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Columbus hosts AETC commander's and command chief's conference

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jacob Corbin
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  More than 100 Air Education and Training Command senior leaders met at Columbus Air Force Base the first week in March as part of the AETC commander's and command chief's conference.

The week-long conference is held twice a year to facilitate senior leader discussion on current issues within the command.

"It's traditional to get commanders and their chiefs together, throughout all the military services, so they can discuss policies and issues," said Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz, AETC commander. The general also said these conferences are important because it gives leaders a chance to present their vision to their subordinates and to receive feedback from them in turn.

Throughout the week, the commanders participated in group discussions, briefings and social gatherings. Briefings ranged from evolving personnel issues, future plans for the Air Force and a network security presentation by Gen. Kevin Chilton, United States Strategic Command commander, Offutt AFB, Neb.

Col. Roger Watkins, 14th Flying Training Wing commander, presented a briefing on Columbus AFB's School Liaison program to the group. Columbus AFB is one of the few Air Force bases that has a full-time liaison between Airman, their families and the local school systems.

In addition, leaders got the perspectives of the commands top officer and enlisted members - General Lorenz, and AETC Command Chief Master Sgt. Robert Tappana.

As part of the leadership study, the group spent a day at the Shiloh Battlefield in Tennessee. General Lorenz said he believes that while technology may change the tools of our trade, the human element of leadership remains the same through time.

Relationships between leaders are just as important today as they were during the Civil War, attendees on the trip said. Leaders will be doomed to repeat the past if they do not learn from it - one of the objectives of this leadership conference.

"Communication is key to efficient leadership," remarked Chief Master Sgt. Rich Brackett, 14th Flying Training Wing command chief master sergeant. "The inability of leaders at Shiloh to effectively communicate down the lines of the battlefield created chaos. A lesson true for today."

While at Columbus AFB, General Lorenz re-enlisted Staff Sgt. Joshua Jones, a truly "local" Air Force recruiter. Sergeant Jones is a 2001 graduate of New Hope High School in Lowndes County. General Lorenz also visited the local Mississippi State University Reserve Officer Training Corps detachment and taught the afternoon ROTC class.

"Our cadets are very excited about General Lorenz' visit," remarked Lt. Col. Terry Dickensheet, Professor of Aerospace Studies at Mississippi State, and ROTC Detachment 425 commander. "To have an active duty four-star general visit and teach at our detachment is truly an honor."