Aviation Resource Management

The 1C0X1 TSgt is the Airfield Manager of record at most USAF installations — the subject matter expert the wing operations center calls when there is an airfield safety question, the person who certifies the airfield to MAJCOM authority, and the NCO who briefs the wing commander on significant airfield discrepancies, construction impacts, and operational restrictions. The authority to close a runway is real: if you assess that the runway is unsafe for operations — due to surface contamination, lighting failure, wildlife activity, or FOD hazard — you can issue the NOTAM closing it before calling the wing commander. That authority is paired with the accountability for being wrong in both directions: closing unnecessarily disrupts the flying schedule, and not closing when you should disrupts aircrews. The airfield certification package at this tier is yours. Not delegated to you — yours. AFI 13-213 requires the airfield certification to be maintained at the MAJCOM-specified standard, and the Airfield Manager is the accountable party for every component. The LOAs with ATC, civil engineering, OSS, and base operations; the current airfield diagrams reflecting any construction changes; the inspection record binders showing coverage frequency and discrepancy resolution; the NOTAM procedure documentation — all of it has your signature or your section chief's signature, and a MAJCOM Unit Compliance Inspection will review every component. Briefing wing leadership is a routine function at this tier. The wing commander's morning standup may include an airfield status brief when construction is active, during weather events that affect runway friction, or after a wildlife strike that requires inspection before resuming operations. The brief needs to be factual, concise, and operationally relevant: what is the status, what is the impact on the flying schedule, what is the resolution timeline, and what decision does the commander need to make. The TSgt who cannot translate airfield technical data into command-relevant information is a liability in that meeting. FAA coordination starts at this tier. US military airfields operating under DoD-FAA agreements have coordination requirements with FAA facilities and regional offices. NOTAMs affecting the NAS beyond the military airfield boundary require coordination with FAA NOTAM office. NAVAID changes and airfield construction affecting published instrument approaches require coordination with the FAA. The TSgt Airfield Manager who understands the FAA coordination landscape prevents the uncoordinated NOTAM that surprises the FAA representative.