Air Force Security Assistance Center celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary.

July 17, 2003, the Air Force Security Assistance Center (AFSAC) celebrated on twenty-five years of international logistics support, provided through the International Logistics Center (ILC) and AFSAC both organizations existed under logistics and materiel commands as centers for international logistics support to the foreign military sales (FMS) community.

The Air Force Security Assistance Center set aside the entire day to celebrate the occasion. Brigadier General Jeffrey R. Riemer, USAF, AFSAC Commander, hosted Major General (USAF Retired) Ken Habedank, Commander of ILC from 1989 to 1994, and Major General (USAF Retired) Jack Waters, Commander of ILC from 1982 to 1984. Former vice commanders and executive directors were also in attendance as well as several former foreign liaison officers (FLOs), previously assigned to ILC/AFSAC.

For the past twenty-five years, the men and women of the ILC and AFSAC have implemented National Security Policy, focused on the customer and taken pride in accomplishing the mission:

We Develop and Execute International Agreements

The above mission statement is required memorization for all AFSAC employees. A formal ceremony marked the occasion to pause and celebrate these achievements, and for all present to meet past, current (and future) employees of the ILC and AFSAC.

Two special Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOAs) were framed and presented to Brigadier General Reimer for display: The first LOA was created by the old method of typewriter in May 1978 for F-16 maintenance support to Belguim. The second LOA was created in May 2003 by the current electronic method for C-130 maintenance support to Egypt. Many in the audience shared their experiences working with these documents and in these organizations throughout the years.

   It was great to see how far we had come, not only as an
   organization and community of practice (COP) but also continuous
   improvements through technology.

Brigadier General Riemer is especially grateful to be the commander of AFSAC during this historic milestone, stating,:

   In the next twenty-five years, security assistance will continue to
   grow. It will grow in financial impact, grow in importance and grow
   in the number of countries involved. We are determined at AFSAC to
   meet our vision: World-Class Professionals, Fostering Global
   Partnerships. It is a vision I intend to move us toward achieving
   during my tenure as the commander. The results of our continuous
   improvement will benefit our customers, our Air Force and our
   nation. For this reason, the future of security assistance never
   looked better. Someday, I hope to return to the Golden Anniversary
   of this amazing organization!

Additionally, letters of congratulations from General Lester Lyles, Air Force Materiel Command Commander, and Mr. Willard Mitchell, Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force for International Affairs were presented. A proclamation was made from the Honorable Jack Wilson, Mayor of the City of Fairborn, marking July 17, 2003 as Air Force Security Assistance Center Silver Anniversary Day.

From General Lester L. Lyles, Commander, Air Force Materiel Command:

Dear General Riemer, I am honored to recognize the Air Force Security Assistance Center on your 25th Anniversary.

Today, we mark AFSAC's 25-year legacy of providing outstanding support to the foreign military sales community. For the past quarter century, the men and women of AFSAC have played a key role in support of over ninety countries and international organizations encircling a wide range of weapon systems. AFSAC continues to develop and execute international agreements and now manages over 3,500 FMS cases valued at over $96 billion.

Over the years, AFSAC has had many achievements that have altered the way FMS business is conducted. The parts and repair ordering system is a premier example of one of these advances. This system provides supply and repair support when the Department of Defense Logistics System is not available. Another major exploit is the Worldwide Warehouse that provides an electronic means to redistribute excess inventory within the FMS community.

Recently, AFSAC men and women were instrumental in support of operation Iraqi Freedom, as they were during Operation Desert Storm over a decade ago. In our dynamic world of international relationships, I know AFSAC will continue to be the Department of Defense's foremost FMS organization. With tremendous leadership, AFSAC is postured to proceed in its role as World-Class Professionals Fostering Global Partnerships.

The United States Air Force is proud to recognize the achievements of AFSAC as you celebrate this significant milestone. I would personally like to thank you, the men and women of AFSAC, for playing a vital role in the success of international support. Congratulations AFSAC and enjoy this day!

//Signed// General Lester L. Lyles

The history of foreign military sales (FMS) and security assistance goes well beyond the past twenty-five years. Our nation's defense has been linked with security assistance from the beginning. We have been the recipient and contributor for over 200 years. Throughout this time, the mission has gone by many names and has been organized in interesting ways.

