LM Leaders Address Environmental Council of States Spring Meeting in Texas
WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Department of Energy's Office of Legacy Management issued the following news on March 26, 2024:
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Legacy Management (LM) Director Carmelo Melendez and LM Director of Site Operations Jay Glascock addressed the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) spring meeting in Austin, Texas, Tuesday.
Melendez said the meeting provided an invaluable forum for leaders of cleanup organizations to come together to share best practices and new technologies in environmental remediation.
"These professionals have decades of experience in cleaning
... Show Full ArticleWASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Department of Energy's Office of Legacy Management issued the following news on March 26, 2024:
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Legacy Management (LM) Director Carmelo Melendez and LM Director of Site Operations Jay Glascock addressed the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) spring meeting in Austin, Texas, Tuesday.
Melendez said the meeting provided an invaluable forum for leaders of cleanup organizations to come together to share best practices and new technologies in environmental remediation.
"These professionals have decades of experience in cleaningup contaminated environments. It's a rare opportunity to bring this group of experts together, and we're thrilled to participate," Melendez said.
ECOS is a national nonprofit, nonpartisan association of state and territorial environmental agency leaders. Its purpose is to improve the capability of state environmental agencies and their leaders to protect and improve human health and the environment in the United States.
The organization's spring meeting, titled "Impactful Partnerships: Bigger and Better Together," emphasized collaboration with federal and nongovernmental organizations and industry leaders through dialogue, interactive workshops, a joint problem-solving session, a site visit, and a technology fair.
LM Chief of Staff Allison Finelli and LM Education, Communication, History, and Outreach Supervisor David Von Behren also attended.
Addressing the group of state environmental directors Tuesday morning, Glascock described LM's mission and ongoing commitment to protect human health and the environment. He discussed the growing portfolio of sites LM safeguards once cleanup organizations turn the sites over to LM for long-term stewardship.
He said LM will soon have two more sites transferred into its portfolio -- the Durita disposal site in Colorado and the Tonawanda Landfill site in New York. LM currently has 102 sites in more than 30 states and territories and, Glascock said, "each site has its own set of complexities and personalities."
"That number is expected to grow by 20 more sites over the next five years as we continuously receive legacy sites from multiple cleanup organizations, such as DOE's Office of Environmental Management, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and others and under various regulatory frameworks for long-term stewardship," he said.
LM is responsible for maintaining the continuity of stewardship while a legacy site transitions from cleanup to long-term care, Glascock said. Cleanup organizations spend a considerable amount of time, money, and effort to perform cleanup and establish long-term sustainable remedies that protect human health and the environment. LM protects those investments through active maintenance and surveillance activities, he said.
"As you can see, there is an inextricable relationship between the cleanup organization and the long-term care organization. We consider the sustainment of that relationship a best practice," Glascock said. "On one hand, the cleanup organization builds the remedy, and on the other hand, we maintain the remedy. In the end, we both want the same thing, we inform one another, and we have the shared interest to better protect human health and the environment."
Glascock told attendees that LM engages 25 different tribal nations, mainly located in the Southwestern United States, where uranium mining and milling operations took place during World War II and the Cold War and where residual radioactive contamination is still being cleaned.
"We formally consult with them to discuss our proposals well before we make decisions on those proposals," Glascock said. "In some instances, the site is on tribal land, and in other cases, the site neighbors a tribal reservation. In either case, we are in constant contact with the impacted tribe."
Glascock also discussed:
* LM's work with Lawrence Berkeley National Lab to evaluate how potential environmental changes may impact how LM approaches monitoring, inspection, and maintenance at its sites.
* LM's dedication to ensuring engineered disposal cells perform as designed. LM conducts annual inspections, environmental monitoring, and ensures institutional controls remain in place and are being enforced.
* LM's focus on addressing emerging contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances as regulator inquiries and requirements develop.
