ORLANDO -- Maj. Gen. John Flournoy Jr., Air Force Reserve Command deputy commander, was one of the keynote speakers at the Airlift/Tanker Association’s annual conference in Orlando, Florida, Oct. 25.
Flournoy was introduced by Gen. Maryanne Miller, commander of the Air Mobility Command and previous AFRC commander. He spoke about the Air Force Reserve’s contribution in military operations throughout history from the Korean War to present day global operations.
“The Air Force increasingly relied on its Air Force Reserve component for a ‘steady state’ of daily assistance--whether it was flying airlift channel, firefighting, aerial spray, hurricane hunter missions, or providing highly skilled medical and aeromedical personnel,” he said. “As a result, Congress sought to clarify the organizational placement of the Reserve.”
During his speech, he highlighted several Reserve Citizen Airmen including a two-time bronze star recipient, Tech. Sgt. Nick Torres of the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, the 452nd Air Mobility Wing’s first all-female C-17 Globemaster III crew located at March Air Reserve Base, California and Lt. Col. Barry Cupples, a navigator with the 910th Airlift Wing at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, who has more than10,000 flight hours.
Flournoy explained the Air Force Reserve’s three main priorities, which were created last year to align efforts with the National Defense Strategy. They are prioritizing strategic depth and accelerating readiness, building resilient leaders, and reforming our organization.
“In order to do that, we need to maintain combat mission readiness, and we need to do that across the total force,” he said. “Because, like everything we do in the Air Force, the active component, the Air Force Reserve, and the Air National Guard, all have a share of the air mobility mission. Our people are what makes us great.”