Airmen invited to discuss future Air Force

  • Published
  • By Capt. John Severns
  • AETC Public Affairs
Airmen interested in the future of Air Force education and training will get a chance to see and interact with demonstrations of the next generation of warfighting technology at the upcoming AETC Symposium, Jan. 15 and 16 at the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center in San Antonio.

Members of all commands are invited to attend, according to Col. Kevin McNeight, organizer of this year's event. Last year's symposium drew more than 2,000 attendees, and attendance this year is expected to top 3,000, the colonel said.

The two-day event will be similar in format to the 2007 symposium. The heart of the symposium is a series of seminars coordinated by Air University and organized around five tracks, all pertaining to the Air Force and its current and future role in America's defense.

The five discussion tracks are Leadership, Operational Skills (with a focus on counterinsurgency and cyberspace operations), International Understanding, Education and Training Innovations, and Distance and Future Learning.

The Symposium will once again include an Air Force Association Expo with the latest technology demonstrations by the nation's leading defense contractors, and an AETC/AFA Ball emceed by Gen. (ret.) Lloyd W. "Fig" Newton, former AETC Commander, to celebrate warriors throughout the command.

"We've developed more than 70 seminars on subjects as diverse as future training aircraft to historical terrorist activities, with lots of immediately relevant topics in between," said Col. Brett Morris, seminar director for the Symposium. "The Symposium will feature many world-class presentations, including more seminars taught by and for our enlisted corps.

"Participants can decide which lectures and discussions they want to attend, essentially tailoring their experience at the Symposium to their own professional needs and interests," he said.

Maj. Gen. William T. Lord, commander of Air Force Cyberspace Command (Provisional), will be one of the keynote speakers.

"For more than 60 years, the United States Air Force has provided top cover for our great Nation and our Joint Warfighters," said Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz, AETC commander. "As we celebrate our proud heritage and boundless horizons, I hope you'll join me for this fantastic event.

"Together we'll honor the magnificent accomplishments of Airmen past, as we renew our commitment to develop America's Airmen today, for tomorrow," he continued.

For more information about the Symposium, or instructions on how to register, visit http://www.aetcsymposium.com