Much has changed since I first donned this uniform and accepted the responsibilities of being an American Airman—and thinking, designing, teaching, and applying Air, Space, and Cyber power to accomplish our nation’s objectives.

I've had the opportunity to learn from, and work with, a group of truly talented Airmen who honor me today with their presence—in addition to those I mentioned earlier, are John Warden, Ron Bath, Tom McInerney, Alan Gropman, and a host of others. Please pardon me if I don’t name all of you here but we don’t have time to read the entire attendance roster—and each and every one of you are very special to me.

All of you—and many others—had a hand in driving a dramatic and fundamental shift in the character of warfare over the last quarter of a century—a migration away from industrial age warfare, to an era of achieving precision effects based on rapid and wide dissemination of information.

An example of how much has changed is illustrated by the two aircraft framing the stage—the proven F-15 Eagle which I've flown for over 33 years, and the F-22A Raptor. What makes both these aircraft dominant in the context of their times is not only their speed, agility, weapons and signature—that which defines why we call them 'fighters'—but rather their ability to gather, process, and rapidly share information.

In the case of the F-15, that information was a treasure trove that only went to the pilot—and we learned to share it only when technology advanced to where it would allow us to do that. In the case of the F-22—this is an aircraft that was designed from the start with the ability to collect, share, and rapidly act upon information...it’s more a flying sensor platform than its traditional designation that the term “fighter” conveys.

While it’s the most modern and capable combat aircraft in the world today, it’s a nascent indicator of how we’ll approach aircraft design in the future. Both declining resources and advancing technology are driving us to a future where every sensor is also equipped to be a shooter and every shooter also has integrated sensor capability.

We’re in an information age today and that’s what the ISR transformation that I’ve had the privilege and pleasure of leading for the last four years—along with my partners Paul Dettmer and most recently Jim Poss—is all about.

Knowledge is of no greater value today than in the past. However, what has changed is the ability of how data can be assimilated, synthesized and delivered in time to be useful. So we built an ISR enterprise with the intent to make the source of information transparent, the analysis good enough to become predictive, and the dissemination immediate.

At the same time, the evolution of technology and information is allowing us to seek a cultural change from the model of the past where operations and intelligence were segregated, to a day where the integration of operations and ISR is the norm. In the Desert Storm days of 1991 the friction between intel and the ops planners was palatable. Today I’m happy to say that’s no longer the case, but we must move toward even greater integration.

Still—airpower is about more than finding and sharing information—it's about compressing time and space as well—about exploiting operations in the third dimension with a speed and agility that our adversaries simply can't match.

Now, our sister services possess aircraft. Those aircraft make up the ‘air arms' of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. Those air arms are rightfully dedicated to facilitating the core functions of their parent service—operations on the ground, at sea, and in the littorals.

There is however, only ONE AIR FORCE—it is not just another air arm, but rather a service specifically dedicated and structured to exploit the advantages of operating in the third dimension. It’s this unique and specific focus that keeps our Nation on the leading edge of the challenges we face...or in other words, makes aerospace power one of America’s asymmetric advantages.

Today, our joint forces have the highest battlefield survivability rates not only because of the advances in medicine—but also due to our ability to rapidly get our wounded to critical care facilities…BY AIR.

Today, unlike the contests of the past—our joint forces go into combat with more information about the threat they face, and have better situational awareness provided in near real-time, and they get that information…FROM AIR and SPACE, through cyberspace.

Today, unlike the past, our joint task forces are able to operate with much smaller numbers, across great distances and inhospitable terrain because they can be sustained over the long-haul…BY AIR.

Today, navigation and precise location anywhere on the surface of the earth for application in both peace and war is provided by an Air Force GPS constellation… FROM SPACE.

Today, not only do surface forces receive firepower from the air when they need it, but the adversaries our Nation views as the greatest threat to our security are being eliminated by direct attack… FROM THE AIR.

Over the last decade of the 20th century and the first decade of the 21st century, Airmen have created a structure of capabilities that have become ubiquitous…as a result, the Air Force has become an indispensible force…now that’s both a blessing… and a challenge.

We’ve made it look easy when it’s not, and as a result too many take what we do for granted… education and awareness are the solution…and our partners in the Air Force Association are helping to make that happen. For that we thank you.

Air, Space, and Cyber power are based on the characteristics of technology—but the invention, design, development, fielding and application of those instruments flow from human imagination, knowledge, and capabilities. American Airmen have harnessed technological capabilities to the ever-evolving requirements of national security by deterring potential adversaries; flying, fighting, and winning when necessary; by capitalizing on the virtues of air and space to project power without projecting vulnerability; and as a result, they provide our national leadership with strategic alternatives.

This is a proud heritage and a legacy that we must continue.

Now, I’ve talked a lot about the Air Force here, and I’m mightily proud of our service, but you will NOT find a stronger proponent of joint warfare than I. My fondest memories of my service are when I had the opportunity to lead soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines in combat.

There are some pundits out there that don’t understand that to have jointness the separateness of our services is a requirement. It takes 25 years to hone the expertise to be a great division commander on the ground, a battle group commander at sea, or a joint force air component commander. Our construct of joint operations requires that we have the strongest Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force in the world.

In my last moments in uniform I want to offer my thanks to the men and women of all the services for your continued sacrifice in answering your nation's call. We are today, and will remain, successful in our struggle against violent extremism and tyranny because of the caliber of the men and women who make up our Armed Forces.  In my 34 years of active service, I’ve partaken in and witnessed some of the most courageous and noble actions that epitomize our core values of integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do from every corner of the Air Force team, and from every corner of the globe. The good times were many, the bad times were few, and the people my family and I came to know…love…command… and lead, both honor and humble me beyond expression.

As I shut down the engines of this chapter of my life and hop into a new jet and taxi out for what's next — I know that each and every one of you will continue building upon the gains we’ve made. I have faith that you all will continue to do the right thing for the Air Force, our sister service partners, your fellow Airmen, and the people of this great Nation as you face the challenges of today and tomorrow.

I don’t have to tell you that we must remain ever vigilant as the enemy never sleeps. However, what they don’t comprehend is that the sun never sets on America’s Air Force. We provide global vigilance, global reach, and global power 24/7/365…and we will never falter…we will never fail.