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      Gerald Murray, Air Force Association chairman and the 14th Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force speaks with Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. BassGerald Murray, Air Force Association chairman and the 14th Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force speaks with Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass at the 2021 Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Md., Sept. 20, 2021. Bass reiterated leadership’s involvement in accelerating change, answered questions from the audience and presented this year’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Adam R. Shanks)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass delivers remarks and recognizes the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year during the 2021 Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Md., Sept. 20, 2021.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass delivers remarks and recognizes the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year during the 2021 Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Md., Sept. 20, 2021. During her opening remarks, Bass reiterated the Air Force’s need to embrace near-peer competition, and opened the floor to questions and answers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Adam R. Shanks)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

CMSAF reaffirms case for speed, innovation, culture change across the Air ForcePublished Sept. 20, 2021
                    
                    By Tech. Sgt. Joshua R. M. Dewberry
                    
                    
                    Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
            **NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (AFNS) --****Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass** presented keynote remarks at the Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference, at National Harbor Sept. 20.

“What remains a constant in my mind is, where we are today, where we need to be tomorrow, and what are the things we must do now to be prepared to answer our nation’s call ... anytime, anywhere,” Bass said. “We are indeed at that inflection point in history, where the choices we make today will have lasting impacts on the world we have tomorrow.”
Bass also mentioned the challenges posed by America’s near-peer competitors.
“While on this amazing Air Force journey, I have learned that service in our Air Force is also more like running a marathon than a sprint,” she said. “We need our Airmen serving today to think in those terms, because there are forces in this world that also believe they are in a marathon. China is one of them.”
She detailed the threat of the Chinese Communist Party’s desire to expand their sphere of influence, and explained the need for Airmen to prepare and think long term.
“Whether it’s China, or any other strategic competitor ... I need every single Airman to understand that future conflict will never look like it has in the past,” Bass said. “It will span across multiple domains, using any and all advantages and tactics on both military and non-military targets. The high-end fight that we must prepare for could be unlike anything we have ever faced in our history, and will require us to accelerate the change we need today to win tomorrow.”
She highlighted the significance of Brown’s action orders of **Accelerate Change or Lose**.
“When I speak to our Airmen, I let them know those words cannot simply be buzzwords,” she said.
Bass explained how Air Force leadership needs to clearly define expectations and move out of the way to let their Airmen accomplish the mission.
“One way to help define the expectations we have for our people are the **Airman Leadership Qualities** that we released this past spring,” Bass said. “They are the roadmap, and the qualities and competencies we expect from our Airmen.”
She said these qualities — executing the mission, leading people, managing resources and improving the unit — are being built into the feedback used to develop Airmen, and that Airmen are already leveraging these leadership qualities to accomplish the mission.
“From our **Air National Guard** firefighters, battling the California wildfires, to our (Tactical Air Control Party specialists) leveraging innovation and technology to provide real-world, real-time information to those firefighters on the front line,” Bass said. “Our teamwork remains unmatched.”
Bass also mentioned the recent accomplishments of Airmen providing aid and support to refugees from Afghanistan.
“Just a few weeks ago, in Afghanistan, it was our Airmen who stepped up to transport, and deliver hope to more than 120,000 vulnerable Afghans,” Bass said. “The adaptability, agility and readiness of our active duty and reserve Airmen led to nine newborns being delivered on board (**C-17 Globemaster IIIs**). It was our Airmen and their families around the globe that showed incredible resiliency, by providing shelter, safety, and a chance at a better life to these Afghan families, while modeling humanity and what right looks like.”
She said she is continually impressed by seeing Airmen innovate and overcome adversity.
“It’s our Airmen that inspire me when I think about the future of our force,” Bass said. “The Air Force of 2030 will not be built in the Pentagon — it is being built in our squadrons, and our work centers. It is being built by you, inspiring your people to enhance your readiness and create a culture that values **diversity, inclusion** and respect. It’s up to you to build the Air Force we need. It’s up to us, at the Pentagon, to help support you.”FS 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



CMSAF 



Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force 



JoAnne S. Bass 



SPEED 



innovation 



culture 



Change 



AFA 



air space and cyber conference 



competition 



ASC21 



China 



C-17 



Globemaster III 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