The tyranny of distance and transnational threats, such as drug and human trafficking, are the biggest challenges to African nations, said Gen. Frank Gorenc, commander of US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, during AFA’s Air & Space Conference in National Harbor, Md., on Monday. “The bottom line is you can put three United States in Africa, and that’s what we have to deal with. And if you know anything about Africa, it’s not like there are a whole lot of airports and roads that allow you to truck stuff and put stuff” where you need it to be prepared,” said Gorenc. Because of that, Gorenc said one of the biggest needs in Africa is mobility. “Some elegant mobility solutions would allow services of those countries to do some really good things with respect to challenges they have across the board,” he said.
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.