Air Force secretary discusses service's goals, priorities

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Matthew McGovern
  • Defense Media Activity - San Antonio
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AFNS) --  The secretary of the Air Force spoke about the service's nuclear enterprise mission, Airmen at war and taking care of Airmen and their families April 23 while visiting the campus of the College of William & Mary during Hampton Roads Air Force Week. 

Secretary Michael B. Donley began by explaining the importance of having Air Force Weeks, which occur three times a year at cities across the United States. 

"The Air Force is made up of Airmen across the country from all different backgrounds," he said. "(Air Force Week) is an opportunity for the community ... to get acquainted with our Airmen and for our Airmen to get better acquainted with the community. It's always a very positive experience for our Airmen and the citizens." 

While having a strong relationship with the community is important, the secretary also explained how Airmen and leaders are concentrating on the nuclear enterprise. 

"The (nuclear enterprise) has been a very high priority for the Air Force as I think all our Airmen understand and appreciate," Secretary Donley said.

 "We've started implementing a roadmap that we developed last fall," he said.  

The roadmap directed the stand up of the (Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration Office) A10 organization under headquarters air staff, consolidated the responsibilities for nuclear support and sustainment at the nuclear weapons center and directed the establishment of a Global Strike Command. 

The secretary said the new command would marry up the operational oversight of bombers and missile forces under one focused command. 

"This year is a year of implementation and execution to get the right personnel assigned to the organization, and to stand up that command," he said. 

Secretary Donley also talked about the Air Force's contribution to the fight against terrorism. 

"The Air Force is 'all in' in the current fights in both Iraq and Afghanistan," he said. "At any given time, we have about 27,000 Airmen involved downrange. Airmen are providing much of the glue and direct support to the Army and Marine forces who are in direct contact. 

"First of all, we are providing most of the ability to get into the theater," the secretary said. "The airlift and tankers that support cargo movement, aeromedical evacuation and all the strategic kinds of airlift, much of that is provided by the Air Force. 

"Our special operations forces are deeply engaged," he said. "We have tactical air controllers embedded with ground forces. We are providing armed overwatch and always (have) the capability to provide direct support to troops in contact." 

The secretary also talked about how today's Airmen provide tremendous amounts of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. 

"Much (of the ISR capabilities) are through our unmanned aircraft systems, which have proven so successful and for which combatant commanders are so grateful," he said. "We are a critical part of the joint team downrange." 

When the secretary travels throughout the area of operations, he meets and talks with Airmen of all ranks and hears their concerns. 

"Airmen share the common concerns of all Americans right now for the health of our economy. They're interested in the potential impact on their pay and benefits," said Secretary Donley. "Congress has been very supportive in this area and continuing benefits for all military members." 

Secretary Donley then talked about the effects today's economy has on the Air Force. 

"The Air Force is challenged, as all the military departments are right now, as the economy has been going through a crisis period," he said. "This is affecting federal budgeting and the resources we have available for defense. We're all challenged to do our missions with fewer resources." 

Airmen are also interested in making sure their families are taken care of back home while they are deployed downrange, the secretary said. 

"Family support has been a hallmark of our Air Force for many years," said Secretary Donley. "The Air Force has put a great deal of attention on making sure we have family support liaisons and support for our Airmen coming back from the theater, and also in preparation for deployment. 

"We've also been very attentive to our wounded warriors, ensuring they have an Air Force liaison with them every step of the way (from) coming back through the aeromedical evacuation system, (caring for them) while they are in hospitals in the United States, and getting them back to their base for local treatment as soon as we possibly can," he said. 

On his visits throughout Southwest Asia, Secretary Donley said he is impressed by the way Airmen are in the fight. 

"I find Airmen very focused on their mission and inspired by their mission," he said.
"At the same time, we (must) make sure that our forces downrange in Iraq and Afghanistan have all the support they need," he said. "We continue to be attentive to the changing military situations in both of those theaters so we are able to meet the requirements for the joint war fight." 

But overall Airmen "like doing what they were trained to do in a combat environment, and they are very fulfilled in their work," the secretary said. 

For information on Air Force Week and to see a calendar of events, visit www.airforceweek.af.mil/hamptonroads.

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