The Salute events began with registration and breakfast at the Langley Officers’ Club.  Participants were provided transportation to the Langley AFB Theater where Air Combat Command Commander, General William Fraser III, opened the Sixth Annual CAF Air Power Symposium by providing a symposium overview and some thoughts on this year’s theme:  “Win Today and Prepare for Tomorrow.”  Following his remarks, Lieutenant General Mike Hostage, Commander, US Air Forces Central, was introduced and provided a briefing on current operations.  General North, Commander of Pacific Air Forces, moderated the Symposium’s Winning Today’s Fight Panel which featured General Fraser; General Roger Brady, Commander of United States Air Forces Europe; Lt Gen Charles Stenner, Commander of the Air Force Reserve Command; Lieutenant General Mike Hostage; and Major General Jim Kowalski, Vice Commander of the United States Global Strike Command. 

At the lunch break, buses took the participants to the 1st Fighter Wing’s Static Display Hanger where everyone enjoyed a “box lunch” and then walked to the flightline to observe the F-22 Demonstration flown by Major David “Zeke” Skalicky.  Following the F-22 Demo participants returned to the Base Theater to watch General Norton Schwartz, Chief of Staff, United States Air Force, video address to the CAF Airpower Symposium and to hear the two afternoon Symposium Panel discussion sessions.

Major General (Select) Jake Polumbo, ACC Director of Plans and Programs, kicked off the  first afternoon panel—Agile Combat Power with a presentation highlighting Agile Combat Power considerations.  Chairing the Agile Combat Power Panel was General Roger Brady.  Panel members included General North; General Fraser; Lieutenant General Harry Wyatt, Director of the Air National; and Major General (Select) Jake Polumbo. 

The third and final panel presentation was provided by Major General Tom Andersen, ACC Director of Requirements.  The CAF Modernization Panel was moderated by the Major General Jay Lindell, Director of Global Power Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquistion.  Joining Gen Lindell on the CAF Modernization Panel were Maj Gen Andersen; Maj Gen Judith Fedder, ACC Director of Maintenance and Logistics; and Major General David Scott, Director, Operational Capability Requirements, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force.  Following the panel presentation and discussion General Fraser, Commander, Air Combat Command, closed the Symposium and thanked everyone for their participation.

Thanks to Major JB Burdick, Captain Meghan Liemburg-Archer, Wade McRoberts and Harley Hammond who spearheaded the CAF Airpower Symposium.  Thanks also to Lieutenant Colonel Tishlyn Taylor, Lieutenant Colonel Laurel Tingley, Tim Howard, Jim Hass, Ellen Merelic, Don Anderson, Renee Smith, and JR Ruth who all contributed to the symposium’s success.  Joice Ventry and Meeting Spots handled our registration and our Chapter Treasurer Bob Allison kept us solvent! 

The day concluded with a Langley AFA Chapter Reception at the Officers’ Club where the panelists, ACC and wing staffs, and symposium attendees continued discussions in an informal atmosphere.  Special thanks to Ellen Merilic, Lisa Holland and the Langley Officers’ Club Staff for making the reception happen.

On Thursday, the Chapter hosted a breakfast at the Eaglewood Golf Club on Langley AFB followed by the annual AFA Golf Tournament on the beautiful Raptor course.  115 golfers teed up on a sunny Virginia morning and enjoyed lunch, beverages, prizes and camaraderie on the course.  Golf couldn’t have been done without Bob Allison, Vince Wisniewski and Scot Frazier.  Thanks also to Michele Pauley and Valerie Todd for helping with registration.

In the evening, the Langley Chapter held its 18th Annual Salute to ACC Gala at the Hampton Convention Center.  This was actually the 46th year that the Chapter has held this premier social event to honor those who serve our great Nation.  As in past years, guests included community partners, local and national government leaders, Joint Forces Command, Air Combat Command, 1st FW, 633rd ABW, 480th ISR Wing, 192nd FW (VA ANG) and of course the local defense industry.  After the introduction of the colors by the Air Combat Command Honor Guard, retired Master Sergeant Ezra Hill, one of the original Tuskegee Airmen of World War II, sang our National Anthem.   Following a wonderful dinner prepared by Embassy Suites’ Chef Kyle Fowlkes, Langley Chapter President, John Murphy, and ACC’s Commander, General William Fraser, offered some remarks.  Following General Fraser’s remarks, General Fraser and John Murphy presented the City of Hampton a Jimmy Doolittle Educational Fellowship in recognition of continued outstanding support to the United States Air Force, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, and the men and women assigned to Langley AFB.  Mayor Molly Ward from the City of Hampton accepted the Doolittle Award and provided comments on the long standing relationship between the City of Hampton and Langley AFB.  The evening concluded with an outstanding musical program from the ACC Heritage of America Band’s Satellite Jazz Ensemble.  The musical program was accompanied by a slide and video program highlighting the history of Langley AFB and the City of Hampton, the men and women at Langley AFB and Air Combat Command, and past and present weapon systems.  Heartfelt thanks to Nikki Barry, Michele Powell, Don Perkins, Ray Landon, Joyce Byington-Clark and Goldie Golden for their tireless work to make the Gala such a success.  Special thanks to Amelia Donnell for putting together the slide and video program. The Chapter would also like to thank the Hampton Convention Center and the Embassy Suites, and special acknowledgement to Michele Sowatskey for her outstanding support.

Finally, there is a special group that I would like to thank—the Air Combat Command Protocol Office.  The planning and execution of this event went like clockwork because of the tireless efforts of Capt Meghan Liemburg-Archer and TSgt Kalica Snipes, and MSgt Grady Hamilton from the 633rd ABW.  I now know how M*A*S*H’s Colonel Harry Potter felt with Radar O’Rielly always one step ahead of him.  That’s the way it was with Captain Liemburg-Archer’s Protocol Team—always on top of the situation anticipating problems before they developed!  Thanks —you are a fabulous team!

So that’s it on the 2010 CAF Airpower Symposium and Salute to ACC events.  We couldn’t have done it without great support from the leadership of Air Combat Command, the men and women who made up the Salute Committee, our industry and community partners who sponsored the Gala, and the Air Force members who joined us for the events.  We look forward to seeing you all next year!