My goal in coming to the Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) convention and conference was to learn and experience what is happening with our Air Force, and our Air Force Base. After less than 24 hours at the AFA conference, held on the historic banks of the Potomac River in Oxon Hill, Maryland, I feel like I indeed had stepped up to attempt to “take a drink of water from a fire hose.”

Our first keynote speaker was new Secretary of the Air Force, Troy E. Meink. In his first major speech as Secretary of the Air Force, Meink said he was surprised by the extent to which the Air Force’s readiness is suffering after years of under-investment in sustainment accounts—and the speed at which China has been innovating for years now and according to Meink “we just can’t have that. We need to do better so we can be better.”

It was a great start to what I anticipate will be 3 days of learning and networking. As I took my seat for the keynote speech I caught a glimpse of Col Jesse Lamarand and his wife Nathalie just a few rows ahead of me. The contingent from Minot Air Force Base also included the Lamarand’s and CMSgt Sharp, along with Col Jimmy Schlabach and his wife Monica, CMSgt Becky Thomas and 91st Ops Commander Col Michael Suden. Having both Col Schlabach and Col Lamarand as resources during the conferences was something that I didn’t expect, but it is certainly appreciated.

Then Gen David Allvin, would introduce the standing room only audience to what has become a very common theme in the sessions I have attended, “the changing character of war.” Gen Allvin pointed as an example to the over 267 days of Bomber Task Force activities in the past year. These activities are aimed at not only establishing a collaboration with other allied forces, but to continue the necessary deterrence of our adversaries. “There is a need to not only exceed in technology, but also in the mindset” continued General Allvin. And is the Nuclear Triad still relevant? “It is the bedrock of our national defense, not only today but in the future” according to Allvin “nothing can replace it.”

Modernizing the Triad: The Imperative for the B-21 and Sentinel
Panel Member Lt. Gen Michael J. Lutton, Maj. Gen Brandon D. Parker, Brig. Gen William “Buck Rogers, and Ben Davis (Northrop Grumman)

This panel would talk extensively about the importance of bringing the Sentinel and the B 21 into relevance as a deterrent to our adversaries as well as keep the United State ahead of the now global Chinese, and to a lesser extent the North Korean, threat.

Gen Lutton mentioned a photo he had seen in his travels, of Guam and there were over 300 B-52’s lined up on the ground in the photo. “Now that number is more than our total U.S. bomber fleet.” Gen Lutton pointed to the task at hand is to provide what we need for national security “and to have more and faster.”

From the Northrop Grumman perspective, there is a mandate to produce the B 21 Raider at a faster rate. With over 30 Million square feet and over 20,000 workers, Northrup Grumman is poised to meet the challenge according to Corporate Vice President Ben Davies.

Col Lamarand echoed the theme of the morning that the United States has not kept up with the changing character of war when it comes to providing the resources that the U.S. Air Force has need to maintain aging weapons systems over the past several years. “They have finally recognized that we haven’t provided the resources and the manpower as a nation to keep up” said Col Lamarand “they need to remain committed to that (providing the resources) goal.

As the Northern Sentry goes to press on Wednesday, we will be on the last day of the AFA conference, with many of us staying in DC for the Nuclear Symposium sponsored by Task Force 21 on Friday. Intermixed with the AFA conference will be visits to Congressional staff (both the Senate and the House are in recess for the week), along with gatherings with friends and former Air Force members who were once stationed at Minot Air Force Base. Gen. Michael Lutton is one of those, so it was good to see him participating in a key panel talking about modernization of the Nuclear Triad.