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Pope hosts C-130 Wing Commander's Summit

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kris Levasseur
  • 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Leaders from C-130 bases around the world gathered here to take part in a C-130 Summit hosted by Col. James Johnson, 43rd Airlift Wing Commander, in order to discuss C-130 operations and issues in the Air Force.

In November 2009, Colonel Johnson announced Pope would host the first-ever C-130 Wing Commander Summit.

"The C-130 Wing Commander Summit is an opportunity for leaders from around the C-130 community to gather in a forum that allows collaboration between C-130 Wing Commanders and Air Mobility Command/Air Force Reserve Command Headquarters staff to focus, discuss,and resolve enduring C-130 issues," said Colonel Johnson.

According to Maj. Fred Falgiano, 43rd Operations Support Squadron and lead coordinator for the summit, C-130 Summits have happened before, but this is the first time the summit will be held with this level of engagement.

AMC is sending staff officers from its' Operations and Logistics offices. AFRC is sending representatives from their Strategic Plans and Programs offices. Eleven C-130 wings will be represented, to include four wing commanders, three vice wing commanders, and five group commanders.

Additionally, among the 28 attendees are squadron commanders, a wing chief of safety and several C-130 subject matter experts.

"The main focus of the Summit will be Total Force Integration and Active Associations," said Major Falgiano. "There will be discussion concerning AMC's vision for the C-130 community, Air Education and Training Command C-130 issues, Joint Forcible Entry and Joint Readiness Training Exercise issues, airframe availability issues that affect the future of the C-130 fleet, and the ever-popular deployment issues discussion."

The Summit provides a venue for representatives from affected wings to take steps to educate other leaders about possible future issues, what to expect, and how to deal with those issues as they arise.

"The desired result of the Summit is to gain consensus on issues or to form a way-ahead to streamline C-130 operations and to measure how well we're meeting the intent of the Total Force Integration construct," said Major Falgiano.

Streamlining the operations will allow C-130s and their crews to continue the mission, such as air dropping troops and equipment into hostile areas around the world.

"There's already been a lot of growth and sharing of knowledge about C-130 issues simply through email traffic and telephone calls and the Summit hasn't even begun yet," said Major Falgiano. "If a different wing were to hold a Summit each year, we could build upon what we've already learned and shared.

"What we're doing here at Pope is setting the foundation for future discussions at a level where decisions can be made and information can be passed directly to our leaders at the 18th Air Force and AMC level."