AF Update

Joint Advanced Planning 

Brief for Industry

15 November 2023

1

Lt Col (sel) Christopher Sparkes

Deputy Chief, Human Systems Division
• Operational Imperatives

• Great Power Competition

• Organizational Structure

• Human Systems Division Focus

• On the Horizon

• Questions

Overview
Operational Imperatives from 

Secretary of the Air Force

• What: Operational Imperatives (OI) are critical operational 

capabilities and functions we must invest in to protect our ability 

to deter conflict and project power against pacing challenges

• Why: China is fielding capabilities designed to defeat our ability to 

project power in the Western Pacific; Russia is attempting the 

same in Eastern Europe

– OI-1: Space Order of Battle

– OI-2: Operationally Focused Advanced Battle 

Management System

– OI-3: Moving Target Engagement

– OI-4: Tactical Air Dominance

– OI-5: Resilient Basing

– OI-6: Global Strike

– OI-7: Readiness to Deploy and Fight
Reoptimizing for 

Great Power Competition

• Reoptimization is the DAF’s # 1 Priority

• Deterrence is the goal, but deterrence rests firmly 

on our readiness and ability to win.

–LOE 1: Organize

–LOE 2: Equip and Sustain

–LOE 3: People

–LOE 4: Readiness

–LOE 5: Support

“We must ensure that the Air 

Force and Space Force are 

optimized to provide 

integrated deterrence, 

support campaigning and 

ensure enduring advantage.” 

– Secretary Kendall

“Focus on how to organize acquisition and sustainment related 

functions, optimize technology transition, and new product 

pipelines with a focus on delivering warfighting advantage 

against peer competitors.”
Organizational Chart—Strategic

WP AFB, OH Robins AFB, GA Heath, OH

Legend

Simulators Electronic

Warfare

Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) 

Commander: General Duke Richardson

AF Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) 

Commander: Lt Gen Donna Shipton

Agile Combat Support Directorate (WN)

Program Executive Officer (PEO): Ms. Lea Kirkwood 

Military Deputy PEO: Col Carlos Quinones

Human Systems Support Equipment

& Vehicles

Automatic Test

Systems

Combat

Avionics AFMETCAL
Organizational Chart 

Human Systems Division

Senior Materiel 

Leader/ Division Chief

Mr. David McCain

Deputy Division Chief

Lt Col (s) Chris 

Sparkes

Chief Enlisted Advisor

CMSgt Juan Carlos 

Cueto

Chief Engineer

Ms. Nichole Taylor

Chief of Contracting

Mr. Michael Hill

Chief Financial 

Officer

Ms. Deanna Gonet

Chief of 

Logistics/Product 

Support Manager

Ms. Mary Kickligher

Combat Ready 

Airman Branch

Maj Tiffany Low 

(acting)

CBRN Defense 

Systems

Lt Col Thomas 

Adams

Aircrew 

Performance 

Branch

Mr. Jason Scott

Egress & Survival 

Branch

Lt Col Brad 

Kozenko

Aeromedical 

Branch

Mr. Cole 

Hutchison

Operations & 

Support Branch

Ms. Mary 

Kicklighter
Human Systems Division 

Structure

Projects

-Patient Loading System

-Vascular Shunt

-Endovascular Variable 

Aortic Control

-Spinal Immobilization 

Transport Device

-Automated Vision Tester

-Joint Multi-Channel 

Infusion Pump

-Autonomous Closed Loop 

Control / Mechanical 

Ventilation

-Physio Monitoring

-Aircrew Physiological 

Incident 

Monitoring/Alerting

Labs

-Aeromedical Test Lab

-Life Sciences Equipment 

Lab

-Materials & Textiles Lab

-Airmen Accommodation 

Lab

-Life Support 

Systems/Scientific Test, 

Analysis, and Qualification

(supporting OBOGS)

-Aircrew Flight 

Equipment 

-CBRN Def Sys

-PS&RE: Night Vision 

Goggles

1800+ Items Maintained

652 Technical Orders

Supports Domains:

