Air Force Life Cycle Management Center:

Integrating the Acquisition and

Product Support Enterprise

Air Force Life Cycle Management Center History Office

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

2017
iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Wright Brothers Lead the Way.................................................................................................1

McCook Field: A Foundation Is Established...................................................................................2

A New Home: Wright Field.............................................................................................................4

World War II Reorganization and Expansion..................................................................................5

A New Air Force Brings Specialized Commands and Product Centers..........................................7

Post-Cold War Reform and Consolidation ......................................................................................8

A Five-Center Construct................................................................................................................10

A Center for Life Cycle Management ...........................................................................................11

Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Activates ....................................................................11

Conclusion .....................................................................................................................................18

APPENDICES

A. AFLCMC Lineage and Honors.....................................................................................20

B. AFLCMC Commanders................................................................................................21

C. AFLCMC Emblem and Heraldic Device ......................................................................22

D. AFLCMC Assigned Personnel......................................................................................24

E. AFLCMC Units 2012-2016...........................................................................................25

F. AFLCMC Unit Locations 2016.....................................................................................29
1

AIR FORCE LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT CENTER:

Integrating the Acquisition and Product Support Enterprise

The Wright Brothers Lead the Way

he legacy of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) began with the 

pioneering work of Orville and Wilbur Wright from 1899 to 1903 that enabled them to 

achieve the first manned, powered flight. After their success at Kitty Hawk, they returned 

home to Dayton, Ohio, where in 1904 and 1905 they perfected their flying skills while turning 

the Wright Flyer into the first practical airplane capable of fully-controlled flight. They 

accomplished this work at a site known as the Huffman Prairie Flying Field, now a part of 

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base where AFLCMC is headquartered.

Wright Brothers on Huffman Prairie 1904

In 1907, the Aeronautical Division was established within the Office of the Chief Signal 

Officer of the Army and put in charge “of all matters pertaining to military ballooning, air 

machines, and all kindred subjects on hand.” The Signal Corps fleet consisted of two balloons 

and one dirigible. Following Orville Wright’s successful test flight of an aircraft at Fort Meyer, 

Virginia, the Army Signal Corps took delivery on August 2, 1909 of Signal Corps Airplane 

No. 1 at a total cost of $30,000. (Signal Corps Specification, No. 486). Through their research, 

development, production, and logistics, the Wrights pioneered the aerospace system life cycle 

management process, which the Signal Corps acquired along with Airplane No. 1.

T
2

Fort Meyer Flight Test of Signal Corps Aircraft No. 1

McCook Field: A Foundation Is Established

he advent of World War I found the United States technologically ill-prepared to assist 

the allies in fighting an air war. In July 1914 the Army Signal Corps Aviation Section, 

the successor to the Aeronautical Division, had 30 aircraft and 40 pilots. When the 

United States entered the war in April 1917, those numbers had risen to about 200 airplanes, but 

none were fit for combat, and fewer than 1,200 men were assigned to the Aviation Section. By 

the November 11, 1918 Armistice, the 45 American Expeditionary Force squadrons had 740 

airplanes equipped with the latest armament, 12 of them flying American built planes.

Engineering Division, McCook Field

T
3

McCook Field

To meet wartime demands, the Signal Corps sought a new location for construction of a 

temporary experimental engineering field where all Army aircraft engineering and procurement 

functions could be consolidated. A site north of downtown Dayton, Ohio, was selected and 

construction of McCook Field began in October 1917. The field soon became home to the 

Signal Corps (later Air Service) Airplane Engineering Department.

Over the next decade, the Airplane Engineering Department (renamed the Airplane 

Engineering Division) served as the center of all Army aviation research and development. 

McCook Field’s engineers kept the skies humming with flight tests. They also designed 

protective clothing and other improvements such as closed cockpits, heated and pressurized 

cabins, oxygen systems, the concept of the electric ignition system, as well as the invention of 

anti-knock fuels. They worked on improving navigational aids, weather forecasting techniques, 

propellers, aerial photography, and the design of landing and wing lights for night flying. In 

McCook Field Staff
4

short, they were engaged in the research, development, and acquisition of everything related to 

flying.

In 1925, the Engineering Division’s role shifted from aircraft design and construction to 

acquiring and evaluating prototype systems submitted by commercial aircraft companies. The 

transition to commercial suppliers forced manufacturers to compete with each other to produce 

quality aircraft. This change freed McCook’s engineers to concentrate on developing standards 

unique to military aircraft, reviewing designs, modifying and testing procured machines, and 

developing ancillary equipment to enhance military aircraft.

A New Home: Wright Field

n 1926, the Engineering Division and the Field Service Section were combined under the 

newly established Army Air Corps to form the Materiel Division, which was given 

responsibility for aeronautical research, procurement, supply, and maintenance. The 

expanding Materiel Division required better 

quarters than the temporary facilities and 

limited runway available at McCook Field 

and the search for a new location began. 

With Dayton facing the threatened loss of 

McCook Field’s operations, John H. 

Patterson, President of the National Cash 

Register Corporation in Dayton, initiated a 

local campaign to raise money to purchase 

a tract of land large enough for a new air 

field. A coalition of prominent Dayton 

citizens and businessmen conducted a 

campaign that raised $425,000 in two days, 

enough to purchase 4,520 acres east of Dayton, including Wilbur Wright Field (a flying field 

already leased by the Air Service which included the Huffman Prairie). In August 1924, the Air 

Service accepted Dayton’s gift and agreed to build a new field on the site.

