Air Force chief of safety visits Malmstrom

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Dillon White
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont., --  The Air Force chief of safety arrived here Feb. 25 to receive feedback on how current nuclear surety safety guidance is incorporated into operations in the missile field by engaging with Airmen who deal with nuclear surety on a daily basis.

Maj. Gen. Frederick Roggero, Air Force Safety Center commander, is responsible for overseeing the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Surety Program.

"I feel it is important for leadership to have a presence in the field as we reinvigorate the nuclear surety culture," General Roggero said. "It is an honor to be here with the 'First Aces.'"

The general continued by saying nuclear surety is the centerpiece of the nuclear enterprise.

"People ask 'What is nuclear surety,?'" the general said. "It is the concept of safe, secure and reliable weapon systems. Surety is the key point of nuclear enterprise and it has to be perfect. We cannot get that part wrong."

Nuclear surety provides credibility to our strategic deterrent and the credibility of the deterrent force has to extend to our allies, the American people and our enemies in order for it to work, he said.
"We are implementing a myriad of initiatives such as training, deficiency analysis, site visits, cultural assessments, and oversight, to ensure the public has complete trust in the Air Force's ability to execute our mission, while maintaining the solid foundation of the nuclear surety program," he said.

To maintain this credibility, the AFSC is currently working on improving several aspects of the nuclear surety program to include a complete review and revision of overarching nuclear surety policy and guidance in the 91-series Air Force Instructions, which are related to nuclear surety.

Assessments of nuclear surety training have also begun, with a goal of providing standardized quality training throughout the Air Force.

The AFSC staff also developed a program allowing commanders to request a visit from a small team of safety professionals to travel to their field units to offer technical assistance and guidance to enhance the unit's nuclear surety program.

"It was an exciting opportunity to have the Air Force chief of safety here," said Lt. Col. Robert Garner, 341st Missile Wing chief of safety. "It provided us an opportunity to show him safety issues unique to a missile wing and how we manage risks associated with securing weapon systems while ensuring people driving in the missile field remain safe at the same time."

Colonel Garner said the safety office staff is excited to work with the AFSC and to participate with the general's initiatives.

The general gained first-hand experience with challenges faced at Malmstrom he said; one such challenge was driving in the missile complex in five degree weather with snow and limited visibility.

"[Yesterday] was a great day to drive in the missile field and be with the commanders as they went through the operational risk management process; they have to keep everybody safe on the roads," General Roggero said. "Roll-over accidents are a big concern for leadership here."

The general added that good decisions have a large effect on more than just the person making that decision.

Even though someone may accept a risk for themselves when they are only thinking about themselves; decisions affect more than one person at a time. Airmen need to think about how their actions affect their family, friends and their unit.

General Roggero left Malmstrom Feb. 27 to continue overseeing the weapons surety program and reminding Airmen that safety is about preserving combat capability and saving lives.