AFA Conference Tackles Budget, Acquisition and Cyber Issues
U.S. Air Force leadership defends major programs and describes new operating concepts.
Panel line-up of U.S. Air Force generals at the AFA Conference in Washington this week. (Photo: Chris Pocock)
Panel line-up of U.S. Air Force generals at the AFA Conference in Washington this week. (Photo: Chris Pocock)

Once again, the annual U.S. Air Force Association (AFA) Air & Space Conference in Washington was overshadowed by the failure of the Congress to approve the President’s federal budget request. With only two weeks until the start of Fiscal Year 2016, attendees heard pleas from their leadership for the legislators to cast aside their debilitating political differences. However, the Hill is likely to pass a continuing resolution (CR) rather than the FY2016 budget. This means that most defense programs can be funded only at previously approved levels, and new program starts will be inhibited. Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James described the effect of a long-term CR as “even worse than sequestration.”