AFMC command chief talks with Kirtland Airmen

  • Published
  • By Carl Grusnick
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Chief Master Sergeant Michael J. Warner, command chief of Air Force Materiel Command, visited Kirtland and met with Airmen here Aug. 1-2 to address the command's mission and priorities.

Warner hails from Denver, Colo., and entered the military as an Army Reserve infantryman, before joining the Air Force as a Security Police Specialist in 1987.

The Nucleus spoke with Warner during his visit to learn more about his views on key topics.

Q. What have you learned about AFMC in 12 months on the job?
A. How fast 12 months can go! This is my first assignment in Air Force Materiel Command, so I have had to deep-dive into the mission. I've been in awe that every weapon and tool in the Air Force is conceived, developed and sustained in this command. But this wouldn't be possible without our Airmen (officers, enlisted, and civilians) in AFMC who are truly inspiring.

Q. What is the biggest challenge AFMC faces today?
A. There is no doubt that the fiscal constraint is the biggest challenge, because it is a long-term event we need to face. Budgetary constraints affect how we modernize, program, and sustain our Air Force. For years, we have been telling our superstar performers to do more with less. That is not mathematically possible. As we continue to cut resources, we need to get out of this mindset because it can't be sustained.

Q. What is the number one priority that AFMC must address?
A. Getting the mission done with the resources that are provided. It is having a trained, motivated, and dedicated workforce who can produce what the nation needs to win our nation's wars.

Q. How has sequestration, particularly civilian furloughs, affected mission performance?
A. Seventy five percent of our command is civilian Airmen. Forty percent of the Air Force civilian inventory belongs to AFMC. The furlough definitely affects how quickly we can deliver warfighting tools to the warfighters.

Q. An issue of great concern to the force is sexual assault prevention. As an Air Force leader can you describe to us what is the Air Force doing to prevent sexual assaults in the future?
A. The Air Force has taken a significant amount of action to tackle this problem. Headquarters Air Force just created a directorate that puts a two-star general in charge of the sexual assault program. We now have lawyers in a special victims' council, who do not take part in the prosecution or area defense process. We have 3,000 trained victim advocates in our Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program. Focus groups have been held at all levels of our Air Force, as well as a SAPR stand-down training day used to educate our force on this issue.

Every Airman must be engaged to eliminate sexual assault from our profession. At every level we are working to provide our front-line leaders the tools they need to talk about this issue and to create the work environment that ensures all Airmen are treated with respect and dignity. Our front-line leaders are key to their work area culture, to talking about this with their Airmen daily, and if needed to take the action necessary to hold accountable those who cannot live up to the standards we have set.

Q. What advice do you have for Airmen at Team Kirtland?
A. When you put your ABU pants on, put your attitude on. Nobody controls that but you. Give 100 percent all the time. Take care of your team. Have balance with your work, your family, your friends and yourself.