Blog Posts from July, 2010
Explaining Interoperability
I’ve spent the last 11 days at the 2010 Farnborough International Air Show in Hampshire County, U.K., and it’s honestly been an eye-opening experience.
What I’ve realized is that planes are awesome, but more than that, people are awesome.
The Farnborough International Air Show brings over 1,300 exhibitors, 165 static aircraft and 285,000 visitors into one area for a massive global aviation event.
There are over 30 countries represented here and billions of dollars of business transactions taking place every moment.
There are over 70 American personnel who have been diligently working at the air show, all with the common goal of building interoperability.
![Planes at show](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121017124232im_/http://www.eucom.mil/Content/LegacyPhotos/2010/07/sam_1187.jpg?w=300)
Spectators gather to view static displays at the show
While this word, ‘interoperability’, is (usually) thrown out a lot by senior leadership, and many of us may not really think we know the definition; it is a word we actually understand in practice, especially with the help of this air show.
We are here to work with other countries, not because we want to show off, but because we realize that we have phenomenal partners and if we work together, we can really accomplish a lot. Perhaps we could even achieve world peace or at least make our best attempt at it.
Interoperability means you can’t do things on your own. A country that relies only on its own assets, people and management will never succeed.
This mutual interdependence means capitalizing on the strengths of each team member, while showing resolve and support through a cooperative effort.
While we’re working with these other countries, we learn and grow together as, not just a country, but as a global community.
Most of the air crews’ hours were spent in the hot sun, mixed with your normal England spring showers, where the pilots stood among seven of our corralled aircraft static displays, talking to the many visitors about their aircrafts’ capabilities and equipment. Other than a small break to eat lunch, these guys were outside speaking to and escorting the public while showing off their aircraft almost all day.
All the commanders, pilots, air crew and support personnel I’ve met here have been so impressive and inspirational to me.
The public affairs team was responsible for highlighting everyone’s hard work and as such, we’ve had the great opportunity to meet some really incredible people while also learning more about what they do.
![PA team](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121017124232im_/http://www.eucom.mil/Content/LegacyPhotos/2010/07/sam_1219.jpg?w=300)
The Public Affairs team poses for pictures
The passion, professionalism and downright good nature of our U.S. team here became abundantly clear to me with each passing day. It seems everyone truly loves what they do and they’re proud of it; they think their jobs are the best and love talking about it.
The PA team, along with all the rest of the U.S. Farnborough team, truly had a blast working together and meeting each other while also meeting with several other countries along the way.
This blog doesn’t even begin to describe what an experience this place has been, but hopefully it gives you just a glimpse of the magic we were a part of.
Air Force Capt. Naomi Evangelista, Farnborough International Air Show Joint Information Bureau
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EUCOM Commander & Secretary of the Army met today and started the Army-Navy football rivalry early!
Adm. James Stavridis, EUCOM Commander, and the Secretary of the Army, Mr. John McHugh, met today at EUCOM headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. They took time at the end of their meeting to send this quick message and get the Army-Navy football rivalry started early.
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Why NATO Matters to the USA
Pretty surprising that a Supreme Allied Commander Europe – standing as I do in the footsteps of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, just 65 years after the end of WWII and after 60 years of the founding of the Alliance – would feel need to blog about “Why NATO Matters to the USA.”
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The magic of the Farnborough International Air Show
Try imagining some 150,000 business men and women from nationalities and cultures from across the world, all driving, walking, talking, collaborating, and trading amongst 165 static displays, 1,300 exhibitors, branched beneath the umbrella of a heart-pounding, ear-numbing roar of whizzing aircraft that fill the sky. Now multiply that picture by seven and voila - you've got the Farnborough International Air Show in Farnborough, UK.
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Navy Adm. James Stavridis, EUCOM Commander, Answers Your Top 5 Questions
The Supreme Allied Commander Europe and U.S. European Command, commander, Navy Adm. James Stavridis answers the top 5 questions sent to him on his Facebook page.
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Continued Focus in Afghanistan
It’s been a busy couple of weeks since my last blog, including trips all over the NATO world. As regular followers of both US and NATO security interests, I’m sure you already know what a busy couple of weeks it has been.
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Clergy converged in Carpathians
I read about the economic and natural crises in Romania this week and I couldn't help but think about a recent trip I took to the beautiful Carpathia Mountains not far from where the flooding is happening now.
Comments: 1
Whoa, the airforce really does alot.