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      Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson prepares her notes after an office call with the U.S. Ambassador to Poland Georgette Mosbacher during an office call in Warsaw, Poland, April 25, 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rusty Frank)190425-F-YU668-0083
                        
                        
                        Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson prepares her notes after an office call with the U.S. Ambassador to Poland Georgette Mosbacher during an office call in Warsaw, Poland, April 25, 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rusty Frank)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson greets the Polish Minister of Defense Mariusz Blaszczak in Warsaw, Poland, April 25, 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rusty Frank)190425-F-YU668-0221
                        
                        
                        Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson greets the Polish Minister of Defense Mariusz Blaszczak in Warsaw, Poland, April 25, 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rusty Frank)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson speaks gives remarks at the War Studies University in Warsaw, Poland, April 25, 2019. During her remarks Wilson spoke about the importance why the U.S. and NATO allies must continue to strengthen deterrence efforts and adapt through improving readiness and responsiveness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rusty Frank)190425-F-YU668-0408
                        
                        
                        Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson speaks gives remarks at the War Studies University in Warsaw, Poland, April 25, 2019. During her remarks, Wilson spoke about the importance why the U.S. and NATO allies must continue to strengthen deterrence efforts and adapt through improving readiness and responsiveness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rusty Frank)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson signs a book after laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw, Poland, April 26, 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rusty Frank)190426-F-YU668-0114
                        
                        
                        Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson signs a book after laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw, Poland, April 26, 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rusty Frank)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson and her husband Jay Hone lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw, Poland, April 26, 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rusty Frank)190426-F-YU668-0088
                        
                        
                        Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson and her husband Jay Hone lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw, Poland, April 26, 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rusty Frank)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

SECAF visits Poland to reinforce alliancePublished April 26, 2019
                    
                    By Staff Sgt. Rusty Frank
                    
                    
                    Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
            **WARSAW, Poland (AFNS) --**Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson gave remarks at the War Studies University in Warsaw, Poland, April 25.
During her remarks to an audience of more than 100 military students and faculty, Wilson emphasized the strength of allied partnerships in a time of near-peer threats.
“In the United States we have a new National Defense Strategy,” Wilson said. “One element of our National Defense Strategy is the deepening of our alliances. When it comes to alliances, our partnership with Poland is important and very strong. The United States, like Poland recognizes the threat is real and that we are better off working together, to deter threats then we are responding after the fact. Those with allies thrive. Those without wither, that is true for a great power like the United States, as it is true for Europe.”
Building allied airpower capability involves participating in exercises with them, training and education, information exchanges, agreements, personnel exchanges, equipping and building networks of relationships.
“The joint training is the way in which we prepare for joint fighting,” Wilson said. “Just this year the United States has opened up Red Flag, which is our high training exercise, and next year Poland will participate. Whether it’s exercise Rapid Forge or BALTOPS or our enduring rotational presence here in Poland, it is important to train together. If we train together we can fight together and our adversaries know it.”
Currently, the U.S. military has approximately 4,500 military forces throughout Poland and of that, the U.S. Air Force has rotational aviation detachments of airlift and fighter aircraft, as well as remotely piloted aircraft.
By working together with allies and partners, Wilson said we amass the greatest possible strength for long-term defense and advancement of our interests, maintaining favorable balances of power that deter aggression and support the stability for economic growth.
“The second and very important element of our National Defense Strategy is equipment and interoperability,” Wilson said. “I was pleased to see that the Polish government has decided to improve its aircraft and seeks to buy a fifth-generation U.S. aircraft, and we will work with Polish government to explain capabilities and the options available.”
It has been 20 years since Poland joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and it has also been a hundred years since the U.S. established diplomatic relations with Poland. Wilson said Polish support for NATO forward presence sends a message that is, allies stand united, defend NATO territory and deter aggression from adversaries.
“In short whether it’s training, equipment or exchanges of personnel,” Wilson said. “We appreciate our alliance, the government of Poland and the people of Poland. It is based on common values and common interests that I hope it lasts for another hundred years.”
In addition to the speech at the War Studies University, the secretary also met with Polish leaders from the offices of the Ministry of Defense and the Chief of the Defense to discuss other areas of defense and air cooperation, training and other bilateral opportunities to strengthen the relationship.
The secretary ended her visit by paying her respects and laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. A monument dedicated to all Polish soldiers who died for the country’s independence and symbolizes the sacrifices made for a Europe that remains whole, free and at peace.LR 



SecAF 



Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson 



Secretary of the Air Force 



Heather Wilson 



National Defense Strategy 



NDS 



joint 



alliances 



partnerships 



defense 



NATO 



Poland 



AF 



Air Force

Related Links
        BLUE: Stronger Together 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