The 97th Maintenance Group, Maintenance Operations provides overall fleet management for the wing’s C-17, KC-135 and KC-46 aircraft, as well as provides a diverse set of planning and maintenance support functions. The organization formulates all flying and maintenance schedules, coordinates and monitors daily production activities, and prepares management products detailing performance metrics. Additional vital functions include management information system support, supply, transportation, training, personnel, financial resources, security and facility management.
Maintenance Operations began its modern organizational history when Military Airlift Command’s 443rd Military Airlift Wing and Strategic Air Command’s 340th Air Refueling Wing combined on October 1, 1992, to create the 97th Air Mobility Wing under Air Mobility Command. On July 1, 1993, the 97th Air Mobility Wing realigned under Air Education and Training Command. Aligned under the wing’s 97th Logistics Group, the 97th Logistics Support Squadron was activated as the predecessor of today’s Maintenance Operations. On July 1, 1996, the 97th Logistics Group, including its subordinate 97th Logistics Support Squadron, began transitioning from a military to a civil service organization.
On August 30, 2002, the 97th Logistics Group inactivated and the 97th Air Mobility Wing Maintenance Directorate formed. With that action, the 97th Logistics Support Squadron also inactivated and was replaced by the Maintenance Directorate’s Maintenance Operations Division.
On November 1, 2017, The 97th Maintenance Group was activated to replace the Maintenance Directorate, aligning the 97th Air Mobility Wing’s aircraft maintenance function with standard Air Force organizational structure. With that change, the Maintenance Operations Division was re-designated Maintenance Operations and reports directly to the 97th Maintenance Group.