Note from AFA President -- CTBT, Plan B, Info Ops, Iran

There have been some very interesting op-eds over the past couple of weeks. The first one to highlight to you was written by VADM Robert Monroe, formerly Director of the Defense Nuclear Agency. In the piece (which appeared in the Washington Times), the Admiral argues against ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. He states the treaty will not prevent proliferation – but instead stimulate proliferation; it would undermine US security and American science; and it is a fatally flawed treaty that would tie US hands, while restricting almost no one else. You can find the piece at: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/mar/23/peace-through-nuclear-strength/

The second op-ed I want to bring to your attention is by Steve Coll. Mr. Coll won a Pulitzer Prize for his book: Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001. Mr. Coll's piece appeared in the New Yorker and is entitled: "What is Plan B in Afghanistan?" A quote from the article to interest you:

"What is Plan B? If some or even a majority of the assumptions behind the current exit strategy are flawed, what are the alternatives? I don't have a confident-sounding five-point plan, I'm afraid; a place to begin would be to withdraw from overweening confidence about the current plan's analysis. Unfortunately, in the state of exhaustion around the Afghan problem, the choice is typically framed as ‘stay the course’ or ‘get out faster.’ That is not actually the choice. There are many others."

You can find the piece at: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/comment/2012/03/plan-b-in-afghanistan.html

Third, a piece by David Ignatius in the Washington Post caught my attention. We have a member of AFA -- Chuck DeCaro (who has lectured both at National Defense University and at our AFA events) – who has, for the time since I have known him, postulated that Al Qaeda's strategic objective is not just to kill Westerners, or drive the US out of Saudi Arabia, or end Israel's existence, or bring forth the 5th caliphate. Yes, they want to do all of that, but Chuck believes they want to unify the Umma – the world body of Muslims – in order to facilitate their grander schemes.

He graphically portrays how they are using military operations to support information operations – and not the other way around (as we do it); that their objective is the video that shows how powerful they are over their enemies; that they use the videos for recruitment and to stir fervor in support of their objectives in the Muslim world; and that if the video is the objective, then they must have TV/video experts serving and advising their leadership.

The piece from Mr. Ignatius supports Chuck's observations. You can find the op-ed at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/al-qaedas-attempts-to-control-the-media/2012/03/20/gIQAbu0EQS_story.html

Finally, Bret Stephens in the Wall Street Journal tries to shed light on the Iranian nuclear debate. Mr. Stephens interviewed former Secretary of the Air Force Tom Reed – himself a nuclear scientist and nuclear weapons designer, as well as an author – about the technical challenges Iran might have to face in building a weapon. A quote to interest you in the piece:

"To better understand the debate over the state of Iran's nuclear bomb building capabilities, it helps to talk to someone who has built a nuclear bomb. Tom Reed served as Secretary of the Air Force and head of the National Reconnaissance Office in the 1970s, but in an earlier life he designed thermonuclear devices at Lawrence Livermore and watched two of them detonate off Christmas Island in 1962.

How hard is it, I asked Mr. Reed when he visited the Journal last week, to build a crude nuclear weapon on the model of the bomb that leveled Hiroshima? ‘Anyone can build it,’ he said flatly, provided they have about 141 lbs. of uranium enriched to an 80% grade. After that, he says, it's not especially hard to master the technologies of weaponization, provided you're not doing something fancy like implosion or miniaturization."

You can find the piece at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304636404577291331867079346.html?KEYWORDS=the+bogus+iran+intelligence+debate

If you are so inclined, let me hear from you about these pieces. To those of you who have not responded, I am truly on the other end of this note – there are no screeners – and I generally will respond to you if you hit the reply button.

For your consideration.

