BPR forges new way for AF facilities energy

  • Published
  • By Kevin Elliott
  • AFCEC Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  A business process re-engineering conference held here recently will shape the future of the Air Force facilities energy program.

The week-long BPR included energy representatives from the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, several major commands, base-level energy managers and the Air Force Civil Engineer Center Energy Directorate. The group was tasked by Air Force Installation and Mission Support Commander Maj. Gen. Theresa Carter to analyze six current Air Force facilities energy business processes and reconfigure them for use under the newly established AFIMSC.

"Overall, the BPR was both effective and enlightening," said David Bek, AFCEC Energy Directorate chief.  "Given our problem statement, 'Current processes do not account for the existence of the AFIMSC and do not address the process changes required to help the Air Force reach its facility energy goals,' and given that MAJCOMs will not be postured to directly support facility energy requirements going forward, the BPR made progress toward addressing the problems."

AFCEC is one of six primary subordinate units that were reorganized last year under the AFIMSC in an effort to centralize management of Air Force installation and mission support capabilities. Each of AFCEC's seven directorates will convene a BPR to establish future process maps and best practices.

The goal is to make the transition to the new organization as seamless as possible.

"We challenged our current ways of thinking and doing business," said Kelly Jaramillo, energy manager at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, and former energy program manager for U.S. Air Forces in Europe. "I appreciated the team-based approach to defining the future state.  Hopefully, the same brain trust can remain engaged over the next few years to smooth the transition using creative manpower and staffing approaches."

Though the BPR made preliminary gains, challenges remain, Bek said.

"More work will need to be done with finer details and process steps," he said. "Critical aspects, such as establishing roles and responsibilities so there is clear understanding of others' roles and who to contact for specific topical support, still need to be addressed.  Similarly, we have to find qualified human resources to help accomplish the specialized and expert work formerly performed at the MAJCOMs in support of the facility energy program."

The Air Force activated the AFIMSC  Aug. 8, 2014, and on Oct. 1, 2014, six Air Force organizations moved under AFMC in a step toward integrating mission support activities and forming AFIMSC's foundation. Four field operating agencies - the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, Air Force Financial Services Center, Air Force Installation Contracting Agency and Air Force Security Forces Center - were reassigned to AFMC.

Additionally, Air Force Financial Management Center of Expertise and the Air Force Services Activity were also realigned from the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency and the Air Force Personnel Center, respectively, to the command.

To learn more about AFIMSC, visit http://www.afimsc.af.mil/.