Posted on Jun 15, 2018
Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria, USAFA Superintendent, here for a live Q&A 6/22 @ 12:30pm ET. Questions on air power and leading diverse groups?
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Lt Gen Silveria is the Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. He directs a four-year regimen of military training, academics, athletic and character development programs leading to a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission as a second lieutenant.
Prior to assuming his current position, General Silveria served as the Deputy Commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, and Deputy Commander, Combined Air Force Air Component, U.S. Central Command, Southwest Asia. As Deputy Commander, he was responsible for the command and control of air operations in a 20-nation area of responsibility covering Central and Southwest Asia, to include operations Resolute Support in Afghanistan, and Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Syria. He has previously served as Commander, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and Vice Commander, 14th Air Force, Air Forces Strategic at Vandenberg AFB, California, as well as Director, Security Assistance in the Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq.
General Silveria grew up in an Air Force family and is a 1985 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He completed undergraduate pilot training in 1986. He is a command pilot with more than 3,900 hours in the T-37, T-38, F-15C/E, HH-60 and F-35A aircraft. He has flown combat sorties over the Balkans and Iraq and served as Vice Commander at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.
Prior to assuming his current position, General Silveria served as the Deputy Commander, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, and Deputy Commander, Combined Air Force Air Component, U.S. Central Command, Southwest Asia. As Deputy Commander, he was responsible for the command and control of air operations in a 20-nation area of responsibility covering Central and Southwest Asia, to include operations Resolute Support in Afghanistan, and Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Syria. He has previously served as Commander, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and Vice Commander, 14th Air Force, Air Forces Strategic at Vandenberg AFB, California, as well as Director, Security Assistance in the Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq.
General Silveria grew up in an Air Force family and is a 1985 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He completed undergraduate pilot training in 1986. He is a command pilot with more than 3,900 hours in the T-37, T-38, F-15C/E, HH-60 and F-35A aircraft. He has flown combat sorties over the Balkans and Iraq and served as Vice Commander at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.
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Q&A
United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) USAFA Leadership Development Education Q&A
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 26
Lt Gen (Join to see),
Welcome to RP. Glad to have you join us.
Sir, how do you see the potential of the concept of a Space Force impacting the size, scope and mission of the Air Force? Regarding your current role at the USAFA, how do you think the concept of a Space Force will impact the demand for future students? Do you foresee any potential programmatic changes necessary at the undergraduate level to help lay an adequate foundation for people pursuing that type of a career path?
SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint, SGM Steve Wettstein, SrA Edward Vong, LTC John Shaw, SGT (Join to see), Maj Marty Hogan, CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025, MAJ Charles Blake, COL Charles Williams, MSG Jerry Crouch, Ed.D.
Welcome to RP. Glad to have you join us.
Sir, how do you see the potential of the concept of a Space Force impacting the size, scope and mission of the Air Force? Regarding your current role at the USAFA, how do you think the concept of a Space Force will impact the demand for future students? Do you foresee any potential programmatic changes necessary at the undergraduate level to help lay an adequate foundation for people pursuing that type of a career path?
SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint, SGM Steve Wettstein, SrA Edward Vong, LTC John Shaw, SGT (Join to see), Maj Marty Hogan, CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025, MAJ Charles Blake, COL Charles Williams, MSG Jerry Crouch, Ed.D.
Suspended Profile
Gentlemen, I am very interested in this question in a slightly different scope regarding the future of logistics for the Space Force. Already I read the USAF is working on 3D printing material needed for missions that are underway. Future students will use this technology in their engineering studies and even as a hobby. How do you see the USAF and Space Force maximizing this potential? What second and third order affects do you see from this technology?
Lt Gen Silveria,
As an advisor in AFG for almost 2 years, while in Kandahar, I would awaken every morning to the sound of the A-10 warthogs practicing. That was the most comforting sound ever! Please do Everything possible to preserve the Warthog - the Best ground support aircraft in the World !!! HOORAH !!!
As an advisor in AFG for almost 2 years, while in Kandahar, I would awaken every morning to the sound of the A-10 warthogs practicing. That was the most comforting sound ever! Please do Everything possible to preserve the Warthog - the Best ground support aircraft in the World !!! HOORAH !!!
Thank you sir for taking the time to join us on RP - I have a couple of questions - one on cost/personnel and the other on the impact of big data within Air Force's domain and the military in general.
Due to the current shortages in personnel in both pilots and maintenance, the ability of the US to achieve dominance via our nation’s industrial might appears to have caught the Air Force in a crux - do more for less vs do less for more - in terms of air power. For example an F-16 adjusted for inflation at $29 million compared to the F-35 at $95 million. Roughly three air-frames to one. At some point the less for more approach will reach a cost prohibitive number if not already there with the F-35. As such what is the future of the Air Force in terms of the procurement of next gen fighters as well UAV's.
As well I see a future where units will need to have a more autonomous domain structure to accelerate op tempo as well create a more dynamic battle space as a result of big data being integrated into the C&C. Something along the lines of a combat controller/pilot (NCO) embedded with ground troops controlling UAV's for CAS. What do you think the impacts will be in bringing big data into the mix of C&C - as well overall impact on domain structure.
Thank you.
