Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      New Acquisition Guidance Leverages Diverse Talent Pool for Competitive EdgePublished Aug. 7, 2020
                    
                    
                    Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
            **WASHINGTON (AFNS)  --**The Department of the Air Force issued a new guidance memorandum Aug. 4 that implements policy and standards for establishing anthropometric — or body size — design specifications for all acquisitions programs using current male and female recruitment population data. Air Force Guidance Memorandum 2020-63-148 establishes that all program managers work with their lead commands to use the central 95% of the U.S. recruiting population body size when defining design specifications for aircrew flight equipment and new aircrew or operator station designs. “With accelerating disruptive technologies — like artificial intelligence, ubiquitous sensing, and autonomy — rewriting Air Power for all nations, not just the U.S., continuing our rich tradition of operator advantage is paramount to overcome unprecedented battlefield challenges,”Dr. Will Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics, said in a memo distributed across the department. “Ensuring our maximum recruitment population can be that deciding factor nearly doubles our odds in what is already a stacked deck. The time to move out is now.” The guidance updates minimum size design specifications for DAF flight training that is presently based on a 1967 male pilot survey, which stands in stark contrast to current body size statistics according to the Center for Disease Control’sNational Health Statistic Report (December 2018), Mean Body Weight, Height, Waist Circumference, and Body Mass Index Among Adults: United States, 1999-2000 Through 2015-2016. The 1967 study excludes 44% of the U.S. female population — including 74% of African Americans, 72% of Latino Americans and 61% of Asian Americans — unless they receive a waiver. Although waivers can be granted, the ability to pursue broad aircraft opportunities is limited. For example, theF-15 Eagle currently accommodates only 8.9% of women. Roper said the guidance “reflects both the important diversity principle and practical necessity of leveraging our nation’s entire talent pool” to address long-term military competition. The guidance requires acquisitions policy language in contracts that will define a minimum accommodation level and encourage companies to suit the widest possible range of statutes as a competitive edge. As an interim measure, the guidance includes an attachment with eight anthropometric cases to be used as the basis for current compliance. TheAir Force Lifecycle Management Center will conduct a new representative survey to supersede the interim guidance and previous studies. AFLCMC’s Airman’s Accommodations Laboratory is scheduled to embark on a three-year study beginning this fall with career enlisted aviators, who currently do not have an anthropometric-based standard. “This study will finally provide the opportunity to create a stronger, more capable force, utilizing the strengths of a diverse team representative of our great nation,” said Chief Master Sgt. Chris Dawson,Air National Guard CEA career field manager. The CEA anthropometric study will also provide the opportunity to re-accomplish studies for officer crew positions on the more than 30 CEA aircraft. CEAs make up nearly 35% of the Total Force aviator community and up until now have eliminated candidates based upon the 1967 standard. Dawson and fellow Air Force Women’s Initiatives Team members, Lt. Col. Jessica Ruttenber and Maj. Andrea Harrington, along with Dr. Jennifer Whitestone of the Airman’s Accommodation Laboratory, were part of a team to elevate the matter to department leadership to initiate the new guidance. “This policy is a great sign of forward progress and will be instrumental in changing the future,” said Lt. Col. Cathyrine Armandie,Air Education and Training Command chief of rated diversity. “It’s incredibly humbling to work with a team that is advancing opportunities for Airmen now and generations to come.”AFWN 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



diversity 



acquisition 



guidance 



Diverse 



talent pool 



competitive edge 



memo 



anthropormetric 



design 



policy 



standard 



recruiting 



body size 



Aircrew flight equipment 



operator 



Station Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil