LCMC commander calls for staying, building on current course

by Justin Oakes
66th Air Base Group Public Affairs

10/14/2014 - HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- The Life Cycle Management Center's new commander, Lt. Gen. John F. Thompson, visited Hanscom for the first time, after assuming his leadership role just last week, and took the opportunity to highlight the center's current and future direction during an All-Call Oct. 9, 2014.

"Knowing the mission here and all the great things that all of you have delivered to the warfighter makes it truly my honor to be the commander of this organization," said the general as he began his address to base support, functional and program office members.

In order to put the audience's mind at ease and quell any apprehension of significant change within the center, Thompson reassured the Hanscom team to "not worry about changing course and having to learn something new about our vision and mission." It will remain the same, he said.

The commander's vision, like that of his predecessor, is to forge one team delivering integrated, innovative, dominant airpower capabilities ... on time and on cost. It complements the ultimate goal and mission of acquiring and supporting war-winning capabilities.

Thompson spent a moment speaking about the origin of LCMC -- or at least Hanscom's portion. What began in 1961 as the Electronic System Division then grew to the Electronic Systems Center in 1992 and is now part of the LCMC we know today. In the process, he relayed a number of crucial technology developments and programs that paved the way for Air Force operational successes.

He also offered six high-priority objectives. They include the following:

1. Deliver cost effective acquisition solutions;
2. Deliver affordable and effective product support;
3. Launch high confidence sustainable programs;
4. Standardize and continuously improve center processes;
5. Deliver and place right person at right time; and,
6. Assure a safe, secure and quality work environment.

Objective four, which focuses on standardization of processes, received a good amount of attention from the general.

"Standardization has great promise and benefits to all of us," Thompson said. "I'd like to see a little more of that continued process improvement on the standardization work we've started."

During the course of the last two years, more than 40 different processes have been standardized across the center, a feat that received high praise from the new commander.

Shifting gears from standardization, the next topic focused on finding the right person at the right time: a topic most units consider a priority unto itself -- manpower.

"You're going to see a little more from me in terms of the basic hiring processes and getting positions filled," Thompson said. "It's a bizarrely long process for civilian hiring, and we're going take it on and try to fix it."

There are approximately 1,000 open civilian vacancies currently within the center. LCMC members make up 4 percent of the total Air Force, but provide equipment and materiel for all the service's airpower.

While the final topic centered on personnel, it was less about job openings and more in line with the health and well-being of the current force.

Chief Master Sgt. Doreen Losacco, LCMC command chief, addressed resiliency and promoting a culture of Comprehensive Airman Fitness.

"You have to have balance," said the chief. "In order for us to be resilient, we must make sure we have balance in our lives."

Comprehensive Airman Fitness is designed to improve an Airman's quality of life by focusing on mental, physical, social and spiritual health. It is an approach the Air Force recently adopted and highly encourages amongst its ranks.

Before the event concluded, the commander left the group with one final compliment and thought.

"What makes a difference whether an organization lives or dies is that you have an important mission and you've delivered on it -- something the team here at Hanscom clearly does," the general said.

Bataan Sailors, Marines Complete Successful Visit to Naples, Italy

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Michael Fiorillo, USS Bataan Public Affairs

NAPLES, Italy (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines from amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) departed Naples, Italy, Oct. 14, following a scheduled port visit.

This port visit served to continue U.S. 6th Fleet efforts to build global maritime partnerships with European nations and improve maritime safety and security. Bataan conducted this port visit as part of a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 6th fleet area of operations.

Bataan served as the platform for a reception hosted by Adm. Mark Ferguson, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, for local Naples distinguished guests and U.S. Embassy officials, Oct. 11. The event provided Ferguson an opportunity to express his gratitude for Italian support of the U.S. Navy.

"The Bataan, her Sailors and her embarked Marines represent the best and brightest of America," said Adm. Ferguson. "Her visit to this historic city is indicative of how much the United States deeply values our long-standing relationship with Naples, the Campania Region and Italy."

While in Naples, Sailors and Marines participated in two community relations (COMREL) projects. COMRELs enable Sailors and Marines to give back even while deployed. At Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Hearts, a children's home and pre-school, Sailors and Marines repaired and beautified the playground and interacted with the school children. Sailors and Marines also helped distribute food at Sisters of Charity Soup Kitchen to people who visited for a daily meal.

