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Air Boss Conference evaluates Air and Space Operations Plan

  • Published
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Leaders from around the world came together here June 26-27 to discuss deterrence and evaluate the war plan used to ensure peace and stability in the Republic of Korea. 

The Seventh Air Force, Air Forces Korea commander Lt. Gen. Stephen G. Wood hosts the "Air Boss Conference" annually. The conference is the commander's once-a-year opportunity to gather close to a hundred of his top U.S. and ROK leaders (including General Walter L. Sharp the new U.S. Forces Korea commander, and numbered air forces and wing commanders). General Sharp gave opening remarks and outlined his intent for air and space operations in Korea. 

The commanders are tasked with supporting the Korean Operations Plan should deterrence fail and Air Component Command (ACC) stand up. This year's conference focuses on safe and effective execution of the 2008 air tasking orders (ATOs) and other offensive and defensive capabilities. 

"It's a great opportunity to bring all the air components of the coalition together, including the ROK-US commanders of units throughout the peninsula," said General Wood, who also serves dual-hatted as the ACC commander and deputy commander U.S. Forces Korea (USFK). "We pull together improving ways and methods to execute the air & space operations plan more effectively and to discuss new technologies and tactics available to us." 

"The air forces here will take lessons and new technological advances, like the unmanned aerial vehicles and ground tactics, and apply them in plans and strategies for 2008 and beyond," the general said. 

"Learning lessons from other contingency efforts from around the world has a direct impact on the mission here," he added. "And, improving our ROK-US war plans and deterrence efforts continues to keep the ROK and U.S. forces ready to fight tonight." 

General Wood's Korean couterpart, Air Force Operation Center (AFOC) Commander Lt. Gen. Cho Won Kun said in the opening speech, "this conference is especially meaningful since ROK and U.S. leaders are discussing wartime strategies for defending Korean Peninsula on the 60th anniversary of ROK Armed Forces. I expect this conference to be a fruitful opportunity to further develop our air & space operations plan and strengthen the bond between ABs of Pacific area," said Lt. Gen Cho. 

While the Air Boss meeting is annual, U.S. Airmen stationed in Korea actually work alongside their ROK counterparts daily to ensure this enduring military partnership remains relevant against current and future threats.