Command aims for nuclear excellence Published Aug. 7, 2009 KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- As part of a realignment of organizational responsibilities, the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force directed the transfer of weapon storage area logistics operations responsibilities from Air Force Space Command to the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center. The action confers two major benefits: streamlined sustainment and positive control of nuclear weapons systems with the goal to continually emphasize rigor and standardization in this critical function. "No mission is more important than safeguarding our country's vital capabilities and maintaining nuclear deterrence," said Gen. Donald Hoffman, Air Force Materiel Command commander. "The AFMC pieces of this enterprise are acquisition and sustainment, but we didn't have unity of command for those responsibilities until we established the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M." Under AFNWC, installation WSA munitions organizations provide operationally ready nuclear weapons, cruise missiles and re-entry vehicles and systems when and where needed. Activities include maintaining, handling, storing, accounting for and controlling nuclear weapons on a day-to-day basis. The Air Force directive says that host installation commands will continue to have responsibility for the WSA facility and provide traditional mission support activities, such as security, infrastructure maintenance and management, vehicle maintenance, personnel support, communications and services to WSA resident units and activities. Roles and responsibilities of those installation activities will be largely unchanged.