Offutt visit helps tailor science, technology development to meet future AF needs Published April 23, 2008 By Tech. Sgt. A.J. Bosker 55th Wing Public Affairs OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Offutt recently hosted the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board's Spring meeting bringing the members - top scientists, educators, engineers and experts in many fields - together in one location. This provided the members of the Scientific Advisory Board, some of whom do not have a military background, the opportunity to experience the operational aspects of the Air Force first hand, according to the board's chair Heidi Shyu. "We came to Offutt to visit the 55th Wing and U.S. Strategic Command because they are some of the prime users of technology-enabled weapons systems and their respective missions have and will continue to exploit advances in science and technology well into the future," Ms. Shyu explained. "Opportunities like this are invaluable because they provide the SAB the operational perspective we need to focus our studies for maximum impact to the Air Force," she said. The mission of the scientific advisory board is to advise the Secretary of the Air Force and Air Force Chief of Staff on what emerging areas of science and technology the Air Force should pursue to maintain its dominating capabilities in air, space and cyberspace. Air Force senior leaders also understand the importance of science and technology and place a high value on maintaining the service's and nation's lead in science and technology. As the Air Force continues to adapt to a volatile and uncertain world, today's focused investment in the science and technology program will produce the future warfighting capabilities needed to ensure America's continued technological preeminence and military flexibility, according to Air Force senior leaders in the 2008 Air Force Posture Statement. The Air Force Science and Technology Program provides the necessary foundation for future joint warfighting capabilities - focusing on dominance of the air, space and cyberspace domains, senior leaders explained. Continued Air Force science and technology leadership will be critical to maintaining the asymmetric military advantages and broad national benefits the joint team and the nation have come to expect and enjoy. Aside from interacting with Airmen, the board spent most of the week working on several studies in electromagnetic spectrum management, defending against cyber attacks, airborne tactical lasers and kinetic precision affects. The relevance of the 55th Wing and USSTRATCOM to these studies made Offutt the ideal location for this year's Spring board meeting. The 55th Wing is the major provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data to combatant commanders and warfighters. The wing's unique capabilities gave board members an opportunity to study how vital a role ISR plays as the crucial first-step in the kinetic precision effects kill chain. The board members were also able to glean a better insight into the importance of ISR with USSTRATCOM's Joint Function Component Command for ISR being located at Offutt as well. The USSTRATCOM JFCC for Network Warfare and the Joint Task Force for Global Network Operations also aided members with their studies on better use of the electromagnetic spectrum and defending the global information grid from all-too-real adversaries. "America is not the most populous country," she said. "Our freedoms depend on our military's superior technology-based capabilities to overcome larger adversaries and emerging threats." Science and technology plays a tremendous role in keeping American forces the best in the world, she said. "All Airmen should understand that as end users or operators, they are the future benefactors of the science and technology research done today," Ms. Shyu said. "The scientific advisory board is focused on keeping the Air Force on the cutting edge of science and technology in all areas so that tomorrow's Airmen will have the best tools available to accomplish their mission."