News

WR-ALC shares requirements at annual symposium

  • Published
  • By Wayne Crenshaw
  • 78 ABW/PA
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The 7th Annual Aerospace Requirements Symposium held this week drew record attendance of over 900 industry representatives.

The symposium, held at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry, is designed to assist industry in meeting the needs of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center.

The event was held Wednesday and Thursday and included 40 breakout sessions.

Maj. Gen. Polly Peyer gave an opening address Wednesday morning, highlighting this year's theme, "Collectively Solving Acquisition and Sustainment Challenges."

She said that effective partnerships with industry are vital to the Center's mission of "delivering and sustaining combat-ready air power...anytime, anywhere." She highlighted some of the specific needs for the Center, including efforts to modernize aging aircraft and keep planes available.

"We are facing structural challenges as these airplanes are getting older," she said.

The symposium is sponsored by the Center and the Aerospace Industry Committee of the Warner Robins Area Chamber of Commerce.

"The symposium has developed a reputation for attracting aerospace leaders from over 300 different companies, not only from the U.S., but from countries throughout the world," said Cary Cox, chairman of the Aerospace Industry Committee.

Peyer noted that the previous fiscal year's spending plan included expenditures of almost $5 billion for the Center.

"Never let it be said that we don't do a lot of acquisition here," she said. "This nation needs to continue to develop its industry so that we can meet the needs of the nation."

Peyer was followed by WR-ALC Executive Director Deryl Israel, who delivered the strategic business outlook for the Center. Also speaking later in the day was Maj. Gen. Gary McCoy, commander of the Air Force Global Logistics Support Center.

Requirement overviews were given for the Center's four wings - the 402nd Maintenance Wing, the 78th Air Base Wing, the 330th Aircraft Sustainment Wing and the 542nd Combat Sustainment Wing - along with the 638th Global Logistics Supply Chain Management Group.

After that the symposium entered into a series of breakout sessions in which industry representatives learned more specific information about the expected needs of the center.

Peyer told the group that a major coming challenge for the Center is replacing its aging workforce, noting that 15 percent of the workforce is currently eligible for retirement, and 37 percent will be eligible to retire in five years.

"We are on the uptick for hiring, but it takes special skill sets," she said.