Reopmizing for Great Power Compeon: A Senior Leaders Discussion
This transcript is made possible through the sponsorship of Schneider Electric
Lt. Gen. Bruce “Orville” Wright, USAF (Ret.):
Wow, as I'm geng my breath back, it has much more to do with this unbelievable force that
we all see before us. What an honor to be on the stage today and, with all of you, send a strong
message to those who might ever challenge this great country and certainly our Airmen and
Guardians. It's a true honor to introduce our next panel. These four incredible leaders are doing
tremendous work leading our Department of the Air Force through truly evoluonary mes.
During our September Airspace and Cyber Conference, Secretary Frank Kendall announced a
sweeping review of the department's readiness. That review was intended to reopmize our Air
& Space Forces for great power compeon against a peer adversary such as China, which is
always growing in strength and has been growing in threat capability. Today, we will nd out the
results of that review, and there will be an opportunity that I'll help facilitate for audience
quesons later. But rst, Mr. Secretary, over to you, and I'll get oua the way. Thanks, sir.
Frank Kendall:
Good aernoon. Thank you, Orville, and thanks once again to AFA for bringing us together for
what I know will be a valuable and signicant conference. I want to give a special thanks to you
personally, Orville, for your many years of service in and out of uniform. You've made an
enormous and lasng impact. Let's give Orville another round of applause. Before I begin my
remarks, I'd like to ask you all to join me in a moment of silence. We have recently lost eight
Airmen in a V-22 training accident. The Navy lost two SEALs at sea during an operaon. The
Marines just lost ve people in California in a training accident. The Army recently lost three
soldiers in the Middle East enemy re. Young men and women who wear the cause of our
country in all services put their lives on the line for the American people every day. Please join
me in a moment of silence in honor of their service and that of all our men and women in
uniform. Thank you. These tragic losses remind us all of the real world stakes that are at risk and
of the bravery of our men and women in uniform. We owe it to all those who have the courage
and commitment to volunteer to ght for our country and our values, to give them every
advantage that they need to succeed.
With that in mind, I bring us to the most pacing challenge that we have ever faced, China, China,
China. Ladies and gentlemen, we are out of me. We are out of me. We are out of me. Why
do I say that? It's not that I enjoy sounding like a broken record. It's because, for at least two
decades, China has been building a military that has designed purpose built to deter and defeat
the United States if we intervene in the Western Pacic. Some of you had a chance to hear the
classied threat brieng earlier today. I don't have to explain to you why me is my biggest
concern. War is not inevitable, and deterrence, integrated deterrence is working so far. Our
allies are a great strategic asset, and together, we can take on any challenge. It's great to see so
many of 'em here today.
