JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Brig. Gen. Richard W. Gibbs, Air Mobility Command Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection director, visited Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, Jan. 28-29, 2020.
Hosted by Col. Terrence Adams, 628th Air Base Wing commander, Col. Clint ZumBrunnen, 437th Airlift Wing commander, and numerous JB CHS members and agencies, Gibbs toured various facilities across the installation for a behind-the-scenes look at base operations.
“Being able to actually put my own eyes on the facilities and seeing everything here for myself is priceless,” said Gibbs. “It’s exactly what I need to learn more about the base. This year’s scope, volume size and the mission sets here are so impressive to see and hear about. The team here is truly phenomenal and it’s amazing what they’re capable of.”
As director of Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Gibbs is responsible for policy, guidance, training and resources in support of more than 49,000 total-force logistics, civil engineering and force protection personnel. He’s also responsible for 1,074 aircraft at 10 major installations in the United States and nearly 100 locations worldwide.
“The Joint Base perspective here is great,” said Gibbs. “Having the Air Force work hand-in-hand with the Army, the Navy and the other branches is definitely impactful and imperative to the mission.”
Gibbs’s directorate also provides direct support to the 18th Air Force, AMC’s sole warfighting numbered Air Force, and the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, the Air Force’s Center of Excellence for en-route, contingency response and partnership capacity building mission sets.
“It’s been really cool to witness the working relationship between the 628th Air Base Wing and the 437th Airlift Wing,” said Gibbs. “The two get along so well together to accomplish incredible things.”
During his visit, Gibbs met daily with JB CHS leadership, received mission briefings from multiple agencies, rode along in a harbor security patrol boat, and visited the Wharf Alpha pier and several other installation operations.
“It was a really great visit with plenty of helpful information and fun times,” said Gibbs. “This was actually my first visit where I got to go on a patrol boat, as well as the train, and that was fantastic. I always appreciate the hospitality and the wings opening up their house and inviting me in to see the challenges and successes.”