Secretary Wynne speaks at symposium in Las Vegas

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jeremy Larlee
  • Air Force News Agency
LAS VEGAS (AFPN) --  The secretary of the Air Force spoke about the past accomplishments and future plans of the Air Force to a crowd of more than 300 people during the 2007 Air and Space Leaders symposium at the Wynn Hotel and resort Nov. 8 in Las Vegas.

Secretary Michael W. Wynne was the keystone speaker of the symposium that was held in conjunction with Heritage to Horizons events in the area. 

He also answered questions from the audience after his speech, and said he could not think of a more fitting place to celebrate the Air Force's 60th anniversary.

"This is the perfect place to celebrate the Air Force's heritage," he said. "Las Vegas and Nellis Air Force Base are the stuff of legends, and their legend is created and written every day." 

The Air Force's founding fathers set precedents in history, Secretary Wynne said.

"They were people who saw impossible obstacles and didn't even flinch," he said "This is what the Air Force is about we take the great leaps. We are disdainful of boundaries."

Secretary Wynne spoke about how our airpower dominance is an effective deterrent to our enemies. He said it prevents them from massing up in huge numbers and gives our country the ability to extend diplomacy across the world.

"The biggest gift we as an Air Force can give our country is the ability to deter war and literally project influence," he said. "What we are about is the freedom to be the kind of person you want to be all over the world."

The best way to keep this edge is through technology Secretary Wynne said. It also requires that the people we recruit in the Air Force are the cream of the crop. 

One person responsible for maintaining the Air Force's edge in airpower was in attendance for Secretary Wynne's speech. 

Staff Sgt. Helen Coleman, a mission intelligence coordinator for the MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle at Nellis AFB, said the speech made her feel like a vital part of the nation's defense.

"The speech was really motivational and honest," she said. "He talked about where the Air Force is coming from and where it is going."

Secretary Wynne ended his speech by talking about the dangers of complacency and how it could put our nation in danger.

"You can't see air dominance and it doesn't make good newsprint," he said. "History is littered with the remains of great empires that allowed lesser states to get a jump on them in technology and they consequently surrendered their ability to extend diplomacy." 

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