Maintaining a relevant force and fleet demands that we continually refine and modernize the force through programming priorities. By accelerating programs essential to retiring legacy aircraft, AFSOC can reinvest cost savings into future capabilities. For example, the MC-130J Talon III program provides adverse weather terrain following/terrain avoidance, radar threat avoidance/protection, and communication networking capabilities significantly more advanced than our current MC-130H Talon II fleet built in the 1980s. New radar frequency countermeasures technologies bring expanded capabilities, allowing digital upgrades that protect against emerging enemy threats without replacing complete systems. Airborne Mission Networking provides a suite of integrated situational awareness and communication tools providing the crew with a correlated common operating picture of the air and ground battlespace that does not currently exist in SOF mobility aircraft. PB-19 [Presidential Budget 2019] funding is critical to synchronize the Talon III design and testing, thus enabling a timely recapitalization of the Talon II fleet. Fielding of Talon III capabilities is critical to maintaining the relevance of our SOF C-130 specialized mobility fleet across all spectrums.

Our battlefield performance remains unmatched. However, the character of war continually evolves. AFSOC must remain agile and ready to prepare for the unpredictable.

Knowing we must innovate at the speed of relevancy, we are currently fielding our newest gunship using “plug and play” technology already evaluated in other AFSOC platforms. This allows for an expedited fielding time line, and more rapidly delivers the best lethality to our warfighters. Additionally, AFSOC is adjusting tactics, techniques, and procedures, and adding low-cost modifications to current assets. These new combinations aim to produce cascading problems for America’s adversaries, creating strategic dilemmas and buying time for the joint force to act and react accordingly. The faster we can go from concept to the battlefield, the better.

Other key emergent technologies at AFSOC include the gunship High Energy Laser, a non-kinetic weapon system employed to achieve high-precision lethal effects on targets with little to no acoustic signature and very low collateral damage. High energy lasers are a truly remarkable and innovative technology, one that is capable of dramatically shaping the battlefield to our advantage. Additional gunship advancements include the use of adverse weather engagement systems and tactical off-board sensing technologies. These systems enable our AC-130 gunship fleet to target, sense, and engage despite adverse weather conditions.

Looking beyond the next ridgeline, we are interested in developments relating to Next Generation Vertical Take Off and Landing capabilities. We see this presenting a revolutionary leap in vertical-lift range and speed using advanced turbofan technology. Additionally, our Next Generation Manned ISR platform is going through requirement validation. We know this capability must be operable in a more contested threat environment than we’ve become accustomed to, and thus we’re looking for increases in endurance, range, speed, capacity, payload, and advanced defensive systems. Staying relevant requires persistence.

Can you reflect on the importance of coalition partnerships to AFSOC operations?

AFSOC stands with our Indo-Pacific, Middle Eastern, African, European, and hemispheric allies and partners, providing assurance and enhanced aviation capabilities against a subversive Russia and an increasingly expansionist China. Ensuring readiness both home and abroad, AFSOC conducted 78 exercises and training events with partner nations in 2017, including stateside capstone exercises like our recently concluded Emerald Warrior. Overseas-based exercises, led by our OCONUS units and occasionally augmented with CONUS forces, play a critical role enabling Theater Special Operations Command (TSOC) and Global Combatant Command (GCC) regional campaign plans. Conducting bilateral and multilateral events with the Republic of Korea, Japan, the Republic of India, the Republic of Estonia, the United Kingdom, France, and others, our Air Commandos bolster the capabilities of partner nations, create pockets of containment, and ensure interoperability between American, allied, and partner forces. We welcome hosting members of this committee at any future exercises to see firsthand the value our Air Commandos deliver to allies, partners, and the nation.

Our Combat Aviation Advisors (CAA) are the vanguard of AFSOC’s Irregular Warfare force. Specializing in aviation foreign internal defense (AvFID) operations, CAAs recently enhanced indigenous aviation operations in the Kingdom of Thailand, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and the Republic of Poland. Presidential Budget 2019 (PB-19) dramatically improves our AvFID capability by doubling our CAA capacity with 152 additional advisors, and by adding five AvFID armed ISR aircraft. CAA force growth ensures engagement with combatant commanders’ highest priority countries. As we work to build out the full CAA capability portfolio and bring more partner nations on board to share the security, we enthusiastically support the Air Force’s Light Attack Aircraft initiative. Using an economically feasible light attack platform would allow us to scale aviation training for our allies, expand procurement and maintenance efficiencies, and maximize opportunities to build partner capacity.

Are you able to identify any recent activities that bring a special sense of pride to your organization?

What defines AFSOC is not technology or platforms. Rather, we are defined by our people – active duty, Guard, Reserve, and civilians alike – and their relentless application of our ethos and strategic values balanced across the spectrum of conflict. Tomorrow’s fight is unknowable, but one thing is certain: It must be an integrated joint venture where our creative concepts will win out. AFSOC fervently believes a diverse formation lends itself to this end, and we develop all Air Commandos accordingly. In fact, AFSOC employs the skills of female aviators in combat operations, and has done so since 1994. The Air Force proudly promoted our first female Air Commando to the rank of brigadier general this year, and over 13 percent of our senior enlisted formation is female, a ratio that compares favorably to the rest of the Air Force. We have benefited from the expertise of female leadership at the squadron, group, and wing level for years, and will continue to do so into the future.

Where are the greatest challenges of operating on a global basis?

Humans, not hardware, allow us to accomplish our mission. Our Air Commandos, families, and relationships are our most valuable assets; but they are also our most vulnerable. Our nation calls upon us to provide specialized airpower, oftentimes at a moment’s notice. We proudly stand ready to answer our nation’s call. We understand the impact of this demanding and perilous mission. Therefore, the immediate and enduring resiliency of our force, family, and relationships is the critical foundation for everything we do. We consider this an essential task to maintain readiness of the AFSOC force.