GAO vs HAFB

For John, BLUF:  For our Hanscom viewers.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

Here is a report issued last month by the US Congress' Government Accountability Office, on Hanscom Air Force Base and its adaption to reorganization—Reorganization Resulted in Workforce Reassignments at Hanscom Air Force Base, but Other Possible Effects Are Not Yet Known (GAO-13-366, Apr 25, 2013).  The link is to the Summary.  The full report, in PDF format, can be found here.

Here is the summary:

The reorganization of the Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) affected reporting chains of command and workforce composition for some offices at Hanscom Air Force Base, but did not change how former components of the Electronic Systems Center (ESC) at Hanscom carry out their acquisition mission.  Personnel in functional offices who provide technical services previously reported to the locally-based ESC leadership; they now report directly to senior functional managers at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, who oversee functional offices across all locations of the new Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) established by the reorganization.  In addition, the reorganization eliminated 131 functional office positions (about 10 percent of Hanscom's civilian positions), which AFMC determined were not directly involved with development, delivery, or sustainment of weapon systems. GAO's analysis of Hanscom's data showed that the eliminated positions included 13 which were unfilled; of personnel in the remaining 118 positions, 15 accepted voluntary-separation agreements, 102 were reassigned at Hanscom Air Force Base, and 1 was removed.  The reorganization did not change the mission of directorates that deliver electronic capabilities to customers.

Various opportunities and concerns at Hanscom Air Force Base resulted from the reorganization. According to officials at Hanscom and Wright-Patterson Air Force Bases, customers, and contractors, the opportunities include increased focus on life-cycle management of electronic systems, increased collaboration within the command, and greater standardization of processes.  Hanscom Air Force Base officials and contractors identified some concerns related to increased workload for functional office personnel due to position eliminations, process delays, the lack of full understanding of Hanscom's programs by AFLCMC officials, and whether Hanscom Air Force Base will continue as the center of electronic systems for the Air Force.  However, AFMC and AFLCMC senior officials generally did not see these concerns as significant problems. For example, they stated that AFLCMC's senior functional managers do not require in-depth technical knowledge of Hanscom's programs because the functions, such as financial management, apply across programs.  AFLCMC's steps to facilitate the reorganization include establishing a governance structure and communicating with stakeholders.

The effects of the reorganization on Hanscom's core mission of delivering electronic systems to customers are not yet fully known, but AFLCMC has developed metrics to measure how well it is meeting customer needs. Officials stated the changes went into effect only recently and multiple factors unrelated to the reorganization, such as budget changes, may affect the mission.   However, AFLCMC developed organizational objectives and associated metrics in areas such as delivering cost-effective acquisition solutions and providing affordable and effective product support.  The metrics, while not designed to measure the effects of the reorganization, are intended to measure how AFLCMC is meeting customers' needs.  The data for the metrics will be collected by individual offices and aggregated monthly at the AFLCMC level, according to its senior officials.

My conclusion?  It saved a three star (Lieutenant General) slot for the Air Force and further consolidated the innovation and procurement functions of the US Air Force.  It is a time on contraction and both innovation and procurement are out of fashion and thus less money and less force structure is needed to support our military forces, which are, in turn, supporting a less robust foreign policy.  And, of course, those who are further from the flag pole will get less attention.  The flag pole has now moved from Hanscom AFB itself, to Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio, a distance of 840 statute miles.  That is a good thing and a bad thing. , A good thing while operating, and bad thing when it comes time to get money or promotions.

Hat tip to my Brother John.

Regards  —  Cliff