Leaders conclude successful Sensor Rally

by Marcia Klein
Air Force ISR Agency Public Affairs

5/14/2010 - FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) -- More than 50 group, wing and center commanders attended the spring Sensor Rally here May 4 and 5.

The bi-annual conference for Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency commanders was hosted by members of the agency's 70th ISR Wing headquartered on this Army post just 30 miles from Washington, D.C. That proximity allowed for visits by senior Defense Department leaders, including the Air Force chief of staff, the National Security Agency director and the Air Force deputy chief of staff for ISR.

"Those robust, candid discussions with these senior leaders who made time in their tight schedules to visit with our group, wing and center, and headquarters senior staff are simply invaluable," said Maj. Gen. Brad Heithold, agency commander.

During the discussions, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz challenged the agency use its in-depth expertise to solve the problem of dealing with the deluge of data coming into ISR systems from the increasing number of sensors and ISR sorties.

"As we look at continued increases in the number of combat air patrols and the corresponding increase in collections, we can't continue to throw people at this problem. The solution needs to be other than human power," said General Schwartz. "That's an area where the agency can do important work for the Air Force: finding systems solutions for the required analysis."

Lt. Gen. David Deptula, the Air Force deputy chief of staff for ISR, reminded the attendees how far the Air Force has come in less than three years since officials began a major overhaul of the way ISR is structured, and how the successes of that transformation are paying off.

"The Air Force has always been and needs to continue being about performance. It is performance that matters, and that builds trust," General Deptula said.

In addition to the discussions with those senior leaders, the conference attendees spent the bulk of their time examining the agency's strategic objectives and how various parts of the enterprise contribute to those objectives. Col. John Bansemer, 70th ISR Wing commander, said the huge expenditure of hours by his staff to arrange the event was well worth it, both for his wing and the enterprise.

"The value to the agency for this conference is twofold," he explained. "First, by holding it this near the Pentagon and D.C. area, we get access to senior leadership who cannot easily visit us at other sites. The time to sit down with them and have direct, personal interaction is invaluable. Second, this was great collaboration time between the agency's commanders and senior leadership, and we get a better understanding of each other's missions and excellent dialogue about the agency's strategic priorities and how to better implement those strategies."

Colonel Bansemer added that it was a tremendous encouragement for his young Airmen who briefed their classified missions and successes to very senior officers.

"They have to serve in silence, because of our missions, so that opportunity to shine is a definite reward," he said