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Commander says headquarters job is to make wings successful

  • Published
  • By Crystal Jordan
  • Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Air Force Global Strike Command's new top leader addressed his headquarters staff Jan. 12, less than a week after taking command. His message: the headquarters is responsible for ensuring the success of its subordinate units.

Lt. Gen. Jim Kowalski visited each of the command's installations Jan. 7-11, speaking to thousands of command Airmen about the special trust and responsibility that comes with stewardship of the nation's nuclear arsenal, the importance of fully supporting the current fight, and why the command's Airmen must make productivity gains part of their mindset at all levels.

Then he took some time to speak with his own headquarters staff here at Barksdale's historic Hoban Hall.

"The only measure of success for the headquarters is how well the wings do," he said.

"I'm confident all of our Airmen want to do well personally, and as a member of the team. So when the Airmen at the wings succeed, they deserve all of the credit," General Kowalski said. "But should they fail, that failure is on us, because we didn't give them the resources, the guidance, the training, the people, or the right leadership."

The general recognized the often-challenging operational conditions and the importance of the ICBM and bomber missions to national security. He praised the work of the 1,100 Global Strike Airmen who are deployed overseas in support of regional combatant commanders such as Central Command. The general also said that Global Strike missile wings support Strategic Command every day, with over 1,000 Airmen deployed to the missile fields, manning ICBM alert facilities.

"Nuclear deterrence and global strike underpin our nation's strength-diplomatically, politically and militarily," General Kowalski said. "These capabilities provide a framework for stability in our relations with other major powers."

As the command moves forward, any changes that are made will be made thoughtfully and together as a team, General Kowalski told more than 700 staff members in attendance.