HAZELWOOD, Mo. –
In a powerful testament to the enduring partnership between warfighters and the industrial base, Air Force Gen. Adrian Spain, commander of the Air Combat Command, visited Defense Contract Management Agency Fixed Wing St. Louis Jan. 7.
“General Spain’s visit served to underscore the critical importance of the F-15EX Eagle II and T-7A Red Hawk programs that DCMA Fixed Wing St. Louis personnel oversee,” said Bob Corbin, DCMA Fixed Wing St. Louis deputy director. “His visit highlights the pivotal role DCMA plays in delivering overwhelming combat capabilities to our nation’s defenders.”
During his visit, Spain conducted a town hall with contract management office personnel and emphasized the importance to leverage industry and bring schedule, cost, and performance back to the forefront. He also inspected F-15EX aircraft.
“His words served as motivation,” said Corbin. “He reinforced DCMA’s core mission, which is to support timely deliveries thereby enhancing warfighter lethality and to be the independent eyes and ears of the Department of War.”
Corbin said the visit’s impact resonated with agency personnel. The general’s presence and his direct engagement with the team highlighted Air Combat Command’s focus on the success of these next-generation platforms, as well as the crucial requirement to sustain fielded platforms.
According to Air Force Lt. Col. Matt Olde, a DCMA Fixed Wing St. Louis F-15 acceptance pilot, the F-15EX Eagle II represents a “significant leap in air superiority, boasting an expanded weapons capacity and advanced avionics that will support the United States dominating the skies for decades to come.”
Alongside the T-7A Red Hawk, which is projected to redefine how the Air Force trains its next generation of fighter pilots, these platforms are central to the nation’s defense strategy.
“DCMA Fixed Wing St. Louis is positioned at the heart of this effort as an indispensable link ensuring these cutting-edge aircraft are delivered when needed and with the unwavering quality our warfighters deserve,” said Navy Capt. Dan Martin, DCMA Fixed Wing St. Louis commander.
DCMA Fixed Wing St. Louis is responsible for approximately 2,900 contracts valued at $126 billion. In addition to the F-15EX and T-7A Red Hawk, personnel perform oversight on the MQ-25 Stingray, F/A-18E/F Hornet new production, F/A-18 Service Life Modification program, F/A-18 Infrared Search and Track, F-15 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System, and other programs.
“The men and women of DCMA Fixed Wing St. Louis are not simply contract administrators, rather, they are key members in the defense of our nation,” said Martin. “They are the guardians of the trust placed in them by every airman who will fly these aircraft into harm’s way. General Spain’s visit was an affirmation of that trust and a compelling reminder that DCMA’s relentless pursuit of excellence is fundamental to winning the next fight.”