ACC commander visits Goodfellow

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Abraham Salomon, 17th Training Support Squadron commander, speaks with Gen. Mike Holmes, Commander of Air Combat Command, on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, May 30, 2018. Holmes visited Goodfellow to understand the intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance training and to meet with San Angelo civic leaders. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Randall Moose/Released)

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Abraham Salomon, 17th Training Support Squadron commander, speaks with Gen. Mike Holmes, Commander of Air Combat Command, on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, May 30, 2018. Holmes visited Goodfellow to understand the intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance training and to meet with San Angelo civic leaders. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Randall Moose/Released)

U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Holmes, Commander of Air Combat Command, wears a virtual reality headset to experience a training demonstration put on by the 17th Training Group at the Brandenburg Hall on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, May 30, 2018. This training will allow students to study outside of the class on computers, laptops or tablets. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Randall Moose/Released)

U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Holmes, Commander of Air Combat Command, wears a virtual reality headset to experience a training demonstration put on by the 17th Training Group at the Brandenburg Hall on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, May 30, 2018. This training will allow students to study outside of the class on computers, laptops or tablets. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Randall Moose/Released)

U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Holmes, Commander of Air Combat Command, speaks to San Angelo community leaders at the Event Center on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, May 30, 2018. Holmes thanked the civic leaders for their continued support to Goodfellow and for improving the lives of the Airmen who live here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua Edwards/Released)

U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Holmes, Commander of Air Combat Command, speaks to San Angelo community leaders at the Event Center on Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, May 30, 2018. Holmes thanked the civic leaders for their continued support to Goodfellow and for improving the lives of the Airmen who live here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua Edwards/Released)

GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --

Gen. Mike Holmes, Commander of Air Combat Command, visited the 17th Training Wing to learn more about the training mission, May 30.

As the ACC commander, Holmes is responsible for the Air Force core function of Global Integrated Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance.  Many of the Airmen that graduate training at Goodfellow go on to work at ACC units aligned with that function.   

Holmes toured the training squadrons and learned about how the 17th Training Group instructs its ISR trainees.

“The future of everything we do going forward in the Air Force, is trying to change from an Air Force that has been fighting this daily battle against violent extremist, to an Air Force that can once again deter great powers like Russia and China,” said Holmes. “Everything we do along that course will be built on the back of ISR.”

Holmes also met with San Angelo community leaders.

“We are here to support Goodfellow Air Force Base and we hope everyone up the line understands how important this is to the city of San Angelo and its citizens,” said San Angelo Mayor, Brenda Gunter. “If someone in his position takes the time to come out here, it’s important for us as city leaders to come out here and say, ‘Thank you, and thanks for the support you give Goodfellow.’ I don’t know what is all going to be said today but we want to let him know that we are here to support.”

During Holmes’ visit with local leaders, he took the opportunity to thank them for their support.

“You guys are unique in the way you have sought to find out what the base’s needs are and then actually achieve solutions to them,” said Holmes. “This is a population that loves the Airmen and wants to make this a good life for them, a place where they can find meaning and purpose, serving their country and we appreciate it.”