In closing, Glascock told attendees LM is committed to long-term stewardship and the protection of public health and the environment from hazards associated with the cleanup of legacy sites that played a critical role in America's nuclear history.
"These sites may have residual contamination or ongoing waste management responsibilities for many years, and we will be there for as long as it takes," he said.
FCC RECHARTERS ITS COMMUNICATIONS EQUITY AND DIVERSITY COUNCIL
WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on March 26, 2024:
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel today announced the recharter of the agency's Communications Equity and Diversity Council and named members to the advisory panel. The Council is a federal advisory committee which brings together outside experts to provide recommendations to the FCC on how to accelerate the deployment of broadband in all communities by reducing and/or removing regulatory barriers to infrastructure and investment. It also provides recommendations on how to strengthen
... Show Full ArticleWASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on March 26, 2024:
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel today announced the recharter of the agency's Communications Equity and Diversity Council and named members to the advisory panel. The Council is a federal advisory committee which brings together outside experts to provide recommendations to the FCC on how to accelerate the deployment of broadband in all communities by reducing and/or removing regulatory barriers to infrastructure and investment. It also provides recommendations on how to strengthenexisting broadband networks and develop new ones.
"The CEDC and its work are very important," said Chairwoman Rosenworcel. "Currently, across the federal government, including here at the Commission, there is a focus on ensuring equity for all, including under-served communities. The CEDC exists to help level the playing field. They are among the best of the best in the tech sector. Their expertise on issues of equity and diversity provides valuable contributions to the CEDC and assists the agency in adopting policies to promote and support equal access to digital communication services and products, no matter who you are or where you live."
The Communications Equity and Diversity Council was originally established in 2017 under a different name and was relaunched by the Chairwoman in 2021. Its mission is to make recommendations to the Commission on advancing equity in the provision of and access to digital communication services and products for all people of the United States, without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or disability.
Conn. U.S. Attorney: Waterbury Woman Receives Prison Time for Role in Drug Ring
NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, March 27 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut issued the following news release on March 26, 2024:
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHELLE CRUZ, 38, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 15 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for her role in a narcotics trafficking ring.
According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from a DEA New Haven Task Force and Waterbury
... Show Full ArticleNEW HAVEN, Connecticut, March 27 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut issued the following news release on March 26, 2024:
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHELLE CRUZ, 38, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 15 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for her role in a narcotics trafficking ring.
According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from a DEA New Haven Task Force and WaterburyPolice Department-led investigation into drug trafficking in and around the city of Waterbury. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps on multiple phones, physical surveillance, controlled purchases of narcotics, and motor vehicle stops that resulted in the seizure of drugs and cash proceeds, revealed that Jose Duprey, also known as "Red" and "Colorado," trafficked kilogram-quantities of cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. Duprey used his place of employment to supply narcotics to other drug distributors, and he used his girlfriend's business, located on Straits Turnpike in Middlebury, to store narcotics and other items.
In April and May 2022, Cruz was intercepted on a wiretap ordering heroin and fentanyl from Duprey, which she then distributed to her drug customers.
Cruz, Duprey, and 12 other individuals identified during this investigation were arrested on May 25, 2022. On that date, a search of Duprey's Waterbury residence and his Middlebury stash location revealed approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine, two kilograms of heroin, two kilograms of fentanyl, and more than $107,000 in cash.
On August 9, 2023, Cruz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Cruz, who is released on a $50,000 bond and living in New York, is required to report to prison on May 21.
Duprey has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.
This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department, with the assistance of DEA offices in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Connecticut State Police; Connecticut Department of Correction; Connecticut State Parole; and the Naugatuck, Ansonia, West Haven, Meriden and East Haven Police Departments.
