ERSPRING 2021 Military Aviation Losses Report: Required Reading and a Call for Reflection Lt Col Michael Lasher The Criticality of Communication in 2021 Lt Col Michael “Jon” Millard DOGTAG: Connecting the Logistics Force 1Lt Matthew Carpenter, Matthew Paulini, Alex Andrekanic, and 1Lt Justin Davis Failure is Not an Option: Changing the Paradigm on Air Force Logistics Lt Col Lucas Choate A Peek Behind the Pegasus ACE and the Iron Triad Capt Carissa Dobbins Maj James Guthrie Logistics is a Shaping Factor Reflecting on a Capt Alexander Irion, Major Elle Ekman, Contracting-to-Maintenance Exchange and Capt Mitchell Ryan Capt Stephen Bittner THE EXCEPTIONAL RELEASE THE PROFESSIONAL MILITARY LOGISTICS JOURNAL / ISSUE 153 LOA proudly joins WIDL in celebrating all women powering defense logistics… from Rosie the Riveter, to you. ON THE COVER Women’s History Month at Red Flag 21-2: Female service members stand on the flightline for Women’s History Month at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, March 19, 2021. The service members participated in the Air Force’s two-week advanced aerial combat training exercise, Red Flag. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Natalie Rubenak) 2 | EXCEPTIONAL RELEASE MILITARY JOURNAL | ATLOA.ORG | ISSUE 153 THE EXCEPTIONAL RELEASE ISSUE 153 – SPRING 2021 LOA President’s Letter 6 Ret Col Scott Fike Editor’s Letter 8 Montanna J. Ewers Military Aviation Losses Report: 14 Required Reading and a Call for Reflection Lt Col Michael Lasher ACE and the Iron Triad 21 Maj James Guthrie The Criticality of Communication in 2021 29 Lt Col Michael “Jon” Millard 32 DOGTAG: Connecting the Logistics Force 1Lt Matthew Carpenter, Matthew Paulini, Alex Andrekanic, and 1Lt Justin Davis Failure is not an Option: Changing the 38 Paradigm on Air Force Logistics Lt Col Lucas Choate A Peek Behind the Pegasus 51 Capt Carissa Dobbins Logistics is a Shaping Factor 57 Capt Alexander Irion, Major Elle Ekman, and Capt Mitchell Ryan Reflecting on a Contracting-to- 65 Maintenance Exchange Capt Stephen Bittner ISSUE 153 | ATLOA.ORG | EXCEPTIONAL RELEASE MILITARY JOURNAL | 3 Women’s History Month at Red Flag 21-2: Female service members stand on the flightline for Women’s History Month at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, March 19, 2021. The service members participated in the Air Force’s two-week advanced aerial combat training exercise, Red Flag. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Natalie Rubenak) 4 | EXCEPTIONAL RELEASE MILITARY JOURNAL | ATLOA.ORG | ISSUE 153 EXECUTIVE BOARD EXECUTIVE STAFF President Deputy, Chief Information Scott Fike Officer [email protected] Alex Pagano Vice President Chief Learning Officer Jason Kalin Jerry Ottinger [email protected] [email protected] Symposium Directors Chief Financial Officer Kenneth Benton (Chairman) Holly Gramkow Dara Hobbs (Co-Director) [email protected] Jennifer Fletcher (Co-Director) Chief Information Officer Legal Advisor Ryan VanArtsdalen William Rogers [email protected] Membership Officers Chief Operations Officer Evin Greensfelder Jondavid DuVall Rachel Weiler (Assistant) [email protected] [email protected] Executive Senior Advisor LOA Historian THE EXCEPTIONAL Lt Gen Warren D. Berry Jeffrey Decker RELEASE AOA Representatives Zachary Matthews Casey Kleisinger Chief Editor Montanna J. Ewers Board of Advisors [email protected] Judy Fedder, Lt Gen, USAF (Ret) Kevin Sampels, Col, USAF (Ret) Assistant Editor Art Cameron, Brig Gen, (Ret) Ms. Mary H. Parker Carol Howitz, Col, USAF (Ret) Patricia Knighten Managing Editors Mr. Robert Bosworth Public Affairs Officer Richard P. Schwing Jackie Lockett Andrew Kibellus Holly Gramkow Civilian Ambassadors Nathan Elking Joshua Gee Lisa McCarthy Van Mizak Corbin Aldridge Nicholas Hufnagel Chapter Ambassadors Alexander Barden Anna Kouri Damiqua “Champ” Champion Katie Wallace Maddie Jonson Director of Publishing, Mitchell Przybocki Graphic Design & Art Jenny Jones Corporate Membership Officer Tyner Apt-Hill LOA University Dean Marc Bleha ISSUEISSUE 153 153 | ATLOA.ORG| ATLOA.ORG | EXCEPTIONAL| EXCEPTIONAL RELEASE RELEASE MILITARY MILITARY JOURNAL JOURNAL | 5| 5 FROM THE PRESIDENT Scott Fike, Col USAF (Ret) President, Logistics Officer Association LOA President’s Letter Greetings LOG NATION! Our symposium focus is “Under Attack: Agile Logistics for the Future Fight”. Interestingly, we I have been humbled to work with an amazing developed the theme of Agile Logistics last year— executive board who work hard every day to further before the pandemic swept across the nation--based our Logistics community. Who would have thought on a LOGTALK given at LOA 2019 by Alex Pagano. rd th that we would end our 3 decade, our 39 year as This past year, we no doubt faced a world where MOA/LOA in a virtual symposium? To