Tanker Airlift Control Center opens new ops center
The renovation project moved the once-cramped Tanker Airlift Control Center operations center into a larger, adjacent area, and either replaced or upgraded everything from carpet, chairs and workstations, to computers and computer software.
On the surface, the new TACC command and control complex, also called the "the core area," or "the floor," is a picture of modernization merged with design.
However, AMC officials said the renovation isn't all about appearances.
During the TACC operations center dedication ceremony May 16, Gen. John W. Handy, commander, U.S. Transportation Command, and commander, Air Mobility Command, said the TACC renovation "is the continuation of the constant transformation of the command and control business of Air Mobility Command.
"The people of this command, and the people working in this room today, are the real reason this function works so well," said General Handy. "[The TACC operations center] is an incredible capability when you think about all the airlift, air refueling and aeromedical evacuation missions that are running anywhere in the world at any given time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The command and control and in-transit visibility of all of those assets are run right here through the TACC. Just 10 short years ago we started this dream, and it continues today."
Following General Handy's remarks, Maj. Gen. Edward L. LaFountaine, TACC commander, added that the renovation represented the culmination of a vision that started more than 10 years ago with the first TACC commander, General Handy. "That vision has been refined and expanded to the operation that you see today," said General LaFountaine.
He said the renovation adds new, important capabilities to TACC operations.
"The new TACC is an improved way to bring all [TACC] functions together, whether it's our flight dispatchers, our flight controllers, our weather personnel, our intel specialists, or our logisticians who handle maintenance recovery of broken airplanes. The new operations center brings them all together in a working community to optimize air mobility operations," General LaFountaine said.
"It's very important that we get that very last ounce of capability out of our airlift missions. To do that, we needed to bring all of our specialties together in a synergistic manner, so at the end of the day, TACC can provide the best airlift and comprehensive support for the warfighter and for the combatant commanders and troops across the globe."
In closing, General LaFountaine called the new TACC operations "a giant step forward."
"[TACC personnel] now have the ability to call upon a wide range of electronic tools and databases to help them make smart decisions in a timely manner and help them make decisions that optimize mobility assets around the world," said the general.
Rudy Lawrence, project manager for the TACC renovation, said in their effort to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of air mobility operations, the TACC developed new ways of doing business. The new TACC operations center was designed to better take advantage of these new processes and procedures.
"Through the Mobility 2000 process, we explored ways of improving business by looking at the civilian airline industry and other government agencies," Mr. Lawrence explained. "We searched for ways to make our flights -- our missions -- more effective."
According to Senior Master Sgt. Robert Dunn, superintendent of the TACC Operations Support Division, the TACC is already reaping the benefits of both the physical renovation of TACC as well as the transformation of air mobility operations.
He said one of the more significant changes was the reorganization of the operations center from a geographical division to functional division.
Before the renovation, the TACC workload was distributed based on aircraft missions in the eastern and western hemispheres.
"As part of the effort to create a more efficient and effective TACC, we got rid of the east-west divisions," explained Sergeant Dunn. "The TACC is now divided into functional areas, or mission types, which gives us the flexibility to manage our manpower based on our actual workload rather than by the location of each mission."
Sergeant Dunn said the functional division created immediate manpower efficiencies.
"We've seen days where the east side was working maybe 1,000 sorties, while the west side was working only 300. The east-side guys were working very hard, while the other half of our crew had a manageable workload," Sergeant Dunn said. "By dividing the operations center by function, rather than by hemisphere, we can adjust the number of people to each type of mission (i.e., contingency, airlift, air refueling, special airlift, channel missions, and so forth). Basically, I can adjust my manpower and even out my workload every day and during every shift."
He said another element of the TACC renovation involves compatible computers and computer software at each workstation, which allows TACC leaders to arrange positions, or functions, on the floor to best meet mission requirements.
A new touch-screen communications system also plays an important role in the transformation of TACC operations.
Sergeant Dunn said the new communications system gives them as many incoming and outgoing line as they need. "If I have 10 people working special airlift mission, I can have 10 phone lines running," added the sergeant. "We can adjust the number of phone lines based on the workload in each [functional] area. Now we can do more business, talk to more people, and more people can talk to us. This increases our efficiency without increasing our manpower."
In addition to technological advances, the TACC renovation also gave TACC employees more work space, increased storage and a better working environment.
Although larger workstations, advanced office equipment and vibrant color schemes have improved the work space, the continuous perfection and transformation of AMC air mobility operations is what really drives the TACC mission.
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