Pope Field, Fort Bragg officials address Fayetteville civic leaders

By Lisa Moore
440th AW PAO

November 17, 2011

	Photo by Maj. Lisa Reaver/440th AW PAO Brig. Gen. Norman Ham speaks to civic and community leaders at the 2011 Fayetteville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce Military Leadership Business Luncheon.

Before a crowd of 200 Fayetteville, N.C. community and civic leaders, senior ranking Pope Field official Brig. Gen Norman Ham, gave one of two key note speeches at the Fayetteville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce Military Leadership Business Luncheon Nov. 10. The other speech was given by Brig. Gen. Brian Lein, command surgeon for U.S. Army Forces Command.

On the eve of Veterans Day, Ham expressed his thanks to the men and women currently in uniform, those no longer actively wearing a uniform, as well as the Fayetteville community for its support of the military and veterans.

“We honor our brave men and women who have proudly served this great Nation. They are the fabric from which our flag has been woven,” he said. “We recognize our active-duty service members who of course are visible due to our ongoing operations overseas. However, the majority of veterans we honor today no longer actively serve wearing a military uniform. Many have gone on to become our teachers, police officers, firemen and neighbors.”

Ham, who is also the 440th Airlift Wing commander, represented the five major Air Force commands on the installation at the event. He spoke to the changes on Pope Field and reminded the attendees that, even with the implementation of the Base Realignment and Closure mandates, there are still Airmen at Pope Field on Fort Bragg and there are always Pope Field Airmen deployed.

Both generals spoke to the leaders about the impact of budget cuts and the federal government plans to reduce funding for the military over the next decade.

“The budget cuts will mean that the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps will be smaller,” Lein said.

“The budget cuts will require the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard to help the active-duty Air Force carry more of the load,” said Ham.

On Pope Field, the Ham commands a fleet of 16 C-130 aircraft. During his speech he spoke to the future of Air Force weaponry and the anticipation of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.

In what is expected to be the largest military aircraft procurement ever, the stealth supersonic F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is described as the “next generation strike aircraft” and will replace a wide range of aging fighter and strike aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied defense forces worldwide.

“We need it for the future,” Ham said.

Share