ARLINGTON, Va. - The need to be innovative and agile was a key message Air Force Gen. Joseph Lengyel stressed in his remarks during a recent technological seminar near Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
The event served as an opportunity to present data, findings and emerging technologies between Air Force Research Laboratory scientists and engineers and industry-based partners.
"Your efforts here not only demonstrate the unity of effort between industry, the Department of Defense and other government agencies," noted Lengyel, chief of the National Guard Bureau, "but the sheer capacity of the best and brightest to keep our nation safe."
Lengyel also addressed the challenges our nation faces confronting modern-day threats in a fiscally constrained environment.
"Our adversaries have not been static and have invested in their technology," he observed. "Some of it they stole from us. Some they developed on their own. But our margin of technological superiority has diminished.
"American innovation and technology is a serious force to be reckoned with," he said. "Our combined efforts with private industry and other government agencies will be a game-changer that keeps us out front.
Despite the challenges, Lengyel insisted, the U.S. still possesses the world's greatest military.
"We do things no other country can do," he said. "We are innovators, we find a way, that's what Americans do!"
Lengyel also discussed the National Guard's role in the technological equation, highlighting the ability of the part-time force to work with the technology sector through partnerships.
"Innovation and agility is inherently in our DNA as Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen," he said. "Our unique culture embraces partnerships with public and private organizations, and our ability to galvanize efforts in confronting threats and challenges is a skill we must now use more deliberately to benefit the wide-ranging defense enterprise.
"I sleep better at night," Lengyel added, "knowing that you all are continuing this great work to keep our technology at the leading edge."