Page 10 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt, Oct. 6 2017

10 October 2017 56TH MISSION SUPPORT GROUP Thunderbolt www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb http://www.luke.af.mil
56th Logistics Readiness Squadron
Mission: Provide respon
n sive logistics to train the
-
-
world’s finest F-35 and F-16 pilots while rap-
idly deploying mission- ready forces in sup-
port of joint operations worldwide
Demographics: There are 249 military and 51 civilian members assigned Leadership
Commander: Lt. Col. Robinson Mata Operations officer: Capt. John Vogel Superintendent: Chief Master Sgt. Stephen Kazmirski
First sergeant: Master Sgt. Alex Isla Responsibilities: The 56th LRS provides sustain- ment and logistics support for the 56th Fighter Wing, 944th FW and the Gila Bend Auxiliary Airfield. The deployment and distribution flight administers daily mission and contingency opera- tions support through logistics planning, cargo receiving and movement, household goods and passenger movement, vehicle and air terminal operations, and ensures all Luke warfighters are ready to support combatant commander requirements. The materiel management flight sustains the Air Force’s largest fighter wing with aircraft parts, consumables and permanent mission support kits through its flight service center, storage and customer service sections, and furnishes direct supply liaison support to the 56th Maintenance Group. The vehicle manage- ment flight performs materiel control, quality analysis, and general purpose, specialized and heavy equipment maintenance for the wing’s 740-vehicle fleet. The fuels management flight dispenses clean, safe JP-8 jet fuel, ground fuel, and cryogenic products to the base through its 24-hour fuels information service center and flightline refueling operations. The readiness section postures more than 250 personnel to support joint logistics operational requirements worldwide, while operations compliance executes quality assurance, training, resource manage- ment and systems responsibilities to support daily squadron operations.
Fun facts: The Latin motto on the LRS patch, “Semper Expeditus,” translates to “Always Ready.” The 56th LRS maintains one of the high- est deployment tempos in the Air Education and Training Command. The unit is proud of their heritage and their “Outlaw” name.
56th Civil Engineer Squadron
Mission: Provide technically sound combat-ready engineers to build, sustain and protect Luke Air Force Base through engineering and emergency response services.
Demographics: There are 241 active-duty and 110 civilian members assigned.
Leadership
Commander: Lt. Col. Paul Fredin
Deputy commander: Neil Wentz
Superintendent: Chief Master Sgt. Jacob Campbell
First sergeant: Master Sgt. Israel Navarro
Responsibilities: The 56th CES includes fire protection, explosive ordnance disposal, readiness, design and construction, environmental programs, family housing and operations, and maintenance of Luke AFB and the 1.7-million acre Barry M. Goldwater Range. The fire de- partment, along with readiness and EOD flights, take part in a robust mutual-aid agreement with several surrounding communities. EOD and the installation management flight lead with new programs that enhance Luke and the surrounding community, as well as assist person- nel with housing needs. The engineering flight works strategic planning issues for future development and oversees design, construction and repair of base assets. The operations flight, the largest flight in CES, maintains air conditioning, grounds, roads, oversees the maintenance and repair of all on base infrastructure, as well as, the four runways at Luke, Gila Bend and Aux 1.
Fun facts: The 56th CES’s lineage makes it one of the oldest wing units. On July 28, 1947, the unit was first designated Squadron “C,” 56th Airdrome Group at Selfridge Field, Michigan. Currently, the squadron is better known as the Dragonslayers, a tradition that dates back to the early 1990s.
56th Communications Squadron
Mission: Provide
, operate and main- tain communica-
e,
tions resources
to facilitate
training the
world’s finest
F-35 and F-16
fighter pilots
and maintainers,
while deploying
mission-ready
warfighters and
maintainers
Demographics: There are 93 military and civilian personnel assigned and five contractors
Leadership
Commander: Maj. Nathaniel Edwards Superintendent: Senior Master Sgt. Jason Lohr
Plans and resources flight director/deputy: Michael Petz
Operations flight director: Harlan Hodgson Responsibilities: Maintain automatic data processing equipment and provide computer services, personal wireless com- munications systems, records manage- ment, publications and forms, network infrastructure, postal services, spectrum management, knowledge management services, and telecommunications and information assurance for Luke Air Force Base.
Fun facts: The squadron motto, “Loquimini Tonitrum,” means, “Speak the Thunder.”
56th Force Support Squadron
Mission: Deliver essential services and information to the total force customer
Demographics: There are 96 active-duty, 65
appropriated personnel fund civilians and
294 nonappropriated fund civilians assigned
Leadership
Commander: Maj. Maritzel Castrellon Deputy commander: Todd Wirt
Operations officer: Capt. Adam Sellers Superintendent: Senior Master Sgt. Melody Goitom
First sergeant: Master Sgt. Randolph Rundio
Responsibilities: Airmen regeneration, sustain
and enhance careers, promote wellness and fitness,
provide dependent care and wellness, educate and connect Airmen, provide personnel readiness and deployment support, mortuary and casualty services, and honor guard support.
Fun facts: The FSS motto is “Supporting the Brave from Cradle to Grave” due to us taking care of young infants in the child develop- ment center to performing mortuary services and many responsi- bilities in between.
56th Security Forces Squadron
Mission: Defend the
base community, pro-
tect resources and
ensure a safe en-
vironment to train
the world’s great-
est F-35 and F-16
fighter pilots
Demographics:
There are 159 mili-
tary, 20 Department of
the Air Force civilian police
and 12 civilian personnel assigned Leadership
Commander: Lt. Col. Brian Loveless Operations officer: Capt. Kyle Morgan Superintendent: Chief Master Sgt. Blake Holm
First sergeant: Master Sgt. Brandy Rucker Responsibilities: Security of assigned and transient aircraft, law enforcement services, installation security, personnel security, combat arms training for all air expeditionary forces assigned to the 56th Fighter Wing and deployment of unit per- sonnel to the area of responsibility.
Fun facts: The diamondback rattlesnake represents the 56th SFS and has 50 dia- monds and six rattles. It is prevalent in the area where 56th SFS is stationed and is an appropriate symbol because it will stand its ground and strike when threatened.
56th Contracting Squadron
Mission: Provide best value acquisition capabilities while setting the standard in acquisition support Demographics: There are 18 military and 23 civilian mem- bers assigned
Leadership
Commander: Maj. Barbara Divine
Director of business operations: Mary Peetz Superintendent: Master Sgt. Joseph Freeland Responsibilities: The 56th CONS awards on average $50 million annually in appropriated and nonappropriated funded contracts, and manages more than $300 million in commodity, service, and construction contracts supporting the 56th Fighter Wing, the 944th FW, Fort Tuthill Air Force Recreational Area, Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field, the 1.7-million-acre Barry M. Goldwater Range, and other key tenant units. The 56th CONS consists of three operational
flights: Services/commodity flight,
construction/ commodity flight, and
plans and programs flight. In addi-
tion, CONS serves as the installa-
tion program management office for
the 56th FW Government Purchase
Card Program. The GPC program
office manages 233 cardholders, 94
billing officials and more than 22,000
transactions with expenditures averaging $10.5 million annually. Additionally the 56th CONS trains, equips and deploys contingency contracting officers worldwide as part of the U.S. Air Force expeditionary forces.
Fun facts: Base patrons once viewed movies on the big screen in the facility. The 56th CONS building is home of the original base theater.