Mike

Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association

"The only thing more expensive than a first-rate Air Force is … a second-rate Air Force." -- Senate staff member

Washington Perspective --Hearing season

These past two weeks, there have been many hearings on the Hill about the FY13 budget.  Most of the time, you can actually listen to them from your computer.  We try to keep up with them and put up a list of them on our website:  http://www.afa.org/grl/hearings/default.asp  You can tune into them by going to the appropriate committee website. We just wanted to make sure you were aware of this feature on our site.

Specifically, this past week there have been three hearings on the request by the Administration to increase TRICARE fees, deductibles, and means test the benefit.  The best summary of the most recent hearing comes from Senator Webb's office.  You can find his press release here:  http://webb.senate.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/2012-03-28-02.cfm

Similarly, there have been hearings in the House -- in the HASC and a combined VA House and Senate Hearing. AFA attended all these hearings and helped with the Military Coalition in their testimony.  

(Just wanted to keep you afloat on what AFA sitings on the Hill.)

Vietnam Veterans Day

Today, most appropriately, was proclaimed Vietnam Veterans Day by the president of the United States. Less than two decades after the end of World War II, the United States entered the war in Vietnam in the early 1960s, and began one of our longest and most challenging wars. More than a decade of conflict, on March 29, 1973, the last of our troops left Vietnam.

More than 3 million Americans answered our country's call and served with honor, and today we bestow honor on those who fought on behalf of this nation and pay tribute to those we have laid to rest. More than 58,000 made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our Nation.

On behalf of the Air Force Association, we give our most sincere gratitude, honor and respect for the men and women of the U.S. military who fought in Vietnam. 

During AFA's 2011 Air & Space Conference, pilots part of the Commando Sabre Operation (call sign "MISTY") were among five individuals/groups selected for the AFA Lifetime Achievement Award. These awards are handed out annually, and recognizes not a single achievement, but a lifetime of work in the advancement of aerospace. Below is a video AFA created in honor of the MISTY pilots:

In 1967, the US forces in Vietnam faced a major problem. Supplies were flowing at a prodigious rate from the North to Viet Cong forces in the South down the Ho Chi Minh trail. The Air Force utilized a fleet of propeller-driven forward air control (FAC) aircraft to help high-tech fighters spot targets, but overwhelming losses forced 7th Air Force leadership to curtail these FAC missions. Still requiring eyes in the sky, the Air Force tasked then-Major Bud Day to form a top secret squadron populated with combat-experienced fighter pilots, all of whom were volunteers, to fly the venerable F-100F in a "Fast FAC" capacity. Utilizing the call sign "Misty," these individuals pioneered a new array of tactics to fly fast and low over enemy territory. The dedication to duty displayed by the Misty FACs is nothing short of legendary. Of the 157 pilots who flew Misty missions, 34 were shot down (two of them twice), three were captured, and 7 declared MIA. Despite overwhelming loss rates and constant danger, Misty crews got into their cockpits and carried out their assigned missions day after day. The tactics they developed serve as the corner stone for current FAC operations.

For more information about the Air Force's role in the Vietnam war, check out one of our past Mitchell Reports: http://www.afa.org/mitchell/reports/1204vietnam.pdf 

Note from AFA President -- AMC, March Madness, Leader

I ran across a 6 minute video on YouTube last week about Air Mobility Command (AMC) – and it is excellent.  It not only tells the story of the Command, it shows their great people doing the mission.  In the world of yesterday, the nation's leadership may well have asked:  "Where are the Carriers?"  But, today, the operable question is focused on not where the mobility  forces are, but … when will the mobility forces arrive – as … they are already on their way.  Well done General Johns and men and women of AMC … and well done 2^nd Combat Camera Squadron.  You can find the video at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4Ntr0OZ9es (or below).

Secondly, this month last year was one of March madness for the Air Force.  It had the equivalent of 5 separate, large operations underway:  Iraq, Afghanistan, tsunami relief in Japan, presidential mission in Latin America, and the operation in Libya.  Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute captured the effort well:  http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/03/21/air-forces-march-madness/  [caution:  piece is a bit political].

