Air chiefs from across Americas convene in display of continued cooperation

Published July 3, 2024
By Tech. Sgt. Rachel Maxwell
12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern)

SAN CARLOS DE BARILOCHE, Argentina (AFNS) --

U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin, center, speaks with Argentinian Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Fernando Luis Mengo, center left, during the 64th Conference of the American Air Chiefs meeting in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, June 19, 2024. These one-on-one Key Leader Engagements assist in establishing and successfully executing shared security objectives while generating mutual trust and understanding. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Rachel Maxwell) — U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin, center, speaks with Argentinian air force Chief of Staff Gen. Fernando Luis Mengo, center left, during the 64th Conference of the American Air Chiefs meeting in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, June 19, 2024. These one-on-one Key Leader Engagements assist in establishing and successfully executing shared security objectives while generating mutual trust and understanding. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Rachel Maxwell)

Air Force leaders and representatives from across the Western Hemisphere assembled in Argentina June 18-20 for the 64th “Conferencia de los Jefes de las Fuerzas Aéreas Americanas,” Spanish for, Conference of the American Air Chiefs, or CONJEFAMER.

Argentinian air force Chief of Staff Gen. Fernando Luis Mengo hosted the event, which was attended by U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin.

The senior Air Force leaders of 19 nations took part in discussions concentrated on readiness needs to meet a collective vision and laid plans for future exercises together.

“The Conference of American Air Chiefs is a unique opportunity to learn from and build partnerships with our neighbors in the Western Hemisphere,” Allvin said. “It is also an exceptional forum for enhancing our shared security objectives while generating mutual trust and understanding. I was honored to engage my counterparts firsthand and look forward to improving our collective ability to meet complex global challenges.”

Mexican Air Force Col. Gustavo Campos Alpizar attends the 64th Conference of the American Air Chiefs meeting in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, June 20, 2024. CONJEFAMER is a multi-national conference held to promote the exchange of experiences, knowledge and training while strengthening the capacities of the American Air Forces and their equivalents. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Rachel Maxwell) — Mexican air force Col. Gustavo Campos Alpizar attends the 64th Conference of the American Air Chiefs meeting in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, June 20, 2024. CONJEFAMER is a multi-national conference held to promote the exchange of experiences, knowledge and training while strengthening the capacities of the American Air Forces and their equivalents. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Rachel Maxwell)

Argentinian Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Fernando Luis Mengo, center, leads discussion during the 64th Conference of the American Air Chiefs meeting in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, June 18, 2024. The conference promoted seamless interoperability with Western Hemisphere partners in an effort to improve their collective abilities to quickly integrate forces and respond to contingencies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Rachel Maxwell) — Argentinian air force Chief of Staff, Gen. Fernando Luis Mengo, center, leads discussion during the 64th Conference of the American Air Chiefs meeting in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, June 18, 2024. The conference promoted seamless interoperability with Western Hemisphere partners in an effort to improve their collective abilities to quickly integrate forces and respond to contingencies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Rachel Maxwell)

Paraguayan Air Force Commander, Gen. Julio Rubén Fullaondo Céspedes applauds during the 64th Conference of the American Air Chiefs meeting in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, June 18, 2024. Much of the value gained during meetings like CONJEFAMER can be placed on the relationships built among senior leaders that helps make cooperation easier when rapid response is needed. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Rachel Maxwell) — Paraguayan air force Commander, Gen. Julio Rubén Fullaondo Céspedes applauds during the 64th Conference of the American Air Chiefs meeting in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, June 18, 2024. Much of the value gained during meetings like CONJEFAMER can be placed on the relationships built among senior leaders that helps make cooperation easier when rapid response is needed. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Rachel Maxwell)

The 3-day conference was sponsored by the System of Cooperation Among the American Air Forces, an apolitical institution established in 1961, now sitting at 23 member nations with a purpose to be an efficient organization in cooperation and mutual support between the American Air Forces and their equivalents.

“CONJEFAMER is the medieval roundtable for the American Air Forces today,” said Brazilian air force Col. Bruno Pedra, undersecretary general for SICOFAA. “Which makes it imperative to maintain and strengthen an environment of trust and professional cooperation.”

U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin provides remarks during the 64th Conference of the American Air Chiefs meeting in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, June 18, 2024. Much of the value gained during meetings like CONJEFAMER can be placed on the relationships built among senior leaders that helps make cooperation easier when rapid response is needed. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Rachel Maxwell)

Brazilian Air Force Col. Bruno Pedra, undersecretary general for the Systems of Cooperation Among the American Air Forces, conducts a briefing during the 64th Conference of the American Air Chiefs meeting in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, June 18, 2024. The 3-day conference was sponsored by SICOFAA, an apolitical institution established in 1961, with a purpose to be an efficient organization in cooperation and mutual support between the American air forces and their equivalents. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Rachel Maxwell) — Brazilian air force Col. Bruno Pedra, undersecretary general for the Systems of Cooperation Among the American Air Forces, conducts a briefing during the 64th Conference of the American Air Chiefs meeting in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, June 18, 2024. The 3-day conference was sponsored by SICOFAA, an apolitical institution established in 1961, with a purpose to be an efficient organization in cooperation and mutual support between the American air forces and their equivalents. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Rachel Maxwell)

U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin, right, shakes hands with Argentinian Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Fernando Luis Mengo, left, during the 64th Conference of the American Air Chiefs meeting in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, June 19, 2024. Senior air force leaders and representatives spanning 19 nations took part in discussions concentrated on the collective readiness needs of the Western Hemisphere in order to meet shared visions and lay plans for future exercises. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Rachel Maxwell) — U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin, right, shakes hands with Argentinian air force Chief of Staff Gen. Fernando Luis Mengo, left, during the 64th Conference of the American Air Chiefs meeting in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, June 19, 2024. Senior air force leaders and representatives spanning 19 nations took part in discussions concentrated on the collective readiness needs of the Western Hemisphere in order to meet shared visions and lay plans for future exercises. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Rachel Maxwell)

Much of the value gained during the annual conference can be placed on the relationships built among the air chiefs to aid in emergent situations when a rapid response is needed.

This year alone Colombia experienced devastating wildfires and Brazil encountered unprecedented flooding, bringing discussions of humanitarian assistance and disaster response efforts to the forefront of remarks amongst some leaders.

“In the world we live in today there are two irrefutable truths,” said Colombian air force Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Carlos Fernando Silva Rueda. “The first is that there is a climate change that will potentially produce natural disasters at any time. The second is that there is nothing like having friends to lean on when you need it most. Our brothers, the air forces of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, the United States and Uruguay, through our system, answered our call, giving us a hand, providing their capabilities so we could sort these fires.”

“CONJEFAMER is where lessons learned are reported and activities to be developed are decided,” Pedra noted. “Congruently, in Argentina, the wildfires in Colombia and floods in Brazil were both addressed in a framework of the pre-coordinations mediated by SICOFAA.”

Pedra also hinted in the potential expanding influence within similar organizations outside the Western Hemisphere.

Argentinian Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Fernando Luis Mengo, left, passes a ceremonial bell to Paraguayan Air Force Commander, Gen. Julio Rubén Fullaondo Céspede, right, during the 64th Conference of the American Air Chiefs meeting in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, June 20, 2024. The transfer identifies where the next CONJEFAMER will be held and symbolizes the beginning of next year’s activities. — Argentinian air force Chief of Staff Gen. Fernando Luis Mengo, left, passes a ceremonial bell to Paraguayan air force Commander, Gen. Julio Rubén Fullaondo Céspede, right, during the 64th Conference of the American Air Chiefs meeting in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, June 20, 2024. The transfer identifies where the next CONJEFAMER will be held and symbolizes the beginning of next year’s activities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Rachel Maxwell)

“Studying SICOFAA in its entirety, it becomes clear that SICOFAA’s future includes a systematic relationship with homologous systems in Africa and the Indo-Pacific region,” he said. “In this way, the maximum benefit for its members will increasingly depend on the diplomatic capacity of their representatives either among themselves or with their respective governments.”

Formal proceedings came to a close when Mengo relinquished the SICOFAA ceremonial bell into the hands of next year’s host, Paraguayan air force Commander Gen. Julio Rubén Fullaondo Céspedes, symbolizing the beginning of next year’s activities.

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