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AIR FORCE SAFETY CENTER
Air Force Safety Center
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The Air Force Safety Center is a field operating agency with headquarters at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.

Mission


The Air Force Safety Center preserves and enhances combat capability through resource preservation for both Airmen and equipment which is accomplished by mishap elimination. The center develops, implements, executes and evaluates Air Force aviation, ground, weapons, space and system mishap prevention, policy and nuclear surety programs. The center oversees mishap investigations, evaluates corrective actions, ensures implementation and maintains the mishap database Air Force-wide. It also develops and directs safety education and media programs for all safety disciplines.

Personnel

There are approximately 120 people assigned to the Air Force Safety Center, divided almost equally between military and civilians.

Organization

The Air Force chief of safety, who also holds the title of commander, Air Force Safety Center, heads the organization and is located at the Pentagon with an Air Staff liaison division. The Air Force Safety Center is composed of the deputy chief of safety/executive director and nine divisions at its Kirtland AFB location.

The Analyses and Integration Division ensures proactive mishap prevention guidance for all safety disciplines including nuclear surety by providing interactive dialogue and program expertise. It represents U. S. Air Force interests as members of numerous boards, panels, committees, and working groups involved in developing safety policies and programs. The division also manages and maintains the USAF Safety Database for all mishaps, responds to customer requirements for mishap data, and oversees the development and management of the Air Force Safety Automated System. It is also responsible for the Safety Analysis Team process, Operations Research Analysis function, USAF Operational Risk Management Program, Air Force Safety Awards Program and administration of the USAF Safety Strategic Plan.

The Aviation Safety Division consists of safety-trained professionals spanning the domain of human and autonomous flight. The division preserves warfighting capability by establishing U.S. Air Force aviation safety policy and promoting mishap prevention programs for all aviation assets. It oversees the aviation mishap investigative process, the collection and accuracy of flight safety data, and the disposition of risk-mitigating actions. It provides proactive and reactive engineering, human factors, life support, and operational analyses of flight safety issues. Additionally, the Aircraft Information Program, the Hazardous Air Traffic Report Program, the Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard Program, and the Mishap Analysis and Animation Facility are directed by the division.

The Ground Safety Division manages the Air Force ground safety program including operational, occupational, sports and recreation, and traffic safety. It develops and oversees ground safety policy, programs and procedures to provide a safe work environment and enhance the safety of Air Force personnel during off duty to help maintain combat capability and readiness.

The Space Safety Division is responsible for two diverse disciplines. The assured safe access to space and the safe management of emerging directed energy weapons, or DEW, systems. As the Department of Defense lead for space safety, the division is responsible for overseeing the safe development, operation and maintenance of Air Force space assets (including ground based systems). This includes coordination of space safety principles and policies amongst all national and international space-fairing entities. The division is also the DOD representative to the Inter-Agency Nuclear Safety Review Panel, advising the president on all space launches that carry nuclear material. In addition, the Space Safety Division is the DOD flagship for establishing operational guidelines for the safe management of the DEW systems, including lasers and high power microwaves. This division is responsible for weapons certification for new DEW systems, and chairs the AF Laser System Safety Review Board, which provides the safety approval for all Air Force operational lasers, and is a member of the DOD Radio Frequency Radiation Working Group.

The Weapons Safety Division establishes and executes mishap prevention programs for all nuclear and conventional weapons systems. The division provides nuclear systems design certification, explosives safety standards development and siting reviews, weapons safety consultation, as well as system inspection, oversight, education, explosives hazard classifications and staff assistance in its areas of responsibility.

The Safety Assessment Division facilitates mishap prevention through hazard identification and risk mitigation recommendations. The division coordinates Organizational Safety Assessments at the request of base-level commanders to identify organizational climate factors with safety implications. The division also manages the web-based AF Culture Assessment Safety Tool program offering operational, maintenance and support as well as ground culture safety surveys.

The Media, Education and Force Development Division provides safety education and training to personnel, focusing on career and additional duty safety professionals, to enhance their knowledge and awareness to safely accomplish the mission and preserve vital national resources. Seven professional and various technical safety courses are taught in 45 sessions ranging from three days to 10 weeks, to more than 1,800 students annually. Division personnel also produce the following Air Force Safety magazines: Flying Safety, Road and Rec, and Weapons Journal; providing all Airmen enhanced knowledge of recurring safety requirements through the proactive marketing of safety events, issues, and concerns through newsletters, videos, and commercials.

The Resource Management, Manpower and Career Programs Division establishes policy and manages Air Force safety civilian and enlisted career fields. It is the functional manager for the Air Force safety manpower standard and variances. The division also establishes policy and manages AFSC military and civilian personnel actions. In addition, it is responsible for the center's manpower requirements and budget management. 

The Issues Division, , a detachment in the Pentagon, provides a direct interface with members of the Air Staff. It facilitates responses to questions on safety related issues raised by the chief of staff and members of the staff. The division also represents the chief of safety at Air Staff meetings and boards. .

The Office of the Staff Judge Advocate provides legal advice and general counsel on all aspects of Air Force mishap prevention programs and safety investigations. It also provides effective coordination on legal and safety issues with the DOD, other federal agencies, and international safety programs. The office maintains the AFSC Records Library, allowing efficient and timely retrieval of safety investigation reports for review and analysis. In addition, it responds to requests for safety information under the Freedom of Information Act, Congressional requests and other functional requests.

History

After the Air Force became a separate department, the Air Force chief of staff designated the Office of the Inspector General to oversee all inspection and safety functions. These functions were consolidated in an Inspector General group at Norton AFB, Calif., in the 1950s.

On Dec. 31, 1971, the Air Force Inspection and Safety Center was activated, replacing the 1002nd IG Group. The center was divided into the Air Force Inspection Agency and the Air Force Safety Agency in August 1991. Reorganization of the Air Staff in 1992 created the Air Force chief of safety position reporting directly to the Air Force chief of staff. The chief of safety became dual-hatted as the commander of the Air Force Safety Agency. In July 1993, the agency moved to Kirtland AFB, N.M. due to the closure of Norton AFB

Following The Blue Ribbon Panel on Aviation Safety in 1995, the Air Force Safety Center was activated on Jan. 1, 1996, when the Air Force chief of safety and support staff moved from Washington, D.C.,  to consolidate all safety functions at Kirtland AFB. The chief of safety position was changed from a brigadier general to a major general.

The deputy chief of safety/executive director position was created in October, 2003, to oversee the daily functions of the center. The chief of safety and support staff moved back to the Pentagon in April, 2004.


Point of Contact
Air Force Safety Center, Office of the Commander; 9700 G Avenue SE; Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5670; DSN 246-0550 or (505) 846-0550.


August 2007



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