22nd AF commander highlights community, innovation during ARMAC military luncheon

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. James Branch
  • 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
ATLANTA --  While serving as keynote speaker, Maj. Gen. Craig LaFave, 22nd Air Force commander, took over 600 attendees on a journey to the past, present and future of the Air Force Reserve at the 66th Atlanta Regional Military Affairs Council Military Appreciation Luncheon Tuesday.

The annual luncheon, presented by the ARMAC in partnership with the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, hosts business leaders and military personnel from the community.

During his remarks, the general, who has command over the Air Force Reserve’s tactical mobility operations and over 12,000 Reserve Citizen Airmen, emphasized that the United States is in era of great power competition.

“The recently published National Defense Strategy recognizes the emergence of a more competitive and dangerous international security environment than we have seen in generations,” said LaFave.

Today, we find ourselves at an inflection point, he added. Strategic competition from other great powers is now our ¬primary national security challenge.

LaFave gave the audience a snapshot of where the Air Force was, it’s present strength, and where it will need to be in the future.

He echoed Lt. Gen. Richard Scobee, chief of the Air Force Reserve, in stating that future conflicts will transcend domains and regions, with increasing speed, reach, and complexity.

The Air Force Reserve will prioritize strategic depth and accelerate readiness, develop resilient leaders, and reform and modernize its structure, he said.

The general emphasized the importance of business and community because the Air Force benefits from Reservists' experience from industry, in areas like talent management, financial operations, medical readiness, cyberspace, and many others.

LaFave thanked attendees for making Cobb County a great place to serve.

The call sign for our 94th Airlift Wing C-130 Hercules aircraft is “Cobb,” he said. We enjoy the incredible support from our community partners and truly value the strong relationship we have with our local community.