Air Force officials host first regional air chiefs conference

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TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) --  Military and civilian leaders from Canada, Mexico and the United States attended the first North American Regional Air Chiefs Conference here June 8 to 12. It was hosted by officials of 1st Air Force (Air Forces Northern).

The attendees participated in a variety of mission briefings and interactive discussions designed to improve and foster relationships between United States Northern Command, to which 1st Air Force belongs, and other military and civilian organizations throughout North America.

Mexican military officers attending the conference said their stay here was a positive and eye-opening experience that will enhance relationships between their country and the United States and help resolve mutual homeland security challenges in the future.

"Our visit here has greatly exceeded our objectives and expectations," said Maj. Gen. Carlos Antonio Rodriguez Munguia, deputy director of operations for the Mexican air force.

One major benefit in attending the conference, General Rodriquez Munguia said, was having the opportunity to learn more about the relationship between 1st Air Force and the Air and Marine Operations Center in Riverside, Calif.

The AMOC, a division of Customs and Border Protection, provides homeland security along U.S. borders. Officials from 1st Air Force assist AMOC agencies with border threats that call for high, fast-flying Air Force fighter aircraft.

"We were able to observe the tremendous coordination between these entities," General Munguia said.

The general was accompanied by a delegation of fellow Mexican military officers, including Rear Admiral Anselmo Díaz Cid, general director of naval aviation for the Mexican navy.

Admiral Díaz Cid reiterated many of the positive comments made by his Mexican air force colleague. He emphasized the conference offered him a better understanding of how U.S. military and civilian agencies are organized, how they interact and what resources are available to work with Mexican officials on border security issues..

Admiral Díaz Cid said for him personally, one of the greatest benefits of the conference was meeting other officials attending the event.

"When there's a need to call someone in the future, I will actually know the person I'm talking to," he said. "When you talk to someone you've never met, there's not the same level of trust or familiarity."

Maj. Gen. Hank Morrow, 1st Air Force commander, said he was extremely pleased that the conference offered a beneficial setting for 1st Air Force and other attending organizations to mingle and share information in a way that would enhance future mutual endeavors.

"This conference was intended to lay the foundation for future engagements," General Morrow said. "Our aim, through open and frank discussions, was to positively impact regional air domain issues and to advance relationships with other organizations. We believe the conference was enormously successful in achieving our goals."

Since its inception, officials at 1st Air Force, in conjunction with those at NORTHCOM, have sought to establish partnerships with other North American nations and Air National Guard organizations for the purposes of continental security and prosperity, the commander added.

"The Air Chiefs Conference was our most recent effort to those ends," he said.