Air Force inspector general visits Spangdahlem

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany – Lt. Gen Stephen Mueller, U.S. Air Force inspector general, talks on the radio with Airman 1st Class Jared Rand, American Forces Network-Spangdahlem radio host, at AFN Nov. 5, 2013. When Mueller was the 52nd Fighter Wing commander, he would end his radio shows with the song “Brick House” by The Commodores. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kyle Gese/Released)

Air Force inspector general visits Spangdahlem

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany – Lt. Gen. Stephen Mueller, U.S. Air Force inspector general, visits with George Price, 52nd Force Support Squadron special events coordinator, Nov. 5, 2013. Price previously worked with Mueller when he was the 52 Fighter Wing commander in 2002. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kyle Gese/Released)

Air Force inspector general visits Spangdahlem

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany – Lt. Gen. Stephen Mueller, U.S. Air Force inspector general, answers questions from Airmen and gathers feedback about the inspection system Nov. 5, 2013. Mueller coined several Airmen for their outstanding performance during the unit effectiveness inspection in September 2011. The UEI encourages Airmen to do their job correctly and bring forth any problems. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kyle Gese/Released)

Air Force inspector general visits Spangdahlem

Published Nov. 6, 2013
By Airman 1st Class Dylan Nuckolls
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- The top officer in charge of the Air Force Inspection Agency and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations visited Spangdahlem Air Base Nov. 4-6, 2013.

Lt. Gen. Stephen Mueller, inspector general of the Air Force, visited several squadrons to speak with the Spangdahlem community about the Air Force's new inspection process, the same process the 52nd Fighter Wing underwent for its unit effectiveness inspection in September.

"My vision and my hope is that the system is firmly implanted and implemented so that we can improve and build on it," Mueller said.

A message Mueller emphasized to Airmen included how this is not just a new inspection system - it is the Air Force's official inspection system.

"Those who really start to understand the system say 'this is good for us,' and 'this is really going to change the way we do business,'" the general said. "The other thing I take away is, just like any other new system, you've got to work really hard to get everybody to understand it."

Mueller, who assumed his current duties as inspector general in May 2012, previously served as the 52nd FW commander from July 2002 to July 2004.

While visiting squadrons, Mueller met with several Airmen, learning about what they do and getting to know them. He also answered their questions, not only about the inspection process but about the Air Force in general.

"I was surprised at how much feedback he wanted from everybody he met," said Master Sgt. Donald Valentine, director of complaints resolution for 52nd FW Inspector General. "He wanted to find out ways to improve and make things better."

Mueller will wrap up his tour of units in Germany on Friday.