Sustaining a fleet of high-performance aircraft is a complex endeavor, requiring a symphony of efforts from various teams across the Air Force.

Leading the charge in this integration of logistics and engineering at Robins AFB is the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex Aerospace Sustainment Directorate, or ASD.

Born from a 2011 Air Force Materiel Command reorganization, ASDs act as the crucial link between depot maintenance organizations, program offices, and supply chain organizations.  Their mission: to ensure integrated, standardized and optimized processes for the long-term sustainment of the Air Force fleet.

"We're like the tugboat guiding larger ships," said Steve Bachelor, WR-ALC ASD acting director.  "We don't own the processes, but as honest brokers we provide the expertise to help teams navigate complex issues and establish lasting solutions to big picture problems.”

According to Bachelor, one of ASD's past triumphs involved tackling a critical issue with the F-15 aircraft fleet.

“A breakdown in tracking structural cracks had the potential to compromise safety” he said.  “ASD stepped in, uniting maintenance teams, program offices, and engineers to establish new guidelines and training programs, ultimately ensuring accurate data tracking and enhanced safety protocols.”

Beyond addressing immediate challenges, the ASDs are deeply involved in optimizing long-term sustainment strategies, particularly through the Aircraft and Missile Requirements, or AMR, process.  This process ensures every maintenance task during programmed depot maintenance is meticulously defined, planned, and fully supportable.

"AMR is about fire prevention," said Jon Steinmetz, the ASD's Depot Requirements Logistics Supportability lead.  "We need to anticipate potential problems and have solutions ready before an aircraft even arrives for maintenance."

Steinmetz uses the analogy of baking a cake to explain the forward-looking approach and how it is critical for maintaining an aging fleet.

"You wouldn't start baking without ensuring you have all the ingredients.  AMR does the same for depot maintenance ensuring parts, skills, tools, and facilities are all aligned well in advance."

One of the biggest hurdles is overcoming the reliance on historical demand, which bases supportability solely on past needs.

"Historical data is only a small piece of the puzzle," said Steinmetz. "For aging aircraft like the C-5M Super Galaxy, which has been in service for over 50 years, we need to anticipate future needs 18 months out and beyond."

To achieve this, ASDs have spearheaded the development of standardized training programs, created tracking metrics, and championed a new set of Air Force guidance documents, set for publication this year, to standardize AMR across all AFMC.

"Standardization is key," said Steinmetz.  "It allows for better oversight, reduces the documentation burden on our Airmen, and ultimately leads to more effective aircraft sustainment across the board."

As the Air Force fleet continues to age, the role of ASDs become increasingly vital.  Through their proactive approach, collaborative spirit and dedication to optimization, the WR-ALC ASD ensures the Air Forces aircraft remain mission-ready, now and into the future.