From Willard H. Mitchell, Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force, International Affairs:

I am privileged to acknowledge AFSAC in commemoration of its 25th anniversary. This day is truly one of celebration for AFSAC has long been recognized as a center of excellence, providing exceptional support to our international customers. For twenty-five years, the personnel of your dedicated organization have performed a vital mission in advocating, influencing, and sustaining logistics support for our partner countries. AFSAC's mission from its inception has been to recognize the individualized needs of each FMS customer and develop tailored support options that are cost effective, timely, and efficient. Under such a comprehensive charter, AFSAC's pioneering spirit provides support for more than 6,000 international customer aircraft, with varied configurations, spanning five decades of technology.

Throughout AFSAC's existence it has been an innovator, providing improved support through numerous business process transformation initiatives. Two of those initiatives, the Parts and Repair Ordering System and the Worldwide Warehouse Redistribution System, have established commercial buying services and electronic redistribution of materials. Through great vision, these new products ensure quality customer service. More importantly, these processes have been instrumental in assisting our coalition partners with warfighting capability for their national security and participation in coalitions, such as in operation Iraqi Freedom.

Again, congratulations on achieving 25 years of being adaptive and responsive, my best wishes go out to your team, who has always found creative ways to satisfy our international customers.

//Signed// Willard H. Mitchell

Initially, foreign military sales as it was officially called, was handled by a myriad of different offices at the headquarters of the former Air Force Logistics Command and in the field. In fact, the Command Historian shows a direct lineage that goes all the way back to 1958.

In 1978, the Air Force decided to change that and provide a centralized focus on this growing part of national security. On May 1, 1978, the Air Force Logistics Command established the ILC, which is the forerunner of the Security Assistance Center.

From the Honorable Jack Wilson, Mayor of the City of Fairborn, Ohio

Proclamation:

Whereas, the Air Force Security Assistance Center is the center of expertise and innovation for the support of over 90 friendly and allied nations through the foreign military sales (FMS) program, and

Whereas, the AFSAC is celebrating their 25th anniversary, and

Whereas, the AFSAC was originally known as the International Logistics Center before being renamed in 1992, and

Whereas, the AFSAC has 400 civil service, military and contract employees, plus over 60 foreign liaison officers representing 28 foreign countries, who learn about the Untied States by living, working and attending schools in the City of Fairborn, and

Whereas, thousands of people attend the ILC and AFSAC sponsored meetings in the City or Fairborn which is known worldwide as the "Schoolhouse of Aviation" and home of Wright-Patterson, and

Whereas, the mission of AFSAC is to Develop and Execute International Agreements and their vision is for "World Class Professionals to Foster Global Partnerships," and

Whereas, the AFSAC is the primary agency responsible for supporting allied nations in coalition warfare from Bosnia to Kosovo to both Gulf Wars, and

Whereas, as part of the Inventing Flight Centennial Celebration, the ILC and AFSAC will celebrate their Silver Anniversary with alumni returning from around the world.

Now, therefore, I Jack Wilson, Mayor of the City of Fairborn, Ohio, do hereby designate and proclaim Thursday, July 17, 2003, as:

Air Force Security Assistance Center Silver Anniversary day in the City of Fairborn, and call upon all citizens to recognize the contribution they make at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and around the globe.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused the Seal of the City of Fairborn, Ohio, to be affixed this 7th day of July, 2003.

//Signed// Jack Wilson, Mayor.

The ILC began on May 1, 1978, as a special organization under the Air Force Logistics Command. ILC was redesignated as AFSAC, under AFMC in 1992 with an expanded focus on security assistance. Both of these organizations were created in order to provide centralized logistics and case management support for security assistance within the Air Force. Prior to that, security assistance functions and the logistics of FMS were only accomplished in a decentralized fashion throughout the Air Logistics Centers and across the major commands.

Over the past twenty-five years, the organization has evolved. However, certain ideals have remained constant. For example, the mission has always been conducted in accordance with National Security Policy and focus on the customer remains our hallmark. Whether they worked in the ILC or AFSAC, or both, the men and women of these two organizations have conducted this unique business with professionalism and pride, which is the focus of the day's tribute.

From Brigadier General Ahmed Elemary, Foreign Liaison Officer (FLO), Egypt, representing AFSAC's International Customers:

"General Riemer, former commanders, former foreign liaison officers, former and present members of the ILC and AFSAC family, it is my honor to be a part of today's anniversary. Speaking on behalf of the foreign military customers from 90 different countries. I would like to add my congratulations to those of Mr. Mitchell and General Lyles. It is a great day to be a member of the United States Air Force Security Assistance Team, as a security assistance professional and as a customer. All parties benefit from this unique endeavor between our nations. The past 25 years have seen the success of our efforts come to fruition on the world's stage, and on television.

