Watch, Learn: Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr. on ‘Airmen within the Struggle’
March 14, 2023
Chief of Workers of the Air Drive Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown, Jr. delivered a keynote tackle on “Airmen within the Struggle” on the AFA Warfare Symposium, March 7, 2023. Watch the video or learn the transcript under.
Voiceover:
Please welcome, AFA President & CEO, Lieutenant Normal Bruce “Orville” Wright.
Lt. Gen. Bruce “Orville” Wright, USAF (Ret.):
Nicely, good morning and welcome to Colorado. And, by the way in which, that is the launchpad, if you’ll, for September and getting us all again collectively to proceed to ship a message to the world that America is certainly prepared for something, anytime, wherever, and definitely that’s our Air & House forces. So thanks, Mr. Secretary, in your phrases. And as Bernie talked about in his opening remarks, the theme of this AFA Warfare Symposium is “Dominant air and house forces to discourage, to struggle, to win.” And that’s the concept of 1 staff, one struggle. Collectively we’re stronger and our unification just lately is an crucial for our nation’s safety and that’s why our symposium has positioned particular emphasis on the seven operational imperatives outlined by Secretary Kendall. As he mentioned himself, “Our nation owes you, our Airmen and Guardians, the sources wanted to finish your mission. We, at AFA ,will stay in your wing and preventing for you each minute of daily.”
And so let’s tackle our Airmen, Guardians, and their households within the struggle. There’s no higher man, no higher chief to take action than your very personal Chief of Workers of our United States Air Drive. Girls and gents, please welcome Normal CQ Brown to the stage.
CSAF Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown:
Nicely, thanks, thanks. Thanks very a lot and good morning.
Viewers:
Morning.
CSAF Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown:
Good morning.
Viewers:
Good morning.
CSAF Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown:
As your Chief and all through my Air Drive profession, I’ve talked to you about my 4 management tenets: The primary is execute at a excessive customary. Personally and professionally, I don’t play for second place. If I’m in, I’m in to win. I don’t play to lose. Matter of truth, I used to be reminded this morning of the immortal phrases of Ricky Bobby, “Should you’re not first, you’re final.”
But in addition I need to mirror on a quote from Normal George Kenney the place he talks to … George Kenny was the Allied Air Commander within the Southwest Pacific throughout World Warfare II. And he in contrast airpower to poker. And should you’re taking part in second place, you’ve a second hand. It’s not like having a hand in any respect. It’s actually about dropping. When you concentrate on poker within the facet of poker, you possibly can bluff. However for our Air Drive we have now to have credible fight functionality. We will’t afford to bluff. And for greater than 75 years when our nation has known as, airpower was the reply.
The query is what’s the functionality the nation, our joint teammates, our allies and companions rely on all through historical past?
5 months after Pearl Harbor, the Doolittle Raiders put B-25s on the USS Horn and struck Japan giving it the decisive blow and boosting the morale of the nation. Airpower was the reply.
In 1950 when North Korea crossed the thirty eighth parallel, we introduced in air to floor capabilities, shut air help, mobility with an outsize affect so the joint staff was enabled to help UN forces to finish overt hostilities. Airpower was the reply.
In Vietnam, Robin Olds, Chappie James and Captain J.B. Stone devised Operation Bolo to alert and lure MiG-21s to assault F-4s that have been mimicking F-105s. In 12 minutes, practically half of the North Vietnamese plane have been misplaced with no US losses. Airpower was the reply.
In 1991, simply days after Iraq invaded Kuwait, United States Air Drive with our allies and companions introduced in fighters. Assault, reconnaissance, digital warfare, airlift, air refueling. We fashioned a coalition throughout Desert Storm to execute the most important air marketing campaign since World Warfare II. Airpower was the reply.
Again in 2001 on 911 in response to the assaults on our nation with no plan, in lower than 30 days Operation Enduring Freedom started with 12 days of airstrikes into Afghanistan, adopted by Particular Forces groups that included our particular warfare Airmen. Airpower was the reply.
In 2011 to counter the forces which can be loyal to dictator Muammar Gaddafi, the worldwide group got here along with a decisive choice of Odyssey Daybreak Unified Protector to implement a no-fly zone and shield civilians. Airpower was the reply.