Finally, I recently read a news story from the Air Force that was as uplifting as any I have ever seen.  It was about a person facing a life-changing medical challenge – and how he was coping with it.  Maj General A.J. Stewart, Air Force Personnel Center Commander, was suddenly diagnosed with brain cancer.  As I read his first person story … and his advice to all of us, I was really moved.  I don't know General Stewart, but I … and I suspect many of you … would follow him anywhere.  You can read about him here:  http://www.afpc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123294456

For your consideration.

Mike

Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association

"The only thing more expensive than a first-rate Air Force is … a second-rate Air Force."  --  Senate staff member

Guest Blogger: CyberFutures Technology Exposition Blog - Thursday, March 22

Captain Matthew Stines III, Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs (SAF/PAO) Media Officer, Press Desk, had the opportunity of attending the 2012 CyberFutures conference last week. The following are his photos and his personal reaction to his experience on the exposition floor. Stay tuned for more video footage from Captain Stines, as well as recaps from the speaker sessions! 

On Thursday March 22, 2012, I attended the Air Force Association’s (AFA) CyberFutures Conference at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Maryland. During the conference I enjoyed viewing the technology exposition hall where exhibitors from across the country displayed their latest technology in cyber security.  

The products on display illustrated how the cyber threats our nation faces are urgent, sometimes difficult to detect, potentially devastating and growing. 

Recent high profile intrusions highlight the threat to U.S. businesses and critical infrastructure, and they underscore the need for a strategy for Department of Defense (DoD) to work closely with the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) and support Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in its efforts in other critical infrastructure sectors. As technologies continue to evolve and spread, the Nation and DoD, face the very real possibility that these threats will continue increase.

DoD’s success in cyberspace depends on a robust public/private partnership. The defense of military networks will matter little unless our critical civilian infrastructure is also able to withstand attacks.

I had an opportunity to talk with an IT industry expert from Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) regarding how their company works with the Air Force to deter cyber security threats with its command and control capability.

“We’re here to showcase some of the SAIC capabilities that are needed for cyber defense. The cyber mission is very important to national defense,” said Michael R. Raker, SAIC Senior Engineer. 

The Department of Defense depends on cyberspace to execute its national security mission and provide timely responses to crisis or contingency, conduct its operations, project power abroad and keep our troops safe.

DoD continues to pursue new ways of sharing information and expertise with its partners in the private sector. DoD’s support is always done in coordination with DHS and under civilian control, according to applicable laws, and with careful consideration of privacy and civil liberties. 

This image features Dylan M. Goodrich, SAIC, Strategic Communications Analyst (Far left)
and Mr. Michael R. Raker, Senior Software Engineer, SAIC (Far right) assisting a customer
at the SAIC exhibition during AFA's CyberFutures Conference at the Gaylord National Resort.  

This picture features Dylan M. Goodrich, SAIC, Strategic Communications Analyst (Far left)
and Mr. Michael R. Raker, Senior Software Engineer, SAIC (Far right) providing me
with a demonstration of their command and control software.

This picture features Dylan M. Goodrich, SAIC, Strategic Communications Analyst (Far left)
and Mr. Michael R. Raker, Senior Software Engineer, SAIC (Far right)
providing me with a demonstration of their command and control software.

CyberPatriot Announces 2012 National Championship Winners

AFA proudly congratulates the winners of CyberPatriot IV, the nation’s largest and fastest growing high school cyber defense competition! 

On March 23, 2012, CyberPatriot IV concluded its National Finals Competition at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center.Out of the 402 Open Division teams that originally registered, “Team Unknown” of Alamo Academies, of San Antonio, Texas, was the first place winner, taking home the President’s Trophy As for the All Service Division, out of 617 original registrants, “Wolfpack” of the Civil Air Patrol’s Colorado Springs, Colorado Cadet Squadron took home first place and the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy. 

