21st OSS Airfield Ops. leading the way

Published Sept. 20, 2017
By Senior Airman Dennis Hoffman
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The grand opening and ribbon cutting of the Peterson Air force Base Flight Planning Room occurred at the Base Operations Building on Peterson Air force Base, Colorado, Sept. 15, 2017.

The Peterson AFB Flight Planning Room is a flagship environment with digital processes in place that will make it paperless, a first across the entire Air Force. The new room is outfitted with two large, interactive screens and a digital system that encompasses every facet of the usual paper-based flight publications a pilot needs to move their mission forward. The cost savings over the next year make this new room an obvious benefit.

“We spend tens of thousands of dollars each month on paper flight publications,” said Staff Sgt. Jason Turton, 21st Operations Support Squadron Airfield management operations supervisor, creator and implementer of the room. “If we minimize how much we spend on those and allow the pilots to do everything on an electronic medium, we could potentially save around a $100,000 a year.”

Col. Todd Moore, 21st Space Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Mark Bronson, 21st SW command chief, were on hand to cut the ribbon for the official launch of the room and discuss the benefits of fostering ideas in Airmen and the impact of the new room on the 21st OSS and 21st SW workflow.

“This is a great moment to celebrate the magnificent things our Airmen are doing here at Peterson AFB,” said Moore. “Our Airmen have great ideas and I know in this room there are at least three more great ideas ready to go. We need to keep encouraging our Airmen to be progressive leaders of change and continue to propel our mission here at the 21st SW.”

With support from the top down, Turton credits his successes to the receptiveness of his chain of command.

“I love my job,” said Turton. “But the best part about it is that any idea I may have on how to make our jobs easier or more efficient is heard with open ears and is well received throughout my entire chain of command. The 21st SW and the leadership here do a great job allowing any [Airman] the opportunity to step out of their box and do some thinking to impact the Air Force as a whole!”

With the overall goal for this room to be a flagship model around the Air Force, Turton and his team will compile data and cost analyses over the coming months to present this room as the standard by which all of the Air Force Flight Planning Rooms be held to.