2014: By, with, and thru our companions we have been capable of roll again ISIS utilizing non-doctrinal approaches of strike cells to execute essentially the most exact air marketing campaign in historical past. Airpower was the reply.
Whenever you’re addressing the pacing, acute, unexpected challenges of at the moment or tomorrow, airpower is the reply.
I need to thanks for the chance to be right here. I need to thank our One Group. Secretary Kendall, it’s a pleasure to work with and for you. I additionally need to acknowledge the Honorable Gina Ortiz Jones and thank her for her management. And welcome the Honorable Kristyn Jones to our One Group.
A superb teammate, Salty Salzman; and I additionally need to thank our senior listed Jo Bass and Toby Towberman. Due to this One Group, due to all of you as a One Group, we’re capable of execute the struggle our nation wants. I need to thank the Air & House Forces Affiliation for his or her great help. Orville, thanks for the very form introduction. However it’s what you do on our wing day in and time out to help our Airmen, our Guardians, and households to make sure our Air Drive and our House Drive have the fight functionality we require, thanks.
I additionally need to thank our Airmen and households, our Airmen, Guardians, and households as a result of they permit us to do what we do to ensure we’re capable of fly, struggle, and win and be tremendous, tremendous on a regular basis.
And, lastly, I need to thank our business and group companions. Due to them, we’re the best Air Drive and House Drive on the planet.
As we speak I need to speak about just a few issues. I need to construct up upon what Secretary Kendall talked about, and discuss a bit extra about how we modernize the Air Drive, however how we truly use the capabilities he described in his remarks. I need to make certain and be certain that airpower stays the reply for our Air Drive, for the joint power, and for our nation.
I began out speaking about poker. I need to take a minute or two to speak about one other recreation of probability and tie it to our private story. I’m going to take it approach again to Second Lieutenant Brown, Williams Air Drive Base and pilot coaching. That is me, my desk mate, Tony Davis, T38 desk mate, Tony Davis, on the display. And people who keep in mind pilot coaching again within the day we had early week and late week, and so early week we’d begin at 4 within the morning, end about within the afternoon. And, sometimes, on Fridays … Nicely, possibly lots of days, we’d head over to the membership for a chilly one. I most likely have a chilly one in my hand proper now in that picture. And one of many issues we might do is we truly … This so occurred, we’d get there about 4 and the present Jeopardy can be on and that really grew to become our class present.
Now, I do know a few of you might be pretty younger and possibly don’t perceive the present Jeopardy, nevertheless it got here out in 1984, the yr I used to be commissioned, and so I’ve been a very long time fan of Jeopardy. And in order I take into consideration Jeopardy, I need to take into consideration the quote from Giulio Douhet, the place he talks about victory and the way victory smiles upon those that take part change, not on those that wait to alter. Now, if I take into consideration this explicit quote and I used to be going to place it right into a sort of Jeopardy sort of parlance, the way in which you’ll do that’s I might say “Change,” and the response can be within the type of a query, “What makes many uncomfortable?” Change. I’d moderately be uncomfortable than lose. That’s precisely why I wrote, “Speed up change or lose.”
As Airmen, we should assume otherwise about how we fly, struggle, and win. With speed up change or lose, we’d like to consider the pace, the agility and lethality we have now. It’ll be compelled multipliers. We should adapt and we can not do that by ourselves. It takes collaboration with Congress, with our joint teammates, with our allies and companions and with our business companions. Success takes assist. Failure you are able to do alone. With a view to achieve success, we’ve started working collectively. We’ve obtained to ensure we have now the correct mix of capabilities and capability as an Air Drive and as a joint staff to achieve success.
We, our Air Drive and our Airmen, are the safety of promise by our core capabilities to make sure we are able to efficiently make use of airpower. We have to change to remain forward of our going through problem, the PRC. The mission of america Air Drive, is to fly, struggle, and win. Airpower any time wherever. Not typically in some locations. It’s anytime, wherever. We’re the one service that gives the nation the peace of mind of air superiority, the benefit of world strike, the agility of speedy international mobility, the adaptability of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and the authority in our command and management to sense, make sense, and act. It’s what we should do at the moment and should be ready to do tomorrow. Backside line, airpower is the reply.
So let’s focus on the core capabilities in Jeopardy parlance:
“Supplies our nation with an uneven benefit. Underwriting the liberty of motion required for all joint army operations.”