Wright Field was officially dedicated on October 

12, 1927 and the McCook Field laboratories and 

engineering shops were moved to the new home of the 

Materiel Division. Wright Field’s facilities included a 

main laboratory, a final assembly hangar and adjacent 

shops, a dynamometer laboratory, wind tunnels, propeller 

test facilities, an airship hangar, an armament range, a 

foundry, and other supporting facilities.

The Wright Field staff began acquiring aircraft 

designed to fulfill specific mission roles. The first 

production attack, cargo, and bomber aircraft were soon 

being delivered. Meanwhile, Wright Field’s engineers 

and scientists developed navigation and communications 

I
5

equipment, cockpit instrumentation, electrically-heated flight clothing, and in-flight refueling 

equipment. However, Congress’ continued severe underfunding of the Army Air Corps up to the 

eve of World War II left the service a small, poorly-equipped, and outdated force compared to 

the adversaries it would soon engage.

Wright Field, 1927

World War II Reorganization and Expansion

nder the Lend-Lease Act of 1941, the Materiel Division began supplying armament, 

aircraft, and equipment to the European Allies. These operations expanded massively 

when the United States entered World War II in December 1941. The previous June, the 

Army Air Corps had been redesignated the Army Air Forces. In October the engineering and 

logistics functions, which had been combined in 1926 as the Materiel Division, were separated 

again and the logistics activities moved to the new Air Service Command. The Materiel 

Division became Materiel Command in 1942 and was given responsibility for planning, 

development, testing, evaluation, modification, contracting, and coordinating production for all 

Army aircraft deployed worldwide. Subsequent jurisdictional conflicts between Materiel and Air 

Service Commands resulted in the August 31, 1944 establishment of Air Technical Service 

Command (renamed Air Materiel Command in 1946) which once again reunited the research, 

development, acquisition, and logistics functions.

U
6

Building 262, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, was Headquarters for Air Service 

Command, Air Materiel Command, Air Force Logistics Command, and Air Force 

Materiel Command.

Hanscom Field
7

The massive scope of defense work during World War II resulted in many Wright Field 

functions moving to new locations. Wartime work conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of

Technology at Hanscom Field paved the way for Hanscom to emerge as the post-war center for 

the development and acquisition of electronic systems. Eglin Field, Florida, was established as a 

proving ground for aircraft armament. Kirtland Army Air Field in New Mexico transitioned 

from a flight training center in 1946 to a flight test center. It also assumed responsibility for 

developing aircraft modifications for weapons delivery, determining ballistic characteristics for 

weapons of the future, and testing and evaluating special weapons. Tinker Field in Oklahoma 

repaired and modified bombers and cargo planes. It also overhauled thousands of aircraft 

engines enroute to becoming the Air Force’s premier propulsion facility. The immense volume 

of flight test work and the need for a secret location to test experimental aircraft drove flight 

testing from Wright Field to Rogers Dry Lake in Muroc, California, which later become the Air 

Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base.

A New Air Force Brings Specialized Commands and Product Centers

he Air Force became an independent service in 1947. Growing involvement with 

research and development activities and the advent of more technologically sophisticated 

systems gave impetus to the new service’s reassessment of the roles of research, 

acquisition, and logistics. In 1950 the Air Force announced the creation of a separate command 

for research and development. Those missions transferred from Air Materiel Command to the 

new Air Research and Development Command 

(ARDC). In 1951 ARDC placed the principal 

elements of engineering, the laboratories, and flight 

testing under the Wright Air Development Center 

(WADC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The 

following year, ARDC brought together armament 

development and testing in what would become the 

Air Force Armament Center at Eglin AFB, Florida.

During the 1950’s, aeronautical development 

in the Air Force was the WADC mission. WADC’s 

seven divisions (Weapons Systems, Weapons 

Components, Research, Aeronautics, All-Weather 

Flying, Flight Test, and Materiel) and 12 laboratories 

conducted research and development efforts through 

Weapon System Project Offices (WSPOs). The WSPO concept originated from Germany’s 

World War II missile development program, where missile designers were forced to focus on the 

entire system rather than simply build an airframe, then hang engines, avionics, and armament on 

it. This original concept evolved into the modern Air Force System Program Office (SPO).

In 1961, the Air Force announced a substantial reorganization of the systems acquisition 

structure. The research and development mission of the Air Research and Development 

Command was combined with the procurement and production mission of Air Materiel 

Command to form Air Force Systems Command (AFSC). The mission of AFSC and its 

subordinate units was to manage the research, development, and acquisition of aerospace 

T
8

systems. The Aeronautical Systems Division (ASD) activated at Wright-Patterson Air Force 

Base April 1, 1961 replaced WADC and assumed its missions. Simultaneously, the Electronic 

Systems Division (ESD) activated at Hanscom AFB and was tasked to consolidate management 

of the Air Force’s electronic systems under one agency.

Post-Cold War Reform and Consolidation

he end of the Cold War combined with a declining Soviet threat, federal budget 

constraints, and the high cost of modern technology triggered Air Force reassessments of 

its acquisition processes as well as research, development, and logistics roles. Congress 

also began passing substantial legislation designed to improve and increase oversight of 

acquisition programs. These actions generated a host of management tools and initiatives such 

as total quality management, activity based costing, lean aerospace initiative, integrated weapon 

systems management, and strategic planning to foster production of more reliable systems that 

could be delivered faster and cheaper. Other reforms focused on integrating all functional life 

cycle requirements into the development of weapon systems.

