Leaders address issues at AFA symposium

Published March 3, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Patrick Brown
Defense Media Activity-San Antonio

ORLANDO, Fla. (AFNS) -- The top Air Force leaders outlined today and tomorrow's challenges for the service Feb. 26 at the 25th Annual Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition in Orlando, Fla.

Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley and Gen. Norton Schwartz, chief of staff of the Air Force, and several other senior Air Force leaders spoke on what the Air Force brings to the fight, challenges that lay ahead and how the Air Force is evolving to meet the demands of today's dynamic warfighting requirements.

The 500-person audience included civilian, Air Force officer and enlisted Airmen, allied foreign military leaders and civilian industry leaders. The Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airmen of 2008 also attended. The theme of the symposium was "Cross-Domain Integration: Warfare in the 21st Century."

"This forum allows us to renew old friendships and to focus on our heritage, our current challenges and the future," General Schwartz said. "Right here in this room, those three vital aspects of our identity as a service converge for a brief moment in time, and I think it is important for us to stop and think about the magnitude of what we've done, what we are doing now, and what we must do in the future."

During Secretary Donley's speech, he recapped a few of the Air Force's recent accomplishments and talked about the need for balance across Air Force missions.

"A balanced approach means finding the right balance between prevailing in today's operations with today's capabilities while simultaneously investing in new capabilities and force structure to meet tomorrow's threats," said Secretary Donley. "The United States Air Force is 'all in' for today's Joint fight, and at the same time, is making investments today that will shape the future force in the years to come."

During the symposium, General Schwartz announced the retirement of Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley, who is slated to end his 30-year career later this summer.

"It is truly bittersweet to congratulate Chief McKinley like this, as he and Paula have come to the point in an exemplary Air Force career that the time to retire is approaching," General Schwartz said. "Chief McKinley is an incomparable leader and an exemplary Airman.

He has devoted his entire adult life to our Air Force and to taking care of Airmen and their families."

General Schwartz also took time to honor Staff Sgt. Zachary Rhyner, who was shot three times during an engagement with insurgents lasting six hours, involving rocket-propelled grenades and machine gun fire on April 6, 2008, in the Shok Valley region of Afghanistan. Sergeant Rhyner returned fire, covering for injured teammates, and coordinated A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, F-15E Strike Eagles and Army attack helicopters in air strikes. General Schwartz announced he will pin the Air Force Cross, the service's second highest award for valor, on Sergeant Rhyner during a ceremony at Fort Bragg, N.C., in early March.

Chief McKinley also announced Sergeant Rhyner will be honored on the Enlisted Heroes Walk at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

"There are 164 Airmen honored on the Enlisted Heroes Walk. He will be number 165," Chief McKinley said.

Other speakers included Gen. Kevin J. Chilton, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command; and Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr., the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command commander. Gen. Robert A. Brady, the U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander; Gen. Carrol H. "Howie" Chandler, the Pacific Air Forces commander; and Gen. Arthur J. Lichte, the commander of Air Mobility Command; spoke as a panel on expeditionary air operations.

A separate panel discussed current and future air operations in Afghanistan. The panel included Lt. Gen. Donald C. Wurster, the commander of Air Force Special Operations Command; Lt. Gen. Gary North, the U.S. Air Forces Central Command and 9th Air Force commander; and Dr. Rebecca Grant, an independent airpower analyst.

General C. Robert "Bob" Kehler, the commander of Air Force Space Command, spoke about what space brings to the warfighter and the future of space operations.

Chief McKinley explained the enlisted perspective and detailed what the Air Force is doing to help its Airmen and families, including a Community College of the Air Force program that transfers credits toward civilian institutions for bachelor degrees, privatized family housing and single Airmen dorm renovations.

General James D.W. Corley, the commander of Air Combat Command, addressed global strategic environmental challenges. General Donald J. Hoffman, commander of Air Force Materiel Command; and Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz, the commander of Air Education and Training Command; spoke about combat support in the 21st century.
A panel explained the future of the total force, combining the efforts of active-duty, Guard and Reserve Airmen. This panel consisted of Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, director of Air National Guard; Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr., the Air Force Reserve chief ; and Maj. Gen. James W. Graves, the Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for Reserve matters.

Senior Master Sgt. Robert Kusterer, a C-5 Galaxy flight engineer with the 433rd Airlift Wing at Lackland AFB, was one on the enlisted attendees at the symposium. He said attending the symposium gave him exposure to the Air Force's strategic direction, and he will be able to take much of that information back to share with the Airmen he leads.
"I'm getting to see what the vision is and what's being done about problems facing our Air Force," Sergeant Kusterer said.

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