PRODUCT SUPPORT
resolve DMSMS issues. PSMs must work with the Defense Logistics Agency and other product support providers. Robust DMSMS management relies on near-term moni - toring, long-term technology forecasting, and a strategy to resolve the DMSMS issue. This helps target affordability and control cost growth by accounting for DMSMS issues during design. Moreover, by cultivating long-term relation - ships with suppliers, the government is more likely to have advanced warnings and can plan an alternative course of action. PSMs should advocate for DMSMS-resilient designs, open systems architecture, and consider technology re - freshment plans. Q Given the Department of War’s Regional Sustain- ment Framework [RSF] strategic initiative to equip the Warfghter through globally dispersed maintenance, repair, and overhaul [MRO] capabilities closer to the point of need, what is the Air Force doing to implement RSF? And how will it improve Air Force weapon systems readiness in a contested logistics environment? A. Performing MRO sustainment operations of weapon systems closer to the point of need is not new to the De - partment of the Air Force. Today, we have a contract with Korean Air Lines [KAL] in South Korea to accomplish ser - vice life extension and depot-level maintenance on our F-16 fighter fleet stationed within the Indo-Pacific Command theater. In fact, the Air Force has been contracting with KAL to perform MRO actions on weapon systems for F-15, F-16 fighters and HH-60 helicopters with a high level of success for decades. To complement the RSF initiative, Air Force Sustainment Center has initiated GENUS, the Global En - terprise Network for Universal Sustainment. GENUS aims to extend our depot maintenance capabilities by utilizing depot maintenance artisans within and beyond the United States, fostering stronger partnerships with allied nations, indigenous industries, and U.S. companies with locations abroad. We still have much work ahead of us as we watch GENUS evolve into a viable sustainment option, but the initiative is primed to enhance the Air Force’s readiness and operational flexibility. To ensure that we are targeting the right MRO capabil - ity enhancements, my office is working closely with the weapon system program offices to validate, through analy - sis, the systems, subsystems, and components that can improve readiness of our weapon systems in a contested logistics environment. Once the program offices have vali - dated the need for an RSF workload shift or dual source of repair, the Air Force will continue to follow the required
Devin L. Cate, Executive Director, Air National Guard, receives a first hand view of the boom operators’ mission from Master Sgt. Justin Davis, boom operator, assigned to the 171st Air Refueling Wing, Pennsylvania Air National Guard, during a KC-135 aircraft tour, April 11, 2023, in Pittsburgh, Pa. Source: U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Bryan Hoover instructions from the Department of War and the Air Force for depot source of repair assignments. Q Both the SPEED [Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery] Act of 2025 in the House and the FoRGED [Fostering Reform and Government Effciency in De- fense] Act in the Senate have proposed signifcant changes to the PSM’s statutory requirements. Do you have any thoughts on how these changes might impact the PSMs? A. While nobody knows for certain what changes will be agreed to between the House and the Senate, I don’t be - lieve the impact on the PSMs will be significant. Nearly 15 years ago, Congress carried tremendous changes within the product support community by codifying the over - arching requirement for a PSM along with six fundamental PSM responsibilities in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 National Defense Authorization Act [NDAA]. This legislation had the
Looking ahead, I’m confdent that AI will be an essential tool for us in life cycle product support. By providing better information and decision support, it will help us make smarter choices about how we allocate resources and ultimately improve mission readiness.
12 DEFENSE ACQUISITION MAGAZINE | JANUARY FEBRUARY 2026 –
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