The following are all of the top winners for CyberPatriot IV:

Open Division: 
·  1^st place: Alamo Academies, San Antonio, Texas 
·  2^nd place: Lewis and Clark High School, Spokane, Washington 
·  3^rd place: Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, Rolling Hills Estates, California

All Service Division: 
·   1^st place: Colorado Springs Cadet Squadron, Civil Air Patrol, Colorado Springs, Colorado 
·   2^nd place: John R. Rogers High School, Air Force JROTC, Spokane, Washington 
·   3^rd place: Clearfield High School, Air Force JROTC, Clearfield, Utah 

The top three teams of each division were awarded during a banquet Friday evening and will collectively receive more than $50,000 in college scholarships from the Northrop Grumman Foundation, CyberPatriot’s presenting sponsor.

AFA Chairman of the Board Sandy Schlitt and Sandra Evers-Manly,
President of the Northrop Grumman Foundation,
with the college scholarships check awarded to top CyberPatriot IV winners.

"CyberPatriot has introduced the area of cyber defense to tens of thousands of students across the country, and they’ve embraced the opportunity to learn and develop the skills to be successful in a field critical to America,” said Bernie Skoch, CyberPatriot Commissioner. “All of the finalists of CyberPatriot IV have displayed a tremendous amount of effort over the past six months and proved that they were the nation’s most exceptionally talented students. We congratulate them all for being among the top 24 teams in the nation.”
 

CyberPatriot IV kicked off last October with more than 1,000 teams vying for a chance to compete among the top qualifying teams. All 50 states and U.S. Department of Defense Dependent Schools in Europe and the Pacific were represented in the two-track competition. Public, private, parochial and home schools registered in the Open Division, while Junior ROTC units of all Services and Civil Air Patrol squadrons filled the All Service Division. CyberPatriot IV also brought an international flavor to the competition with several teams from the Manitoba Province in Canada competing parallel to the American teams as the first international exhibition teams.

After three online preliminary rounds of hands-on cyber security, CyberPatriot finalists had an in-person challenge, competing face to face and defending virtual networks from a professional aggressor team. And new this year, the DoD Cyber Crime Center conducted the forensics portion of the competition, teaching and testing high school competitors on the exciting field of cyber forensics through the application of crime scene analysis, evidence gathering and critical thinking. 

Other CyberPatriot sponsors include founding partners SAIC and CIAS at the University of Texas-San Antonio, as well as AT&T, Boeing, General Dynamics, Microsoft, Raytheon, the Air Force Research Laboratory, MIT-Lincoln Laboratory, Cisco and URS.

Congratulations to all of the finalists! Registration for CyberPatriot V opens in April. More information is available at www.uscyberpatriot.org.

CyberFutures only a few days away!

AFA is gearing up for our CyberFutures Conference, March 22 to 23, at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor Maryland, which is just across the river from Alexandria and minutes from downtown DC.

We have an exceptional line-up of speakers, including: 

·    Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley 
·    Gordon Snow, Assistant Director for FBI’s Cyber Division.
·    Richard Bejtlich, Chief Security Officer for MANDIANT 
·    Gen. William Shelton, Commander Air Force Space Command 
·    Ms. Roberta Stempfley, Deputy Asst. Secretary for Cybersecurity and Communication at DHS

The agenda can be found here: http://www.afa.org/events/CyberFutures/2012/CyberFutures_agenda.asp 

And don't forget about the CyberPatriot IV National Finals! CyberPatriot is our national high school cyber defense competition. After 3 grueling preliminary rounds and six months of preparation, 24 high school teams will be coming to the DC area to compete one last time. Winners will be announced at an awards banquet concluding the event. 

Hope you can join us!