A 1986 Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense Management (Packard Commission) and 

the Goldwater-Nichols DoD Reorganization Act laid the groundwork for the coming reforms. 

A follow-on Defense Management Report directed by President George H.W. Bush outlined a 

path to improve weapons procurement and Pentagon management by fully implementing the 

Packard Commission recommendations. Accordingly, in 1990 management authority for major 

programs was transferred from AFSC to independent Program Executive Officers (PEOs) at the 

Pentagon. PEOs were established for six mission areas: space systems, strategic systems, tactical 

strike systems, tactical airlift systems, information support systems, and command, control, and

communications systems. Product center system program managers reported directly to their 

PEOs at the Pentagon, bypassing both the system divisions and the AFSC commander. AFSC, 

however, retained program management authority for minor programs.

T
9

On January 10, 1991, the Secretary of the Air 

Force announced that Air Force Systems Command and 

Air Force Logistics Command would inactivate and Air 

Force Materiel Command (AFMC) would be established 

and activated at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, on July 1, 

1992. This announcement started the first complete 

overhaul of Air Force materiel management since 1961. 

AFMC did more than reunify the research, development, 

procurement, and sustainment missions within a single 

major command. It developed a new culture by drawing 

upon the talents, capabilities, and best practices of both 

AFSC and AFLC while incorporating modern 

management concepts, tools, and processes. AFMC 

became responsible for the full spectrum of activities 

necessary to provide systems to the warfighter and to support them from “cradle to grave.” The 

Aeronautical Systems Division and Electronic Systems Division were redesignated as Centers. 

The 88th Air Base Wing, the host organization for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, was 

assigned to the Aeronautical Systems Center. In 1994 ASC’s 4950th Test Wing inactivated and 

its operations moved to the Air Force Flight Test Center. 

Further restructuring came in 1997 when the Air Force 

Research Laboratory (AFRL) was activated. AFRL 

separated the research units from the product centers and 

consolidated the Air Force’s laboratories to reduce 

manpower and more easily serve the entire Air Force 

rather than just their assigned product centers. The next 

year, the Air Force Development Test Center at Eglin 

AFB, Florida, became the Air Armament Center, a 

product center responsible for development, acquisition, 

testing, and fielding of all air-delivered weapons. The 

Human Systems Center at Brooks AFB, Texas, was also 

reintegrated into the Aeronautical Systems Center.

In 2003, the Air Force Chief of Staff initiated a review of the Air Force’s product, 

logistics, and test centers to make them more recognizable and understandable to their 

counterparts across the Air Force. The review drove an Air Force decision to improve program 

accountability by consolidating its PEO portfolios around larger mission groups and relocating 

them to the product centers. A second decision in 2005 replaced the System Program Offices at 

the product centers with standard Air Force units—wings, groups, and squadrons. These units 

were assigned their own organic functional resources and manpower. Matrix management, the 

practice of detailing functional support as needed to the program offices, was eliminated. Air 

Force leaders believed military units would make acquisition and product centers more 

transparent to the operational side of the service, reduce confusion when programs moved from 

the acquisition to the sustainment phase, and establish better program accountability.
10

The military units soon faced new problems. Their structure prevented senior managers 

from quickly detailing specialists and moving personnel between program offices and units as 

needed. Administrative tasks and a hierarchical structure burdened commanders and slowed the 

flow of information and decision making. Consequently, the military unit structure was replaced 

in 2010 with named directorates, divisions, and branches. Smaller PEO portfolios were 

co-located with their product centers rather than in Washington, D.C. The PEOs, while 

continuing to report to the Service Acquisition Executive at the Pentagon, were also named 

directors of their respective product center directorates.

A Five-Center Construct

n June 4, 2010, the Secretary of Defense issued a memorandum challenging the military 

services to eliminate redundant functions and increase funding for mission functions 

through efficiency savings in overhead, support, and non-core mission areas. 

A subsequent Air Force strategic review revealed imbalances between high priority areas 

that required more manpower and management overhead functions that needed to be 

streamlined. A DoD Resource Management Decision freezing civilian manpower at FY 2010 

budget levels forced the Air Force to initiate a variety of measures to correct manpower

imbalances and realign scarce resources to the most critical missions. AFMC’s senior leaders 

decided in 2011 to attack the issue by restructuring the command’s centers from twelve locationspecific subordinate organizations requiring full support staffs into five mission-based, integrated 

life cycle centers.

O
11

The five-center construct was designed to reduce overhead costs and redundant layers of 

staff. Its benefits included fostering a life cycle management focus, integrating maintenance and 

supply chain functions, and improving the goal of presenting a single face to customers. The 

consolidated organizations would standardize business practices, streamline processes and 

decision making authority, and bring AFMC into a one mission-one commander alignment. 

