MARCH 9, 2016, JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas (AFNS) – Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein told members of 25th and 24th Air Force that the future of the service is “domain on demand.”
“What you’re doing here is exactly what we need. Multi-domain is the coin of the realm and will be key to the future development of combined arms. You’re already executing multi-domain, you’re on the right path, so keep running hard the way you’re going,” Goldfein told Maj. Gen. B.J. Shwedo and Maj. Gen. Burke Wilson, the commanders of the 25th and 24th, respectively.
Goldfein visited the two Numbered Air Forces for a firsthand look at the advances they’ve accomplished together in building multi-domain synergy between Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and cyber forces.
A day full of intense briefings demonstrated that synergy to the general, who commented that his visit was very timely.
“I’m hugely optimistic about the next decade for the Air Force. We just completed a very robust, two-year process to build our future operating concept, leading to our 2030 strategic plan that lays out exactly where we need to go as an Air Force,” he said. “That strategic plan puts us in complete alignment with the Secretary of Defense’s vision for a third offset strategy.”
He explained that we first used nuclear deterrence as an offset strategy to protect our national security during the Cold War with the Soviet Union. The second offset strategy was stealth and precision, capably demonstrated during the first Gulf War.
“The secretary of defense has begun talking about our nation’s third strategy to offset peer and near-peer adversarial capabilities, and it’s what you’re talking about now – multi-domain operations, big data, human-machine teaming and the fusion of technology,” Goldfein said. “As we build our networks and apply them to the future of warfare – no service thinks about that more than we do – and it will help lead the joint team for network warfare. So thank you for everything you’re doing to move us to our future and protect our national security.”
During his visit to the 25th Air Force, Goldfein took time to “coin” three outstanding Airmen: Capt. Andrew, a flight commander assigned to the 70th ISR Wing; Staff Sgt. Elizabeth, a unit deployment manager assigned to the 363rd ISR WG; and Staff Sgt. Salvatore Guerriero, an executive communications technician, assigned to headquarters 25th Air Force.
The captain was recognized for a new deployable technology that he personally fielded within a small, multi-service team while deployed. According to his wing commander, the success of that cutting-edge, quick reaction capability during combat operations earned him a Bronze Star.
Elizabeth successfully brought an electronic warfare integrated reprogramming function to maturity in less than half of the two-year allotted schedule. Because of her consistent success, not only in her job but also as a leader and mentor to her subordinates, her wing commander personally selected her as the UDM for a new squadron to build its deployment program from scratch.
Guerriero received recognition for his actions during an attack on his combat outpost during a deployment to Afghanistan, where he was assigned to provide secure communications for the 101st Airborne Division. Support personnel had been directed to stay undercover during the attack, but Guerriero voluntarily resupplied ammunition to perimeter positions under attack, directly engaged the enemy with his M-16, and provided direct medical help to one of the Afghanistan National Army soldiers critically wounded during the attack. His deeds earned him the Air Force Combat Action Medal.