Anniversary of the War in Iraq

Nine years ago today, very late on March 19, Operation Iraqi Freedom began. It was a conflict that consumed Americans and sparked controversy in the many years that followed. So as today marks the anniversary of the conflict that has finally seen its end, Americans should pay tribute to the hundreds of thousands of courageous men and women who have served this country proudly.  Even more, we should pause to remember the thousands of individuals who gave the ultimate sacrifice.  Their sacrifice was not in vain … as Saddam Hussein was captured, tried in a court of law, and put to death for his near genocide of both Kurds in the North and Shia in the South.  Today millions in Iraq, as a result of US and allied efforts, are free from fear.

Despite the challenges that have surrounded the conflict, the service and sacrifices of our nation’s Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers and Marines deserve recognition. God bless.

TRICARE Advocacy

As Administration officials testify on increasing TRICARE rates, adding enrollment fees, means-testing, and (probably worst of all) indexing all of the above with “medical inflation,” we encourage members and interested parties to voice their opinions. We have helped prepare a statement for use in testimony by The Military Coalition later this month and perhaps early next month. You can find the statement at: http://www.afa.org/PresidentsCorner/WashingtonPerspective/2012/2012_SASC%20health_care_testimony_3-14-12.pdf

Secondly, the AFA Board of Directors essentially approved the AFA Veterans and Retiree Council recommendations as our official position. You can find the position at: http://www.afa.org/PresidentsCorner/WashingtonPerspective/2012/VetCouncil_Recommendation_to_AFA_BOD.pdf Additionally, the Board also suggested that the commission DOD has recommended to look at retirement, also look at total compensation, to include health care benefits (and that it not be “BRAC-like).”
 
AFA aims to educate, advocate and provide support on behalf of the US Air Force. We stand firm on our stance and encourage others to write to their senators and to their local representative to share their thoughts on the subject. 

Note from AFA President -- Op-eds, Aerospace industry, Fed budge

Several of our members have published op-eds that reflect their views on Airpower.

The first is by Mark Tarpley. The piece appeared in NewsOK in Oklahoma – see: http://newsok.com/article/3655764 The piece is best summarized by its conclusion:

“To bring this overall strategic plan into fulfillment, our government must get our economic house in order. The 2013 budget cuts represent a step in that direction. However, the planned distribution of service budget cuts, despite the premium now put on air, space and cyberspace capabilities, is counterproductive.

If our strategy leans more heavily than ever on the U.S. Air Force, it must be funded accordingly.”

A second piece appeared in the Wall Street Journal. It was written by Warren Kozak – see: http://www.afa.org/EdOp/2012/Lesson_for_shrinking_military.asp The piece is also best summarized by its conclusion:

“The technical advantage that the U.S. now enjoys was never preordained. It was developed by private industry and taxpayers. And while America's adversaries today still retain the dogma and zeal of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, they could soon have the technology of the Soviet Union—creating a scenario this country has never experienced.”

Secondly, the Aerospace Industries Association has conducted a study showing aerospace’s state-by-state impact, found here: http://www.aia-aerospace.org/assets/deloitte_study_2012.pdf . The study, completed by Deloitte and commissioned by the AIA, found that the industry accounts for 2.23 percent of the U.S.’s gross domestic product (GDP), resulting in $7.2 billion in direct corporate and sales taxes in 2010 and a total of $37.8 billion in tax revenue if personal income taxes from the estimated 3.53 million associated employees nationwide are included. It is also responsible for about $50B in positive trade balance for the US. The Air Force Association believes this national asset should be nurtured.

Finally, the most common comment I received on our analysis of the Federal Budget was: “It seems the Administration is attempting to balance the budget (sic) on the back of the Department of Defense. Why aren’t other departments being cut?” We put together a 3 slide briefing which shows a comparison between every major department in the federal budgets from FY12 to FY13. See -- http://www.afa.org/EdOp/2012/FedBudFY12-13.pdf

The last page of the brief has our observations – a couple of which are repeated below:

• Total Defense (including OCO) budget declined $31.8B from FY12
• Rest of Government increased by $38.8B
• Both HHS and SSA increased by $32.7B & $55.4B
• Agriculture, Ed, Energy, HUD, Interior, Justice, State and Vet Affairs all increased
• Department of Transportation Budget increased due to massive increase in infrastructure spending

It turns out the bulk of the increase was in Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, and a $61B increase in highway and infrastructure funding.