What’s air superiority? One, the trail to go to 4 fighter fleets. We’re bringing on the F-35 to be the cornerstone of our fighter fleets. We’re procuring the F-15EX and we’re doing it proper right here on the FY24 price range. We’re bringing on the following technology of air dominance household of methods. Secretary Kendall highlighted the collaborative fight plane and the 1,000 we’re going to deliver on. That may be a functionality we’re going to want to make sure we are able to fly, struggle, and win. We’re bringing on superior weapons just like the joint superior tactical missile to extend our vary of functionality, to carry our targets in danger. We want to ensure we have now the correct mix of functionality and capability, whether or not or not it’s our plane or our weapons. All of them come collectively. With air superiority, airpower is the reply.
“Supplies our nation with protected, safe and dependable energy projection.”
What’s international strike?
Viewers:
[Cheering]
CSAF Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown:
It’s okay to cheer for the core capabilities.
Hey, with the rollout of the B-21 again in December, and for people who have been there, it was an superior occasion, nevertheless it demonstrated international strike and our path to get from a 3 bomber fleet to a two bomber fleet. On the similar time, we’re modernizing to deliver on Sentinel to exchange Minuteman III to make sure that we are able to preserve two legs of the triad. On the similar time, we’re bringing on hypersonic and long-range weapons so we are able to maintain targets in danger anytime, wherever across the globe. With international strike, airpower is the reply.
“Delivers on demand permitting us to reply rapidly and decisively wherever wanted across the globe.”
Viewers:
[Cheering]
CSAF Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown:
What’s speedy international mobility?
Viewers:
Let’s go.
CSAF Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown:
We’re bringing on the KC-46 and this previous yr we obtained the preliminary operational functionality to make sure we are able to help the joint struggle. Secretary highlighted we’re accelerating in the direction of subsequent technology air refueling system. On the similar time, mobility together with munitions and digital warfares described by the Secretary are cross-cutting operational enablers that guarantee we’ll be capable to fly, struggle and win. With a view to do logistics below assault, it would require speedy international mobility. For speedy international mobility, airpower is the reply.
“The muse upon which each joint interagency and coalition operation achieves success.”
Viewers:
[Cheering]
CSAF Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown:
What’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance? It’s the aptitude to be persistent, linked in survival in a contested surroundings. It’s offering actionable intelligence to the struggle fighter. I’m excited that we’re accelerating the E-7 Wedgetail into our Air Drive and mix that with the capabilities offered by america House Drive, we’ll be capable to strike transferring targets at scale. With intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, airpower is the reply.
“Pervasive and extremely interconnected networks that enable us to entry dependable communication info networks for international operations.”
Viewers:
[Cheering]
CSAF Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown:
What’s command and management? The superior battle administration system is the Division of Air Drive’s contribution to hitch all command and management. This may allow us to shut lengthy vary kill webs with pace, precision, and lethality. Our command and management communications at Battle Administration PA will deliver on the DAF Battle Community so we’ll have choice benefit for the Air Drive, for the house power, for the joint power and for the coalition. With intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, airpower is the reply. The Air Drive, our Airmen, by these core capabilities, underwrite the whole lot of the joint power, and we’re uniquely suited to offer airpower as a cornerstone of the nation’s protection. Airpower is the reply.
I’m going to shift gears for a second. There’s lots of nice debates. Tastes nice, much less filling. Ford or Chevy. Coke or Pepsi. Inner to our United States Air Drive core mission or core operate. What I’ve discovered as your chief, as I’ve gone by and skim, there’s some inconsistencies in a few of our strategic paperwork. A few of these inconsistencies have most likely been rewarded with efficiency report bullets, however I’m going to set the file straight so I prefer to learn them. So I’ve learn by the Joint Publication one, definition for mission and performance. “The enduring roles the Air Drive is designed and outfitted to coach for: air superiority, international strike, speedy international mobility, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, command and management.” I need to finish the talk. From this present day ahead we discuss with them as our core capabilities and seize them that approach in all of our strategic paperwork.
