No management, no mission

A ground sweeper clears the runway after a wide body aircraft lands on the airfield, July 1, 2016, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Airfield managers stay in close communication with aircrews to ensure aircraft land safely. After the landing, airfield managers coordinate ground sweepers to clear the landing area of foreign object debris, such as paper and rocks. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Tyrona Lawson)

No management, no mission

Raymond Reed, airfield management chief removes a deceased bird from the airfield, July 1, 2016, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Airfield management conducts foreign object checks daily to keep the airfield free of objects that may interfere with aircraft taking off or landing due to a safety hazard. Birds and wildlife along with rocks and paper are the most common objects found on the airfield. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Tyrona Lawson)

No management, no mission

Darrel Gibbs, heavy truck driver, responds to an airfield construction site, July 1, 2016, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Gibbs drives a ground sweeper and helps ensure that all foreign object debris such as rocks are cleared from the airfield while construction is going on. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Tyrona Lawson)

No management, no mission

Airfield management works with engineers to ensure all foreign object debris is cleared around a construction site on the airfield, July 1, 2016, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Airfield management is overseeing the removal of piles of rocks that will be replaced by concrete to create a safer landing surface for aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Tyrona Lawson)

No management, no mission

Published July 1, 2016
By by Tech. Sgt. Tyrona Lawson
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- With operations happening night and day on Bagram Airfield, the flightline gets plenty of use as aircraft and vehicles traverse its concrete course. As with everything else that gets constant use, the flightline needs continual care and upkeep.

As a significant contributor to air support in Afghanistan, the airfield here at Bagram needs to be managed with scrutiny and attention to detail. The Bagram Airfield Operations team works 24/7 providing airfield management to maintain operational readiness and ensure flightline safety.

This team is headed by Leslie Ellis, an Air Force retiree who has supported the mission at Bagram for 11 years.

“We maintain the airfield and make sure aircraft can get in and out of here safely,” said Leslie Ellis, air traffic manager. “We inspect runways, taxiways, ramps and manage the airfield driving program and identify things that need to be fixed so that they are in compliance with the regulations.”

The team also makes sure FOD (foreign object debris) checks are completed by those traveling on the flightline.

“One of the biggest issues we have on the airfield is FOD,” said Ellis. “FOD can be anything blowing on the airfield that can be ingested by aircraft engines. There’s an ongoing fight against FOD on the airfield.”

Airfield managers are known as the eyes and ears of the flightline, so when they recognize discrepancies such as broken signal lights or cracked concrete, they often call on other organizations for help.

“CE [Civil Engineer] plays a big role in what we do,” said Ellis. “Everything we identify has to be fixed by somebody and that would be civil engineers.”

If you have ever driven on the flightline, chances are you have encountered an airfield manager. Airfield driving authorization is only granted after individuals have received training from airfield managers. This training consists of day and night time driving on the flightline for familiarization of the safety and operational guidelines.

“We try to manage through education. There are about 300 units on this base that we provide airfield driving training for, said Ellis.” It’s a big task to make sure people are doing what they are supposed to be doing and 99 percent of the time, they do.”

Aircraft do not move on Bagram without the approval of airfield management and operations. Bagram’s ability to maintain air operations is attributed to the airfield management team’s sustainment of a safe airfield.

When asked what makes him most proud of the work he does, Ellis simply said…

“It contributes to the mission in the fight against terror. It still feels good to support that.”