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Gen Clark, 548 ISRG Airmen talk diversity, leading the fight

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jaylen Northern
  • 9th Intelligence Squadron
Following the lead of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and senior leaders to keep an open dialogue on race relations, Airmen from the 548th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group spoke with Lt. Gen. Richard M. Clark, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration on a video call June 12.

Clark brings more than 34 years of commitment to service, excellence and leadership. He graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1986 and oversaw five different operations throughout his career.

1st Lt. Randall Abella and 2nd Lt. Isaiah Brown, both with the 9th Intelligence Squadron here, coordinated this event with the intent to establish an inclusive forum for Airmen to hold difficult conversations about race and diversity.

“Our senior leaders have offered their thoughts and perspective and the message is clear, diversity in the Air Force is what makes us strong,” Brown said.

The diverseness of the military and recent events have reminded Airmen of the challenges that are still facing the Air Force. During the conversation, Clark shared personal anecdotes and answered questions. Clark encouraged Airmen within the 548 ISRG to create environments that facilitate understanding each other.

“It doesn’t matter what race or religion you are, we can’t take these problems on as individuals,” said Clark. “It has to be a consolidated effort.”

Airmen of Distributed Ground Station-2 have the unique opportunity to lead from the front and continue the conversation of diversity and inclusion in our Air Force.

“I think that we can have these discussions without bringing politics into it,” Clark said when asked about the military’s stance on having political conversations in the workplace. “This is not about politics, it’s about how we treat each other.”

Clark closed by ensuring Airmen that the only way to find solutions to the problems we as an Air Force face today is together. He said, “We have a long way to go but we need to lead the fight.”