U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the Waterbury State's Attorney's Office for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this matter.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brendan J. Keefe and Nathaniel J. Gentile through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
CECOM Leadership Addresses Workforce in First Town Hall of FY24
ABERDEEN, Maryland, March 27 -- Aberdeen Proving Ground issued the following news:
By Maya Green
The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command's leadership hosted the first quarterly town hall of the calendar year in the Myer Auditorium Feb. 27, 2024. Leadership provided updates and feedback to the CECOM workforce on upcoming events, employee benefits, SHARP protocols, and training. The hybrid town hall boasted more than 1,000 tuning in online from around the world and a packed auditorium.
Maj. Gen. Robert L. Edmonson II, senior commander of APG and commanding general of CECOM, opened the
... Show Full ArticleABERDEEN, Maryland, March 27 -- Aberdeen Proving Ground issued the following news:
By Maya Green
The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command's leadership hosted the first quarterly town hall of the calendar year in the Myer Auditorium Feb. 27, 2024. Leadership provided updates and feedback to the CECOM workforce on upcoming events, employee benefits, SHARP protocols, and training. The hybrid town hall boasted more than 1,000 tuning in online from around the world and a packed auditorium.
Maj. Gen. Robert L. Edmonson II, senior commander of APG and commanding general of CECOM, opened thetown hall by updating the workforce about his travels this year in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area.
A big takeaway from that trip, he said, was seeing CECOM's forward repair activity. Forward repair activity is critical because it enables Soldiers to receive the equipment they need faster. He said everyone at CECOM is involved in forward repair efforts in some shape or form.
"[Forward repair activity] is hugely important because of the readiness requirements all around the globe, and they are not all the same everywhere, all the time."
Edmonson said he also recently had the opportunity to brief Gen. Charles Hamilton, commanding general of Army Materiel Command. Edmonson summarized the slide he presented to Hamilton, showcasing CECOM's strategic initiatives.
"Whether it's hardware, software or repair--it falls into his lines of effort," Edmonson stated. "We understand the priorities; we understand the lines of effort."
Edmonson then updated the workforce on upcoming events:
- AUSA Global Force Symposium and Exposition: March 26-28, 2024
- Advance Planning and Briefing to Industry: April 22-25, 2024
- Cyber Electromagnetic Activity Conference: April 30 - May 2, 2024
- Army birthday and Military Appreciation Night: June 14, 2024
- C5ISR Hall of Fame: June 26-27, 2024
Edmonson passed the floor to CECOM Command Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Conaty, who discussed how the Armed Forces Wellness Center offers programs and services to help CECOM teammates reach their health goals. Service members, family members, retirees, and Department of Defense civilians are eligible to receive AFWC services for free, he added.
AFWC has six standardized core programs aligned with the U.S. Community Preventive Services Task Force recommendations and designed to holistically empower clients to improve health and build readiness. At APG, the AFWC is part of Kirk U.S. Army Health Clinic.
"You can't do the work you do without taking care of yourself," Conaty said. "This is something I wanted to share with you all because you are all important to me. The work that you do for our Army is invaluable and we can't do it without you."
Continuing in the theme of People First, Edmonson and Conaty welcomed Tracy Marshall, program manager of the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response Program. She gave an overview on the SHARP Fusion Directorate, which is being restructured.
Significant changes include:
- Unit-level Sexual Assault Response Coordinators/Victim Advocates will be consolidated on the senior commander's TDA and report directly to the lead SARC outside the chain of command.
- New professional and programmatic oversight structure at major command through secretariat-level
- New qualification requirements for the sexual assault response workforce
- "No Wrong Door Approach" to sexual harassment, sexual assault, and domestic violence implemented across services.
Edmonson added similar changes are happening across other Army installations.
"Nothing has changed overnight for you, the support systems that we have here at APG and across the globe are still intact," he said.
Following the SHARP presentation, Pamela Hanas with G1 Talent Management Division shared some upcoming training and development opportunities.
