General Carpenter speaks at 08-06 Graduation Published March 10, 2008 By Airman Josh Harbin 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. -- Brigadier Gen. Floyd Carpenter came to Columbus AFB Friday to speak at the Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 08-06 graduation held at Kaye Auditorium. Carpenter is the vice commander of the 8th Air Force, which oversees all information operations and serves as the bomber war fighting headquarters. While here, he spoke of the 8th Air Force's significant role in effectively handling cyberspace and bombing operations in order to retain global strategic dominance during the war on terror. Carpenter said in order to do so, Airmen need to be trained accordingly in order to maintain control in the fight against enemy forces. For instance, he highlighted the relevance of the manned bomber for the future of national defense. "The B-52 performs strategic attack, air interdiction, offensive counter-air and maritime operations," he said. Carpenter said the B-52 delivered 40 percent of all weapons dropped by coalition forces during Desert Storm. He said such combat power is necessary to our nation's war fighting capability even in the future. With the CAFB retirement of the T-37 Tweet fast approaching and CAFB's aging aircraft fleet, Carpenter said national priorities shifted away from defense projects after the U.S. won the Cold War because there was no longer a threat to the world's only remaining superpower. "The bad news is that we could soon be flying against aircraft and air defense systems that our older aircraft were not intended to fly against," he said. However, Carpenter said the Air Force is reorganizing its efforts to focus on development and acquisition programs.
