News

Installation commander addresses media - talks people, mission

  • Published
  • By Jenny Gordon
  • Robins Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Continuing to support the mission and caring for people were the priorities highlighted by Col. Jeff King, Installation and 78th Air Base Wing commander, during his first 100 days in command here. 

"Robins continues to support our nation's interests across the globe," said King at a media event Tuesday. 

A career aircraft maintenance officer, King was formerly commander of the 18th Maintenance Group at Kadena Air Base, Japan, before taking command here June 25. 

Among his standing priorities for the installation was a focus on installation safety and security. 

"We're proud of an alliance we have with the (Occupational Safety and Health Administration; the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 987; the International Association of Firefighters, Local F-107; and the 78th Air Base Wing)," said King. "We're making great progress ... We're moving toward all of our sites being registered as Gold." 

King also discussed mission effectiveness and accomplishment; leveraging community support with the base as part of public-public, public-private partnerships (P4); and continuing to care for airmen and families living both on and off base. 

"Overall we do a good job of caring for our families, and the community helps with that," he said. 

Contributing to community efforts are community partnerships which leverage base and community organization capabilities, resources and expertise. Those partnerships include everything from youth sports to flying opportunities with the Robins Aero Club, he said. 

When it comes to the wing's mission of operating, supporting and sustaining the installation, King highlighted labor and employee relations and aircraft production at the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex. 

On continuous process improvement at Robins, King said deploying the Air Force Sustainment Center's Art of the Possible leadership framework has taken off across the complex. 

That's evident after looking at recent fiscal year production numbers, he said. To support existing workloads, King said the base will hire an additional 200 support personnel to fill vacant positions.

He also lauded the local community.

"Community support is phenomenal," he said. "I can tell you that Robins is the envy of many other installations." 

King said the Robins Clergy Summit - which resulted in the creation of the Robins Ministerial Alliance in February - was a successful outreach effort for civilian airmen. 

The alliance - which is open to all faith groups - is dedicated to supporting the workforce and extending the Air Force culture of being a wingman to those in need. 

During the event, King also unveiled the new 78th ABW patch. 

The words '78th Air Base Wing' have replaced the former "Above the Foe," which traces back to the base's World War II lineage. The new patch is now more standardized and in line with other wing patches across the Air Force.   

"Initial focus areas are on track and on target," King said. "Are we 100 percent where we want to be? No ... It's an opportunity to set a new goal and keep working. I think the base supports the mission very well."