Pacific Air Forces is hosting the annual Pacific Rim Airpower Symposium in Honolulu, Hawaii, this week, as part of the command’s partnership-building activities, according to a release. PACAF Vice Commander Maj. Gen. Mark Dillion is hosting the symposium, which is focused on improving collaboration between Asia-Pacific nations during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, ?developing enlisted personnel, as well as improving coordination of air assets during crises and contingencies. The Senior Enlisted Leadership Conference—the largest multi-national air force enlisted conference in US Pacific Command—also will be held at the same time. The SEL conference, first held in 2008, is a forum for regional air forces to send senior noncommissioned officers to talk about topics, such as force development and management of enlisted airmen. Delegations from 25 Pacific Rim nations were invited to attend the event.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.