"The ANG, The Force America Needs" serves as theme for 2019 ASL

Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice, Director, Air National Guard took time during the 2019 Air National Guard Senior Leadership Conference, 23 Apr. 2019, to acknowledge the Kentucky leadership for the extraordinary achievements of Major John T. Hourigan, from the 123d Airlift Wing, who will be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to a member of the United States Armed Forces who distinguishes themselves in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. David J. Fenner)

"The ANG, The Force America Needs" serves as theme for 2019 ASL

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice, director of the Air National Guard, greets Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, at the 2019 Air National Guard Senior Leadership Conference, April 23, 2019, in Atlanta, Georgia. The ANG Senior Leadership Conference is a series of presentations and breakouts intended to enhance leaders’ capabilities to lead and support Airmen and address Total Force priorities related to leadership, safety, diversity, sexual assault and suicide prevention.(U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Rana Franklin)

"The ANG, The Force America Needs" serves as theme for 2019 ASL

Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General David L. Goldfein shares Air Force updates with Air National Guard senior leadership at the ANG Senior Leadership Conference, 23 April 2019, in Atlanta, Georgia. The ANG Senior Leadership Conference is a series of presentations and breakouts intended to enhance leaders’ capabilities to lead and support Airmen and address Total Force priorities related to leadership, safety, diversity, sexual assault and suicide prevention. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. David J. Fenner)

"The ANG, The Force America Needs" serves as theme for 2019 ASL

Over 360 senior leaders from across the Air National Guard gathered in Atlanta, Ga., April 22-26, 2019, for the 2019 ANG Senior Leadership Conference. The ANG Senior Leadership Conference is a series of presentations and breakouts intended to enhance leaders’ capabilities to lead and support Airmen and address Total Force priorities related to leadership, safety, diversity, sexual assault and suicide prevention.(U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Rana Franklin)

"The ANG, The Force America Needs" serves as theme for 2019 ASL

"The ANG, A Force America Needs" serves as theme for 2019 ASLC

Published April 26, 2019
By Story by Tech Sgt Rana Franklin, photo by Master Sgt David Fenner
The National Guard Bureau

ATLANTA, Ga-- U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. L, Scott Rice, Air National Guard director, hosted over 360 senior leaders from across the Guard, at the ANG Senior Leadership Conference, in Atlanta, Georgia, April 23-25, 2019.

The ANG Senior Leadership Conference is a series of presentations and breakouts intended to enhance leaders’ capabilities to lead and support Airmen and address Total Force priorities related to leadership, safety, diversity, sexual assault and suicide prevention.

“My goal for ASLC 2019 is to enhance leader’s capabilities to lead and support the more than 107,000 Air Guardsmen who serve the “54” and Total Force with great distinction,” said Rice.

This year’s conference theme “The ANG, A Force America Needs” was underscored by activities and presentations focused on building the Air Force needed to achieve objectives put forward in the National Defense Strategy.

“I think it’s the force American needs and our country is unique among nations and the greatest force for humanity,” said U.S. Air Force General Joseph L. Lengyel, 28th chief of the National Guard. “We not only need the force to be ready, but agile and flexible to be used in new and different ways.”

The conference also addressed Total Force priorities related to the wellbeing of Airmen in areas such as readiness, training, care solutions, operational safety and talent management.

U.S. General David L. Goldfein, chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, delivered the Air Force update, speaking to the importance of building the Air Force needed to address defense strategies.

“We only ever have from now until the next fight to prepare,” stated Goldfein. “If we go forward with that sense of urgency we will always win the war fight.”

Dr. Will Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, brought his specialized knowledge of modernization efforts to the discussion, briefing senior leaders on strategic acquisition.

“We’ve been able to maintain a domain dominance that no other service has been able to,” Roper stated. “But if we can’t delegate to the lowest level and still fulfill the commander’s intent, then we will lose every time.”

Breakout sessions, by leadership position, also provided opportunities to discuss issues of mutual concern. Presentations included focus on leadership agility, operating in a strategic environment, multi-domain operations and homeland defense.

“Homeland defense is our main priority,” stated U.S. Navy Rear Admiral John Fuller, when speaking on the strong relationship between the ANG and the North American Aerospace Defense Command. “We operate at the speed of relevance.”

The three day conference also provided senior leaders from across the Guard to share best practices that has been successful across the varying platforms and mission sets, while also initiating the development of new and innovative applications.

“We continue to reiterate that the force is more ready than ever before because we are,” stated Anderson to conference attendees. “Our ability to not only maintain that, but also grow into the Guard America needs depends on our ability as leaders to take what we’ve heard this week and shape it to the needs of our Airmen.”

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, delivered the conference welcome. The event was supported by volunteers from the Georgia Air National Guard, as well as the Georgia National Guard Milledgeville Youth Challenge Academy, who presented the colors.