For your consideration.

Mike

Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association 

“The only thing more expensive than a first-rate Air Force is … a second-rate Air Force.” -- Senate staff member

Note from AFA President -- FM 100-20 -- 21 Jul 43

One of our AFA staff members ran across Field Manual 100-20 dated 21 July 1943. It is a pithy piece which lays out what the Army and Army Air Force thought about the Command and Employment of Air Power.  If you don’t have time for the whole document, the first section:  Doctrine of Command and Employment is worth your time.  I have copied it below my name.  Note the succinctness of the document and the relevance of it to today.

You can find the entire 12 page piece at:  http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/documents/fm100-20_jul_1943.pdf

For your consideration.

Mike

Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association

“The only thing more expensive than a first-rate Air Force is … a second-rate Air Force.”  --  Senate staff member

---

DOCTRINE OF COMMAND AND EMPLOYMENT

1. RELATIONSHIP OF FORCES -- LAND POWER AND AIR POWER ARE CO-EQUAL AND INTERDEPENDENT FORCES; NEITHER IS AN AUXILIARY OF THE OTHER 

2. DOCTRINE OF EMPLOYMENT -- AIR SUPERIORITY IS THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE SUCCESS OF ANY MAJOR LAND OPERATION. AIR FORCES MAY BE PROPERLY AND PROFITABLY EMPLOYED AGAINST ENEMY SEA POWER, LAND POWER, AND AIR POWER, HOWEVER, LAND FORCES OPERATING [WITHOUT] AIR SUPERIORITY MUST TAKE SUCH EXTENSIVE SECURITY MEASURES [AGAINST] HOSTILE AIR ATTACH THAT THEIR MOBILITY AND ABILITY TO DEFEAT THE ENEMY LAND FORCES ARE GREATLY REDUCED. THEREFORE, AIR FORCES MUST BE EMPLOYED PRIMARILY AGAINST THE ENEMY’S AIR FORCES UNTIL AIR SUPERIORITY IS OBTAINED. IN THIS WAY ONLY CAN DESTRUCTIVE AND [DEMORALIZING] AIR ATTACKS AGAINST LAND FORCES BE MINIMIZED AND THE [INTERNET] MOBILITY OF MODERN LAND AND AIR FORCES BE EXPLOITED TO THE FULLEST.

3. COMMAND OF AIR POWER –  THE INHERENT FLEXIBILITY OF AIR POWER, IS ITS GREATEST ASSET. THIS FLEXIBILITY MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO EMPLOY THE WHOLE WEIGHT OF THE AVAILABLE AIR POWER AGAINST SELECTED AREAS IN TURN; SUCH CONCENTRATED USE OF THE AIR STRIKING FORCE IS A BATTLE WINNING FACTOR OF THE FIRST IMPORTANCE. CONTROL OF AVAILABLE AIR POWER MUST BE CENTRALIZED AND COMMAND MUST BE EXERCISED THROUGH THE AIR FORCE COMMANDER IF THIS INHERENT FLEXIBILITY AND ABILITY TO DELIVER A DECISIVE BLOW ARE TO BE FULLY EXPLOITED. THEREFORE, THE COMMAND OF AIR AND GROUND FORCES IN A THEATER OF OPERATIONS WILL BE VESTED IN THE SUPERIOR COMMANDER CHARGED WITH THE ACTUAL CONDUCT OF OPERATIONS IN THE THEATER, WHO WILL EXERCISE COMMAND OF AIR FORCES THROUGH THE AIR FORCE COMMANDER AND COMMAND OF GROUND FORCES THROUGH THE GROUND FORCE COMMANDER. THE SUPERIOR COMMANDER WILL NOT ATTACH ARMY AIR FORCES TO UNITS OF THE GROUND FORCES UNDER HIS COMMAND EXCEPT WHEN SUCH GROUND FORCE UNITS ARE OPERATING INDEPENDENTLY OR ARE ISOLATED BY DISTANCE OR LACK OF COMMUNICATION.