say the past logistics became inhibited and, in a sense, under year has been anything but normal would be an attack, and we had to remain agile for the sake of understatement, but your LOA organization has preserving national security and helping the nation powered through as we always do in situations like adapt to one of its most trying times. these… virus protocols, national lockdowns, world events have not stopped us from reaching across The pandemic over the last year has shown how the globe to provide superior logistics support critical our partnerships are. Our partnerships to continue to defend this great nation through with and within organizations such as the Air Airpower, Sustainment, and Acquisitions… YOU have Force Sustainment Center, Air Force Life Cycle made the difference—STRONGER, BETTER AND Management Center, Defense Logistics Agency, the CERTAINLY RESILIENT! Joint Staff, Combatant Commands, and of course our industry and academia partners as well—these We were determined to not let a global pandemic partnerships required innovative thinking to enable stop the professional and educational experiences our logistics and acquisitions machines to be ready you will have at LOA 2021. After all, this is the in a moments notice. To borrow from our Airman’s premier Logistics Symposium of the year focused Creed—“We will not fail”—and we didn’t—you on our profession of arms. I would like to thank didn’t. our Symposium team, led by Dara Hobbs, Jenna Fletcher, and Ken Benton. These individuals have Under the leadership and guidance of Jerry worked for months to bring you an amazing virtual Ottinger, our Chief Learning Officer, and Marc event. Bleha, our Dean of LOA University, we have dozens of sessions targeting process improvement, 6 | EXCEPTIONAL RELEASE MILITARY JOURNAL | ATLOA.ORG | ISSUE 153 constraint identification, and operations as well A huge enabler for our phenomenal LOA’s staying as opportunities for personal and professional power over these past almost forty years is the development. Our Chief Operating Officer and support from our industry partners. A huge thanks Board of Advisors ensure we execute a long-term to all our industry partners and friends, and special strategic plan for our professional organization and thanks to our LOA2021: remain focused on your professional development, mentoring, and networking. Platinum Sponsors: Boeing and Northrop Grumman I want to welcome in our newly elected Vice Diamond Sponsor: Lockheed Martin President, Ms. Jenna Fletcher and newly elected Patron Sponsors: Pratt & Whitney, Standard Chief Information Officer, Alex Pagano, who are Aero, Frontier Technology, University of Oklahoma both up to the challenge of leading a national Executive MBA in Aerospace & Defense level organization. We owe our utmost respect and gratitude to our outgoing Vice President, Session Sponsors: Infor and Salesforce Jason Kalin and our Chief Information Officer, Ryan Oasis Systems, Array Information VanArtsdalen. Gentlemen, you have served your Sponsors: Technology, Connected Alliances, KPMG, University LOG NATION well and will continue to do great of Tennessee, Haslam College of Business, things! Aerospace & Defense Programs, Forward Edge We all know we have a long tradition of supporting Ai, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, and partnering with local chapters via our amazing EdgeDweller, Goldratt Consulting, Good Luck Don’t ambassadors led by Anna Kouri, Katie Wallace, Suck Consulting, and Aviation Week Network. Madeleine Jonson, and Mitchell Przybocki. Your Our Exceptional Release professional journal local chapters and ambassadors continue to put has been your voice since 1982 and is the last together opportunities for continuous professional professional journal solely focused on the Logistics development, community involvement, scholarship profession of arms. Our editorial team, under the outreach, tours, and more. We are indebted to leadership of Montanna Ewers, Chief Editor, and those serving at the local chapter level, and we Mary Parker, Assistant Editor, and our numerous field encourage all our leaders to remain involved at the editors and graphic designers have worked tirelessly local level, attend some chapter meetings, and pass to compile another fantastic issue showcasing on lessons you’ve learned. With that, I sincerely articles that current, relevant, and ready for debate thank all our Senior Leaders who serve as our local and discussion! chapter advisors as well as in other capacities. Tap a Shoulder! I wanted to take a moment to memorialize our Let’s Go — Let’s Grow — Let’s Get After It! Women in Defense Logistics (WIDL) program. WIDL was co-created in 2019 by Holly Gramkow, Jondavid DuVall, Jackie Lockett, Erika O Hora, and Emilie Scantlebury to expand our Senior