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3-star visits Dyess

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Carolyn Viss
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, visited Dyess Sept. 5 and 6 to meet with local and base leadership and to review Dyess operations as well as learn more about the base's green energy initiatives. 

Lt. Gen. Howie Chandler extended his appreciation to the men and women of Dyess Air Force Base. 

"I know everyone here is very busy, but taking the time to let me see the operations here gave me a better picture of what's going on in the field," he said. 

One of the highlights of his tour was seeing the off-base wind turbines from the air, he said. He was able to have orientation flights in both the C-130 and the B-1. 

He also had the opportunity to visit with local Abilene leaders, whose support for the base make the mission here possible. 

"As goes Dyess, so goes the B-1 community," he said. "It's been a great experience to see Airmen at all levels living and working together. The Air Mobility Command and Air Combat command, together with the City of Abilene, are an effective team." 

Because Dyess is the first Air Force base to depend on renewable energy, General Chandler said the base sets the bar and he is excited to see the green initiative here.
"The Department of Defense is one of the biggest users of energy in the nation," he said. "Dyess is doing great things to lead the way in conserving and reusing that resource." 

Although the Air Force has experienced some heavy personnel draw-downs recently, General Chandler said there are "ways out" of the challenges that go with cutbacks - and AFSO-21 and DYSO-21 initiatives are big keys to success. 

"It's an exciting time in the Air Force," General Chandler said. "As we continue to work toward getting smaller and capitalizing the force, we have to find more creative ways to be effective and efficient." 

Although the focus has been on fighting and winning the Global War on Terror, General Chandler said he knows the best way to keep the force strong is to continue to take care of Airmen and their families. And the shrinking force has its benefits as well. 

"I think we'll find that a smaller Air Force means good taxpayer value," General Chandler said. "We're still the best Air Force in the world. Every other nation's military force seeks to emulate our example." 

To the families at Dyess, the General closed by saying he appreciates the hard work here in spite of a high deployment tempo. 

"The C-130 units are especially busy, but the B-1 side of the house also has its work cut out for it because Dyess is the only training base in the Air Force," he said. "You're doing great things - keep up the great work."