Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      NATO Air Chiefs discuss how to further accelerate air, space power integrationPublished March 17, 2023
                    
                    
                    Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office
            **RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) --**Allied and partner Air Chiefs came together on **Ramstein Air Base** for the bi-annual **NATO** Air Chiefs’ Symposium on March 16.
Hosted by U.S. Air Force **Gen. James Hecker**, **U.S. Air Forces Europe-Air Forces Africa** commander, the meeting allowed allied Air Chiefs the opportunity to come together and collaborate on shared success and combined opportunities in the future. This iteration had topics covering an update on NATO’s **Air Shielding** effort on the eastern flank of the alliance and requirements for a counter-integrated Air Defense System capability. Discussions also focused on how to upgrade and further improve air bases for combat operations and to accelerate NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense efforts.
U.S. Army **Gen. Christopher Cavoli**, Supreme Allied Commander Europe and **U.S. European Command** commander, was connected to the symposium via video teleconferencing and shared his vision with NATO’s air and space community.
Italian Air Force Deputy Air Chief Lt. Gen. Aurelio Colagrande presented background on the centenary of the Italian Air Force, and Croatian Air Force Air Chief Brig. Gen. Michael Križanec gave an update on his country’s armed forces modernization program.Italian Air Force Deputy Air Chief Lt. Gen. Aurelio Colagrande (second from left) walks through an exhibition on the centenary of the Italian Air Force during the bi-annual NATO Air Chiefs’ Symposium at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 16, 2023. Twice each year, the NACS allows all allied and partner Air Chiefs to come together and collaborate on shared success and combined opportunities in the future. (NATO photo by Arnaud Chamberlin)Italian Air Force Deputy Air Chief Lt. Gen. Aurelio Colagrande (second from left) walks through an exhibition on the centenary of the Italian Air Force during the bi-annual NATO Air Chiefs’ Symposium at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 16, 2023. Twice each year, the NACS allows all allied and partner Air Chiefs to come together and collaborate on shared success and combined opportunities in the future. (NATO photo by Arnaud Chamberlin)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    Allied and partner Air Chiefs pose for a group photo March 16, 2023, during the bi-annual NATO Air Chiefs’ Symposium at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The meeting allowed allied Air Chiefs the opportunity to come together and collaborate on shared success and combined opportunities in the future. (NATO photo by Arnaud Chamberlin)Allied and partner Air Chiefs pose for a group photo March 16, 2023, during the bi-annual NATO Air Chiefs’ Symposium at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The meeting allowed allied Air Chiefs the opportunity to come together and collaborate on shared success and combined opportunities in the future. (NATO photo by Arnaud Chamberlin)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    NATO Air Chiefs gather during the bi-annual NATO Air Chiefs’ Symposium at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 16, 2023. Twice each year, the NACS allows all allied and partner Air Chiefs to come together and collaborate on shared success and combined opportunities in the future. (NATO photo by Arnaud Chamberlin)NATO Air Chiefs gather during the bi-annual NATO Air Chiefs’ Symposium at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 16, 2023. Twice each year, the NACS allows all allied and partner Air Chiefs to come together and collaborate on shared success and combined opportunities in the future. (NATO photo by Arnaud Chamberlin)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    Royal Air Force Air Marshal Johnny Stringer, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa Commander U.S. Air Force Gen. James Hecker and Italian Air Force Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Gianluca Ercolani participate in a panel during the bi-annual NATO Air Chiefs’ Symposium at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 16, 2023. The NACS allows all allied and partner Air Chiefs to come together and collaborate on shared success and combined opportunities in the future.  (NATO photo by Arnaud Chamberlin)Royal Air Force Air Marshal Johnny Stringer, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa Commander U.S. Air Force Gen. James Hecker and Italian Air Force Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Gianluca Ercolani participate in a panel during the bi-annual NATO Air Chiefs’ Symposium at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 16, 2023. The NACS allows all allied and partner Air Chiefs to come together and collaborate on shared success and combined opportunities in the future.  (NATO photo by Arnaud Chamberlin)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

"It is a great pleasure to host senior representatives from NATO’s Air Forces again here at Headquarters AIRCOM for 2023’s first iteration of the NATO Air Chiefs’ Symposium,” Hecker said. “This is always a great opportunity to strengthen relationships and improve communications amongst each other. I am convinced this is the ideal forum to facilitate frank, open and fruitful discussions, especially towards the Vilnius Summit in July 2023. We had great exchanges on air and space power related to the overarching theme of the symposium, ‘Accelerating Integration.’”
 
In addition to the Air Chiefs, Allied Air Forces’ senior enlisted leaders joined for a separate conference at the same time. Senior enlisted leaders represent their commander, communicating the commander's goals and direction for the command to the enlisted workforce, while simultaneously representing the enlisted personnel's views and concerns to the commander. They enhance communication and foster a better understanding of the needs and viewpoints of all members.
The symposium ended with closing remarks from Hecker and the CSEL conference wrap-up. “NATO and its air forces are facing a very dynamic security environment, one that recently has become more complex, fast moving and demanding,” he said. “We continue to address these issues and provide assurance to our alliance and to partners.”LR 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



NATO 



NACS 



Ramstein AB 



USEUCOM Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil