Here to stay! Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century.(Air Force Smart Operations in action)

While the specific nature of the challenges we will face remains uncertain and dynamic, one of the inherent strengths of Air Force Smart Operations (AFSO) is its flexibility to effectively address any unique set of circumstances. In this regard, it is easy to see that AFSO exists for the sole purpose of helping Airmen continue to strengthen mission capability. AFSO is all about doing your job faster, better, more safely, and smarter. It is important to understand that AFSO doesn't make decisions to cut or constrain resources. Quite the contrary, AFSO helps Airmen deal effectively in an environment where those limitations already exist.

The Air Force has a long and proven history of using innovation to solve problems, reduce risk, and create new opportunities--but, perhaps most importantly, for using innovation to exponentially increase combat airpower capability. As our former Chief of Staff, General T. Michael Moseley, frequently remarked, "... it is in every airman's DNA." Over the 60-plus-year history of the United States Air Force, and for many more years before that during the genesis of airpower in the Army Air Corps, the immutable and unique characteristics of airpower--precision, speed, lethality (just to name a few)--have all witnessed extraordinary improvement.

Throughout this evolution of airpower, one enduring principle remains true--it is the ideas and creativity of front-line Airmen that continue to fuel this continuous strengthening of mission capability. Engaging the imagination and initiative of our people is not only the right thing to do, it is, without question, necessary to the future success of the Air Force. Supervisors and leaders across the Service, therefore, have an obligation--and daily responsibility--to make the absolute best use of airmen's time and strive to constantly improve the operational performance of the Air Force.

Of particular note, many of the innovation initiatives adopted by the Air Force have their roots in the business sector where their intrinsic value has been tested and proven over time. This tried-and-true formula for success has now brought us Smart Operations.

The earliest activities related to AFSO began in the air logistics centers. AFSO has now spread to virtually every aspect of the Air Force daily battle rhythm. After years of dedicated and focused efforts--from the most senior Air Force leaders to the most junior Airman--AFSO is now on a very steep vector and climbing. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates recently highlighted the Air Force for transforming: "... the institutional culture that empowers Airmen ... to challenge the status quo and take responsibility for building a stronger Air Force."

Current and future challenges--perhaps best described generically as additional mission taskings, whether that be continuing Global War on Terror operations, aging fleets, increased security requirements, and others--are placing ever greater demands on airmen's time with little to no relief in sight. In addition, resource availability forecasts continue to show significant limitations for military budgets in the foreseeable future--leading the Air Force to find a way to ensure mission execution within existing or even reduced funding. Against that challenging backdrop, the need for finding efficiencies becomes even more critical.

There is, however, some very good news. AFSO provides a proven way to function effectively--even in a severely resource-constrained operating environment. This is not just some unsubstantiated claim. We have seen this time and time again in the business sector where organizations that successfully implement the discipline of Lean thinking have not just survived, they have ...