Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) Shield (Color), U.S. Air Force graphic. In accordance with Chapter 3 of AFI 84-105, commercial reproduction of this emblem is NOT permitted without the permission of the proponent organizational/unit commander.
Note: AFMC is currently restructuring from 12 to five centers. This factsheet will be updated by mid-August 2012.
With headquarters at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Air Force Materiel Command is a major command created July 1, 1992. The command conducts research, development, test and evaluation, and provides acquisition management services and logistics support necessary to keep Air Force weapon systems ready for war.
Mission
Deliver war-winning ...
- Technology
- Acquisition
- Test
- Sustainment
... expeditionary capabilities to the warfighter
AFMC delivers war-winning expeditionary capabilities to the warfighter through development and transition of technology, professional acquisition management, exacting test and evaluation, and world-class sustainment of all Air Force weapon systems. From cradle-to-grave, AFMC provides the work force and infrastructure necessary to ensure the United States remains the world's most respected Air and Space Force.
Goals
Continue to strengthen the nuclear enterprise
Implement effective and efficient integrated life cycle management to support the warfighter
Support the Air Force by recruiting, training and retaining a high-performing work force
Nurture and protect our people and families
Be good stewards of government resources
Vision War-winning capabilities -- on time, on cost.
People and Resources AFMC employs a highly professional and skilled command work force of more than 80,000 military and civilian employees.
Organization AFMC fulfills its mission of equipping the Air Force with the best weapon systems through the Air Force Research Laboratory and several unique centers which are responsible for the "cradle-to-grave" oversight for aircraft, electronic systems, missiles and munitions. For instance, weapon systems, such as aircraft and missiles, are developed and acquired through three product centers, using science and technology from the laboratory research sites. The systems are then tested at AFMC's two test centers. Over the system's lifetime, it may be serviced, upgraded or repaired at the three air logistics centers. The command's specialized units perform many other development and logistics functions, including scientific research and the retirement or sale of older systems.
The AFMC headquarters is a major unit located at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. There are nine AFMC host bases: Arnold AFB, Tenn.; Edwards AFB, Calif.; Eglin AFB, Fla.; Hanscom AFB, Mass.; Hill AFB, Utah; Kirtland AFB, N.M.; Robins AFB, Ga.; Tinker AFB, Okla.; and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. In addition, the command operates associate units on several non-AFMC bases.
Product Centers The Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, arms the warfighter with world-class weapon systems, enabling combat aerospace forces to ensure global vigilance, reach and power. Its acquisition work force and support units deliver combat capabilities to the warfighter, which meet performance, cost and schedule expectations. Its major acquisition programs include fighter, bomber, mobility/transport, reconnaissance, special operations and trainer weapon systems. Units: 88th Air Base Wing; Tanker Directorate; Fighters/Bombers Directorate; Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance and Special Operations Forces Directorate; Mobility Directorate; Agile Combat Support Directorate.
Air Armament Center, Eglin AFB, Fla., serves as the focal point for all Air Force armament. It applies advanced technology, engineering and programming efficiencies across the product life cycle to provide superior combat capability to the warfighter. The center plans, directs and conducts test and evaluation of armament, navigation, guidance systems, and command and control systems. It supports the largest single base mobility commitment in the Air Force. Units: 46th Test Wing, 96th Air Base Wing, 308th Armament Systems Directorate.
The Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom AFB, Mass., is continually upgrading systems to ensure they remain state of the art. Testing and experimentation occur throughout development. These efforts help move the Air Force toward a fully integrated and seamlessly interoperable command and control network, giving warfighters the right information at the right time. Units: 66th Air Base Group, 350th Electronic Systems Wing, 551st Electronic Systems Wing, 554th Electronic Systems Wing, 653rd Electronic Systems Wing.
Test Centers At the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, Calif., experts make sure current and future Airmen have proven equipment to accomplish their mission. When necessary, test forces deploy and operate developmental test aircraft and systems to support combat missions. Center experts contribute to U.S. fighting forces via test and evaluation which influences weapon systems design to make sure they meet operational warfighting, combat support or training requirements. AFFTC operates the Edwards AFB Flight Test Range (20,000 square miles of airspace), including three supersonic corridors and four aircraft spin areas. Edwards AFB also has an array of ground test facilities. Units: 95th Air Base Wing, 412th Test Wing, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School.
The Arnold Engineering Development Center, Arnold AFB, Tenn., runs the Defense Department's largest aerospace ground test and evaluation complex. Center scientists and engineers perform tests, engineering analysis and technical evaluations for research, system development and operational programs for all the U.S. armed forces, other government agencies and commercial aerospace industry. Units: Test Divison, Test Systems Division, Maintenance Division, Mission Support Division.
Air Logistics Centers Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill AFB, Utah, provides logistics, support, maintenance, distribution and engineering management for the F-16, C-130, A-10, B-2, KC-135, T-38, T-37 and 22 other actively flying, mature and proven weapon systems, including the Minuteman III ICBM. The center is the leading provider of rocket motors, small missiles, air munitions and guided bombs, and serves as the ammunition control point for the Air Force. Units: 75th Air Base Wing, 508th Aerospace Sustainment Wing, 84th Combat Sustainment Wing, 309th Maintenance Wing.
Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker AFB, Okla., repairs and maintains bomber, refueling and reconnaissance aircraft, among others. Many crucial airborne accessories also are maintained at the center, including life-support systems. The center provides cradle-to-grave support for a variety of aircraft, including the E-3 AWACS, C/KC-135, B-52 and B-1. It is responsible for depot-level repair, modifications, overhaul and functional check flight of the B-1, B-52, C/KC-135, E-3 and the Navy's E-6 aircraft. Engines managed include a substantial inventory, from the older Pratt & Whitney TF33 to the state-of-the-art F119. Units: 72nd Air Base Wing, 76th Maintenance Wing.
Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Robins AFB, Ga., provides product support, purchasing and supply-chain management, and depot maintenance. It has management and engineering responsibility for repairing, modifying and overhauling the F-15, C-130 and all Air Force helicopters. It also provides logistical support for all Air Force air-to-air missiles, vehicles, general-purpose computers, and avionics and electronic systems on most aircraft. In addition, the center has management and engineering responsibility for the U-2 and performs Global Reach Improvement Program aircraft modifications and systems sustainment support on the C-17. Units: 78th Air Base Wing, 402nd Maintenance Wing, Aerospace Sustainment Directorate.
Specialized Centers Air Force Security Assistance Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, oversees system sales and support for more than 170 models of aircraft, a fleet totaling more than 6,600. The center also orchestrates AFMC product and logistics center support of security assistance needs to 103 countries and seven NATO organizations, in addition to serving as a "portfolio manager" for foreign military sales within each country. It also provides logistics support for numerous weapon systems, some dating back to the 1940s, as well as modern ones.
Global Logistics Support Center, Scott AFB, Ill., serves as the Air Force supply chain manager, providing enterprise planning, global and control, and a single focal point, all in support of the full range warfighter operations. Overall, GLSC is a geographically dispersed organization with six operating locations. In addition to Scott AFB, these include Hill AFB, Utah; Langley AFB, Va.; Robins AFB, Ga.; Tinker AFB, Okla., and Wright-Patterson AFB.
Nuclear Weapons Center, Kirtland AFB, N.M., is the command's Center of Expertise for nuclear weapon systems, ensuring safe, secure and reliable nuclear weapons are available to support the National Command Structure and Air Force. Center responsibilities include acquisition, modernization and sustainment of nuclear system programs. Units: 377th Air Base Wing, AFNWC Nuclear Capabilities Directorate.
Specialized Units 554th Electronic Systems Group, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, specializes in acquiring integrated weapon-system support solutions for both depot-level and field operations requirements, providing multi-functional information management systems and enterprise resource planning. The group works with its customers to plan, acquire, manage and deploy more than 27 programs with combined revenue of approximately $300 million. Units: in Alabama and Texas.
754th Electronic Systems Group, Maxwell AFB-Gunter Annex, Ala., provides systems acquisition and program management for information technologies; combat support domain expertise; IT insertion in business processes; network operations support and security; and commercial IT product and service acquisition. Its work force designs, builds or buys, installs and supports information systems, supporting the warfighter via 61 information systems across the combat support arena, including maintenance, transportation, supply, munitions, contracting, finance, medical and operations.
The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., is a major industrial complex. The group occupies 2,600 acres, with an inventory of nearly 4,400 aircraft and aerospace assets, as well as more than 350,000 line items of production tooling. The group's work force returns aircraft back to service and prepares them for overland shipment. Millions of dollars worth of weapon-system components are reclaimed to support parts inventories and global contingency operations. Leveraging proven traditional aircraft storage and disposition mission capabilities, the group also supports intermediate and augmented depot-level maintenance. The group was formerly known as the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center.
Research and Development Headquarters Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, pioneers new capabilities for warfighters while developing innovative solutions for future challenges. The laboratory leverages its technological information to offer potential solutions to warfighter needs for technologies, providing them rapid response capabilities. As a full-spectrum laboratory, it is responsible for planning and executing basic research, applied research and advanced technology development. The headquarters directs the activities of 10 major science and technology research facilities across the nation. Units: Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Air Vehicles Directorate, Directed Energy Directorate, Human Effectiveness Directorate, Information Directorate, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Munitions Directorate, Propulsion Directorate, Sensors Directorate, Space Vehicles Directorate.
Museum
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, is operated by the U.S. Air Force under the operational control of AFMC. This museum is the largest and oldest military aviation museum in the world. More than a million visitors annually experience a century of aviation history in multiple galleries that connect the Wright Brothers' enduring legacy with today's technology.
History The command traces its heritage to 1917 when the Equipment Division of the U.S. Army Signal Corps established a headquarters for its new Airplane Engineering Department at McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio, a World War I experimental engineering facility.
The functions of research and development and logistics were operated separately during World War II until they were reunited for several years in the late 1940s under Air Materiel Command. Then, in 1950, research and development were split off into a separate organization, the Air Research and Development Command.
In 1961, Air Materiel Command became the Air Force Logistics Command, while the Air Research and Development Command gained responsibility for weapon system acquisition and was renamed the Air Force Systems Command. On July 1, 1992, the Air Force Logistics Command and Air Force Systems Command were reintegrated to form the new Air Force Materiel Command.
Point of Contact Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs Office; 4375 Chidlaw Road, Room N-152; Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433-5006; DSN 787-6308 or 937-257-6308.
