By Chuck Paone
ESC Public Affairs

Today is the first day of the new Electronic Systems Center, Commander Lt. Gen. Chuck Johnson said May 11 during the activation ceremony for ESC’s four newly numbered wings.

“Today, we mark the beginning of a proud new era in our center’s history,” he said. “We now have a center with five great wings.”

In addition to the four numbered acquisition wings, the general also noted and praised the 66th Air Base Wing, which provides all base support at Hanscom. Without the efforts of the 66th ABW, the center wouldn’t be able to meet its war fighter support commitments, the general said.

Otherwise, the focus was squarely on the 551st, 350th, 554th and 653rd Electronic Systems Wings. Each of these wings was activated, and their commanders or directors officially appointed, one by one.

Each commander or director was called to the stage, whereupon General Johnson passed their new unit flags to them with military precision.

The ceremony, while brief, was not without military pomp, as each of the five wings had a flight that stood in formation, and at attention when appropriate. The Band of Liberty provided musical accompaniment, rousing renditions of popular orchestral arrangements as well as traditional military songs.

The ceremony had to be held indoors at the Aero club Hangar because of rain, but the festivities went on completely as planned otherwise.

“It was a phenomenal effort by the team that pulled everything together in basically a month -- including the planning and logistics and all other considerations,” said Maj. Jim Hunter, who led the effort to plan the ceremony. “To first get everything ready for one location and then, two days before the ceremony, re-work the plan to be at the hangar was no small task.”

During his remarks, General Johnson noted he’d become convinced years ago that Air Force Materiel Command units should be organized the same way the rest of the Air Force is – by wings, groups and squadrons. Not only would this commonality make it easier to understand and do business with AFMC, but it would provide logical career progression for military and civilian acquisition leaders, he said.

Beyond that, the new alignment actually makes it easier to provide integrated capability to war fighting customers. Replacing individual program offices with consolidated units focused on bundling common capabilities is a big step in the right direction, he said.

The commander noted that these are not easy times for those working in Air Force acquisition, and he added, “they’re not going to get any easier any time soon.” Still, he said he has tremendous confidence in the newly restructured center and “in the great people” who work for it.

“I can’t tell you how honored and proud I am to be able to preside over this ceremony and to lead this new ESC as we take on these challenges,” he said.

 

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