AFMC’s five centers would be the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) at 

Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; the Air Force Sustainment Center (AFSC) at Tinker Air Force 

Base, Oklahoma; the Air Force Test Center (AFTC) at Edwards AFB, California; the Air Force 

Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base; and the Air Force Nuclear 

Weapons Center (AFNWC) at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. The restructuring would eliminate 

over 1,000 civilian positions while preserving mission capability. The result would also unleash 

the full power of the system program manager and program executive officer concepts by 

replacing the traditional management-staff model with lead centers that oversaw multiple 

locations for each core mission area. Additionally, each system would have one unified program 

execution chain of command for oversight from conception to disposal.

A Center for Life Cycle Management

ir Force planners conceived the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center as a 

mechanism to bring focused, disciplined, and integrated life cycle management to the 

acquisition of Air Force weapon systems. This approach would drive long-term strategic 

perspectives to weapon system development, procurement, and support. Planners 

believed that consolidating design, production, and product support decisions under a single 

manager would establish clear lines of authority, responsibility, and accountability for all Air 

Force weapon systems, increase flexibility in response to changing operational needs and 

optimize use of program dollars. AFLCMC would foster standard business processes across the 

enterprise, allowing the Center to uniformly and continuously improve its processes enterprise 

wide to achieve on-time and on-cost weapon procurement, fielding, and product support. 

AFLCMC would also present a single weapon system face to the Air Force, the other services, 

and the Allied and Combatant Commands to facilitate faster responses to warfighter 

requirements.

Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Activates

eadquarters Air Force Life Cycle Management Center was constituted on June 18, 2012, 

activated on July 9, 2012 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and assigned to the 

Air Force Materiel Command. Lieutenant General Clyde D. Moore II was appointed as 

AFLCMC’s first commander. The mission assigned to the new Center was to:

Develop, acquire, modernize, integrate, and support affordable and sustainable 

advanced aerospace, cyberspace, command, control and communications, and 

weapons capabilities to our warfighters (AF, joint service, allied and coalition 

partners) and work the priorities of the Secretary of the AF, Chief of Staff of the 

AF, AF Materiel Command (AFMC) Commander, and the Service Acquisition

Executive. To provide dominant air, space, and cyberspace power, AFLCMC

A

H
12

delivers affordable and sustainable war-winning capabilities to US and 

international partners--on time, on cost, anywhere, anytime from cradle to grave. 

Accomplish the Center mission through ten Program Executive Officers (PEOs) 

(Agile Combat Support; Armament; Battle Management; C3I and Networks; 

Business Enterprise Systems; Fighters and Bombers; Intelligence, Surveillance, 

Reconnaissance and Special Operations Forces (ISR and SOF); Mobility; 

Strategic Systems; and Tanker Directorates) and three program directorates (Air 

Force Security Assistance Cooperation, Airborne Laser, and Propulsion) at nine 

major geographic locations (Wright-Patterson AFB OH, Hanscom AFB MA, 

Eglin AFB FL, Lackland AFB TX, Robins AFB GA, Tinker AFB OK, Hill AFB 

UT, Kirtland AFB NM and Gunter AFB AL), with responsibility for installation 

support at the 66th Air Base Group (Hanscom AFB MA) and 88th Air Base Wing 

(Wright-Patterson AFB OH).

For operational convenience, Lieutenant General Moore simplified the mission statement to: 

“Delivering affordable and sustainable war-winning capabilities to U.S. and international 

partners, on time, on cost, anywhere, anytime from cradle to grave.” AFLCMC was the sole 

center responsible for total life cycle management of all aircraft, engines, munitions, electronics, 
13

and cyber systems. It handled the acquisition and initial fielding of new systems and upgrades, 

developed new materiel solutions, and transitioned interesting technologies into militarily useful 

capabilities. It was responsible for ensuring the systems were sustainable, while extending and 

improving the capabilities of systems that were already fielded. AFLCMC also executed foreign 

military sales of aircraft and other defense-related equipment, while building security assistance 

relationships with foreign partner nation air forces. AFLCMC would consolidate PEO portfolios 

under a single center. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base was selected as the location for 

Headquarters, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center based on mission, ability to absorb 

workload, facilities and infrastructure, cost of facilities, and ability to meet the Initial Operational 

Capability date.

During the transition period extending from AFLCMC’s activation until Initial 

Operational Capability was declared on 1 October 2012, Air Armament Center, Aeronautical 

Systems Center, Electronic Systems Center, and Air Force Security Assistance Center and their 

subordinate units were attached to AFLCMC. On October 1, 2012, those four centers inactivated 

and the 66th Air Base Group, 88th Air Base Wing, and 645th Aeronautical Systems Group and 

their subordinate units were formally assigned to the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.

Headquarters, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center was built around and absorbed 

the former Aeronautical Systems Center staff. The Center’s functional staff offices were:

Acquisition Excellence Directorate (AQ) Plans and Programs Directorate (XP)

Engineering Directorate (EN) Staff Judge Advocate Office (JA)

Financial Management Directorate (FM) Small Business Office (SB)

Personnel Directorate (DP) Safety Office (SE)

Contracting Directorate (PK)

The execution directorates were:

Contract Execution Directorate (PZ) Technical Engineering Services Directorate (EZ)

Program Execution Directorate (AZ) Financial Analysis and Cost Directorate (FZ)

Intelligence Directorate (IN) Program Development and Integration Directorate (XZ)

Logistics Services Directorate (LG)
14

The program directorates were:

Air Force Security Assistance Cooperation Directorate (WF), Wright-Patterson Air Force 

Base, Ohio;

Propulsion Directorate (LP), Tinker AFB, Oklahoma; and 

High Power Directed Energy Program Directorate (TM), Kirtland AFB, New Mexico 

(Until 2013).

The Propulsion Directorate was accountable for the Air Force propulsion enterprise and oversaw 

a portfolio of over 23,000 engines. The Air Force Security Assistance and Cooperation 

Directorate oversaw Foreign Military Sales cases for Department of Defense and allied weapon 

systems.
15

The Program Executive Officer directorates were:

Agile Combat Support Directorate (WN), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio;

Armament Directorate (EB), Eglin AFB, Florida;

Battle Management Directorate (HB), Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts;

Business and Enterprise Systems Directorate (HI), Maxwell Gunter 

Annex, Alabama;

Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence and Networks Directorate 

(HN), Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts;

Fighters and Bombers Directorate (WW), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio;

Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Directorate (WI), 

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio;

Mobility Directorate (WL), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio;

Strategic Systems Directorate (SS), Kirtland AFB, New Mexico (until 2015); and

Tanker Directorate (WK), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

The Agile Combat Support Directorate (WN)

oversaw metrology and calibration missions, 

automatic test systems, combat electronics 

systems, electronic warfare and avionics, 

environmental and industrial engineering, human 

systems, simulator systems, and support 

equipment and vehicles.

The Armament Directorate (EB) jointly managed,

with the U.S. Navy, the development, testing, 

fielding, and sustainment of air-to-air missiles, 

air-to-ground munitions, directed energy 

weaponization, and armament test and training 

systems.

The Battle Management Directorate (HB) 

supported aerospace management, air operations 

command and control, mission planning, 

intelligence, theater battle control, airborne battle 

management, missile warning, space control 

sensors, joint operations and force application 

planning, force protection, and weather 

operations.
16

The Business and Enterprise Systems Directorate (HI) 

enabled enterprise information technology capabilities and 

supported upgrades to modernize infrastructure across the 

combat and mission support spectrum.

The Command, Control, Communications, 

Intelligence, and Networks (C3I&N) Directorate 

(HN) sustained cyberspace, communications, 

cryptologic, and space and nuclear network 

capabilities.

The Fighters and Bombers Directorate (WW) 

provided the Air Force’s strike aircraft.

The Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance 

(ISR), and Special Operations Forces (SOF) 

Directorate (WI) delivered intelligence, 

surveillance, reconnaissance, and special 

operations systems.
17

The Mobility Directorate (WL) managed

development, production, testing, deployment, 

and sustainment of a mobility and training 

aircraft portfolio.

The Tanker Directorate (WK) directed the 

KC-46 and Legacy Tanker programs.

The Strategic Systems Directorate (SS), which supplied 

safe, secure, and effective nuclear capability to the 

nation’s deterrent forces, was was abolished 1 October 

2015. Its manpower authorizations, functions, and the 

Program Executive Officer for Strategic Systems 

(AFPEO/SS) were transferred to the Air Force Nuclear 

Weapons Center.

Several AFLCMC functional staffs (i.e. Acquisition Excellence, Engineering, Financial 

Management, Contracting, etc.), were divided into management directorates and new mission 

execution directorates. The latter contained low density-high demand authorizations to provide 

shared resources for organization, training, and equipping functions through the AFLCMC 

command chain to directly support the Program Executive Officers. Where applicable, the 

management and execution directors of these organizations were dual-hatted. Program 

Executive Officers remained at their existing locations where they reported to the AFLCMC 
18

commander for organization, training, and equipping, but continued to perform and report their 

program execution responsibilities through the Service Acquisition Executive.

Units reporting to the Center were the 66th Air Base Group at Hanscom AFB, 

Massachusetts, and the 88th Air Base Wing, 645th Aeronautical Systems Group, and 

21st Intelligence Squadron at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

AFLCMC also assumed oversight responsibility for the life cycle management mission 

within the former Aerospace Sustainment Directorates (ASDs) at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, Hill 

AFB, Utah, and Robins AFB, Georgia. The ASDs provided important program management, 

logistics, and engineering support to assigned weapon systems. Their staff organizations were 

eliminated and their program offices realigned under acquisition directorates reporting to 

AFLCMC’s PEOs. Their acquisition workforces remained in place. System Program Managers

(SPM) had authority to accomplish program objectives for development, production, and product 

support to meet the operational needs of customers. They reported to and were rated by the 

Program Executive Officers and Directors. To ensure system program efforts were horizontally 

integrated at Air Force Sustainment Center’s Air Logistics Complexes, the SPMs also reported to 

the ASD for depot operations functions executed by the Air Logistics Complex commander. In 

all, AFLCMC operated from 77 worldwide locations.

With the Center activated, organized, and operating, Air Force Life Cycle Management 

Center was able to achieve Initial Operational Capability on October 1, 2012 and Full 

Operational Capability on October 22, 2013.

