WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio (AFLCMC) – Lt. Gen. Donna D. Shipton assumed command of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center during a ceremony Jan.17 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
Gen. Duke Z. Richardson, Air Force Materiel Command commander, presided over the ceremony.
“AFLCMC is a behemoth if you ever thought about what it actually is, and I want to submit that Donna is the right person to take its helm,” said Richardson.
During his remarks, Richardson explained that Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall talks about great power competition (GPC) quite a lot and there is a lot of work being done to retool the Air Force to answer the GPC challenge.
“That [retooling] work will definitely have an effect on AFLCMC,” said Richardson. “I cannot be more confident of having Donna come in and take the reins of LCMC, especially during this era of great power competition.”
Prior to coming to AFLCMC, Shipton served in the Pentagon as the Military Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. As the AQ Mil Dep, she was responsible for research and development, test, production, product support, and modernization of Air Force programs worth more than $60 billion annually.
During her remarks Shipton, spoke directly to the Center’s workforce:
“What you do within AFLCMC amazes me every day and is of significant importance to our Air Force and our Nation. It’s no secret that we are living in a time of great consequence. With the rise of near-peer competitors over the past few decades, we’ve seen the urgency and the importance of our work increase steadily. Now, as we survey the landscape of threats to our peaceful, democratic way of life, we see not only near-peers, but in some key aspects, peers. And if our work does not succeed, we may find ourselves at a serious strategic disadvantage very soon.”
Shipton then continued her speech with a simple ask:
“Team, as you well know, what you do within AFLCMC is more than just a vocation. Your work is truly the fulfillment of a promise – multiple promises, really. And as I take command of this amazing Center, what I’m asking all of us to do is simply this – to keep our promises.”
AFLCMC was formed in 2012 and is responsible for total life cycle management for aircraft, engines, munitions, electronic, computer, network, cyber and agile combat support systems. The Center employs more than 28,000 people and has an annual budget of over $300 billion.
Shipton is the Center’s fifth commander and first female to hold the position. She thanked Richardson for his trust and confidence in selecting her for the position. She also thanked her predecessor, Lt. Gen. Shaun Morris, for propelling the Center’s mission forward and for “leaving the Center in impressive shape.” Morris retired in November 2023.
Shipton also serves as the Program Executive Officer (PEO) of the Rapid Sustainment Office (RSO).
“It is with a deep sense of responsibility and humility that I take command of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, knowing that the success of our mission rests on the collective strength and resilience of this exceptional team,” said Shipton. “Our journey together begins at a time of real consequence, and I am confident that together we can overcome any challenges that come our way – that we can follow through and transform our programs into meaningful operational capabilities. And that together with its other five Centers, we are an integral part of Air Force Materiel Command’s mission to power the world’s greatest Air Force. My commitment to you is steadfast, and I look forward to serving alongside you as we work together to keep our promises.”
Watch a replay of the ceremony below: