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505th Command and Control Wing News

505th CCW commanders 'look to the future'

  • Published
  • By Noel Getlin
  • 505 CCW/PA
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  The 505th Command and Control Wing held their biannual Commander's Conference here from Aug. 25 through the 27. 

The theme was "C2 for the Future; Looking Forward and Leading the Way."
"The goal of the conference was to bring the leadership of the 505th together to focus on our core missions of testing, tactics, and training command and control professionals for our U.S. Air Force and joint customers," said Colonel Ed McKinzie, 505 CCW commander. "The wing needs to focus on how we can better support joint forces in warfare today and in the future." 

The first day of the conference centered on strategic planning and aligning wing missions and objectives with Air Combat Command and U.S. Air Force Warfare Center goals and tasks. The Commanders also tackled measures of performance and how to gauge whether the wing is successfully meeting the needs of the joint force. 

Each commander briefed the group on their organization's current and future projects, challenges and goals for the future. In addition, they worked on updating mission statements and refining the processes for lessons learned and best practices. 

Lt. Col. Ted Foster, Air Force Special Operations Command, gave a presentation on utilizing the eight-step AFSO 21 methodology to work through problems by focusing on process improvement, and the group received an update on National Security Personnel System interest items and executive lessons learned for commanders. 

Dr. Dwight Polk, 505 CCW technical adviser, presented a new concept for a Capability Development, Enhancement and Integration Office, to ensure the Wing's Technical Advisors are focused on supporting all of the groups in a more productive manner. The three main focus areas of the office are testing and experimentation, infrastructure support to all thirteen 505 CCW locations and joint collaboration. 

The conference was a rare opportunity for geographically separated wing leaders to interact with one another and learn how each group and squadron contributes to fulfilling the wing's mission. 

The wing also reached out to the local community with a Commander's Golf Tournament which took place at the Gator Lakes Golf Course at Hurlburt Field. The conference ended with the 505 CCW's first Combat Dining Out. 

Retired Gen. Chuck Horner, who commanded U.S. and allied air forces during the Gulf War, was guest speaker at the combat dining out. He discussed his experiences during the war, how the wing contributed to its success, and how the wing is laying the foundation for future successes through Command and Control of U.S. Air Force and joint forces. The evening was marked by laughter, a combat obstacle course for entrance to the grog bowl, and an excellent guest speaker. 

"The conference was a success all around," Colonel McKinzie said. "We are aligning the wing with larger U.S. Air Force level objectives to advance the future success of joint and coalition warfare." 

The next Commanders' Conference will be around March 12, which will coincide with the wing's sixth anniversary.

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505th CCW commanders 'look to the future'

  • Published
  • By Noel Getlin
  • 505 CCW/PA
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  The 505th Command and Control Wing held their biannual Commander's Conference here from Aug. 25 through the 27. 

The theme was "C2 for the Future; Looking Forward and Leading the Way."
"The goal of the conference was to bring the leadership of the 505th together to focus on our core missions of testing, tactics, and training command and control professionals for our U.S. Air Force and joint customers," said Colonel Ed McKinzie, 505 CCW commander. "The wing needs to focus on how we can better support joint forces in warfare today and in the future." 

The first day of the conference centered on strategic planning and aligning wing missions and objectives with Air Combat Command and U.S. Air Force Warfare Center goals and tasks. The Commanders also tackled measures of performance and how to gauge whether the wing is successfully meeting the needs of the joint force. 

Each commander briefed the group on their organization's current and future projects, challenges and goals for the future. In addition, they worked on updating mission statements and refining the processes for lessons learned and best practices. 

Lt. Col. Ted Foster, Air Force Special Operations Command, gave a presentation on utilizing the eight-step AFSO 21 methodology to work through problems by focusing on process improvement, and the group received an update on National Security Personnel System interest items and executive lessons learned for commanders. 

Dr. Dwight Polk, 505 CCW technical adviser, presented a new concept for a Capability Development, Enhancement and Integration Office, to ensure the Wing's Technical Advisors are focused on supporting all of the groups in a more productive manner. The three main focus areas of the office are testing and experimentation, infrastructure support to all thirteen 505 CCW locations and joint collaboration. 

The conference was a rare opportunity for geographically separated wing leaders to interact with one another and learn how each group and squadron contributes to fulfilling the wing's mission. 

The wing also reached out to the local community with a Commander's Golf Tournament which took place at the Gator Lakes Golf Course at Hurlburt Field. The conference ended with the 505 CCW's first Combat Dining Out. 

Retired Gen. Chuck Horner, who commanded U.S. and allied air forces during the Gulf War, was guest speaker at the combat dining out. He discussed his experiences during the war, how the wing contributed to its success, and how the wing is laying the foundation for future successes through Command and Control of U.S. Air Force and joint forces. The evening was marked by laughter, a combat obstacle course for entrance to the grog bowl, and an excellent guest speaker. 

"The conference was a success all around," Colonel McKinzie said. "We are aligning the wing with larger U.S. Air Force level objectives to advance the future success of joint and coalition warfare." 

The next Commanders' Conference will be around March 12, which will coincide with the wing's sixth anniversary.