Conclusion

he Air Force Life Cycle Management Center inherited both a rich tradition and many 

challenges. It once again brought acquisition and product support together in a single 

organization. This time, however, the organization was charged with operating as a 

single integrated team across the acquisition and product support enterprise, combining 

acquisition and product support units and missions spread across the globe. It was to hone the 

warfighter’s edge by acquiring and supporting war-winning aircraft, engines, munitions, 

electronics, and cyber weapon systems, and sub-systems. To accomplish this, AFLCMC had to 

T
19

develop, acquire, and field new systems, while modifying existing ones and operating several 

major installations. Functioning with minimum management overhead, the AFLCMC team is

focused on accomplishing its mission with effective, affordable, on-time solutions while

maximizing value through efficient mission execution and cross enterprise integration. Facing 

and meeting these challenges presents AFLCMC with an opportunity to carve a new chapter in 

Air Force history and promises it an exciting future.
20

APPENDIX A

AIR FORCE LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT CENTER

LINEAGE AND HONORS

Lineage

Established as HQ Air Force Life Cycle Management Center on 18 Jun 2012. Activated on 9 Jul 

2012.

Assignments

Air Force Materiel Command, 1 Jul 2012.

Stations

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, 1 July 2012.

Commanders

Lt Gen Clyde D. Moore II, 9 Jul 2012; Lt Gen John F. Thompson, 2 Oct 2014; Lt Gen Robert D. 

McMurry, Jr., 2 May 2017.

Aircraft

None.

Honors

Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, [9 Jul] 2012 - 30 Jun 2014.

Emblem

Approved on 17 August 2012.
21

APPENDIX B

AIR FORCE LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT CENTER

COMMANDERS

Lieutenant General Clyde D. Moore II 9 Jul 2012

Lieutenant General John F. Thompson 2 Oct 2014

Lieutenant General Robert D. McMurry, Jr. 2 May 2017
22

APPENDIX C

AIR FORCE LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT CENTER

EMBLEM

AIR FORCE LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT CENTER

BLAZON

Azure within two lightning flashes conjoined in chief curved to base, one in dexter and one in 

sinister Argent, voided in chief as a delta of the field, a globe per pale Azure (Cobalt Blue) and 

Celeste, gridlined Or, overall a lance erect of the second, all within a narrow bordure of the 

fourth.

SIGNIFICANCE

Ultramarine blue and Air Force yellow are the Air Force colors. Blue alludes to the sky, the 

primary theater of Air Force operations. Yellow refers to the sun and the excellence required of 

Air Force personnel. The globe represents the worldwide impact of the Center and its ability to 

develop solutions for the warfighter for night, day and in all situations. A lance and lightning 

bolts outline a stylized aircraft system, representing the full range of systems--aeronautical, 

armament and electronic--that the Center provides to the United States Air Force and its 

international partners.
23

HERALDIC DEVICE

A three-dimensional representation of the unit emblem evokes the Air Force Life Cycle 

Management Center’s clear vision of its mission and unequivocal commitment to providing our 

warfighters with the finest systems in the world. The two-toned globe represents the wide 

ranging Center workforce, the unit’s worldwide impact, and its ability to develop solutions that 

serve the warfighter in all operational situations, 24-hours a day. A lance and lightning bolts 

outline a stylized aircraft system. These elements represent the full range of systems—

aeronautical, armament, and electronic—and the unified life cycle weapon system management

that the Center provides to the United States Air Force and its international partners.
24

APPENDIX D

AIR FORCE LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT CENTER

ASSIGNED PERSONNEL

Year Officer Enlisted Civilian Total CME*

2012 2,412 2,618 14,743 19,773 5,960

2013 2,420 2,643 14,681 19,744 5,849

2014 2,267 2,570 14,734 19,571 6,194

2015 2,133 2,444 15,196 19,733 6,230

2016 2,129 2,512 15,040 19,681 6,081

* CME - Contract Man-Year Equivalents were budget authorizations that could be either filled or 

vacant, but were always counted as filled.
25

APPENDIX E

AIR FORCE LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT CENTER

UNITS 2012-2016

UNITS ASSIGNED

HQ 66th Air Base Group 1 Oct 2012

66th Comptroller Squadron 1 Oct 2012

66th Security Forces Squadron 1 Oct 2012

66th Force Support Squadron 1 Oct 2012

66th Logistics Readiness Squadron 1 Oct 2012

66th Medical Squadron 1 Oct 2012

HQ 88th Air Base Wing 1 Oct 2012

HQ 88th Civil Engineer Group 1 Oct 2014

88th Civil Engineer Squadron 1 Oct 2014

788th Civil Engineer Squadron 1 Oct 2014

HQ 88th Medical Group 1 Oct 2012

88th Aerospace Medicine Squadron 1 Oct 2012

88th Dental Squadron 1 Oct 2012

88th Diagnostic and Therapeutics Squadron 1 Oct 2012

88th Inpatient Operations Squadron 1 Oct 2012

88th Medical Operations Squadron 1 Oct 2012

88th Medical Support Squadron 1 Oct 2012

88th Surgical Operations Squadron 1 Oct 2012

HQ 88th Mission Support Group 1 Oct 2012

88th Force Support Squadron 1 Oct 2012

88th Logistics Readiness Squadron 10 Oct 2013

88th Security Forces Squadron 1 Oct 2012

HQ 88th Communications Group 1 Oct 2012

88th Communications Squadron 1 Oct 2012

88th Comptroller Squadron 1 Oct 2012

88th Operations Support Squadron 1 Oct 2012

HQ 645th Air Base Group 1 Oct 2012

645th Aeronautical Systems Squadron 1 Oct 2012

661st Aeronautical Systems Squadron 1 Oct 2012

Detachment 1, HQ AFLCMC 1 Oct 2012 - 21 Feb 2013

Detachment 2, HQ AFLCMC 1 Oct 2012 - 21 Feb 2013

Detachment 3, HQ AFLCMC 1 Oct 2012

Detachment 4, HQ AFLCMC 1 Oct 2012

Detachment 5, HQ AFLCMC 1 Oct 2012

Detachment 6, HQ AFLCMC 1 Oct 2012

Detachment 7, HQ AFLCMC 1 Oct 2012
26

United States Air Force Band of Liberty 1 Oct 2012 - 17 Aug 2013

21st Intelligence Squadron 9 Oct 2012

Detachment 1, 661st Aeronautical Systems Squadron 4 Jun 2013

UNITS ATTACHED

HQ AF Security Assistance Center 9 Jul 2012 – 1 Oct 2012

Detachment 1, HQ Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center 9 Jul 2012 – 1 Oct 2012

