to us. Help us solve today’s challenging problems.

“Together we can enhance our ability to deliver the agile combat support capabilities we need. Once you’re done, it will be our job to take your recommendations from idea to proof of concept.”

MAWG members will convene in January to research and develop solutions for the four topics. The teams will present their recommendations to senior leaders from across the Air Force April 19-21 in San Antonio in 2021. To address COVID-19 concerns, the conference is expected to feature both in-person and virtual gatherings.

“These individuals have unique insights and perspectives earned from their years of personal and professional service,” said Col. Lance Clark, AFIMSC’s Expeditionary Support and Innovation director. “In the months ahead, they will lead teams of military and civilian Airmen to develop innovative ideas and solutions that posture the agile combat support required to deliver Air Force capability in the future.”

In its fifth year, I-WEPTAC teams have provided the Air Force with more than 30 recommendations, including today’s concept for the combat support wing and the development of multi-function, or multi-skilled, Airmen.

I-WEPTAC was established as the only innovation forum for the installation and mission support community after more than 150 I&MS capabilities centralized at AFIMSC in October 2015. It’s a natural extension of AFIMSC’s commitment to support commanders and Airmen across the entire Agile Combat Support enterprise.

For more information, visit www.afimsc.af.mil/I-WEPTAC-2021/.