Maj. Gen. Carl Schaefer, Deputy Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, discusses his perspectives on the role a mentor plays in helping a person become the best version of themselves as part of the AFMC “Growing People” mentoring campaign. (Air Force courtesy photo/released)

Lt. Gen. Arnold W. Bunch, Jr. has been nominated by the President for a fourth star to become the next commander of Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (Air Force courtesy photo/released)

Data analytics can turn data into valuable information for future decision making and make operations more effective and efficient. Researchers at the Air Force Research Laboratory’s 711th Human Performance wing are leveraging a new funding source known as Squadron Innovation Funds to design and build a Human-Centered Data Analytics Environment that will help them store and operationalize huge amounts of both research and operational data. (U.S. Air Force Graphic Illustration/Paul Hartman)

The Air Force Materiel Command's Science and Technology 2018 Wargames tested the military utility of more than 30 next-generation warfighting capabilities against a real-world operational scenario, focusing on mission sets that include air superiority, command and control, base defense, sustainment, strike, intelligence and more.

Tech. Sgt. Joseph Munis, 301st Fighter Wing, Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas, builds GBU-31 bombs April 26 at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Munis, other Airmen and aircraft were at Hill participating in Combat Hammer, an air-to-ground weapons evaluation exercise which collects and analyzes data on the performance of precision weapons and measures their suitability for use in combat. The Air Force supply chain is complex, playing a critical role in the management of Air Force depot-level repairable and consumable spares across the globe in support of a wide range of weapon systems. (U.S. Air Force/Paul Holcomb)

Lt. Col. Jorge Manresa, a contracting officer with the Air Force Installation Contracting Agency’s 338th Specialized Contracting Squadron, and AFWERX-Austin Liaison, conducts a briefing for the contracting team at the beginning of their effort to award 50 contracts in 50 hours. The team spent a week from Nov. 5-9 working on the project and ended up awarding more than 100 contracts in 40 hours, significantly reducing the amount of time it takes to award contracts to businesses. (Courtesy photo)

When Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein asked leaders to “unleash the brilliance in our Airmen,” Air Force Materiel Command answered the call, executing more than $4.6 million in Squadron Innovation Funds in fiscal year 2018.

“The Contracting Experience” is a new Air Force Materiel Command podcast for the contracting workforce that provides insight into evolving issues, high-performance leadership and lessons from the field through conversations with acquisition influencers and Contracting leaders.

The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is a 57-year federal workplace giving tradition that has raised more than $8.3 billion for charitable organizations. The funds raised each fall through this campaign help neighbors in need around the corner, across the nation, and throughout the world. During the campaign, federal employees can choose from a list of thousands of vetted charities to support. It is one of the largest workplace giving campaigns in the world.