Detachment 1, HQ Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex 10 Jul 2012 – 1 Oct 2012

Detachment 1, HQ Ogden Air Logistics Complex 12 Jul 2012 – 1 Oct 2012

HQ Electronic Systems Center 16 Jul 2012 – 1 Oct 2012

HQ 66th Air Base Group 16 Jul 2012 – 1 Oct 2012

United States Air Force Band of Liberty 16 Jul 2012 – 1 Oct 2012

Detachment 1, HQ Electronic Systems Center 16 Jul 2012 – 1 Oct 2012

Detachment 2, HQ Electronic Systems Center 16 Jul 2012 – 1 Oct 2012

Detachment 3, HQ Electronic Systems Center 16 Jul 2012 – 1 Oct 2012

Detachment 1, HQ Warner-Robins Air Logistics Complex 17 Jul 2012 – 1 Oct 2012

Detachment 2, HQ Warner-Robins Air Logistics Complex 17 Jul 2012 – 1 Oct 2012

Detachment 3, HQ Warner-Robins Air Logistics Complex 17 Jul 2012 – 1 Oct 2012

HQ Air Armament Center 18 Jul 2012 – 1 Oct 2012

HQ Aeronautical Systems Center 20 Jul 2012 – 1 Oct 2012

HQ 88th Air Base Wing 20 Jul 2012 – 1 Oct 2012

HQ 645th Aeronautical Systems Group 20 Jul 2012 – 1 Oct 2012

Detachment 1, HQ Aeronautical Systems Center 20 Jul 2012 – 1 Oct 2012

Detachment 2, HQ Aeronautical Systems Center 20 Jul 2012 – 1 Oct 2012

Detachment 3, HQ Aeronautical Systems Center 20 Jul 2012 – 1 Oct 2012

AFMC Intelligence Squadron 1 Aug 2012 - 9 Oct 2012

Detachment 4, HQ Air Force Life Cycle Management Center

00BE Palmdale AF Plant CA 1 Oct 2012

00FH Palmdale AF Plant CA 1 Oct 2012

0PZS Palmdale AF Plant CA 1 Oct 2012

Detachment 5, HQ Air Force Life Cycle Management Center

00LF Maxwell Gunter AFS AL 1 Oct 2012

00LG Maxwell Gunter AFS AL 1 Oct 2012

00LH Maxwell Gunter AFS AL 1 Oct 2012

00LJ Maxwell Gunter AFS AL 1 Oct 2012

00LR Maxwell Gunter AFS AL 1 Oct 2012

00MS Maxwell Gunter AFS AL 1 Oct 2012

00MT Maxwell Gunter AFS AL 1 Oct 2012

00NB Maxwell Gunter AFS AL 1 Oct 2012

00NO Maxwell Gunter AFS AL 1 Oct 2012

0EZM Maxwell Gunter AFS AL 1 Oct 2012

0JAG Maxwell Gunter AFS AL 1 Oct 2012

0PZC Maxwell Gunter AFS AL 1 Oct 2012

Detachment 6, HQ Air Force Life Cycle Management Center

00BA San Antonio, TX 1 Oct 2012
27

00DN JBSA Lackland AFB TX 1 Oct 2012

00GA San Antonio, TX 1 Oct 2012

00GP JBSA Randolph AFB TX 1 Oct 2012

00KF JBSA Lackland AFB TX 1 Oct 2012

00KW JBSA Lackland AFB TX 1 Oct 2012

00LE San Antonio, TX 1 Oct 2012

00LN San Antonio, TX 1 Oct 2012

00MM JBSA Lackland AFB TX 1 Oct 2012

00MN JBSA Randolph AFB TX 1 Oct 2012

00NE JBSA Lackland AFB TX 1 Oct 2012

00NQ JBSA Randolph AFB TX 1 Oct 2012

0PZH San Antonio, TX 1 Oct 2012

0PZL JBSA Lackland AFB TX 1 Oct 2012

0PZP JBSA Randolph AFB TX 1 Oct 2012

Detachment 7, HQ Air Force Life Cycle Management Center

00JR Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

00JS Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

00JT Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

00KB Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

00KC Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

00KE Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

00KT Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

00KZ Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

00LB Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

00LC Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

00LQ Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

00LS Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

00LT Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

00LU Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

00LV Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

00LY Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

00MB Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

00MH Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

00MJ Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

00MY Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

00MZ Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

00NC Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

0AQH Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

0AZH Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

0ENH Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

0EZH Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

0FMH Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

0FZH Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

0JAH Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

0PMH Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

0PZA Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012
28

0PZR Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

0XJH Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

0XZB Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012

0IZH Hanscom AFB MA 1 Oct 2012
29

APPENDIX F

AIR FORCE LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT CENTER

UNIT LOCATIONS

2016

ASSIGNED UNIT LOCATIONS

HQ Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio;

