WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio, (AFLCMC) - The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s (AFLCMC) Air Force Security Assistance and Cooperation Directorate (AFSAC) hosted the 92nd International Customer User Group (ICUG) meeting, November 28-29 at the historic Hope Hotel located at Wright-Patt.
The ICUG is a quarterly tri-service-led Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Partner meeting, that has been ongoing for 20 years.
The event serves as a working forum for international partners to recommend and request the development of new FMS policies, processes, and logistical and financial system capabilities.
The ICUG includes representatives across the security cooperation community including the Naval Supply Systems Command’s Weapon Systems Support (NAVSUP/WSS) Security Assistance Foreign Representatives, Security Assistance Liaison Officers from the United States Army Security Assistance Command (USASAC), AFSAC Foreign Liaison Officers (FLOs), and Washington D.C. Embassy personnel.
“ICUG-92 had 87 in-person participants from across the US and many more joining virtually from around the global,” explained Royal Australian Air Force Wing Commander Chris Meddens, who chaired the event. “This forum is more relevant and important than ever as participants discussed a wide range of topics affecting the global supply chain.”
Discussion topics ranged F-35 program updates, an in-depth explanation about the US financial system, and how best to utilize and reutilize the transfer and donation program, among a host of other discussion points.
AFSAC director Brig. Gen. Joel Safranek kicked off the event by welcoming the participants to the historic Hope Hotel at Wright-Patt. He noted that the location was no stranger to hosting international partners for strategic global discussions as it was the location of the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords, which brought an end to the 3.5-year-long Bosnian War.
ICUG-92 also had the first planned meeting of foreign liaison officers (FLOs) support coordinators from across AFSAC, NAVSUP and USASAC. The meeting established an open line of communication between agencies enabling the sharing of best practices and facilitating support between the organizations.
“These coordinators are the unsung heroes of the FLO process as they begin engaging with assigned officers from across the globe before they arrive in the US,” said Meddens. “They also support the foreign officers during their tours, which is a critical component of the FLO/US partnership success.”
The three ICUG meetings in 2024 are currently planned for February in Mechanicsburg, Pa. hosted by USASAC, June in Philadelphia Pa. hosted by NAVSUP, and back in November to Wright-Patt Ohio hosted by AFSAC.