Air Force Materiel Command

AFMC employs a command work force of about 111,500 military and civilian employees. The command's emphasis on "high technology" makes it the Air Force's largest employer of scientists and engineers. AFMC also employs the most Air Force civilians -- about 76,500 -- and has about 11,000 officers and 24,000 enlisted people. This work force operates major product centers throughout the United States. AFMC fulfills its mission of equipping the Air Force with the best weapons systems through a series of facilities that fosters "cradle-to-grave" oversight for aircraft, missiles, munitions and the people who operate them. Weapon systems, such as aircraft and missiles, are developed and acquired through four product centers, using science and technology from four major laboratories. The systems are tested in AFMC's three test centers, then are serviced and receive major repairs over their lifetime at the command's five air logistics centers. The command's specialized centers perform many other development and logistics functions. Eventually, aircraft and missiles are "retired" to AFMC's Arizona desert facility.