2007 Air Force Historical Foundation Symposium
The Air Force Historical Foundation’s 2007 Symposium was a significant success, with two days of informative presentations, discussions and debates on military history – topped off by keynote speeches and remarks by top Air Force leaders.
This year’s biennial symposium was held October 16-17 in Arlington, Virginia, and included papers on topics that ranged from the 12th Air Force in the North African Campaign during World War II to the Air National Guard’s evolving role in low-intensity conflict and the transformation of aerial warfare in the 21st century.
Our photos below provide some of the event’s highlights (click on the images for a larger version):
A new Air Force Historical Foundation recognition for 2007 is the General Carl “Tooey” Spaatz Award, which honors a sustained, significant contribution to the making of Air Force history through a lifetime of service. The award was presented by Michael W. Wynne (at left), Secretary of the Air Force, to General David C. Jones (USAF ret). Joining them was Gen John Shaud (ret), (center), who is the Air Force Historical Foundation’s First Vice Chairman.
The other new Air Force Historical Foundation recognition in 2007 is the Major General I.B. Holley Award. The honor was awarded to its namesake this year in tribute to the decades of assistance, support and encouragement provided to military historians by Gen Holley (USAFR ret). The award was presented at the symposium’s closing luncheon by U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General T. Michael Moseley, and it was accepted on Gen Holley’s behalf by C.R. (Dick) Anderegg.
U.S. Air Force General John D.W. Corley, Commander, Air Combat Command, gave the opening day luncheon address, underscoring the importance of studying and understanding history – then applying the lessons learned to current and future military deployments and conflicts.
The symposium’s opening keynote address by Dr. Phillip S. Meilinger (Col, USAF, ret), addressed key points – including the perception that political leaders and decision-makers do not appreciate the importance of modern air power. Meilinger proposed an updated mission statement that focuses on its fulfilling “national objectives through the control and exploitation of the air and space.”
