News>Combined air boss for Libya campaign hosts professional development seminar
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Lt. Gen. Ralph Jodice (stage), addresses base personnel during a professional development seminar aimed at exploring combined air operations in Libya at the 80th Operations Group auditorium at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, Feb. 15.
Jodice, currently the commander of both NATO Allied Air Command Headquarters and the 16th Air Expeditionary Task Force in Izmir, Turkey, is at the base as the guest speaker for the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program class 13-03 graduation ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo/Dan Hawkins)
Lt. Gen. Ralph Jodice (stage), addresses base personnel during a professional development seminar aimed at exploring combined air operations in Libya at the 80th Operations Group auditorium at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, Feb. 15.
Jodice, currently the commander of both NATO Allied Air Command Headquarters and the 16th Air Expeditionary Task Force in Izmir, Turkey, is at the base as the guest speaker for the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program class 13-03 graduation ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo/Dan Hawkins)
2/15/2013 - SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Lt. Gen. Ralph Jodice, former commander of the 80th Flying Training Wing, returned to Sheppard Feb. 14-15 as the guest speaker for the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program Class 13-03 graduation.
Jodice, a command pilot with more than 3,500 flying hours in the F-111A/E, T-38A, F-15E and UH-1N aircraft, is currently the commander of both NATO Allied Air Command Headquarters and the 16th Air Expeditionary Task Force in Izmir, Turkey.
As part of his visit, Jodice conducted a professional development seminar for approximately 75 Airmen in the 80th Operations Group auditorium, outlining lessons he learned as the Combined Forces Air Component Commander (CFACC) while based at Poggio Renatico, Italy, during Operation Unified Protector.
As the commander responsible for command and control, oversight, planning, coordination and execution of all air-related tasks in NATO's southern region, he was a key part of international operations in Libya.
The seminar, titled "The value and effectiveness of multi-national cooperative action in the future global security environment and ENJJPT", focused on an overview of the role Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) played during the campaign.
"ISR is a driver in operations today," Jodice said. "Fusing intelligence and resources where you need them is vitally important to executing the mission."
Strategically using ISR to help enforce a no-fly zone and prevent possible attacks was "critical" to the success of the mission, said the general.
Jodice, who commanded the 80th FTW from 2001-2003, also took part in a T-38 Talon flight as part of a regularly scheduled training mission and got the opportunity to see how ENJJPT has changed during a tour of the facilities, including the recently opened 80th Operations Group building.
His visit also included an office call with Brig. Gen. Michael Fantini, 82nd Training Wing commander.
The stay concluded with the graduation of the ENJJPT class 13-03, where Jodice was the guest speaker for the event.
