Article Display

Acting Secretary of the Air Force praises ACC Airmen during visit

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Steven Goetsch
  • Air Combat Command Public Affairs
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. --  The Acting Secretary of the Air Force praised Air Combat Command Airmen during a visit at Langley Air Force Base, Va., Sept. 24, saying ACC's multitude of missions and skill sets deliver decisive air, space and cyber power for the nation. 

During a town hall meeting before 700 Langley Airmen, Mr. Donley highlighted other critical missions conducted by ACC Airmen that support the Air Force's mission to fly, fight and win in air, space and cyberspace. 

"You all have a tremendous range of missions and capabilities here at Langley and inside ACC, and I want you to know how important all of those missions are to what we do in the Air Force," said Mr. Donley. 

Of particular note, he said, is ACC's performance and innovation in providing joint warfighters long-endurance, real-time intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance and precision attack against fixed and time-critical targets. 

The Acting Secretary of the Air Force witnessed these capabilities first-hand while touring the 480th Intelligence Wing and saw operations that he said were just concepts not too long ago. 

"The Air Force's ability to network not just the platforms and sensors, but all the data from all the exploitation and analyses, and get that disseminated out to the joint war fighters in a real-time basis, is something our intelligence community and our commanders have dreamed about for years," he said. 

The Acting Secretary of the Air Force added that the successes seen in the ISR community are a direct result of joint work, and the Air Force will continue to emphasize jointness in all mission areas to improve effectiveness for combatant commanders. 

Mr. Donley also reassured Airmen that their efforts are being recognized, but sometimes the public, he said, doesn't always understand the Air Force mission. "But when I talk people through what the Air Force is doing end-to-end, their eyes get big, and they understand the contributions you are all making to the joint warfighter in Afghanistan and Iraq," he said. 

Referring specifically to the wide range of aerial support ACC provides in the AOR, Mr. Donley said that ACC Airmen are engaged every single day in forward locations.
"Of course, we've got the airborne fighter and bomber capability - whatever the combatant commander needs - providing that air-to-ground capability in support of the tactical commanders on the ground," he said. "And believe me, they value that very, very much." 

Another priority for the Acting Secretary of the Air Force's visit to Langley was to meet with Airmen and hear their concerns. In addition to the town hall meeting, he had an opportunity to have lunch with Airmen and to meet members of the base Chiefs' Group.
Senior Airman Charles Harris, an aerospace propulsion mechanic with the 1st Component Maintenance Squadron, said he appreciated the time the Acting Secretary of the Air Force took to visit. 

"I think it's outstanding that our top leadership comes to Langley and gets right in with the first-term Airmen and asks us what's on our minds," said Airman Harris.
Mr. Donley said a favorite part of his job is getting out to the field and mixing with Airmen at all levels. Airmen commented during the visit that a focused commitment to people has a direct impact on Airmen morale. 

"It's good to know that top leadership isn't just worried about numbers and figures, but that they're worried about us as people," added Airman Harris.
Being the former Air Force Comptroller, there was some talk of numbers. Questions came from the town hall audience regarding the projected increase in the number of unmanned aircraft systems collection platforms and the possibility of expanding intelligence manpower. 

The Acting Secretary of the Air Force reminded Airmen there is additional force shaping issues to work but said ISR and intelligence manning were key priorities. He said the challenge would be ensuring the Air Force's warfighting capabilities by modernizing aircraft and sustaining manning levels. 

"We always live in a resource-constrained environment so manpower resources must be balanced against recapitalization efforts," said Mr. Donley. 

Mr. Donley also met with Air Combat Command Commander Gen. John Corley and the ACC staff to receive briefings on several critical areas including the nuclear mission.
"We've been having good dialogue at the four-star level and headquarters across the Air Force to figure out the way forward and how we are going to get more focus on our nuclear business," said Mr. Donley. 

He said a credible nuclear deterrent is essential to national security and the safety, security and reliability of Air Force nuclear weapons-related components are of paramount importance. 

"The first task I have from the SECDEF is to work on the nuclear issues facing the United States Air Force, and to get us recommitted to a critical mission for the nation and one of which the Air Force plays a very, very important role."

During his visit with the Langley Chiefs Group, the Acting Secretary of the Air Force lauded Langley's chiefs for providing solid leaderships. He said it was obvious that the Airmen in the field are focused, continue to perform outstandingly and their morale is high. He attributes this directly to solid leadership. 

"I think visits from the SECAF and other senior leaders are very important," said Chief Master Sergeant Mark Rodriguez, ACC First Sergeant. "You get priority issues straight from the top, and it is a sincere sign of confidence to schedule time with all Airmen."