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CSAF visits NASIC, highlights mission importance

  • Published
  • By Michelle Martz
  • National Air and Space Intelligence Center

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., made his first visit to the National Air and Space Intelligence Center during a trip to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Dec. 3, 2020.

Brown’s half-day agenda started with some time at Air Force Materiel Command before coming over to NASIC for a short tour and series of intelligence briefings.

The visit focused heavily on NASIC’s role as a service intelligence center, providing the foundational intelligence required for both the Air Force and Space Force to maintain a competitive advantage.  

Brown, who released his “Accelerate Change or Lose” directive earlier in the year, made a connection between the Center’s work and his strategic vision.  

“You help us understand the competition,” said Brown. “And you can’t accelerate without understanding your competition.”

Throughout the day, NASIC members briefed the Chief of Staff on their areas of expertise, focusing on threats that span across air, space, and cyber domains. Brown said this approach helped him better understand the Center. 

“I appreciate what NASIC laid out for me today,” he said. “I really like how you are teaming to attack problems.”

Organizing mission management around a problem set is one of the ways NASIC is working to speed up intelligence delivery.

“The CSAF’s visit was a fantastic opportunity for our workforce,” said Calabrese. “It was exciting to show General Brown how we are accelerating foundational scientific and technical intelligence needed to enable joint all-domain command and control.”

Accompanying Brown on the visit was Gen. Arnold Bunch, AFMC commander; Lt. Gen. James Dawkins Jr., Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration; and Lt. Gen. Mary O’Brien, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Cyber Effects Operations.

In addition to its role as the nation’s air and space intelligence center, NASIC is also an operational wing in the Air Force’s ISR enterprise. And as a field operating agency, the Center reports directly to O’Brien.

“It was great to visit NASIC with General Brown today,” said O’Brien. “They showcased their unmatched scientific and technical intelligence workforce, dedicated to providing critical decision quality insights.”

Toward the end of the visit, Brown took time to recognize some of the Center’s exceptional performers. He then made impromptu remarks to members of the NASIC workforce who had gathered in the area, thanking them and pledging his intent to return.

“My job is to make your jobs easier,” said Brown. “This visit has been way too short. I want to come back.”