Esper encourages military adaptability

During an address at the Air Force Association’s Air, Space & Cyber conference, Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper encouraged military adaptability against potential space threats and cyberattacks.

Esper also said the emergence of Russia and China also expedites the need for adaptable initiatives.

“Succeeding in this new era and winning that competition that is underway requires us to adapt,” Esper said in a keynote speech at what is known as the Air Force’s largest annual gathering. “The strategic environment has changed, and therefore, we must change as well if we’re to maintain this overmatch we have held for decades.”

Esper said if the nation is to remain the world’s preeminent military power, the military must change course away from the past and directly face the challenges of the future.

“Everything we do must be aimed towards achieving the goals and objectives of the NDS (National Defense Strategy),” he said. “The majority of our Airmen sitting in this audience have spent their entire careers fighting the wars. As a result, our military has become very proficient in low-intensity conflict. For decades now, the Air Force has dominated the skies; air superiority has been relatively uncontested.”

Esper said the next big fight may very well begin in space, noting the military must be ready.

“I am confident that we have the strategy needed to win the competition,” he said.