'Living Legends' offer Airmen historical perspective

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Monique Randolph
  • Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  The three-part "Living Legends" series concluded at the Pentagon Conference Center July 19.

The "Living Legends" series included three seminars featuring panels of past and present Air Force leaders who discussed advancements in air power from World War II to the present day war on terrorism.

The D.W. Steele Chapter of the Air Force Association, the Pentagon Chapter of the Airlift Tanker Association, the Air Force 60th Anniversary Office and the Air Force historian presented the series as part of events commemorating the Air Force's 60th Anniversary.

"Our goal for 'Living Legends' is to broaden Airmen's horizons, to give them a historical perspective," said Dick Anderegg, Air Force historian and moderator for the series. "When people have a perspective of how things were in the past, they know what questions to ask in the future."

The theme for the final seminar was "Modern Warfare: Desert Storm, OIF and OEF," and the panel included Lt. Gen. David Deptula, retired Lt. Gen. John Campbell and retired Maj. Gen. Charles Link. The generals focused on the areas of training, technology and leadership.

On the topic of training, General Deptula, Air Force deputy chief of staff for intelligence, pointed out differences between Desert Storm and current operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He noted advancements in intelligence collection capabilities and technology, progress in joint service operations and improved air-to-ground coordination and communication.

General Campbell, who served as associate director of central intelligence for military support at the Central Intelligence Agency prior to retiring in 2003, spoke about technology. He emphasized the significance of the Predator unmanned aerial vehicle in OEF and OIF.

General Link's focus was leadership. Prior to commissioning in 1963, General Link was an enlisted aircraft mechanic. He cited several enlisted members and officers he encountered throughout his career who stood out as examples of great leadership.

The final seminar concluded with an open forum for questions and answers from the audience.

"The (seminar) really allowed me to see what senior leaders are thinking," said Maj. Laird Abbott, chief of force optimization analyses at the Pentagon. "Seeing the massive changes that have taken place in the Air Force over the years, and gaining that (senior leader) perspective really helps me focus my efforts." 

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