The emergence over the past decade of intensified U.S. competition with the People’s Republic of China (PRC or China) and the Russian Federation (Russia)—often referred to as Great Power Competition (GPC) or strategic competition—has profoundly changed the conversation about U.S. defense issues from what it was during the post–Cold War era: counterterrorist operations and U.S. military operations in the Middle East.

As part of the DAF’s sweeping efforts to deter and, if needed, prevail in an era of Great Power Competition, DAF senior leaders announced four organizational changes to Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC).  These organizational shifts are critically important as our Air Force transitions from meeting a post-Cold War threat to meeting the GPC threat we have today!

Why? Well, AFMC conducts research, development, test and evaluation, and provides acquisition management services and logistics support necessary to keep Air Force weapon systems ready for war. AFMC fulfills its mission of equipping the Air Force with cutting-edge weapon systems and technology through several unique centers which are responsible for the “cradle-to-grave” oversight for aircraft, electronic systems, missiles and munitions...and the military needs and capabilities are vastly different between the post-Cold War threat and the GPC threat!

As a high-level overview, the DAF directed changes to AFMC include creation of a new office within AFMC headquarters, establishment of three Systems Centers to include the stand up of a new Center, and changes to two of the six existing AFMC Centers. The Systems Centers will be the Air Force’s ‘Center of Excellence’ for their particular area of expertise.

AFMC’s first ‘official’ announcement regarding the details are outlined on this public release article.

Click here for a a DAF/AFMC GPC Reoptimization Graphic

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