HQ 66th Air Base Group, Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts;

HQ 88th Air Base Wing, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio;

HQ 645th Aeronautical Systems Group, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio;

661st Aeronautical Systems Squadron, Waco, Texas;

Detachment 1, 661st Aeronautical Systems Squadron, Denver, Colorado;

645th Aeronautical Systems Squadron, Greenville, Texas;

21st Intelligence Squadron, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio;

Detachment 3, HQ Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Poway, California;

Detachment 4, HQ Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Palmdale AF Plant, California;

Detachment 5, HQ Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Maxwell AFB/Gunter Annex, 

Alabama;

Detachment 6, HQ Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, JBSA Lackland AFB, Texas; and

Detachment 7, HQ Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts.

OPERATING LOCATIONS

Detachment 5, HQ Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Maxwell AFB/Gunter Annex, 

Alabama

00LF Maxwell AFB/Gunter Annex, Alabama

00LG Maxwell AFB/Gunter Annex, Alabama

00LH Maxwell AFB/Gunter Annex, Alabama

00LJ Maxwell AFB/Gunter Annex, Alabama

00LR Maxwell AFB/Gunter Annex, Alabama
30

00MS Maxwell AFB/Gunter Annex, Alabama

00MT Maxwell AFB/Gunter Annex, Alabama

00NO Maxwell AFB/Gunter Annex, Alabama

0EZM Maxwell AFB/Gunter Annex, Alabama

00PN Maxwell AFB/Gunter Annex, Alabama

0PZC Maxwell AFB/Gunter Annex, Alabama

Detachment 6, HQ Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, JBSA Lackland, Texas

00BA San Antonio, Texas

00DN JBSA Lackland, Texas

00GA San Antonio, Texas

00GP JBSA Randolph, Texas

00KW JBSA Lackland, Texas

00LE San Antonio, Texas

00LN JBSA Lackland, Texas

00MN JBSA Randolph, Texas

00NE JBSA Lackland, Texas

00NQ JBSA Randolph, Texas

0IZL JBSA Lackland, Texas

0PZH San Antonio, Texas

0PZL JBSA Lackland, Texas

0PZP JBSA Randolph, Texas

Detachment 7, HQ Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

00JR Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

00JS Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

00JT Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

00KB Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

00KC Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

00KE Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

00KT Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

00KZ Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

00LB Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

00LC Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

00LQ Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

00LS Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

00LT Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

00LU Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

00LV Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

00LY Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

00MB Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

00MH Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

00MJ Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

00MY Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

0AQH Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

0AZH Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts
31

0ENH Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

0EZH Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

0FMH Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

0FZH Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

0PMH Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

0PZA Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

0PZR Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

0XJH Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

0XZB Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

0IZH Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

OTHER LOCATIONS

Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland

Amendola AB, Italy

Arlington, Virginia

Bolling AFB, DC

Cairo City, Egypt

Cherry Point MCAS, North Carolina

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Corpus Christi Depot, Texas

Dahlgren NSF, Virginia

Denver, Colorado

Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

Edwards AFB, California

Eglin AFB, Florida

Eindhoven AB, Netherlands

Ft Huachuca, Arizona

Ft Worth, Texas

Gray Butte Plant, California

Greenville, Texas

Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts

Heath, Ohio

Hill AFB, Utah

Hurlburt Field, Florida

Indian Head, Maryland

JB Langley-Eustis, Virginia

JBMDL McGuire, New Jersey

JBSA Lackland, Texas

JBSA Randolph, Texas

Kadena AFB, Japan

King Khaled ABS, Saudi Arabia

Kirtland AFB, New Mexico

Luke AFB, Arizona

Marietta City, Georgia
32

Maxwell Gunter Annex, Alabama

Meppen, Gemany

Mons, Belgium

Natick Laboratory, Massachusetts

New Delhi, India

Offutt AFB, Nebraska

Oslo, Norway

Palmdale, California

Patrick AFB, Florida

Patuxent River NAS, Maryland

Peterson AFB, Colorado

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Picatinny, New Jersey

Poway, California

Prince Sultan AB, Saudi Arabia

Redstone Arsenal, Alabama

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Robins AFB, Georgia

Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois

Rome City, New York

Salt Lake City, Utah

San Antonio, Texas

Seattle, Washington

Tabuk AFD, Saudi Arabia

Taif, Saudi Arabia

The Hague, Netherlands

Tinker AFB, Oklahoma

Tokyo, Japan

Travis AFB, California

Vandenberg AFB, California

Waco, Texas

RAF Waddington, United Kingdom

Washington, DC

Whiteman AFB, Missouri

Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio.

AFLCMC also served as the Secretary of the Air Force executive agent for nine United States 

Air Force Government-Owned, Contractor-Operated (GOCO) aircraft and missile industrial 

facilities. The Air Force Plants were:

AFP 4, Fort Worth, Texas;

AFP 6, Marietta, Georgia;

AFP 36, Evendale, Ohio;

AFP 42, Palmdale, California;

AFP 44, Tucson, Arizona;

AFP 59, Johnson City, New York;
33

AFP 70, Sacramento, California;

AFP 85, Columbus, Ohio;

and the former AFP Peter J. Kiewit and Sons (PJKS), Waterton, Colorado.