Leaders from around the world came together here June 26 to 27 to discuss deterrence and evaluate the war plan used to ensure peace and stability in South Korea.

The 7th Air Force, Pacific Air Forces and Osan Air Base Commander Lt. Gen. Stephen G. Wood hosts the Air Boss Conference annually. The conference is the commander's once-a-year opportunity to gather close to a hundred of his top U.S. and South Korean leaders (including Gen. Walter L. Sharp the new U.S. Forces Korea commander, and numbered air forces and wing commanders). These commanders are tasked with supporting the Korean Operations Plan should deterrence fail and Air Component Command stand up. This year's conference focuses on safe and effective execution of the 2008 air-attack plan and other offensive and defensive capabilities.

"It's a great opportunity to bring all the air components of the coalition together, including the South Korean and U.S. commanders of units throughout the peninsula," General Wood said, who also serves dual-hatted as the Air Component Commander and deputy commander for U.S. Forces Korea and United Nations Command. "We pull together improving ways and methods to execute the air and space operations plan more efficiently and to discuss new technologies and tactics available to us."

"The air forces here will take lessons and new technological advances, like the unmanned aerial vehicles and ground tactics, and apply them in plans and strategies for 2008 and beyond," the general said.

"Learning lessons from other contingency efforts from around the world has a direct impact on the mission here," he said. "And, improving our South Korea-U.S. war plans and deterrence efforts continues to keep us ready to fight tonight."

General Wood's Korean counterpart, Air Force Operation Center Commander Lt. Gen. Cho Won Kun said in the opening speech, "this conference is especially meaningful since (South Korea) and U.S. leaders are discussing wartime strategies for defending Korean Peninsula on the 60th anniversary of the (South Korea) Armed Forces. I expect this conference to be a fruitful opportunity to further develop our air and space operations plan and strengthen the bond between ABs of Pacific area," Lt. Gen Cho said.

While the Air Boss meeting is annual, U.S. Airmen stationed in Korea actually work alongside their South Korean counterparts daily to ensure this enduring military partnership remains relevant against current and future threats.

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