BLAZE Team members attend ATA convention

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Wesley Spurlock
  • 14th Operations Support Squadron
Forty-two members of Columbus AFB traveled to the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 25 through 28 to attend the 39th annual Airlift Tanker Association's Convention and Symposium. 

The A/TA holds this gathering every year to update its members on the status and future of the Mobility Air Forces. This year's theme was "The Many Faces of Air Mobility, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow." 

The four-day event started on Thursday night with a welcome reception in the Ryman Exhibit Hall. The attendees had an opportunity to talk with representatives from industry partners like Boeing and Lockheed Martin and learn about their company's future developments. Convention members listened to presentations by several top Air Force Leaders Friday and Saturday, including the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, the honorable Sue Payton, and the Commander of Air Force Materiel Command, Gen. Bruce Carlson. 

There was also a "4-Star Panel" with nine active duty and retired four star generals, including the Commander of United States Transportation Command, Gen. Norton Schwartz, the command of Air Mobility Command, Gen. Arthur Lichte, and the commander of Air Education and Training Command, Gen. William Looney. The Convention culminated with a banquet where more than 3,900 attendees gathered together to honor the aeromedical evacuation corps' service to America.