AFGSC commander gives top-level view at Global Strike Challenge

by Kate Blais
Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs

11/7/2012 - SHREVEPORT, La -- In a speech to a crowd comprised of the "best of the best," Lt. Gen. Jim Kowalski, Air Force Global Strike Command commander, provided a big-picture view of Global Strike's role within U.S. strategic deterrence Nov. 7 during the third-annual Air Force Global Strike Command Technology and Innovation Symposium at the Shreveport Convention Center.

Addressing Global Strike Challenge competitors and leadership from around the command, Kowalski conveyed the Command's mission, while instilling the importance of what Striker Airmen do every day.

"We brought you here because you are the best of the best," Kowalski said. "We're trying to give you a big picture and then send you back to the your units so you can share with them, not only a keen knowledge of what you do, but also share the message that what you do is very, very important."

As the only Air Force major command that provides forces directly to the President of the United States, Global Strike Command has been entrusted with the special responsibility of ensuring safe, secure and effective nuclear forces.

Kowalski outlined the current state of the Command's conventional and nuclear assets, including the importance of sustaining the 20-year-old B-2 Spirit, the 60-year-old B-52H Stratofortress, the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile and the UH-1N Huey.

"This year we celebrated the Year of the B-52," said Kowalski, "60 years since the first delivery and 50 years since the delivery of the last airplane.

"In that decade industry gave us 744 B-52s," he continued, "There are 76 left but there's plenty of life left in that airframe."

Sustainment and future Command endeavors - including development of a long-range strike bomber and ground based strategic deterrent, as the follow-on to the Minuteman III - will in part depend on fostering a culture of innovation.

To do that, Kowalski challenged Global Strike Airmen to be part of the solution, instead of the problem.

"We need to have a culture of innovation starting at the lowest level," said Kowalski. "I need to hear what your best ideas are."

Mentioning Strike Now, a program designed to gather innovative ideas straight from Airmen, Kowalski continued, "it's a program to help foster a culture of 'yes we can" as opposed to the current culture of 'no we can't.' We've got to figure out how to make things better."

With a view from the top, Kowalski conveyed the intent that every symposium attendee brings back to their home base not only the tactical lessons learned from competition, but the reasons why Global Strike Command exists and contribution every Striker Airmen has to the mission.

We are committed to making sure that the future is better for all of you, concluded Kowalski, "and better for this nation because of the capability that we bring every day."