National Security Forum introduces civic leaders to Air Force

  • Published
  • By Carl Bergquist
  • Air University Public Affairs
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFPN) --  Jim Lawrance was just one of many guests attending this year’s National Security Forum who was favorably impressed by Air War College students, faculty and civilians.

“I’ve been extremely impressed by the quality of the military personnel I’ve encountered here at Maxwell,” said Mr. Lawrance, a bank president from Marshalltown, Iowa. “They are very bright and exceptional people, and if these are our military leaders of tomorrow, I think we are in excellent shape.”

The 51st National Security Forum, which brought more than 150 civic leaders here May 24 to 28, is sponsored annually by the secretary of the Air Force and held by Air War College.

During the week, Air War College students and civilian guests representing nearly every state participated in activities designed to enhance an exchange of ideas and mutual understanding between civic and military leaders. These activities included lectures by some of the nation’s leading security experts, panel sessions with members of the media, and seminars for in-depth discussions on the current issues facing the military and the country’s national security.

Maj. Gen. Bentley Rayburn, Air War College commandant, said he wanted the guests to leave with a better understanding of the role the military plays in society.

“I want them to take back to their jobs and communities a better appreciation of our people,” he said. “That is, our senior leadership from all services and our government civilians.”

Among the guest speakers this year were Peter B. Teets, undersecretary of the Air Force; Gen. John P. Jumper, Air Force chief of staff; Marine Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and R. James Woolsey, former director of the CIA.

Page Bissett, who works in her family’s uniform rental business in Ontario, Canada, said she, too, was “very taken” with the professionalism and quality of the people she met at the forum and would be taking an important lesson back with her.

“What I have seen here has reinforced the need to continually develop my company’s management and personnel programs to keep our standards high,” she said. “As a citizen (of the United States) and a civilian, I will leave here feeling very good about the country’s military.”

The forum highlights the challenges of the changing global security environment. It also provides an opportunity for students to gain knowledge from the exchange of ideas during the forum, General Rayburn said.

“It is also my hope attendees take home an admiration for the important bonds built with international officers who come to AWC,” he said. “I also trust they will gain an appreciation for the difficult task before us in waging the global war on terrorism.” (Courtesy of Air Education and Training Command News Service)