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39th annual ATA convention has come and gone

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Larry W. Carpenter Jr.
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  The final curtain closed the night of Oct. 27 on the show called the Airlift Tanker Association convention and symposium. This was the 39th annual convention and the theme was "The Many Faces of Air Mobility: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow."

Nearly 4,000 members of the Air Mobility Command family met in Nashville, Tenn., home of the Grand Ole Opry, to listen to key note speakers as well as get a first hand look at new technologies available to assist today's Airmen in getting the job done safer and more efficiently.

"The convention is all about our mission," said Chief Master Sgt. Dan McMullan, 92nd Operations Group superintendent. "Airmen from all aspects of the wing, from flyers to security forces, get together and see how they affect the tanker/airlift mission."

Throughout the event, everyone in attendance had the opportunity to partake in a number of seminars that ranged in topic from, "The Roots of Islamic Radicalism" to "Developing Enlisted Leaders."

"The seminars were great for professional development," said Chief McMullan. "I attended several, some in my line of work and then I went to an airlift seminar to broaden my scope."

The Roots of Islamic Radicalism seminar was given by Col. (Ret.) James Graham, who majored in Islamic Studies at the Air War College where he was recipient of the Commandant's Award. 

After the seminars, the Ryman BC Exhibit Hall opened for the Aerospace Industry Show where attendees were able to browse different types of military clothing, new cockpit electronics, aircraft engines and ground equipment, and other items.

During the convention, there was a command chief master sergeant panel, which provided Airmen an opportunity to ask questions directly to some of the highest enlisted personnel in AMC and get their feelings on issues affecting the Air Force today. The panel was facilitated by Chief Master Sgt. Joseph E. Barron, Jr., AMC command chief.

One guest speaker that paid a visit to the ATA Convention was Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley. He spent time reinforcing the three priorities of the Air Force: fight and win the war on terrorism, develop and care for our Airmen, and recapitalize and remodernize the Air Force.

"Coming to the convention you get 'reblued' in a way because you get to hear senior leadership speak," said Chief McMullan. "You also get to sit in seminars with generals. That opportunity doesn't arise very often in a career, much less every year."

During his closing address at the ATA Convention, Gen. Arthur Lichte, AMC commander, presented a special guest.

Army Sgt. Dan Powers made the Oct. 29, 2007 issue of the Air Force Times because he was stabbed in the head by an insurgent while serving in Iraq. This was the first time since the incident that he was able to meet the C-17 crew and medical personnel that evacuated him nonstop from Balad Air Base Iraq to Andrews Air Force Base, Md. to receive emergency medical treatment.

General Lichte brought Sergeant Powers out to stress the point of how great the United States military is, in that we would spend an incredible amount of money and effort to get two soldiers from Iraq back to the states to get medical attention.

He went on to speak about the aging fleet of the Air Force, and how the average age was 24 years. The general put that into perspective, stating that people generally don't even drive cars that old. When the audience was asked who drives a car that old, only one individual raised their hand. So as part of modernizing the Air Force, getting new technology is a priority.

The final day of seminars ended with other key speakers including Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley, Air National Guard director, who stressed the importance of the total force concept and the fact that active duty, guard and reserve work hand in hand everyday to get the mission accomplished.

As the members of ATA left Nashville, there was a banner of encouragement hanging from the ceiling..."See you next year in Anaheim", the location of the 40th annual ATA convention.

"The ATA conventions are more impressive every time I go," said Chief Master Sgt. Dan McMullan. "Last year I thought you couldn't beat this, but this year was even better. I can't wait until next year."