Vice Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff views Tinker capabilities

  • Published
  • By Greg L. Davis
  • Public Affairs Specialist/Liaison to the Air Force Sustainment Center
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visited Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, April 1, to engage with Team Tinker on the missions of the Air Force Sustainment Center and associate units contribution to the nation's strategic nuclear deterrence.

Lt. Gen. Lee K. Levy II, AFSC Commander, briefed General Paul J. Selva, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on the Center's role in maintaining Air Force aircraft, engines and weapon systems. He also explained how Team Tinker is integral to sustaining the nuclear enterprise mission. Mrs. Selva began a separate tour of Team Tinker's resiliency programs supporting military members and their families while General Selva reviewed key elements of Tinker's massive maintenance complex.

With Brig. Gen. Mark Johnson, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex commander, and, Mr. Charles Alley and Colonel Kenyon Bell, 76th Aircraft Maintenance Group commander, covering the focus areas, General Selva saw both KC-135 Stratotanker and B-52H Stratofortress aircraft in various states of maintenance, repair and overhaul.  He was updated on some of the specific challenges the AFSC and OC-ALC face in maintaining aging aircraft fleets.  He also was shown why the KC-135 aircraft are subjected to longer stays in the facility due to age and how advanced diagnostic techniques are finding potential problems sooner. Earlier finding of problems adds repair time, but are critical to ensuring the overall safety and longevity of the fleet.

This stop on the tour highlighted for the general how the OC-ALC supports the nation's strategic nuclear deterrence through the Programmed Depot Maintenance of Air Force bombers, tankers, commodities, and engines.  The complex also has an emerging mission developing aviation software. 

The tour then moved to see an important industrial and planned military construction site which will add increased production capacity in the form of the KC-46A Pegasus tanker maintenance and support complex.

Strategic Communications Wing One, a U.S. Navy unit operating E-6B Mercury aircraft and based at Tinker AFB, was also visited by General Selva.  E-6Bs provide critical communication links from national command authorities to the nuclear-capable submarine fleet, land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear-capable aircraft that make up the nuclear triad during wartime. Gen. Selva was given an in-depth tour of the aircraft itself while meeting with aircrew members and wing leadership.

Gen. Selva's visit wrapped up as he thanked Team Tinker leadership for the tour and information before preparing to be the guest speaker at the Team Tinker Community Dining Out held at the Tinker Club this evening.

"We are extremely fortunate to have General Selva be able to see first-hand how AFSC, Team Tinker and the Greater Oklahoma City community partner every day to support the warfighter and to enable our nation's strategic nuclear deterrence," said General Levy.

Vice Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff views Tinker capabilities

  • Published
  • By Greg L. Davis
  • Public Affairs Specialist/Liaison to the Air Force Sustainment Center
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visited Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, April 1, to engage with Team Tinker on the missions of the Air Force Sustainment Center and associate units contribution to the nation's strategic nuclear deterrence.

Lt. Gen. Lee K. Levy II, AFSC Commander, briefed General Paul J. Selva, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on the Center's role in maintaining Air Force aircraft, engines and weapon systems. He also explained how Team Tinker is integral to sustaining the nuclear enterprise mission. Mrs. Selva began a separate tour of Team Tinker's resiliency programs supporting military members and their families while General Selva reviewed key elements of Tinker's massive maintenance complex.

With Brig. Gen. Mark Johnson, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex commander, and, Mr. Charles Alley and Colonel Kenyon Bell, 76th Aircraft Maintenance Group commander, covering the focus areas, General Selva saw both KC-135 Stratotanker and B-52H Stratofortress aircraft in various states of maintenance, repair and overhaul.  He was updated on some of the specific challenges the AFSC and OC-ALC face in maintaining aging aircraft fleets.  He also was shown why the KC-135 aircraft are subjected to longer stays in the facility due to age and how advanced diagnostic techniques are finding potential problems sooner. Earlier finding of problems adds repair time, but are critical to ensuring the overall safety and longevity of the fleet.

This stop on the tour highlighted for the general how the OC-ALC supports the nation's strategic nuclear deterrence through the Programmed Depot Maintenance of Air Force bombers, tankers, commodities, and engines.  The complex also has an emerging mission developing aviation software. 

The tour then moved to see an important industrial and planned military construction site which will add increased production capacity in the form of the KC-46A Pegasus tanker maintenance and support complex.

Strategic Communications Wing One, a U.S. Navy unit operating E-6B Mercury aircraft and based at Tinker AFB, was also visited by General Selva.  E-6Bs provide critical communication links from national command authorities to the nuclear-capable submarine fleet, land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear-capable aircraft that make up the nuclear triad during wartime. Gen. Selva was given an in-depth tour of the aircraft itself while meeting with aircrew members and wing leadership.

Gen. Selva's visit wrapped up as he thanked Team Tinker leadership for the tour and information before preparing to be the guest speaker at the Team Tinker Community Dining Out held at the Tinker Club this evening.

"We are extremely fortunate to have General Selva be able to see first-hand how AFSC, Team Tinker and the Greater Oklahoma City community partner every day to support the warfighter and to enable our nation's strategic nuclear deterrence," said General Levy.