Now, sustaining our benefit requires collaboration. Sustaining our benefit requires accelerating the capabilities by the operational imperatives. And sustaining our benefit requires an on-time price range. Final AFA, I talked a couple of future design. Sooner or later design idea, I talked in regards to the joint struggle preventing idea and the change in traits and character of struggle. Yesterday I signed the Air Drive Future Working idea. It talks about how we are going to function, struggle, and win as an Air Drive. This was put collectively by our Air Drive Futures led by Lieutenant Normal Q Hinote. It’s linked to the joint struggle preventing idea. It talks about how we execute our core capabilities, how we combine with the operational imperatives and the way we create alternatives for the joint power.
With out the built-in capabilities of america Air Drive, the joint power alternatives are rare, fleeting and dear. Future conflicts can be contested and sophisticated. We’ve recognized these inside six fights inside the Air Drive future working idea: The struggle to compete and deter, the struggle to get in a theater, the struggle to get airborne, the struggle for air superiority, the struggle to disclaim adversary goals and the struggle to maintain the struggle. All these six fights overlap. They’re not performed independently. Airmen have to struggle all of them on the similar time. Because of this you should be multi-capable as an Air Drive and multi-capable as Airmen to combine the core capabilities concurrently throughout domains within the context of successful all six fights. And we’ll accomplish that by continued growth of our future power design.
I had an opportunity to take a seat down with Q and his staff a couple of week in the past to take the primary look of this future power design. Guess what? It’s going to make just a few folks uncomfortable as a result of it’s driving change.
In Jeopardy there’s a Each day Double the place the contestant is allowed to double their guess than they usually would. Lots of you already know I’ve been stationed at Nellis a few occasions. They’re in Las Vegas. I’m sort of a tightwad. I’m not a greater, however there’s one factor I might do this I might double down on each time, it’s our Airmen. Our Air Drive recruits and retains the very best caliber expertise inside our nation and we, as leaders, have a duty to empower them, present them the instruments and sources and alternatives for achievement.
“Perceive an make use of airpower to speed up change in, from and thru the air.”
Viewers:
[Cheering]
CSAF Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown:
Due to our Airmen, airpower is the reply. Due to our Airmen, airpower is the reply.
I’m going to go off script for a second. And might you flip the lights up somewhat bit? You bought your telephone, proper? You pull it out, take a selfie. I’m going to take a selfie of all of us and I would like you to textual content that to your mother and father, vital different, good good friend, neighbor. And on the underside put, “Due to me, airpower is the reply.” Due to our Airmen … I’m going to ship it to my mother … Due to our Airmen, airpower is the reply. And after I take into consideration our doctrine, after I take into consideration mission command, it’s about our Airmen. It’s about offering intent, belief, and empowerment to execute what the nation’s requested us to do. We won’t be able to execute the Air Drive future working idea with out mission command. It takes observe and intentional growth. You have to transient mission command. You have to practice mission command. You have to train mission command and you need to debrief mission command. Mission command is crucial to successful.
A part of the important a part of successful additionally consists of expertise administration and the initiatives we’re putting in, they’re targeted on inspiring a tradition of excellence. You heard me say earlier than, “Considered one of my outstanding objectives as your Chief of Workers is to create an surroundings the place all Airmen, energetic, guard, reserve, and civilian can attain their full potential.”
Secretary Kendall highlighted the historic anniversaries. Integration of girls into the providers 75 years in the past, desegregation of the providers 75 years in the past, 50 years for the reason that starting of the all-volunteer power. I take into consideration all these anniversaries. I take into consideration the generations which have gone earlier than us that rose their proper hand, took an oath of workplace or took an oath of enlistment. I’m additionally fascinated about how we encourage the following technology. And in order I journey as your chief and I’ve an opportunity to speak, I discuss to Airmen and I discuss to our households. I discuss to historians, influencers, gaining insights on the decision to service.
Why did all of us serve? That’s the query we need to ask ourselves. What impressed you? Why did you be a part of? And share that story.
I at all times imagine younger folks solely aspire to be what they see. You by no means determine to develop as much as be one thing you’ve by no means seen. And so we have now to do a greater job of offering younger folks a possibility to see our air power, to see our Airmen, to see the good alternatives this name to service provides and gives. We have to join with our communities. We have to open up our bases and spend extra time with the American public, say extra about our United States Air Drive and america House Drive and our army. Our legacy is dependent upon doubling down on our Airmen and accelerating change.
