HENDERSON, Nev. -- Top leaders from the global defense aerospace community gathered at the annual Air Dominance Summit May 12-13 outside Las Vegas.
The summit served as a critical forum for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, allied nations and industry partners to chart the future of airpower.
Discussions at the summit focused on the most pressing challenges and opportunities in achieving and maintaining air dominance in an era of increasing global competition. Key topics on the agenda included the development of sixth-generation fighter programs, the expansion of Collaborative Combat Aircraft programs and the sustainment and modernization of current systems. Additional central themes included the integration of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, manned-unmanned teaming and advanced data systems.
Col. Cisco Harris, Tinker Installation and 72nd Air Base Wing commander, was one of many distinguished speakers.
“Tinker is a hub for maintenance and sustainment of some of our critical military aircraft, and we have more than 10,000 professionals working across the millions of square feet that make up the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex,” Harris said. “We have multiple no-fail missions at Tinker to include airborne warning and control with the 552nd Air Control Wing, and Navy Strategic Communications Wing One and their mission to enable critical communication with our nation’s leaders and the nuclear triad."
Harris discussed sustaining and projecting combat airpower from Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. His presentation delved into the base's diverse missions, its posture for future collaboration with industry and academia and the unique perspective of managing a multiservice installation of 27,000 personnel.
Harris also emphasized the critical role of the 507th Air Refueling Wing, which operates KC-135 Stratotankers to enable military operations such as Midnight Hammer.
"These are all no-fail missions for us at Tinker," Harris continued. "We take that responsibility seriously and we do it all to provide airpower to our warfighters anytime, anywhere.”
In a pre-summit interview, retired Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck, summit co-chair and former commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command, emphasized the evolving nature of air warfare.
"As we look to the future, air dominance is not just about having the most advanced fighters," VanHerck said. "It's about the network, the data, the speed of decision-making and our ability to project power in a highly contested environment."
As near-peer adversaries continue to advance their own capabilities, the discussions and partnerships forged at the Air Dominance Summit will be pivotal in ensuring the United States and its allies maintain a decisive edge in the skies for years to come.