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AFDW Strategic Plan published; ready for implementation

  • Published
  • By Lynda Valentine
  • Director, AFDW Public Affairs
AIR FORCE DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON --  When the Air Force District of Washington was reactivated as a Direct Reporting Unit in 2005, the intent of the organization was to address the Air Force's unique and diverse needs within the National Capital Region.  However, as the organization grew, changed, and took on additional missions and responsibilities, many Airmen assigned felt they couldn't clearly and succinctly answer two important questions: "who are we" and "what do we do." 

AFDW senior leaders spent the past year answering those questions, as well as clarifying the command's mission, vision and organizational goals. The final product is the AFDW Strategic Plan - a 26-page document released Sept. 18. 

"The AFDW Strategic Plan is a tool that will be used by all Airmen to focus our efforts on the AFDW mission and vision," said Maj. Gen. Ralph Jodice, AFDW commander. 

"A thorough understanding of this plan, combined with commitment and focus across all AFDW levels, will ensure our strategic direction is integrated into daily activities and institutionalized throughout the entire command." 

"The Strat Plan not only defines 'who we are,'" the general said, "it also lists the command priorities: mission, people, training and resources, and provides the foundation on which the organization can build. It includes a breakdown of the AFDW Mission statement, Vision statement, core competencies, command priorities and strategic goals." 

"Who we are", according to the plan, is a Direct Reporting Unit with a unique mission set and diverse operational responsibilities, making us a truly hybrid organization. 

"AFDW has similar organizational and resource oversight responsibilities to that of an Air Force Major Command, but it is not a MAJCOM. We have a warfighting mission similar to a Numbered Air Force, but we're not a NAF," said the general. 

AFDW's vision, as outlined in the plan, is:
"To be and remain a trusted and reliable Joint partner in the National Capital Region known for integrity, service and excellence. We provide a proud team of mission-ready Total Force Airmen focused on superior service and agile support for Homeland Operations in the NCR, Joint Operations around the globe, and Air Force Elements worldwide." 

AFDW's mission is:
"To execute Air Force operations and support Joint Force and Inter-Agency operations in the National Capital Region while providing superior support to Combatant Commanders and Air Force Elements worldwide." 

"The first verb you come to in our mission statement is 'execute,'" said General Jodice. "It is a powerful word carefully chosen to define what we do. We don't just provide. We don't just support. We execute. We make things happen and are responsible for guaranteeing success. We execute Air Force operations. We exist because Air Force senior leadership made a deliberate decision to reactivate AFDW to take the lead for Air Force operations in the NCR."  

The eight Strategic Goals outlined in the plan provide pathways that focus AFDW's organizational decision-making and will be used to concentrate attention on critical actions and specific objectives in the upcoming years. According to the plan, each goal was specifically chosen to address an area which requires particular focus, effort and planning while also having the potential to generate beneficial effects across the command. 

The AFDW strategic goals are: 

   1.  Demonstrate our commitment to our people by providing quality programs to enhance or facilitate professional, physical, spiritual and mental needs. 

   2. Fully execute Headquarters responsibilities to provide policy, guidance and resources. 

   3. Cultivate a mission-centric culture of Integrity, Service and Excellence that embraces process improvement for mission enhancement. 

   4. Streamline AFDW to meet our mission. 
 
   5. Identify AFDW's ADCON elements and define the services required. 

    6. Codify AFDW's role as the Air Force Component to JTF-NCR and JTF CapMed. 

   7. Ensure cyber security on AFDW managed networks and improve AFDW processes through affordable synchronized technology 

   8.  Develop a strategic communications plan to shape our internal culture, advocate for support from others outside AFDW spread the Air Force message. 

"This plan is a roadmap for AFDW's future," said General Jodice. "I strongly encourage each of you to embrace it and make it a part of everything you do. Together we will reach new levels of excellence in mission execution for AFDW and our Air Force."