Week 1: WW3, Air Superiority, and Budget Negotiations!

Ava M -

Welcome to week 1 of my senior project!

This week was both captivating and thought-provoking. Monday marked the start of the annual U.S. Air Force Conference in Denver, Colorado, where top-ranking generals General Mike Minihan, General David Wayne Allvin, and General B. Chance Saltzman outlined their strategic goals for the Air Force in the 2025 fiscal year. While they addressed a crowd of thousands, their true audience was Congress, as this event served as a persuasive pitch for increased budget allocations.

Due to recent presidential budget cuts on civilian business travel within the Air Force, I was unable to attend in person but joined the online presentation. The conference opened with a strong emphasis on the critical role of air superiority in global conflicts. To clarify, air superiority is the ability to conduct air operations “without prohibitive interference by the opposing force.”

General David W. Allvin, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, voiced concerns over the declining number of training hours for pilots due to budget constraints. In the 1990s, Air Force pilots logged an average of 22 flight hours per month; today, that number has dropped to fewer than 10. He emphasized the urgent need for more funding to increase flight training and maintain combat readiness.

General Mike Minihan, who leads the Air Force’s transportation command, echoed these concerns, stressing that increased funding would significantly reduce operational risks in wartime scenarios. Meanwhile, General B. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, reinforced the idea that “it takes all of the Air Force”, highlighting the necessity of a budget that supports both civilian and active-duty personnel.

Why does all of this matter? One word: preparedness. This conference served as both a warning and a call to action, aiming to instill a sense of urgency in Congress regarding the Air Force’s ability to counter a potential military conflict with China. By detailing the current shortcomings, the Air Force is employing a high-stakes strategy—one that could either convince lawmakers to reconsider the 8% budget cut or solidify it. Only time will tell how Congress responds.

This week I was tasked with taking notes on this 3-day conference and presenting it to the Finance team. This was fun for me, given how detailed the General’s were on the problem’s the Air Force is having with significant calls for budget cuts. I also was able to examine how budget cutting affected the Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, the base I’m interning at. Next week I plan on attending staff meetings to go over more local issues we’re facing.

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    beatriz_gonzalez_paneque
    Ava, it's been a very fruitful first week. You've started your project at just the right time. This annual conference in Denver, Colorado, has allowed you to witness firsthand the Air Force's efforts to solve the budget problem they've been facing for years. Enjoy this first part of your research. It's time to gather information, review anticipated budget problems, and prepare for those that may come your way, especially in these times of budget cuts. As you yourself mention, you were unable to participate in person due to budget issues. That's not exactly the topic of your research. It may not even be important. But it makes me wonder what you might find during your research that you may not have anticipated. I can't wait to see what happens in your next chapter. As always, I'm very proud of you.
    March 10, 2025 at 4:52 pm - Reply
    ella_r
    Hi, Ava! I really enjoyed reading your takeaways from the U.S. Air Force Conference! If the 8% budget cut mentioned in your post is approved, what specific areas of the Air Force's operations do you believe will be most severely impacted, and how will those impacts manifest in the short and long term? I look forward to reading your post next week!
    March 20, 2025 at 12:20 am - Reply
    firyal_p
    Hey Ava! Kudos to you for making it to the conference despite budget setbacks! I was wondering, as a finance manager, where do you feel this increase in budget is most needed? Additionally, you specifically mentioned China in your emphasis on preparedness. Does China in particular pose a certain threat greater than other nations that requires more of the budget to address?
    March 20, 2025 at 3:24 pm - Reply
    carlos_o_b
    Hi Ava! Your blog was really interesting and was very concerning hearing about the decrease in pilot training hours as this could significantly impact military preparedness. Do you think 10 hours is enough? Do you think congress will rethink the budget cuts? or will the air force have to adjust to the new constraints that were put in place.
    March 20, 2025 at 6:41 pm - Reply

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