2003 is a year in which Ohio celebrates its Bicentennial, Controlled Flight celebrates its Centennial, and the ILC/AFSAC celebrates its Silver Anniversary. All are achievements that can make each of us glad to be stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. While I am not so sure I would have made this statement 5 months ago, Today's weather reinforces my feeling that this is a good time to be stationed here.

This morning, we take a few moments to recognize the contribution of the ILC and the AFSAC. Despite the change in name, the success of foreign military sales and security assistance has never changed. It has always been a partnership. A partnership between nations, between air forces and between individuals. The outward value to national security for the United States and participating nations is recognized by all. The link to international stability around the globe cannot be denied. For this, each of us can be grateful.

However, a partnership is only as good as the people involved. Herein lies one of the keys to our success. The major reason for our successful partnership is that both sides value our relationship. Whether we are in your country or you are in ours, it is a relationship of respect, pride, and fun. This fact will keep our partnership on a positive flight path for decades to come.

In closing, let me say on behalf of all the foreign military customers, your partners, congratulations on your Silver Anniversary. Best of luck to each of you, especially those we will meet on the softball field later this afternoon.

//Signed// Brigadier General Ahmed Elemary

Brigadier General Jeffrey R. Riemer, Commander, Air Force Security Assistance Center stated the following;

   Security assistance is a vital part of our United States
   international relations just as it has been for as long as
   societies have been preparing for and engaging in war.

The transfer of arms and military assistance from France was a very important factor in the emergence of the United States as a nation-state over 200 years ago. In that spirit, AFSAC has been in the business of foreign military sales, and other aspects of security assistance for 25 years, having just recently celebrated our Silver Anniversary. It was a wonderful event involving many current and former AFSAC employees and Foreign Liaison Officers.

Our history shows that from 1958 to 1978, FMS was handled by many different organizations with the former Headquarters Air Force Logistics Command. In 1978, the Air Force identified the need for a centralized point of contact for FMS and as such, established the International Logistics Center. In 1992, the name was changed to the Air Force Security Assistance Center.

In recent history, we have seen the fall of communism in Europe, which has allowed us to implement security assistance programs with countries we never dreamed we would do business with. We were one of the primary agencies involved in support of coalition warfare in Bosnia, Kosovo, Operation Desert Storm, Afghanistan and most recently in Operation Iraqi Freedom. We strive for continuous improvement to benefit our customers, the Air Force and the United States of America.

AFSAC employs nearly 400 people who support multiple Air Force systems to include more than 6,600 customer aircraft and manage 3,500 cases valued at $96 billion dollars. We take much pride in our quest to continuously improve our processes. We have evolved from filling out requisition forms to electronic processing with numerous computer and network-based tools, first of which is the Security Assistance Management Information System, better known as SAMIS.

We have also seen the implementation of the Cooperative Logistics Supply Support Agreement (CLSSA), which allows the customer country to invest in and become a partner in the USAF and Defense Logistics Agency supply systems; the Parts and Repair Ordering System (PROS), which was developed to provide our customers with world class logistics support for non-standard and difficult to support standard item requirements; the Worldwide Warehouse Redistribution System (WWRS), which allows existing FMS countries to relieve excess serviceable inventory by offering items for sale; and finally, the Defense Security Assistance Management System (DSAMS), which was created for case development, implementation and tracking. All of these systems have made our jobs less difficult and tedious, allowing us to provide the highest quality of support available to our customers. And I know with your help and knowledge we will continue to improve on our processes and keep AFSAC in the upper echelon of the Security Assistance field.

AFSAC is a leader in AFMC at implementing Balanced Scorecard as a strategy implementation methodology and we are integrating Six Sigma into our tool kit to make ourselves more effective and efficient, easy to do business with, as well as being innovative, adaptive and responsive. Our mission in AFSAC is to develop and execute international agreements with friendly forces to provide defense materiel and services in support of U.S. national security. Our vision is to be world class professionals fostering global partnerships and we plan to achieve our vision by delighting our customers, linking our resources to the vision, reengineering our processes and strengthening our organization.

Captain Robert D. Sandoval is a graduate student assigned to the Graduate School of Engineering and Management, Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Air Education and Training Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He graduated from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology with a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Sciences. He graduated as an honor graduate from the Officer Training School located at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.