"Our Sailors and Marines could have spent their time in Naples shopping, sightseeing, or anywhere else," said Chaplin Lt. Hardy Owens. "But they chose to serve the community in Naples. After almost a nine-month deployment and five COMRELs it is always gratifying to serve the host country."

Sailors and Marines also had a chance to explore the sites in Italy through Morale, Welfare, Recreation (MWR) tours to Rome, Pompeii, Capri, and a tour of a Campania vineyard.

"It was fun, exciting and full of history and I would like to return," said Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Raul Bautisa. "My favorite tour was Pompeii. We had great food, saw amazing historic landmarks and had a chance to climb to the top of Mount Vesuvius for an amazing view."

Bataan and her crew have been deployed since Feb. 8. During its brief time in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility, the Bataan's presence will help to strengthen regional maritime partnerships with partner nations and help maintain a safe and secure maritime environment.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

San Francisco Fleet Week Concludes

From Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet Public Affairs

SAN FRANCISCO (NNS) -- San Francisco Fleet Week 2014 (SFFW 14) came to an end Oct. 13 after thousands of people came out to visit with America's sea services.

The six-day long event included nearly 25,000 guests from the Bay Area who had the opportunity to tour Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65), Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) and the Navy's newest Amphibious Assault ship USS America (LHA 6).

SFFW 14 also included performances by the Navy's Blue Angels flight demonstration team, multiple performances by the Navy Band Southwest, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief displays at The Marina Green Park, and the traditional Italian Heritage Day parade where Sailors proudly marched down the street as they were cheered on by thousands of people.

SFFW 14 also included a Senior Leadership Symposium, which illustrated cooperation between the sea services and civil authorities. The two-day event brought together leaders from the military along with local, regional, state and federal agencies, and the private sector to discuss their capabilities to respond to a natural disaster in the Bay Area.

The highlight of SFFW 14 was the commissioning of USS America, during which an overwhelming turnout of guests attended to watch the fourth ship of its name become the newest edition to the fleet.

"We are so grateful to the people of San Francisco, and I know all of our Coast Guardsman, Marines, Sailors and Canadian partners will join me in thanking this city for such a warm welcome back into San Francisco," said Vice Adm. Kenneth Floyd, commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet. "It has been a fantastic opportunity to continue the conversation with the people that own these ships."

U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Eastern Pacific from the West Coast of North America to the international date line and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy.

US, Australian, Indonesian Navies Honor USS Houston, HMAS Perth

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brian T. Glunt, USS Frank Cable Public Affairs

USS FRANK CABLE, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors and Military Sealift Command (MSC) civilian mariners assigned to the submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40), along with naval officers from Australia and Indonesia, paid their respects to the crews of USS Houston (CA 30) and HMAS Perth (D 29) during a wreath laying ceremony Oct. 14, at the site of the sunken ships.

In the early morning of March 1, 1942, the cruisers Houston and Perth were sunk by the Japanese Imperial Navy during the Battle of Sunda Strait. During the battle, 696 U.S. Sailors aboard Houston and 375 Australian Sailors aboard Perth, including the captains of both ships, lost their lives.

"We feel it's an honor to take part in this ceremony together," said Royal Australian Navy Capt. Katja Bizilj. "We fought together and ultimately the crews of both ships paid the ultimate sacrifice together in the Indonesian territory; so, it's a great honor to pay respects to their sacrifice together."

Indonesian Navy Chief of Naval Staff, Adm. Marsetio, authorized Indonesian Navy vessels and senior officers to participate in the wreath laying ceremony.

"Every navy has their own tradition in how they honor their heroes who have lost their lives at sea," said Indonesian Navy Capt. Judijanto. "This was the first time I've experienced a ceremony like this and because these ships rest in our territorial waters, it was very special for us to honor and remember the crews of these ships with the other nations."

During the ceremony, the crew of Frank Cable manned the rails in their dress white uniforms as salutes were rendered and wreaths were lowered from the aft quarterdeck into the water above the wreckage of each ship.

Frank Cable conducts maintenance and support on submarines and surface vessels deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility and is currently on a regularly scheduled underway period.

For more information about Frank Cable, visit www.cable.navy.mil or follow on Facebook by typing "Frank Cable" in the search block.