LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
More than 30 Air Force military and civilian leaders visited Langley March 15 as part of the Air Force Board's tour of Air Force installations nationwide.
The Air Force Board is comprised of Air Force leaders, including generals, field grade officers and civilians. The board's purpose is to visit installations to gain first-hand knowledge of where the Air Force is succeeding and which areas need improvement.
"Working in the Pentagon robs us of perspective of what's happening out in the field," said Maj. Gen. Robert M. Worley II, director of programs, deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and programs, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force at the Pentagon. "This is an important time for those responsible for making decisions that affect the future of the Air Force."
Col. Donald Kirkland, 633d Air Base Wing commander, presented a Joint Base Langley-Eustis briefing during which he highlighted the joint-basing concept and related challenges that lie ahead. He expressed his concerns about several transitional obstacles, including hiring processes and inter-service data migration.
Col. Matt Molloy, 1st Fighter Wing commander, and Col. Mark McCauley, 192d FW commander, briefed the board members on the operational readiness of their wings, including maintenance issues with F-22 Raptor avionics, training shortfalls and fleet distribution.
Gen. William M. Fraser III, commander of Air Combat Command, thanked the board for visiting saying, "As leaders, it is important to see how the policy decisions we make are affecting our Airmen and their families at the base level. The chance for members of the Board to get out and see these changes firsthand benefits our entire Air Force."
After the briefing, the board members took a tour of the base before departing. The week-long tour includes stops at other Air Force bases, including Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., Beale AFB, Calif., Nellis AFB and Creech AFB, Nev. The board will take information from the tour back to the Pentagon to consider in new policy proposals, due to the Secretary of Defense by July 30.