Video: Jeopardy Contestant:
The Postmaster Normal.
Video: Alex Trebek:
Sure.
Video: Jeopardy Contestant:
Authorities 800.
Video: Alex Trebek:
Sure, sir. Each day Double. All proper. It’s a detailed recreation, however you’re within the league.
Video: Jeopardy Contestant:
Sure. Let’s throw warning to the wind. Let’s make it a real Each day Double.
Video: Alex Trebek:
All proper. In 2020, Charles Q. Brown obtained this three phrase title for the Air Drive and is the primary African American Normal to guide a army department.
CSAF Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown:
Now, by no means in a thousand years again at pilot coaching …
Viewers:
[Cheering]
CSAF Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown:
One, I by no means thought I’d be the Chief of Workers of the Air Drive. Two, I by no means thought I’d be sensible sufficient to get on Jeopardy, and most positively, I by no means thought I’d be a clue on Jeopardy and be the Each day Double. Should you’re questioning, he obtained the reply mistaken.
I, as your chief, we, as an Air Drive, can’t get this mistaken. We’ve got a duty to get the reply proper. Our Airmen, our joint teammates, business companions, allie, and companions all have to work collectively to ensure we get to the correct reply. With a view to execute a excessive customary, we are able to’t play for second place. We have to play to win. I’ve identified since I used to be a second lieutenant. I do know it much more at the moment as your chief. Airpower is the reply.
At this second it’s time and an inflection level in our historical past, I’m proud to serve with and for you. I need to work with every of you to make sure our Air Drive can execute our mission to fly, struggle, and win; airpower anytime, wherever.
Thanks for the chance. Airpower is the reply.
Lt. Gen. Bruce “Orville” Wright, USAF (Ret.):
Nicely, thanks Chief Brown. And it’s my honor on behalf of your Air & House Forces Affiliation to current our coin and in addition we’re going to remain on stage right here for only a minute-
CSAF Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown:
Okay.
Lt. Gen. Bruce “Orville” Wright, USAF (Ret.):
… to current a vital award. Thanks, Chief.
CSAF Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown:
Thanks.
Lt. Gen. Bruce “Orville” Wright, USAF (Ret.):
We obtained to get an image.
Voiceover:
Girls and gents., we are going to now have the presentation of the Normal Larry O. Spencer United States Air Drive Innovation Awards. Will Grasp Sergeant Jason Junker please come ahead.
Whereas deployed to Kadena Airbase, grasp Sergeant Junker labored to decentralize the Spark Tank finalist VIPER sizzling refuel equipment procurement course of by making a central level of contact for integrating accomplice tools refueling equipment orders enabling commanders to buy as a lot wanted will increase as attainable, the power to carry out sizzling refuel operations globally and saved an estimated $72 million yearly.
Moreover, he partnered with the Air Drive Lifecycle Administration Heart to synchronize information and introduce new gas tools to seven plane platforms whereas securing approval to be used in refueling operations. These efforts resulted within the first new petroleum oil and lubricants equipment in 15 years.
The USA Air Drive proudly presents the Normal Larry O. Spencer United States Air Drive Innovation Award Particular person Class to Grasp Sergeant Jason Junker, Kadena Airbase, Japan.
Will Main Sean Pasieta and staff please come ahead.
The sixtieth Plane Upkeep Squadron’s Sprint-21 staff captured the essence of this prestigious award and drove operational and cultural outcomes as they established air mobility instructions, sole twin powered winch upkeep and restore facility. This enabled mission-critical asset availability for all the fleet of 52 C-5 Galaxy plane throughout the energetic and reserve air parts. In establishing a Sprint-21 store, the staff repaired 38 belongings and saved the Air Drive greater than $20 million in alternative and procurement prices.
The USA Air Drive proudly presents the Normal Larry O. Spencer United States Air Drive Innovation Award Group Class to the sixtieth Plane Upkeep Squadron Sprint-21 Group, Travis Air Drive Base, California.
Thanks, Normal Brown and Normal Wright.
Girls and gents, our exhibit corridor is now open till 16:30. Please assist your self to espresso and go to greater than 100 exhibitors. Please make sure you return to the Aurora Ballroom at 10:00 hours to listen to from the brand new Chief of House Operations, Normal Likelihood Saltzman.
