AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar -- Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein visited Al Udeid Air Base to talk with deployed Airmen about his top priorities, the future of the Air Force and the Airmen’s role in the ongoing fight against terrorism, Aug. 14.
During his visit, Goldfein shared his three priorities, which he envisions coming to fruition by the year 2020.
The CSAF identified his three priorities as revitalizing squadrons, changing how we present forces to a joint combatant commander, and having a networked approach to combined arms.
Goldfein acknowledged that while the Air Force today is too under resourced for the size of its mission, he remains optimistic when it comes to the future of the Air Force based on what he sees as the global picture in a national security environment.
“We do have some challenges, but we also have unlimited opportunities. We are optimally suited right now at this time of our history to be able to rebalance and rebuild over the next 10 years,” he said.
The visit at AUAB was one stop of several throughout the United States Air Forces Central Command area of responsibility – the first visit for Goldfein to the AOR as the 21st CSAF. Goldfein previously was assigned to AUAB from 2011 to 2013 as the AFCENT commander.
“As an Air Force, I think we made the largest swings between vigilance, reach and power of any of the services to optimize ourselves to be able to engage in exactly what you’re doing here, which is to keep violent extremism away from our shores,” he said.
Lastly, Goldfein emphasized that the Air Force is ready to not only continue the fight against violent extremism in the Middle East, but also bring forward what the nation requires for the next decade.
“The reality is what the Air Force brings to the joint team is absolutely essential,” Goldfein said. “Air superiority has become the oxygen the joint staff and joint team breathes. I am optimistic because the demand-signal for air power and the understanding of what we bring and do for the nation is at an all-time high and growing,” he emphasized.