'Super FOA,' civil engineer transformation focus of leadership meetings

  • Published
  • By Air Force Real Property Agency
  • AFRPA / PA
San Antonio, Texas --  The transformation of Air Force civil engineering, greeting wounded warriors, and the consolidation of three field operating agencies under one "super FOA" installation support banner took center stage during a two-day senior leaders meeting Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at Lackland AFB.

In a rare gathering of real property, civil engineering, and energy development leadership, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Installations, Environment and Logistics Terry Yonkers, and the Air Force Civil Engineer Maj. Gen. Timothy Byers, joined leaders of the Air Force Real Property Agency, the Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment, the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency, and key deputy assistant secretaries for a series of program briefings, and tours at Fort Sam Houston and Port San Antonio.

The consolidation of AFRPA, AFCEE and AFCESA was the main topic of two commanders calls with Air Force employees. Yonkers said the consolidation would be a "center of excellence in every measure and fashion of the word" for real property, environmental, energy, installation operations and readiness.

"You support all of us," he said. "It's not just the installations and the major commands. (In this) consolidated FOA, you are going to be the reach back for myself, the Air Force Civil Engineer and others in the Pentagon."

The consolidation is a great opportunity for employees to provide innovation and leadership to make improvements and shape the future of the organization.

"We have to bring the three cultures together with the same end game, and my vision, I know the Secretary's vision is the same, world class installation support...nothing less," Byers said.

During the visit, the leadership group also saw first-hand a Base Realignment and Closure success story when they toured facilities at Port San Antonio that were formerly part of the now-closed Kelly AFB. They also saw new BRAC-related construction at Fort Sam Houston.

At Fort Sam Houston, Yonkers and his official party toured San Antonio Military Medical Center and Brooke Army Medical Center facilities. 502nd Air Base Wing commander Brig. Gen. Theresa Carter, 59th Medical Wing Commander Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Byron Hepburn, and U.S. Army North Maj. Gen. Walter Davis, escorted the official party.

At the Center for the Intrepid, a rehabilitation center that treats amputees and burn victims, Yonkers was briefed on state-of-the-art rehabilitation services. The four-story, 64,000 square foot facility opened in January 2007 to provide care for military personnel wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan and others injured in training operations, training exercises and non-combat situations.

He took time to talk to a Wounded Warrior wearing a T-shirt with the slogan "Never Accept Defeat - U.S. Army"

"I like your attitude," Yonkers told him.

He also toured a new consolidated tower addition at Brooke Army Medical Center built to house a variety of additional departments.

Under 2005 BRAC requirements, Brooke Army Medical Center is expanding burn treatment, emergency and trauma, psychiatric nursing , outpatient and other services. A parking garage has also been added.

Joining Yonkers and Byers during the visit were: Timothy Bridges, Deputy Assistant Secretary Environment, Safety and Occupational Health; Dr. Kevin Geiss, Deputy Assistant Secretary Energy; Randall Culpepper, Deputy Program Executive Officer for Combat and Mission Support; Scott Reynolds, Deputy Assistant Secretary Logistics; Robert Moore, AFRPA Director; Terry Edwards, AFCEE Director; and Col. David Reynolds, AFCESA Commander.