AFPC, Tinker close ranks to improve civilian personnel services

The Air Force Personnel Center here, in partnership with the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is embarking on a test that will allow the Air Force to closely study and review consolidated support to a large civilian employee population.

For a one-year period, AFPC will provide staffing referral services to Tinker AFB and fill its competitive internal and external job vacancies.

This test will give AFPC an opportunity to prove its capabilities of centralizing personnel services, while providing a foundation for future decision-making.

The Air Force Audit Agency will measure AFPC in the areas of timeliness and customer service during the performance measurement portion of the test that began April 2.

According to Rob Thomas II, AFPC executive director, AFPC welcomes the challenge and added the most important person through this process is the customer.

"Recognizing the unique nature of civilian personnel services at bases with large civilian employee populations, senior leaders at Air Staff and at AFMC have directed that we carefully study and take deliberate steps prior to any workload transition," said Mr. Thomas. "I'm confident AFPC is up to that task."

Robert J. Conner, OC-ALC director, said the initiative will result in a positive step forward in continuous process improvement.

"This program has my full support," Mr. Conner said. "The cost savings to the taxpayer, coupled with superior support to our managers and leaders, makes it a win-win situation for everyone. "

Mr. Thomas added the test also affords an opportunity to let folks know what AFPC can team up with Tinker to accomplish.

"The entire test team has the right attitude to complete the task in front of us over the next 12 months," Mr. Thomas said. "We certainly expect to meet or exceed current service levels.

"It is imperative for AFPC to foster a good working relationship with Tinker as their roles change," he continued. "We realize there are challenges at both ends and a level of expectation among leadership teams on both sides, and we are all enthusiastic about moving ahead."

Base Realignment and Closure decisions have been driving the impetus for change. BRAC requires the consolidation of some Air Force civilian personnel services to AFPC.