Holloman briefed in preparation for logistical transformation

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sondra Escutia
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Officials from Headquarters, Air Combat Command visited Holloman Aug. 3 to kick off a transformation that will change the way logisticians at Holloman and across the Air Force do business.

Base leadership and personnel were briefed on the Expeditionary Combat Support System, an integrated technology system that will be the foundation of the logistics transformation effort.

"ECSS provides real-time worldwide visibility of Air Force assets and is the Department of Defense's largest ever IT conversion program, currently valued at over $1.8 billion," said George Roddy, 49th Logistics Readiness Squadron logistics manager and ECSS change-agent coordinator. "It's not new software, but the same type of software used by large airline Maintenance Repair Overhaul facilities."

During one of two briefings, Brad Stahlmann, ACC/A4PX ECSS program official, said the upcoming combat support system will employ industry-proven tools to fundamentally change the Air Force logistician processes in the future.

He also said the combat support system will combine and standardize multiple systems, accommodating more than 250,000 users and one million transactions a day.

"ECSS will eliminate redundancy with multiple legacy systems. One database -- one single source of truth," said Mr. Roddy. "The key is integrating data in one system throughout the organization, providing process speed, improved communication, common knowledge and terminology, decision support mechanisms, reduced costs, resources used more effectively and efficiently, and increased visibility and understanding of customer needs."

The Air Force-wide implementation process of the ECSS is already underway and is slated to be fielded at Holloman in June 2012. Mr. Stahlmann said the change will come about in four releases and the first release, already in progress, involves preparing personnel and leadership for the change.

To assist the base in preparation, Mr. Roddy, along with Lenny Featherson, 49th LRS operations compliance manager, have been appointed Holloman's Change-Agent Coordinators and will serve as the point of contact for the ECSS readiness and change efforts here to include tenant units. The CACs will also appoint change agents throughout individual units to make up a local Change Agent Network.

"In short, our CAN role is to bring about positive behavioral change acceptance going from awareness, to understanding, to acceptance, and to commitment, not in developing ECSS," said Mr. Roddy. "We need to be totally committed to this program."

Release 1 Pilot A of the ECSS went live at Hanscom AFB, Mass., Aug. 2, 2010. Mr. Roddy said vehicle maintainers are now using ECSS to plan, track and document vehicle maintenance activities including tool, supply and equipment usage.

"Not only are local Hanscom logisticians entering their data in ECSS, but officials at Headquarters, United States Air Force, as well as vehicle control officers and other maintenance officials at Robins AFB are accessing that data in near real time," he explained.

Mr. Roddy said implementation of ECSS is critical to the future of the Air Force and the transformation will require active participation and support from leadership at all levels and functional areas.

"I also have developed a great deal of confidence in the Air Force system and leadership to know that right steps will be followed to ensure things are done right the first time," said Mr. Roddy. "While ECSS implementation worldwide is a major undertaking, everyone's involvement and support will result in another success story."

For more information on the ECSS, contact Mr. Roddy or Mr. Featherston at 575-572-7875, or your appointed unit change agent.