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Commander visits Airmen, unveils AFCENT priorities

  • Published
  • U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Lt. Gen. David Goldfein, commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, recently published his vision, priorities, and a set of guiding principles in a personal letter to Airmen and civilians across the CENTCOM area of responsibility.

"Over the past two decades, from Lt. Gen. (Charles) Horner to Lt. Gen. (Michael) Hostage, USAFCENT Airmen and civilians have been in the fight, both in the air and on the ground, as trusted partners on a lethal joint and coalition team," Goldfein said. "Our responsiveness in bringing ever-improving vigilance, reach, and power to this theater is unprecedented as we take the fight to the enemy while simultaneously strengthening relationships across the region that set the conditions for enduring regional stability."

The general laid out his priorities for the next two years as:
  • Decisive Airpower -- support CENTCOM campaign plans in Iraq, Afghanistan, and designated regions with delivery of the full spectrum of USAF capabilities in both a proactive and responsive manner

  • Defend the Region -- continuously improve U.S. and partner Integrated Air and Missile Defense capabilities across the region

  • Defend the base -- remain constantly vigilant in defending personnel, critical command and control, and base infrastructure against both symmetric and asymmetric threats

  • Engage -- strengthen and build partner capacity throughout the CENTCOM AOR

  • Prepare -- aggressively plan, prepare, and stand ready to lead and/or support future CENTCOM contingencies.

"The relationships we are forging across the region with host nations, embassy country teams, Coalition partners, and our joint battle buddies are force multipliers," the commander said. "We must treat team-building as a contact sport and every Airman and civilian in USAFCENT has a position on this team."
Citing Air Force history, Goldfein reminded members of USAFCENT that they are part of the "long blue line."

"Hap Arnold, Robin Olds, Bud Day, John Levitow, Jason Cunningham, Israel 'DT' DelToro; names that will live forever," he said. "We are the descendants of Airmen who built our service in 1947 and committed their blood, sweat and treasure to hand us the greatest Air Force the world has ever known. Their blood runs in our veins."

"In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger," said Goldfein, citing a quote from President Kennedy's inaugural address to sum up his thoughts. "This is our time ... our moment in history ... our opportunity to make a difference. Every Airman and civilian in USAFCENT must do their part and we must all pull together ... as wingmen ... to continue to deliver decisive airpower for CENTCOM and America."