- Enterprise Civilian Talent Development
- Civilian Education System
- Emerging Leaders Program
- Practical Introduction to Supervising Employees
- Leading from the Front
- Strategically Leading Organizations
- FY24 Professional Development Courses
According to Hanas, information about upcoming training events is on the G1 SharePoint Training Calendar, which is updated frequently.
"Supervisors and managers, if you have any training needs for your team or employees, please feel free to reach out to the G1 Talent Management Division," Hanas said. "We are here to get those folks scheduled, registered and, most importantly, funded."
Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions to leadership throughout the meeting. The town hall concluded with a brief award ceremony to recognize the C5ISR Team of the Quarter, FY24, first quarter; 2023 C5ISR Top Ten Personnel of the Year; the retirement of Sgt. 1st Class Michael Guayante; and various team members' length of service.
Edmonson closed out the town hall by reminding the team of the importance of their work, "Where you see Soldiers, you see CECOM."
CBP to Implement 24-Hour SENTRI Trusted Traveler Program Vehicle and Pedestrian Processing Lanes at Calexico West Port of Entry
CALEXICO, California, March 27 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release on March 26, 2024:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials announced the permanent implementation of 24-hour operating hours of both the SENTRI Trusted Traveler Program vehicle lanes and pedestrian processing lanes at the Calexico West Port of Entry.
Following the success of the port's SENTRI Trusted Traveler Program expansion pilot program in November 2023, CBP will make the program permanent.
The permanent expansion of operating hours will
... Show Full ArticleCALEXICO, California, March 27 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection issued the following news release on March 26, 2024:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials announced the permanent implementation of 24-hour operating hours of both the SENTRI Trusted Traveler Program vehicle lanes and pedestrian processing lanes at the Calexico West Port of Entry.
Following the success of the port's SENTRI Trusted Traveler Program expansion pilot program in November 2023, CBP will make the program permanent.
The permanent expansion of operating hours willtake place on Monday, April 1, 2024. Members of the SENTRI Trusted Traveler Program crossing at the Calexico West Port of Entry will have access to vehicle and pedestrian SENTRI lanes 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
"To better serve our communities and our Trusted Traveler members, we are happy to announce permanent 24-hour processing operations at the Calexico West Port of Entry," said Roque Caza, Area Port of Calexico Port Director. "Our goal is to serve growing bi-national communities throughout the Imperial Valley. I am confident that the permanent implementation of 24-hour SENTRI operations will aid us in achieving that goal."
Members of the traveling public can monitor vehicle wait times via CBP's Border Wait Times website (https://bwt.cbp.gov/) or download the Border Wait Times mobile application on their smartphone to assist in planning their travels. Wait times are updated on an hourly basis.
Travelers should familiarize themselves with the Know Before You Go section of CBP's website to avoid fines and penalties associated with the importation of prohibited items. Know Before You Go brochures are also available at border ports of entry.
If you are a frequent international traveler and have not already become a member of a trusted traveler program, you may sign up now. For more information, please visit: Official Trusted Traveler Program Website / Department of Homeland Security (dhs.gov)
* * *
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the comprehensive management, control, and protection of our nation's borders, combining customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection at and between official ports of entry.
BLS - Midwest Region Issues Report Entitled 'Ohio Job Openings and Labor Turnover - January 2024'
CHICAGO, Illinois, March 27 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Midwest Regional Information Office issued the following report on March 26, 2024, entitled "Ohio Job Openings and Labor Turnover - January 2024":
* * *
Ohio had 334,000 job openings in January 2024, compared to 328,000 openings in December, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table 1.) Regional Commissioner Jason Palmer noted that the job openings rate in Ohio was 5.6 percent in January and 5.5 percent in the previous month. (See chart 1 and table 2.) The job openings rate
... Show Full ArticleCHICAGO, Illinois, March 27 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Midwest Regional Information Office issued the following report on March 26, 2024, entitled "Ohio Job Openings and Labor Turnover - January 2024":
* * *
Ohio had 334,000 job openings in January 2024, compared to 328,000 openings in December, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table 1.) Regional Commissioner Jason Palmer noted that the job openings rate in Ohio was 5.6 percent in January and 5.5 percent in the previous month. (See chart 1 and table 2.) The job openings ratenationally was 5.3 percent in January, unchanged from December. (See table 3.) All data in this release are seasonally adjusted.
