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General Biscone talks strategic challenges at Global Strike Challenge

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Brian Stives
  • Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs
SHREVEPORT, La. --  Maj. Gen. Gregory Biscone, United States Strategic Command director of global operations, gave a USSTRATCOM perspective on strategic challenges during his keynote address at the Global Strike Challenge Technology and Innovation Symposium Nov. 8.

The symposium was held at the Shreveport Convention Center and was part of the capstone events for this year's Global Strike Challenge - an amalgam of the best of the historic bomber and missile competitions held under previous major commands that owned those missions at the time.

Biscone suggested the challenges facing the military today are not much different than from the challenges of the past.

"We have faced dire economic adversity before and came out of it stronger than ever," Biscone said. "We have faced powerful and ruthless adversaries before and surprised the world with our capacity, perseverance and resolve."


Nuclear capabilities are under constant threat, resources are constrained and the danger of surprise continues to grow large, Biscone said. However, these challenges provide us with unique opportunities, and those opportunities help us to improve our effectiveness -- we must be able to operate with a flexible imagination, Biscone added.

"We are still here because the men and women of America's strategic defense and global forces have demonstrated time and time again that flexibility and resilience are necessary to provide a credible, ready deterrent," Biscone said.

To demonstrate effective deterrence we must be able to show to our adversaries that we have exceptional groups, world-class delivery platforms, reliable and devastating weapons, and most importantly, the resiliency to respond effectively as promised, he said.

Biscone stressed that there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to deterrence. USSTRATCOM has a number of flexible capabilities for the threats we face--ranging from threats to our forces to threats that challenge our nuclear capability.

Resiliency also plays a role in deterrence, Biscone said.

"We must have that ability to survive a first strike and effectively deliver a devastating re-attack," the general said. "Our nuclear forces train continually to make sure they have that resiliency."

Biscone told the audience members from across the nuclear enterprise that "our adversaries and potential adversaries know you always find a way to get the job done - your flexibility and strength gives them pause."

"Your efforts allow the American people to sleep safely at night," he said. "They know you will always be there standing ready to protect them. We are a nation of fighters--and you are their fighting force."