Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley discusses the importance of modernization and the challenges ahead for the Air Force at the 2012 Aerospace and Defense Investor Conference in New York, Nov. 29.2012. (U.S. Air Force photo/Dave Wilson)
Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley discusses the importance of modernization and the challenges ahead for the Air Force at the 2012 Aerospace and Defense Investor Conference in New York, Nov. 29.2012. (U.S. Air Force photo/Dave Wilson)
11/30/2012 - NEW YORK CITY (AFNS) -- The Air Force's senior civilian addressed the importance of modernization and the challenges ahead for the Air Force at the 2012 Aerospace and Defense Investor Conference here Nov. 29.
"Among the most difficult challenges facing the Air Force is the need to modernize our aging aircraft inventory as the defense budget declines," said Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley. "New threats and technologies require new investments."
Donley conveyed the careful strategic choices made in crafting the service's budget, highlighting the importance of research, development, procurement and construction -- "investments in future capability."
He specifically addressed the need for modernization among fighter, tanker, bomber, space and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms as "high priority investments," while other important capabilities like a new trainer and joint surveillance and target attack radar system are not yet funded.
"The plans and resources available for modernization are not optimal, but we are making tough choices to keep them workable with the right priorities for the future," he said. "Further reductions in defense would make these choices even harder."
Among these choices is readiness, which the secretary stressed is one area the service is not willing to taking additional risk.
"We see readiness -- in personnel, training and materiel dimensions -- already frayed. We have made important efficiencies and we are programmed for more," he said. "There are few options for reducing the size of our forces and still being able to execute strategic guidance."
In line with defense guidance, the Air Force has set a clear picture of its investment spending and priorities -- priorities that the joint force and the American public depend on, Donley said. For example, the service's ten largest investment programs include four space systems critical for access to space, secure communications, missile warning, and navigation and timing.
"America's Air Force remains the most capable in the word, but modernization can't wait," Donley said. "These new threats and investment needs, like cyber and missile defense, are not theoretical possibilities for the future. They are here, now."
Amidst the challenges and emerging requirements involved with modernizing the service, Secretary Donley stressed the importance of balancing effectiveness and efficiency, containing program requirements and costs, and continuing to be responsible stewards of taxpayer resources to make it work.
The two-day conference featured speakers from industry and the Department of Defense, including remarks from Robert Hale, under secretary of defense and chief financial officer; and Frank Kendall, the under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics.
Comments
12/10/2012 2:55:49 PM ET The Air Force is full of wasteful spending. How many people have seen their support office spend 4000 dollars on a top of the line 65 LED display to only run a slide show That's just one example of many I have seen. Why make a mad dash at the end of the year to spend as much as possible when you could just save the money The Air Force just like the Federal Govt and many other organizations needs to get it's spending under control.
SSgt Somebody, Ellsworth
12/10/2012 1:26:47 AM ET Asking for any increase in budget when we're 16T in debt is irresponsible. Look at how much money is spent each September and you'll see how much of our AF budget can be spared. So much money is wasted simply so the unit can get it to waste the next year. It's the same ol' everyone else does it so why would I not to it mentality. So many people need to wake up and realize that they're part of the problem.
Seasoned NCO, Somewhere
12/9/2012 10:23:28 AM ET Bobby I think you are confused. Sit down and think about the difference between the people and the government. We need the people of the country to return to believing that they have a duty to support their country. Note I did not say support their government. Giving the government more and more tax money to give to people in the form of entitlements only leads to more people forgetting that duty...that me first mentality you mentioned. It also takes money and resources away from people that haven't forgotten and want to be able to fulfill that duty.
Maj, Home for a change
12/6/2012 3:18:13 PM ET Bobby you are right. It was the ppl not the government
Matthew, Charleston SC
12/6/2012 2:46:23 PM ET Daniel is partially right though. The military will make do with whatever the budget is. Always have always will. However IF Romney was to provide an extra 2 trillion the Air Force would not be complaining. There is a lot of technology that needs upgrading and it costs money to do it. Hopefully we can look at where we are wasting money and use this as an opportunity to cut the fat.
V2, Maxwell
12/5/2012 7:37:12 PM ET Daniel - I believe you're letting political bias influence your conclusion. The SECAF clearly stated the need for strategic decisions and prioritization given budget realities. Consider whom he's talking to. He laid out the AF modernization priorities for industry that's all. That's quite a leap to your conclusions unless of course they're preconceived. And regardless of the administration each service's list of systems and priorities will ALWAYS be longer than the available dollars to go around.
JT, Maxwell
12/4/2012 3:18:06 PM ET President Obama is doing what America as a whole knows needs to be done. What Should we continue to stock pile our supply closets with crap we don't need while the rest of the nation except for certain pockets of the country suffers While certain sides of town crumble apart What Let me guess...it's their fault for not getting their share of tax payers money to fix that ragedy road they live on. Too many people live in this country with a me first you're on your own mentality while at the same time suck down as many gov't dollars as possible. How can we expect to truly have a great nation when about half of the population is neglected and suffers in silence while we pretend to the world to be a model country Our great nation did NOT become great with that kind of crap. It was ppl that felt compelled to look out for they're brother and neighbor that made us the exception...not the other way around.
Bobby, Everywhere USA
12/4/2012 2:27:44 PM ET Yea Daniel he's asking for 2 trillion dollars. Sigh
Tim Glazier, Portland OR
12/3/2012 7:20:00 PM ET One of President Obama's campaign rhetoric lines was that Mitt Romney wanted to give the military 2 trillion that the military didn't ask for. Well it sounds like the Secretary of the Air Force is asking for it here.
