Air Force secretary outlines future priorities

Auburn Davis/American Forces Press Service

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley received a warm welcome from the community Jan. 27 during remarks at the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce to approximately 40 local community, military and business leaders.

Donley said his trip to Colorado Springs provided a chance to visit with local leaders and highlight the strategic priorities and choices made by the Air Force and Department of Defense for fiscal 2013 and beyond. The other U.S. branches of service have undergone similar reviews.

“We will reduce our force structure,” he said. “We will prioritize readiness, and we intend to preserve our investments in key programs that are crucial to future Air Force capability.”

Donley said that the Air Force has made difficult choices by sacrificing size to ensure a high-quality force in support of new strategic guidance.

“This is hard, but it is manageable,” he said.

The secretary stressed that taking care of Airmen is a top priority. He said that it is not the hardware or equipment of the services that make mission success possible, but rather it is the people.

Donley said that all the branches of military service are essential and make up a ready and capable military force.

“It is the Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines that make all this work,” he said. “We have become a stronger joint force over the last 10 years, since 9/11, and stronger as a joint team than we have ever been.”