* * *
Chart 1. Job openings rates for the United States and Ohio, seasonally adjusted
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The ratio of unemployed persons per job opening in Ohio was 0.6 in January. Nationwide, 32 states and the District of Columbia had ratios in January that were lower than the national measure of 0.7 unemployed persons per job opening; 10 states had ratios that were higher than the national ratio, and 8 states had ratios equal to the national measure. (See map 1.)
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Map 1. Number of unemployed persons per job opening by state, January 2024, seasonally adjusted
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In January, Ohio had 197,000 hires and 178,000 separations, compared to 191,000 hires and 187,000 separations in December. (See chart 2.) Over the 12 months ending in January, hires have averaged 204,000 per month and separations have averaged 202,000 per month. These averages include workers who may have been hired and separated more than once during the year.
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Chart 2. Hires and total separations in Ohio, seasonally adjusted (in thousands)
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Among the January separations in Ohio, 114,000 were quits and 47,000 were layoffs and discharges, compared to 113,000 quits and 63,000 layoffs and discharges in December. (See chart 3.) Over the last 12 months, quits averaged 129,000 per month, ranging from 113,000 to 150,000. Layoffs and discharges have averaged 61,000 per month, ranging from 47,000 to 85,000.
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Chart 3. Quits and layoffs and discharges in Ohio, seasonally adjusted (in thousands)
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The State Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey estimates for February 2024 are scheduled to be released on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
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Upcoming Revisions to the JOLTS State Estimates
Effective with the release of May 2024 data on July 24, 2024, the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (https://www.bls.gov/jlt) (JOLTS) state estimates will be benchmarked and revised, to include the annual benchmark revisions to JOLTS national estimates, the Current Employment Statistics (CES) employment estimates, and the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) data. Seasonally adjusted and not seasonally adjusted data from January 2019 forward are subject to revision. In addition, 2023 annual estimates for states will be released at this time.
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Technical Note
This news release presents statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The JOLTS program provides information on labor demand and turnover. The state estimates produced by JOLTS are model-based, incorporating JOLTS sample, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), and Current Employment Statistics (CES) estimates. For more information see the JOLTS State Estimates Methodology (https://www.bls.gov/jlt/jlt_statedata_methodology.htm).
Job Openings. Job openings include all positions that are open on the last business day of the reference month. A job is open only if it meets all three of these conditions:
* A specific position exists and there is work available for that position.
* The job could start within 30 days.
* The employer is actively recruiting workers from outside the establishment to fill the position.
The number of unemployed persons per job opening is a ratio of the level of unemployed persons and the level of job openings. The number of unemployed persons at the national level is an estimate from the Current Population Survey (CPS) (https://www.bls.gov/cps), while state-level unemployment estimates are modeled by the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (https://www.bls.gov/lau) (LAUS) program. A ratio of 1.0 means there is a job available for every unemployed person. Lower ratios signal tighter labor markets, where firms have more job openings than there are unemployed persons available to work. Higher ratios indicate there are more unemployed persons competing for each job opening.
Hires. Hires include all additions to the payroll during the entire reference month.
Separations. Separations include all separations from the payroll during the entire reference month and is reported by type of separation: quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations.
* Quits include employees who left voluntarily, except for retirements or transfers to other locations.
* Layoffs and discharges include involuntary separations initiated by the employer.
* Other separations include retirements, transfers to other locations, separations due to employee disability, and deaths.
Levels and rates of other separations represent a small portion of total separations and are not published with the release of state estimates.
