Gen. Mark A. Welsh III Chief of Staff

The Pentagon has pushed replacing the A-10s role in combat with F-16s until the new F-35 aircraft are deployed. The new planes have been plagued by ballooning costs and criticism that they are not as capable in close air-support roles as the A-10. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced a year ago that the Pentagon had plans to retire the A-10 and replace it in the short-term with F-16s until the F-35s are flying.

Late last year, a provision prohibiting the Air Force from retiring the A-10 and approving $331 million to be spent to keep it flying was pushed by U.S. Rep. Ron Barber. It did, however, allow the Air Force to place up to 36 of the nearly 300 A-10s in the fleet into a “back-up inventory status,” subject to a Pentagon review.

I found inspiration in my Airmen. "You don't get more innovative just because you get older and get smarter," "You get more innovative, because you listen to more people." Sharing a bite, as with Airmen at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, in 2013,

Air Education and Training Command vice commander, departs July 18 for his new duties as Associate Director for Military Affairs at the Central Intelligence Agency in Washington

I poses for a picture with 1st Lt. Meghan Eckenrode, 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron (center) and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force, James Cody (right), in the Blatchford-Preston Complex Dining Facility at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar Dec. 11. Welsh and Cody met with airmen during their visit to AUAB and thanked them for their service. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. James Hodgman/Released)

I visits with Gen. Edward P. Maxwell, the Commander of the Arizona Air National Guard, during Welsh's visit to the 162nd Wing, Tucson International Airport Air National Guard Base, Arizona, on March 26

The presentation, free for all attendees, was the first in a series of discussions that aims to help leaders grow and succeed.

“The great part about coming back to JBSA-Randolph is that it’s timeless – the Taj doesn’t seem to change, “It’s a foundation for our Air Force and that’s what I love about being here. Thank you for what you’ve built, I hope you’re as proud of it as I am.

You have people around you every day who do remarkable things, who say remarkable things and who care about each other, Notice them first, write down the lesson they taught you and remember the moment. I promise, you’ll start to see the same things I do. They’ll move you.”

Army Gen. Frank Grass, chief, National Guard Bureau, recognition, chief of staff of the Air Force, for partnership with the National Guard during his tenure, Minuteman Hall, the Pentagon, Arlington, VA, June 20, 2016. Gen. Grass proclaimed Gen. Welsh an honorary Minuteman and presented him the National Guard symbol. The two agreed it is impossible to differentiate between an active duty Airman and those serving in the Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve -- and that that is as it should be. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jim Greenhill) (Released)