Squadron of the Week: Wing Staff Agencies

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Dustin Mullen
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The base wing commander faces constant pressure to keep the wing moving forward and ensure the mission is accomplished. Luckily, the personnel in the Wing Staff Agencies keep his programs and policies on track, and keep wing operations running smoothly.

"The WSA is essentially the commander's staff," said Lt. Col. Gregory Pickette, 325th Fighter Wing director of staff. "His staff is more than just the people he interacts with on a daily basis. It's a whole spiderweb of agencies."

This highly diverse group of agencies performs many different missions allowing them to directly support all four of the commander's lines of effort: project combat airpower and agile combat support, train the future of air dominance, advance and sustain resources and infrastructure and take care of airmen and families.

"There are 17 different agencies in the WSA," said Pickette. "All of these agencies report directly to the wing commander or the vice commander."

The WSA consist of the following sections:

The Executive Section - This group is the direct line for the commander's key issues and actions. They ensure that his signature is protected by reviewing any incoming and outgoing documents, and are essential in managing the commander and vice commander's schedules.

The 325th Comptroller Squadron - This is the only squadron in the WSA. They manage all the base's finances, both big-picture and personnel finances. 

Protocol - This office is the distinguished visitor support office. They have the duty of planning, preparing and escorting DVs, as well as coordinating high level events.

Command Post - The command post oversees the management and supervision of operations and support activities at Tyndall. The CP controllers act as the liaison for the 325th FW commander, group and unit commanders, the base populace and temporary duty personnel and units in whatever capacity required. Whenever an incident arises, the CP helps put all the pieces of the puzzle together.

Community Support Coordinator - As an office of one, the CSC focuses on resiliency training and coordinating the different helping agencies on base, such as the Airman and Family Readiness Center, Mental Health and the chapel.

Sexual Assault Prevention and Response - The SAPR office's main objectives are providing support to victims of sexual assault and educating base personnel on sexual assault prevention and response.

Advanced Programs Office - This office is primarily responsible for safeguarding high-level sensitive material, such as that involved with the F-22 Raptor.

Drug Demand and Reduction - With only one full time employee and supplemented with augmentees, this program aims to keep impaired individuals out of the workplace, ensuring a safer Air Force.

Chaplain Corps - The chaplain corps provides spiritual care and ministry for Airmen and their families, and protects and defends all Airmen and their families' constitutional right to free exercise of religion. They can also provide confidential counseling to those who need it.

Wing Historian - The wing historian keeps track of not only where the wing has been in the past, but also where it is now and where it is going by keeping an extensive, detailed archive of its history. The historian is able to provide the commander with any historical information about the base.

Inspector General - The IG investigates and determines the nature of complaints and ensures an unbiased, comprehensive collection of evidence to provide logical, fact-based conclusions and appropriate corrective actions on proven claims. The IG also identifies adverse trends to installation, subordinate and associate unit commanders.

Information Protection Office - Like the Programs Office, the Information Protection office deals with safeguarding sensitive material, but they also oversee investigations when security incidents arise.

Equal Opportunity Office - The EO office focuses on prohibiting discrimination in employment because of age, color, disability (mental or physical), national origin, race, religion or sex. They also facilitate the federal complaint process and provide alternative dispute resolution as a means of resolving complaints.

Staff Judge Advocate - The JAG provides legal advice to the wing commander, and ensures policies and decisions are lawful. The legal office also provides other decision-makers at all levels with advice and recommendations needed to best evaluate options and properly resolve complex issues.

Public Affairs - The PA office is the focal point for information concerning Tyndall personnel and activities. They are responsible for telling the Air Force story to various local, regional and national audiences. They also provide photography and video support for wing events and documentation.

Safety Office - The Safety office staff is responsible for the installation safety program. Safety's mission is to implement proactive mishap prevention programs to protect Tyndall's people, equipment and combat capability. When mishaps do occur, Safety is the central point for mishap reporting, investigation and trend analysis.

Plans and Programs Office - This office manages the wing's command and control construct, and reviews and updates around 40 wing plans covering everything from a hurricane evacuation to every-day operations.

All-in-all, the WSA touches everything that happens on Tyndall. Their highly diverse missions ensure Tyndall is  prepared, safe and informed.