AFOTEC earns "Outstanding" inspection rating

  • Published
  • By Katherine C. Gandara
  • Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Chief of Public Affairs
One of the most grueling things any organization has to go through is a higher headquarters inspection. The Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, headquartered at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., received an overall "Outstanding" rating on its Unit Compliance Inspection held Jan. 11-14.

Inspectors from the Air Force Inspection Agency graded the direct reporting unit on eight major areas - force support, logistics, communications and information, security, protection and emergency management, contracting, financial management and comptroller, safety, and commanders emphasis - and seven of the areas received "Outstanding" ratings while the area of commander's emphasis received an "Excellent" rating.

More than a year of preparation throughout AFOTEC was put to the test as a compliance inspection team of 22 inspectors assessed AFOTEC's ability to perform its day-to-day duties. By measuring and observing the organization's performance, the inspectors assigned a grade.

"Constant communication with AFOTEC's directorates and detachments kept the ball moving forward at all times," said Col. Nevin Elden, AFOTEC's UCI team chief. "As expected, the men and women of AFOTEC performed magnificently." Where discrepancies were found, the team leaned forward and corrected them on the spot when able.

The inspection team identified five superior AFOTEC teams during the inspection: Contracting; the Air Expeditionary Force Management Team; the Financial Management Analysis Team; the Information Technology Asset Management Team; and the Personnel and Information Security Team.

The IG team also identified five superior performers: Margaret Angel and Gina Vela, Logistics, Installations and Mission Support Directorate; William Horst, Information Protection Office; Celia Ojeda, Communications and Information Directorate; and Senior Master Sgt. Peter Padilla, Superintendent of Personnel.

"I am extremely proud of the professionalism and dedication to duty displayed by every AFOTEC member throughout this inspection," said Maj. Gen. David Eichhorn, AFOTEC commander. "The "Outstanding" rating confirms what I've known for quite a while and I am lucky to work with such a great group of professionals."

AFOTEC reports directly to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. It is the Air Force's independent test agency responsible for testing, evaluating and reporting results on new systems being developed for Air Force and multi-service use.

AFOTEC's mission is to test and evaluate new weapon system capabilities in operationally realistic battlespace environments to provide fact-based, decision-quality data to inform decision makers on a range of accurate, balanced, and timely assessments of effectiveness, suitability, and mission capability. From concept development to system fielding, AFOTEC maintains an operational focus ensuring our Airmen, and often joint and coalition partners, receive the capabilities required to complete their missions more effectively and with less risk.