AFSC Goals Series No. 4: ABWs assigned AFSC fourth Strategic Plan goal Published June 28, 2013 By Brandice J. O'Brien Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Editor's note: This is the fifth story in a six-article series about the AFSC Strategic Plan, goals and correlating objectives. Reducing energy consumption is not only a top Air Force priority, but it is also an Air Force Sustainment Center Strategic Plan goal. In fact, AFSC senior leadership aims to "optimize infrastructure and reduce energy consumption while exceeding mission requirements." To help achieve the goal, senior leaders have brainstormed four correlating objectives. They include 1) Reduce energy consumption by 5 percent annually, 2) Reduce square footage by 20 percent by 2020, 3) No mission impact due to failure of key installation infrastructure, and 4) Plan to optimize information technology standardization for maximized cost effectiveness and mission readiness by end of fiscal 2013. "This is about our ability to enhance the infrastructure to support the AFSC mission much more efficiently," said United Kingdom royal air force Wing Commander Jonathan Durke at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Assigned to the Logistics Directorate, he is working with the strategic planning team on the development, maturation and socialization of the AFSC Goals and Objectives. Overseen by the center's three air base wings, the center has a strong grasp on how to reduce energy consumption and put theory into practice. Prior to the standup of the AFSC, the air base wings have taken considerable steps into reducing usage. Now, as budgets tighten, the practicality of reducing consumption is not only good for the environment, but necessary for the Department of Defense, the commander said. "It's a fact of life now for the workforce to understand we're in a financially-constrained environment and we need to continue to not only do business but do it better and more efficiently," he said. While the Air Force may be more focused on energy intensity, Commander Durke said, AFSC Commander Lt. Gen. Bruce Litchfield is centered on reducing energy usage and wants to bring it down by 5 percent each year. 72nd Air Base Wing Vice Commander Col. Stephen Wood at Tinker, leads the efforts for the objective. "Colonel Wood was specifically selected to drive the infrastructure and energy initiatives because he comes with the background and extensive experience in that area while at Tinker," the commander said. The second objective, "Reduce square footage by 20 percent by 2020" is also led by the 72nd ABW vice commander and is also an Air Force-wide priority. "From the Air Force's point-of-view, there's a drive to reduce infrastructure by 20 percent. That doesn't mean every organization in the Air Force drives down its infrastructure by 20 percent. Strictly speaking, the Air Force could do one major infrastructure reduction that may meet the Air Force requirement," said Commander Durke. The third objective, "No mission impact due to failure of key installation infrastructure," is led by 75th Air Base Wing Commander Col. Kathryn Kolbe at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and is about balancing the second objective. "We have to make sure we understand we can't affect the mission through the lack of infrastructure," Commander Durke said. "So, we have to understand what critical infrastructure is and make sure it is available at all times to support the mission." The final objective - "Plan to optimize information technology standardization for maximized cost effectiveness and mission readiness by end of fiscal 2013" - is led by the 78th Air Base Wing Commander Col. Christopher Hill at Robins Air Force Base, Ga. It's a tactical IT piece, but asks important questions - Is the workforce surrounded by unnecessary equipment? Should the center consider storage-area networks? Does the center need to reconsider the networks that are managing its business? "This objective is about cleaning up simple efficiencies," Commander Durke said. "There are a number of individual project teams within the IT area looking at their own areas, requirements and software and hardware pieces to make sure there is harmony across the AFSC."