Good afternoon and thank you for the honor of addressing this prestigious group!

　　The Japan Air Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Air Force have much in common.　As　Airmen, we are responsible for the defense of our citizens, for our territories, and for our shared values of freedom, democracy, and equality.　While that mission has remained constant, our world and the potential threats we face have changed dramatically.That is our reality today.

　　Individually and as partners, our air forces are at a critical crossroads.　Make no mistake: the decisions we make and the actions we take today will drive our future ability to provide security and stability for Japan, for the region, and ultimately, the global community.　The decisions we make and the actions we take now must be focused on strengthening both our capabilities and our interoperability.

　　We’ve made a promising and a historic beginning.

　　As you know, our governments have committed to transforming our security alliance. The goal is to ensure our security partnership is as effective in the future, in the next 50 years, as it has been in the past. We began by identifying the many strategic objectives we share in common. Based on this, we built an ambitious framework to realign US military forces in Japan and the region, and, much more importantly, to review and enhance our roles, missions, and capabilities.

　　Of all of the key operational changes under the transformation and realignment process, I would suggest to you that none are more transformational than those actions which strengthen US Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force interoperability.　　Consider these examples:

　　Our recent bilateral exercise KEEN EDGE was a superb example of the power we generate from our Japanese and American Airmen working face-to-face, in real-time, sharing information and intelligence, building a robust common operating picture, and coordinating our response to scenarios ranging from humanitarian relief to conflict. While the operational and technical communication links between our air forces are impressive, the main ingredient for success remains our people. Through the interim Bilateral Joint Operations Coordination Center—or BJOCC—at Yokota, through our Air Component Coordination Element—or ACCE, and through the Bilateral Coordination Center at Ichigaya, our people drove coordination and cooperation to new levels of effectiveness. This level of cooperation gets the attention of potential adversaries and helps keep them respectful in this dangerous part of the world.

　　We’re taking this interaction beyond our command posts and headquarters and into the field. In March, we conducted our first air training relocation. It was magnificent. F-15s from Kadena trained with JASDF F-2s at Tsuiki Air Base. And the experience was phenomenal for all of our Airmen, not just the pilots. Our logisticians surveyed base facilities and support. Our maintainers generated sorties and learned from each other on the flight line. Local Japanese government officials met American Airmen—some for the very first time. The friendships that result, and I’m talking at all levels, are simply another form of soft combat power.

　　All of this is really just a continuation of the great bilateral training we’ve always done, such as US C-130 crews helping train JASDF air crews for duty in Iraq, major exercises such as COPE THUNDER and COPE NORTH, and constant local unit-level training and exchange programs at Misawa, Kadena, and Yokota.

　　 Even as we work together to maintain our combat readiness, the US Air Force continues to enhance our operational presence. The 18th Wing at Kadena is upgrading to the newest F-15C model and enhancing the fleet with new engines, new radars, and integration of the Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System. The 374th Airlift Wing at Yokota has transitioned from the C-130E to the C-130H for higher performance. And we are nearing the end of the first-ever overseas deployment of the F-22 Raptor to Okinawa—an unqualified success by any measure.

　　In addition to exercising and training together we will soon have the ability and strategic opportunity to work side-by-side together as the Air Defense Command moves its headquarters from Fuchu to Yokota. This truly transformational initiative includes not only moving the headquarters and personnel, it also includes the construction of a new bilateral air operations coordination center (BAOCC) where members of the JASDF and USAF will work together to provide for the ballistic missile and air defense of Japan. This initiative with a planned initial operational capability set for 2010 will not only transform the landscape of Yokota AB, it will also transform and strengthen the interoperability of our two Air Forces.

　　Ballistic missile defense is important to the United States, but even more compelling for Japan. As last summer’s North Korea missile launches demonstrated, missile flight times are short. Very short. Japanese and US cooperation on research, development, testing, and deployment of missile defense capabilities such as Aegis and the SM-3 missile is unprecedented in the world. The end result of this overall strengthened defensive operational capability and interoperability is credible deterrence. And most people would agree that the best form of ballistic missile defense is the deterrence that helps ensure threatening ballistic missiles are never fired from their launchers.

　　To aid in this effort, this January, US Pacific Air Forces established a forward deployed operating detachment of 13th Air Force at Yokota AB. Det 1 13 AF provides a permanent twenty-four/seven operational link with our Pacific Air and Space Operations Center in Hawaii. The 50-person detachment is responsible for planning, coordinating and executing air operations around Japan by working with the 613th Air and Space Operations Center. Stated more simply, the change commits a fully functional US Air Force AOC to the defense of Japan. Equally as important, the reorganization maintained 5th Air Force in Japan to continue daily coordination with our JASDF counterparts.

　　For the U.S. Air Force, we must replace and modernize our fleet of aging aircraft. We must maintain our existing global reach and global power, while also preparing to meet and defeat emerging challenges. We need new tankers, new search and rescue aircraft, and expanded Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance capabilities. We need the capabilities of the fifth generation fighter to ensure we can fly, fight, and win anytime and anywhere. We need to continue to invest in our Airmen.

　　Japan is at a similar critical crossroads. The Japan-US joint statement from last week’s 2+2 meeting states clearly that the investments our nations make in the alliance today will ensure our peace and security tomorrow. We have clearly defined our common strategic objectives. The recent 2+2 highlighted the goals of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and engaging with China to be a responsible regional partner and to improve transparency in their military activities, among other objectives. We will achieve these political objectives by implementing the direction of our two governments to strengthen our military alliance, cooperation, and interoperability.

　　Let me close by talking about interoperability. In most military contexts, interoperability refers to equipment—and no doubt the interoperability of equipment is very important. My experience in Japan, however, has taught me that trust, understanding, and friendship among our Airmen is just as important—maybe even more so. Personal relationships equal real combat power. The recent 2+2 statement calls on us to better prepare our forces to operate together in a crisis. JAAGA helps us do this. I want to personally thank you for the impact JAAGA has in forging and strengthening the personal ties and working relationships between our people and our air forces.

　　Again, I thank you for your time and this great honor of addressing you today

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