Egress

Survival

Head Gear

Body Wear

CBRN

CRA

Egress Systems

-B-2 Safety and 

Sustainability 

Improvement Program

-Next Generation 

Ejection Seat,

-T-38 Ejection Seat 

Upgrade Program 

-Seat cushion

-Parachutes

BA-30 / BA-X

-Harnesses

-Drag Chutes

Survival Systems

-Seat Survival Kit 

-Non-Combat Survival 

Radio

-Covert Signaling

Communication

-Improved Personnel 

Lowering Device

-Modular Aircrew 

Restraint -Back and Leg 

Support

-Flotation Devices

-Life Rafts

Head Gear

-Aircrew Laser Eye 

Protection – Tech 

Insertion

-Next Gen Fixed Wing 

Helmet

-Legacy Helmets

-Aircrew Ballistic Helmet

-Digital Eye Piece

-Next Generation 

Nuclear Flash Blindness 

Protection

-Helmet Mounts

Body Wear

-Integrated Aircrew 

Ensemble

-Cold Weather Aviation 

System

- G-Suits

-A2CU Flt Suit

-Heated Flight Clothing

-Aircrew Body Armor

-Boots/ Gloves

-Bladder Relief

-Survival Vest

Air Force Uniform 

Office

-Maternity Flight Duty 

Uniform 

-Advanced Aircrew 

Combat Uniform-Female

Maternity A2CU

-AF/SF Physical Training 

Gear

-USSF Uniforms (Service 

Dress, Maternity, Mess 

Dress)

-AF Maternity Service 

Dress

-Service Dress

slacks/Shirt/ Coat

-Tactical Cap

-Maternity Uniform Pilot 

Program 

Combat Ready Airman

-Female Fitment

-Female Body Armor

-Gear Fit App

-Cold Weather Ensemble 

-Mobility B-Bag

-Extreme Cold Operation 

Clothing System

-Cold Weather Gear

 Aeromed

Branch

Egress 

& Survival

Branch

Aircrew 

Performance

Branch

Combat 

Ready 

Airman

Branch

-HCA for Covid-19 

Passengers JUON 

JPEO JPMs/JPLs 

-Protection, Medical

Sensors, Special Ops

Radiological Nuclear 

Defense Integration 

Enabling Biotechnology

Efforts: AF Interest

-Collective Protection 

Conex 

-Next Gen Aircrew 

Protection

-Uniform Integrated 

Protection

-AERS Wearables

-Joint Biological Agent 

Decontamination System 

-COVID Finder

-Contamination Indicator 

Decontamination 

Assurance

-Radiological Detection 

System 

-Medical Therapeutics

-Medical Diagnostics

-Medical Vaccines

-Light Duty Respirator

Chemical, 

Biological, 

Radiological, 

Nuclear Branch

Operations & 

Support 

Branch

500,000+ Airmen --- 8,400+ Guardians --- 5,300+ Aircraft 
Human Systems Division Focus

• Sustaining & modernize equipment across all MAJCOMs, 

all Platforms, & all Airmen/Guardians

• Enduring Technology Challenges:

• Legacy Equipment (Cold War Era) Persists

• Limited repair, limited supply sources

• Fielding New Technology Challenges:

• Berry Amendment

• Pushing Modernized Clothing &Textile Tech into DoD 

systems

• Meeting Warfighter Expectations

• Quality & Consistency of Production

• Budgetary Constraints in the Air Force Corporate Process
On The Horizon

• Focus on Operational Endurance of the Human Weapons System

• Arctic & USINDOPACOM

• Commonality – Enterprise Solutions Required

• Industry Base Responsiveness to enable force presentation & 

force generation for deployment to be combat effective more 

rapidly.

• Advancing capabilities:

• Signature Management

• Increase safety & endurance of aircrew & isolated personnel

• Changes in anthropometric range of end user

• Contributing to Capability & Credibility of Deterrence

• Optimizing technology transitions

• Continued Female Fitment 
Summary

• Be ready to support our Air Force 

Operational Imperatives

• We are committed to Enhancing 

Warfighter Performance, Protection & 

Survivability

• Great progress has been made for female 

fitment and uniform projects