#IAMIMSC: Capt. Ben Fink
Duty title and unit: Deputy Branch Chief, AFIMSC Detachment 4, United Kingdom Design and Construction Branch, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England
Primary duty responsibilities: To assist the branch chief in program oversight and work collaboratively with the U.K. Ministry of Defence, Defence Infrastructure Organization to execute our construction program. Additionally, I oversee a great team of 10 project managers in the execution of over 50 projects valued at over $2 billion.
What’s the best part of your job?
Working with our diverse group of project managers in solving technical and project management problems. Our office here is small, but it is one of the best groups of people I have worked with in my career. I also enjoy working closely with our U.K. Ministry of Defence partners, the Defence Infrastructure Organization, in executing projects that greatly increase the partnership, operability and military defense of our two nations.
Why are you and your job important to the Air Force and AFMC?
In the U.K., the Air Force, specifically AFIMSC Det 4, is the lead design agent/construction agent for the Department of Defense. This puts our office in charge of the overall oversight and execution of all design and construction of large military construction projects on the British Isles. We are currently executing projects for not just the U.S. Air Force, but the Navy and other DoD agencies as well.
We serve as a critical link to U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa and the U.K. Ministry of Defence to execute critical construction programs, to include new weapons systems beddowns and the European Deterrence Initiative. Both programs directly support the National Defense Strategy and provide combatant commanders expanded capability.
What’s a recent project that gave you a great sense of accomplishment?
We are heavily involved in the F-35 Beddown at RAF Lakenheath, England. It is a very fast-paced and challenging program. Being part of a large construction program from design start, to the start of construction, has been very fun to participate in and watch.
Which AFIMSC priority do you most identify with – or see yourself and your job fitting into – and why?
LOE 1, increase lethality and readiness, is a big part of my job here. The Air Force civil engineer career field recently published our civil engineer doctrine called CE Truths. The first CE truth is that our installations are power projection platforms. That is, they provide the necessary capabilities, both for weapons systems and Airmen, to develop and maintain mission readiness and project capabilities, whether intratheater or on Air Expeditionary Force deployments. Our AFIMSC detachment in the U.K. is critical since we are a part of building that weapons system platform for future missions and developing readiness for emerging threats.