Senior leaders meet for high-level 'Warfighter Talks'

  • Published
  • By Maj. Ryan Suttlemyre
  • Headquarters Air Force Executive Action Group
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Air Force leadership hosted Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead and senior naval leaders for the Navy-Air Force Warfighter Talks March 18 at Bolling Air Force Base, D.C.

About 35 flag and general officers from both services gathered for a day-long conference to discuss common warfighting areas of concern.

Held since 1965, the "Warfighter Talks" allow Navy and Air Force senior leaders to personally interface and tackle issues concerning both services. Air Force and Army leaders met in February for similar talks.

"These talks are an outstanding opportunity to advance the discussion or come to resolution on multiple pressing issues," said General Schwartz. "The Air Force and Navy are extremely close in how we view warfare and how we operate as defenders of the strategic commons. "

Admiral Roughead noted the strategic imperative the two services face in some of their key shared missions, and the upcoming reviews that will frame these mission areas.

"The Air Force and Navy are keepers of the Nation's nuclear arsenal," said Admiral Roughead. "We look forward to working closer with the Air Force on this issue and others for the upcoming Nuclear Posture Review and Quadrennial Defense Review to ensure the strategic backstop for America."

This year's agenda included airborne electronic attack and command and control of integrated air and missile defense. The two services also addressed personnel and training in areas such as tactical air planning, nuclear matters and unmanned aircraft.

"We had a very frank and positive discussion on how we can collaborate on these issues. I was especially pleased at the outcome of the integrated air and missile defense discussion," said General Schwartz. "The Navy offers incredible potential to this mission set and we must work together closely to maximize our capabilities to defeat this rapidly proliferating and increasingly dangerous threat."

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