WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio - World events, a myriad of challenges, and Air Force priorities were highlighted during two Commander's Calls hosted by Gen. Ellen M. Pawlikowski, Air Force Materiel Command commander, at the National Museum of the United States Air Force Nov. 7 and 8. A third call was held Nov. 8 at the Base Theater.
“Nothing in the Air Force happens without AFMC,” the general said. “AFMC plays a role in every aspect of the Air Force.”
The general discussed topics ranging from the national security landscape and technological vulnerabilities to threats posed by radical extremism, an increasing nuclear threat and the re-emergence of nation-state adversaries.
She stressed that today's environment is different from that of the past, since threats are more transregional, multi-domain and rapidly changing.
One of the challenges Pawlikowski discussed was the contested space environment and the importance of space to military operations. She said that not only are other countries getting more involved in space, but also that a large commercial interest has complicated the space domain, which is critical to the Air Force’s success.
"Today there isn't a military operation that happens in the world that our space assets aren't involved in," Pawlikowski said. "Our ability to continue to operate in space and to use space is important.”
In addition, the general spoke about cyber challenges and the need to address vulnerabilities as the Air Force moves away from being platform-centric to network-centric. The move aims to address technological challenges as early as possible, across all domains.
She commended organizations in the command for working to strengthen and protect weapons systems from cyber threats.
During the Commander’s Calls, Pawlikowski shared perspectives from the commander-in-chief, secretary of defense, secretary of the Air Force and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein’s insights on the future of warfare.
“Gen. Goldfein believes that victory in future conflicts will go to the leader who can command and control their forces to create multiple dilemmas across multiple domains,” said Pawlikowski. “Air, space, sea, cyber and ground capabilities have to be completely integrated. Victory will go to the commander who can respond to a cyber threat with an air attack, or to a ground operation with a space effect. AFMC has to provide the system, whether it’s command and control systems or autonomy, in a way that enables the Air Force to respond with multiple effects in such a way that our adversaries don’t know where to turn.”
Pawlikowski highlighted the major role AFMC plays in supporting Air Force priorities, including being the driver of innovation for the service.
The general also recognized the following Airmen for excellence during the various calls, and presented each with a coin:
Capt. Andrew Cook
Officer in Charge Resources and Logistics, 88th Security Forces Squadron
Master Sgt. Antonio Flores
Noncommissioned Officer in Charge Special Projects Logistics, 645th Aeronautical Systems Squadron
Dr. Michael Greiner
Electronics Engineer, System Technology Office, Air Force Research Laboratory
Elizabeth G. Hanson
Contract Support Section Chief, Contracting Plans & Operations, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center
1st Lt. Danielle Kelly
Deputy Program Manager Tactical Systems, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, AFRL
Tim Kolodziejczak
Facility Manager, National Museum of the United States Air Force
Sean Landau
Support Services Specialist, NMUSAF
Chad Marshall
Research Aerospace Engineer, Aerospace Systems Directorate, AFRL
Jessica Minch
Centralized Asset Management Financial Analyst, Financial Management Directorate, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command
Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Pender
Command Readiness Manager, Air, Space and Cyberspace Operations Directorate, HQ AFMC