The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center will be highlighting its mission and available career opportunities during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.
Air Force Materiel Command will be showcased at this year’s event. AFNWC is the nuclear-focused center within AFMC, synchronizing all aspects of nuclear materiel management on behalf of the AFMC commander and in direct support of Air Force Global Strike Command.M
“Nuclear deterrence remains a cornerstone of national security policy,” said Maj. Gen. John Newberry, AFNWC commander and Air Force program executive officer for both nuclear air-delivered systems and nuclear integration. “AFNWC plays a vital role in AFMC and the Air Force by ensuring delivery of safe, secure, and effective nuclear capabilities to U.S. warfighters.”
Headquartered at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, the center has more than 2,000 military and civilian personnel at 20 locations worldwide and consists of five major execution directorates: Air Delivered Capabilities; Minuteman III Systems; Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) Integration; Nuclear Technology and Integration; and Sentinel Systems.
In addition, the NC3 Integration director is dual-hatted as the Air Force PEO for NC3. The PEO for intercontinental ballistic missiles is also assigned to AFNWC. AFNWC’s booth at Oshkosh will feature:
- A Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile model
- An air-launched cruise missile model
- Tabletop and standing displays about AFNWC’s mission
- An AFNWC mission video
- Center personnel to talk to about recruiting, current systems, and modernization efforts
- Informational brochures and other handouts
The sustainment and modernization of nuclear weapon systems is a top priority for AFNWC. The center is responsible for the total life cycle of the Sentinel weapon system, which will replace the Minuteman III, and the long-range stand-off weapon system, which will replace the air-launched cruise missile. In addition, the center handles acquisition, systems engineering, nuclear certification, and more for a wide variety of programs, including the B61-12 Life Extension Program, Protective Aircraft Shelter Interior Intrusion Detection System, NC3 Weapon System, Mark 21A Reentry Vehicle, and Next-Generation Reentry Vehicle.
“AFNWC is leading the largest nuclear modernization effort in decades while ensuring our currently fielded capability remains credible until replaced,” Newberry said. “We are dedicated to fulfilling our motto to ensure that our nation’s most powerful weapon systems are ‘Never Doubted, Always Feared.’”
