Enduring cultural change underpins Global Strike Command mission

Published July 27, 2011
By Lt. Col. Chris Karns
Commander, 3rd Combat Camera Squadron

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Air Force Global Strike Command's top leader discussed the command's relevance and the need for cultural restoration at the Air Force First Sergeants Association Annual Professional Airmen's Conference July 27 in San Antonio, Texas.

Lt. Gen. Jim Kowalski, Air Force Global Strike commander, discussed the central role of cultural development and change associated with maintaining and operating the world's most powerful weapons in today's global environment to an audience of about 600 Airmen.

"We have to complete the restoration of a culture that embraces our special trust and responsibility--not just for folks who have hands on our weapons--but all of our Airmen," said Kowalski.

In the context of an uncertain, multi-polar world, knowing how the mission contributes to national defense is critical, said Kowalski. Nuclear deterrence maintains strategic stability, assures allies and provides regional deterrence against those wishing to do harm to the United States.

"Nuclear weapons are strategic weapons, they're political weapons," said Kowalski. "Majors and Master Sergeants talk about 2000 pound bombs, Senators and Secretaries of Defense talk about nuclear weapons."

Air Force Global Strike Command which stood up in August 2009 was established to provide a single command with a single focus on developing and providing combat-ready forces for not only nuclear deterrence, but global strike operations as well.

"The command was established to get it right...to bring focus back--a single command focused at the high end of conflict," Kowalski said. "Global Strike Command was organized to create certain behaviors in our Air Force and Airmen. Behavior over time equals culture. It is especially important we get a culture that embraces the special trust and responsibility of nuclear deterrence."

The command's top leader identified two behavioral traits--discipline and professionalism--as well as the need to adapt deterrence principles to 21st century security challenges; hallmarks for achieving desired results.

Discipline and professionalism are traits that drive results and bring about confidence, pride and enduring change, said Kowalski. Achieving enduring cultural change requires approaching conventional missions with the same discipline needed in nuclear operations, combined with the flexibility to adapt and excel to any given area of responsibility or situation.

Kowalski advocates the need for another cultural change--innovation, making the concept of faster-better-cheaper part of how Airman approach duties in today's fiscally constrained environment. He also advocates leadership's responsibility to listen, recognize and reward. As such, he developed a Strike Now program, allowing Airmen to directly bring forth ideas for his consideration and potential implementation.

The command, which achieved full operational capability in October, 2009, continues to mature and supports contingencies across the globe.

At any given time, the Air Force's newest command has about 1,200 people forward in support of contingencies across the globe--whether supporting continuous bomber presence in Guam or in the U.S. Central Command region--and another 1,100 deployed to the missile fields in support of U.S. Strategic Command, according to officials.

The command was also involved in air strikes in Libya. B-2s launched from Whiteman AFB, Mo., struck 45 hardened aircraft shelters in Libya and Global Strike Command also supported Air Combat Command B-1 missions in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn.

"What we do underpins everything we do as a nation and provides effects at a national level," said Chief Master Sergeant Brian Hornback, AFGSC command chief.

Kowalski recognizes this special trust as stewards of the Air Force's nuclear arsenal and the responsibility to provide effective, credible forces.

Kowalski closed by saying, "at the end of the day, as long as any nation has nuclear weapons we'll ensure America has a safe, secure and effective nuclear arsenal run by professional and disciplined Airmen."