The Inspector General of the Air Force visits Kirtland AFB

  • Published
  • By Stefan Bocchino
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AFB, N.M. --  Lt. Gen. Stephen Mueller, the Inspector General of the Air Force, visited Kirtland Air Force Base from Oct. 15 to 18.

During his stay, the general attended an executive course outlining the principles and criteria behind the Malcolm Baldridge Performance Excellence Program, which is the basis for management inspections. He also opened the major command inspector general conference, visited with Air Force Inspection Agency Airmen and Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 116.

Mueller oversees upcoming changes to the inspection process including the new management inspections. AFIA has worked to develop an IG capability to inspect and evaluate management processes for Air Force organizations above the wing-level.

"Our current inspection process is overly burdensome," said Mueller. "In terms of Airmen's time and preparation for inspections, it's a system that will essentially fail under its own weight. At the same time, the inspections are not answering all the questions we want to ask."

He said there is a vision that the changes in the inspection system will help the Air Force spend its effort and Airman's time in getting better at the mission, rather than getting better at inspections. He said it is not an easy change because it requires a change in mindset.

"There are a couple of major components to it," said Mueller. "One level is that we see moving the inspection process down to the commanders. They really want to know where their problems are and want to solve them. Then we would use our major command inspections to verify and validate that they are doing this correctly."

Mueller has been TIG since May.

"We hold the integrity of the Air Force on our shoulders," said Mueller. "The very institution requires that we are able to investigate ourselves. It is a very satisfying job. You have the ability to impact the entire Air Force."

The general said he has five focus areas: to protect the integrity of the Air Force; improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Air Force; to advance the ability to report on discipline, effectiveness, efficiency and readiness of the Air Force; serve Airmen with responsive, fair and effective assistance; and strengthen the IG role.

"AFIA supports all five focus areas," said Mueller. "The goal is to maintain the integrity of the Air Force and translate that into day-to-day work plans. My five focus areas are geared at connecting with the Air Force."

The general said that readiness is very important. There is worry that readiness will slip with budget pressures. He said that is where AFIA has the greatest impact, because for a small organization, it touches the entire Air Force.

"The readiness equation is the most complicated one we have," said Mueller. "It's not primarily about money, manpower or mission, and has many variables on whether a unit is ready. So AFIA gives us valuable data points that are consistent across the Air Force. These data points are used by the Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force."

Mueller also said that the IG is often split into two elements -- inspections and complaints --and he wants to build a synergy between them.

"AFIA touches these elements," said Mueller. "They have the ability to bring all those data points together and report on what may be systemic-level complaints across the Air Force."

The general spoke about budget constraints.

"We want people to be efficient with our resources," said Mueller. "We don't want everybody to be worried about what resources we have. Don't worry about the 10 percent cut, worry about what to do with the 90 percent that is left. It's not magic. It's just how people see what we are doing and makes us do it better in a more cost-effective way."

During the visit, he opened the major command IG conference and provided an update on the new strategic plan.

"The major command IGs don't actually work for me, they work for the major command commanders," said Mueller. "What we are trying to do with this conference is make sure we get on the same page, bringing together consistency and policy across the inspection system. This is why we get together in person, so that collectively, we can come up with the best process for the Air Force."

Part of the meeting will also be to tell the major command IGs of all the great work the people at AFIA are doing for them, said Mueller.

"It's our Airmen out there who make the difference," said Mueller.