Liberty Wing leads the way in global wing reorganization

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kristopher Levasseur
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  The 48th Fighter Wing will undergo a major change in its maintenance and flying operations July 7, as the 48th Maintenance Group, Operations Group and Logistics Readiness Squadron reorganize into the Global Wing Reorganization concept. 

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley directed December 7, 2007 that all Air Force active-duty, Reserve and Air National Guard wings adopt the new standard wing structure to enhance the service's war-fighting capabilities. 

"There are a lot of changes with the reorganization," said Maj. Greg Buckner, 48th Maintenance Operations Squadron commander. "The 48th MXG will be changing its name to the 48th Materiel Group and dividing the 48th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron among the individual squadrons in the 48th OG." 

The 48th AMXS currently has more than 800 Liberty warriors and works on aircraft from the three F-15 fighter squadrons and the 56th Rescue Squadron. 

"The purpose of the reorganization is to functionally organize the flying groups and squadrons so that we have everything we need to produce flyable aircraft and fly those aircraft under one command," said Lt. Col. Troy Stone, 48th OG deputy commander. "The maintainers, who are required to fix and maintain the aircraft, are now under the same commander as the people who fly the aircraft." 

Additionally, more than 115 members of the 48th MOS will be divided into the 48th OG and the 48th MTG and the 48th Logistics Readiness Squadron will move from the 48th Mission Support Group to the 48th MTG. 

"I think that anytime you take a large group of people with the same focus and put them under a single organization, you will get a better product," said Colonel Stone. 

According to Colonel Stone, personnel from maintenance and flying operations already fall under one commander when they deploy. The reorganization just makes it the same in garrison. 

"The evolution of operations and maintenance has been cyclical over the years," said Major Buckner. "We have made changes like this in the past and both ways work well. The mission will continue to be accomplished and there will be a synergy gained with the combination."