An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

AFGSC innovation and technology symposium opens

  • Published
  • By Carla Pampe
  • Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs
SHREVEPORT, La. --  The 2017 Air Force Global Strike Command Innovation and Technology Symposium kicked off today at the Shreveport Convention Center.

The two-day symposium is part of the culmination of Global Strike Challenge, a competitive event where the top security forces, maintainers, missile, bomber and helicopter crews are recognized as the "best of the best" in their specialties. Competition events took place throughout the summer back at the Airmen’s home bases.

Teams from AFGSC's nine wings, as well as competitors from the Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard and other mission partners, arrived in the Shreveport-Bossier City area Monday for the symposium and official score posting and awards ceremony which will be held Wednesday evening at Barksdale Air Force Base.

Gen. Robin Rand, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, welcomed attendees to the symposium by recognizing the importance of heritage and the need to bring Airmen together to learn from each other and showcase the command’s premier bomber and ICBM forces through rigorous competition and teamwork.

“The idea of competing, of hard work trying to be the best you can be, this is our heritage,” he said. “That heritage can be used to inspire us.”

Just as important as our heritage, Rand said, is what we’re doing today.

“Right now, today, we are on alert. We’re flying patrols … we’re ready to go … we’re flying combat right now, today,” he said. “We’re busy. And do you know why? Because there are a lot of wolves out there. And they want to howl at us, they want to eat the sheep, and you know what we need? We need sheep dogs. And right here in this room are a bunch of sheep dogs, and I’m really proud of you …. Our Airmen are our strength.”

However, the general reminded Airmen that no one is successful alone, especially in a competition like Global Strike Challenge.

“None of you got here by yourself,” he added. “You were selected to be here because you’re pretty sharp Airmen, but you didn’t compete by yourself. You competed as a team, and that’s important.”

Brig. Gen. Kristin Goodwin, the Commandant of the Cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy, was the opening guest speaker for the day, and highlighted the importance of breaking barriers, which she said the Air Force has been doing since 1947.

“This community will continue to play a vital role in the future of modern warfare, and now more than ever, it’s indispensable, and you truly are our nation’s shield,” she said.

Maj. Gen. Garrett Harencak, Commander, Air Force Recruiting Service, gave the group a perspective on bomber heritage.

“Our heritage is not just the aircraft we flew, it’s the stories of our incredible brothers and sisters,” he said. “These stories are more important than whatever weapon system I could have highlighted here.

“The greatest weapon system we have does not have a tail number. The greatest weapon system we have does not have a serial number stamped on it. The greatest weapon system we have has a social security number,” Harencak added. “It’s all about you - the American Airman. The American Airman will never let us down.”

Heritage, and the legacy of the men and women who create it, will never die, Harencak told the group, nor will their memory.

“As long as it may be required for young men and women to don the uniform of our nation … to fly and fight and defend America … to leave their villages and cities to confront tyranny … you will live … in the hearts and minds of the Airmen who follow you.”

Day one of the symposium wrapped up with Lt. Gen. Richard Clark, Commander, 3rd Air Force at Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany, who spoke on the importance of the strategic bomber mission.

"We have three truths: bombers are strategic in nature, numbers matter, and Airmen make it happen," he said. "As bomber Airmen, we have to hold on to these truths."

Clark told the group, "Every one of you matters. Thank you for being great wingmen and for being great Airmen!"

Day two of the symposium will conclude with remarks by Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson. For a complete list of Wednesday’s symposium speakers, visit http://www.airforceglobalstrike.org/

Global Strike Challenge concludes tomorrow with a traditional score posting and trophy presentations at Hoban Hall on base.