Base Realignment Impact Committee Coordinator Tom Ford received a personal invitation from the Secretary of the Air Force and attended the 63rd annual National Security Forum May 3-5 at the Air War College (AWC) , Maxwell AFB, Alabama. The forum exposes influential citizens to senior U.S. and international officers and civilian equivalents in order to engage each others’ ideas and perspectives on Air Force, national, and international security issues. As a valued National Security Form Alumnus, Ford was honored to be one of an elite group of alumni that were invited back this year. Alumni engaged with NSF guests to share their unique perspectives and experience.
Approximately 160 civilian leaders in business, education, and local government from throughout the U.S. met with senior military leaders to explore current and future national security issues facing our nation. The NSF provided a great opportunity for an open and candid exchange of ideas among these guests, senior military and civilian leaders, and AWC students. Ford attended lectures, met in seminars for in-depth discussion and participated in social events.
The AWC is the senior professional development school in the Air Force officer education system as a part of Air University. AWC educates selected senior officers to lead at the strategic level in the employment of air and space forces. The AWC curriculum focuses on coalition warfighting and national security issues, with emphasis on the effective employment of aerospace forces in joint and combined combat operations.
Air University is a major component of Air Education and Training Command and the intellectual and leadership center of the Air Force. Air University’s eight colleges and schools provide the full spectrum of Air Force education, from pre-commissioning to the highest levels of professional military education, including degree granting and professional continuing education for officers, enlisted and civilian personnel throughout their careers.