Complete definitions, including exclusions, and additional information about the State JOLTS data presented in this release are available in the State Job Openings and Labor Turnover Technical Note (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/jltst.tn.htm).
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Table 1. Job openings and labor turnover for Ohio, seasonally adjusted (in thousands)
Table 2. Job openings and labor turnover rates for Ohio, seasonally adjusted
Table 3. Job openings and labor turnover rates for the United States, seasonally adjusted
Air Force Installation & Mission Support Center Uses Data to Improve, Streamline on-Base Mail Systems
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, March 27 -- The U.S. Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center issued the following news:
By London Prince, AFIMSC Public Affairs
The Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center is harnessing the power of data to improve Department of the Air Force installation mail services.
The center is using Automated Military Postal System, or AMPS, data to expand Intelligent Lockers to more bases, incorporate parcel lockers and streamline mail centers with online mailing subscriptions.
The idea for intelligent lockers took first place in the 2021
... Show Full ArticleJOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas, March 27 -- The U.S. Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center issued the following news:
By London Prince, AFIMSC Public Affairs
The Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center is harnessing the power of data to improve Department of the Air Force installation mail services.
The center is using Automated Military Postal System, or AMPS, data to expand Intelligent Lockers to more bases, incorporate parcel lockers and streamline mail centers with online mailing subscriptions.
The idea for intelligent lockers took first place in the 2021AFIMSC Innovation Rodeo. The first lockers opened at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, in 2022, followed by Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, and Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England in 2023 and more recently at Ramstein Air Base, Germany and Eglin AFB, Florida.
"By using supporting data, our team decides the best fit for each installation when it comes to parcel and intelligent lockers based on funding and demand," said Salvador Orozpe, Official Mail and Postal Program manager. "These lockers help reduce the burden on Airmen and Guardians by allowing them to pick up packages at their own convenience."
Airmen living in dorms often work swing shifts or are away on temporary duty, preventing them from picking up their packages due to limited post office hours. The lockers provide flexibility for those working various schedules, Orozpe said.
The lockers are equipped with a detailed delivery and tracking process and Airmen instantly receive an alert via email or text notification when packages are ready for pickup. The lockers free up space, mailroom processing times, and simplify the parcel delivery process for Airmen and Guardians on base.
"Placing these lockers in a centralized location near dorms offers Airmen and Guardians 24/7 access," said John Acosta, AFIMSC postal specialist.
AFIMSC is also using AMPS data to streamline mail rooms at installations across the Department of the Air Force through online postage services, which saves $95,000 annually with more savings as transitions occur.
"This initiative is cutting mailing machine costs for the Air Force and CONUS Official Mail operations by up to 90 percent and the savings will continue to grow as we transition additional bases," Acosta said. "Our goal is to have all the installations that need mail transition completed by 2029."
AFIMSC's Official Mail and Postal Program collects and evaluates quarterly data through AMPS to determine which installations are better suited for online postage services based on the volume of mail passing through each facility.
"After looking at the data and using continuous process improvement, our team determined some installations did not need the costly high-volume mail machines we've been using," Orozpe said. "We researched cost-effective alternatives we could implement to meet the needs of each installation."
Web-based mailing solutions for online postage services include supplies needed for mailing such as printers, postage stickers, scanners, handheld computers, and scales. Previously, all Air Force and Space Force official mail rooms were equipped with high-volume mail machines costing up to $40,000 per machine, plus yearly maintenance fees.
"The web-based solution for online postage services gives our postal workers the same access to mailing tools as they had before but at a fraction of a cost," Acosta said.
The official mail and postal program team continues to prioritize bases that will benefit from transitioning to an online postage service. Currently, 20 bases are using the online mailing subscriptions.
"The web-based solution provides an exceptional contingency operation solution for all CONUS official mail centers," said Orozpe.
Large installations like Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, and Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, will continue using the high-volume mail machines but also maintain an online mail subscription for backup in case of technical issues.