AFA Hosts Conference to Explore Challenges and Tactics for Operating in Cyberspace

AFA's CyberFutures Conference is only a week away! Our CyberFutures Conference and Technology Exposition is the one-of-a-kind professional development event with a full agenda of speaker sessions and panels addressing today's challenges in the cyber domain. This year’s conference will be held March 22-23, 2012, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, in National Harbor, Maryland, just minutes from downtown Washington, DC.

The 2012 CyberFutures Conference explores the nation’s newest and most challenging area of industry, commerce, government and defense – cyber. This conference gives attendees an opportunity to connect with top leaders from the Air Force, government, industry and academia and benefit from the new conference agenda that offers two days of concurrent sessions.

Hear from the nation's top Cyber Leaders, such as:

· Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley
· Gordon Snow, Assistant Director for FBI’s Cyber Division
· Richard Bejtlich, Chief Security Officer for MANDIANT
· Gen. William Shelton, Commander Air Force Space Command
· Ms. Roberta Stempfley, Deputy Asst. Secretary for Cybersecurity and Communication at the Department of Homeland Security
· See the full agenda online

This year's conference boasts an impressive expo floor displaying the latest and greatest technology from industry in the Exhibit Hall.

The CyberFutures Conference features a Technology Exposition hall where exhibitors from across the country will display their latest technology in cyber security. In addition, CyberPatriot IV, presented by the Northrop Grumman Foundation, will be holding their national finals competition in conjunction with the conference’s sessions. Winners will be announced at an awards banquet concluding the event. For more information on CyberPatriot, go to www.uscyberpatriot.org.

Note from AFA President -- Aircraft Procurement

Many of you have requested a look at how the Services (Army, Navy & Marines, and Air Force) compare in aircraft procurement.  We put together a 4 slide comparison which can be found here.

The brief shows the AF request is for 54 aircraft – which, as you can see from the last slide, is almost a replacement rate of 100 years.  Several of you have pointed out that it is an unfair comparison to do that in the macro – principally because the assumption of a constant (low) rate is not necessarily valid.  And … secondly because the AF has three large systems in R&D and testing – namely the F-35, KC-46, and new bomber.  My comeback is:  “Yes … but the numbers have not gotten any better over the last 5 years … in fact, they are much worse.”

To look at the procurement situation historically, the last time we bought so few aircraft was before the Army Air Force, before the Army Air Corps, and before the Army Air Service.  It was during the time of the Aviation Section, US Signal Corps – in 1915.

Thanks to former AF historian, Dick Hallion, here are the numbers for 1913-1918:

US Aircraft Production from 1913 through 1918 was:

1913:  14 military, 29 civil, 43 total

1914:  15 military, 34 civil, 49 total

1915:  26 military, 152 civil, 178 total

1916:  142 military, 269 civil, 411 total

1917:  2,013 military, 135 civil, 2,148 total

1918:  13,991 military, 29 civil, 14,020 total

After WWI, the Army Air Service and Army Air Corps averaged 500-600 aircraft per year.  For a breakdown of the by-year numbers, see this link:  US_Aircraft_Production_and_Value_1919-1941.pdf.

Bottom line:  If the nation wants to take advantage of our technology, limit projecting ground vulnerability, and avoid attrition warfare, it must continue to keep a modern Air Force – and that means consistently buying aircraft.  Further if we expect defense industry to continue to produce the innovative systems – which have proven to be the best in the world – we have to invest in their products.

For your consideration.

Mike

Michael M. Dunn
President/CEO
Air Force Association

“The only thing more expensive than a first-rate Air Force is … a second-rate Air Force.”  --  Senate staff member