Due to the current shortages in personnel in both pilots and maintenance, the ability of the US to achieve dominance via our nation’s industrial might appears to have caught the Air Force in a crux - do more for less vs do less for more - in terms of air power. For example an F-16 adjusted for inflation at $29 million compared to the F-35 at $95 million. Roughly three air-frames to one. At some point the less for more approach will reach a cost prohibitive number if not already there with the F-35. As such what is the future of the Air Force in terms of the procurement of next gen fighters as well UAV's.
As well I see a future where units will need to have a more autonomous domain structure to accelerate op tempo as well create a more dynamic battle space as a result of big data being integrated into the C&C. Something along the lines of a combat controller/pilot (NCO) embedded with ground troops controlling UAV's for CAS. What do you think the impacts will be in bringing big data into the mix of C&C - as well overall impact on domain structure.
Thank you.
Lt Gen (Join to see)
Spc Stephenson - First and foremost, thank you for taking the time to join this discussion today. Quite simply, what got us here will not get us where we need to be in the future and people are working hard to find a way to address the cost concerns. Over the course of my career, waging war and preserving peace has grown infinitely more complex. Getting the F-35 to the battlefield is an integral part of the overall air fight because it brings unparalleled global precision attack capability and will play an essential role in maintaining air superiority in the future.
Information is everywhere and we have to adapt to that. I saw us harness it in the AOR and I can tell you it is amazing to watch so many elements come together and help us be extremely effective in delivering combat capability. Multi-domain command and control enables the warfighter to not only determine the appropriate resources they need for the mission but also interact with them in real time during execution to provide greater operational control across domains during dynamic missions with ever changing variables. Applying innovative thinking and a flexible mindset has to be a part of every warfighter and properly integrated technology can greatly support that. Having lots of data isn’t in itself a force multiplier, it’s what we do with the data--how we use it to organize and execute-- that matters. More information can enable better decision making, but it can also be a burden if not applied correctly.
Information is everywhere and we have to adapt to that. I saw us harness it in the AOR and I can tell you it is amazing to watch so many elements come together and help us be extremely effective in delivering combat capability. Multi-domain command and control enables the warfighter to not only determine the appropriate resources they need for the mission but also interact with them in real time during execution to provide greater operational control across domains during dynamic missions with ever changing variables. Applying innovative thinking and a flexible mindset has to be a part of every warfighter and properly integrated technology can greatly support that. Having lots of data isn’t in itself a force multiplier, it’s what we do with the data--how we use it to organize and execute-- that matters. More information can enable better decision making, but it can also be a burden if not applied correctly.
I see a number of you are tracking current news and have asked questions about the President's recent comments about a Space Force. Right now, I will have to direct you to our senior Air Force leadership's recent comments.
With that being said, this was great everyone. Thank you for your thoughtful questions and inviting me to take part in this. We each have role in educating our nation and those we interact with about what service means and the values we stand for. Thank you all for everything you have done and you continue to do in representing your service and our military.
With that being said, this was great everyone. Thank you for your thoughtful questions and inviting me to take part in this. We each have role in educating our nation and those we interact with about what service means and the values we stand for. Thank you all for everything you have done and you continue to do in representing your service and our military.
Welcome sir. I will echo some of the others in saying that I saw your speech on racism and thought it was great to approach that topic in such a candid way. I only have one question. If you had the ability and the resources to restructure the academy any way you see fit (without current limitations), would you and if so how?
Lieutenant General Silveria: WHAT AN INCREDIBLE HONOR IT IS TO HAVE YOU WITH US, SIR!
YOU ARE AMAZING, SIR; AND A BEYOND HIGH CALIBER MAN AND LIEUTENANT GENERAL!
I HAVE NO QUESTIONS; ONLY PRAISE FOR YOU, LIEUTENANT GENERAL.
MAY YOU EXPERIENCE A LOVELY AND AN AWESOME DAY, SIR!
-WITH MY GREATEST RESPECT, Margaret C. Higgins U.S. Army Retired: Coach/Photographer
YOU ARE AMAZING, SIR; AND A BEYOND HIGH CALIBER MAN AND LIEUTENANT GENERAL!
I HAVE NO QUESTIONS; ONLY PRAISE FOR YOU, LIEUTENANT GENERAL.
MAY YOU EXPERIENCE A LOVELY AND AN AWESOME DAY, SIR!
-WITH MY GREATEST RESPECT, Margaret C. Higgins U.S. Army Retired: Coach/Photographer
Lt Gen (Join to see)
Sgt Groth - I sincerely appreciate it and thank you for being engaged in this discussion today. Thank you for your service as well!
Missed this today. Will have to read up (after a few papers are written) thanks COL Mikel J. Burroughs
Sir, as SSG Carlos Madden mentioned, the President's announcement of an inception of a 'Space Force' has "rocked our world". With the further definition that it will be more of a Space Corps - similar to how the Marine Corps falls under the department of the Navy (and, boy, does that frost their buns), is it reasonable that this Space Corps will consist of Cyber and traditional Space Wing ops, thereby sliding focus on traditional Air Force ops back to "regular" Air Force? If so, do you see that helping the manning issues Force-wide, ESPECIALLY with our pilots?
Sir,
Another question I always like to ask senior leaders. We often hear from people in the military and veterans that the new generation of Millennial is somehow weaker or softer, that they need "safe spaces" and should be treated with "kid gloves," etc. From your experience in education and your position at the USAFA, do you find these notions to be true? Are kids today different and softer than those of generations past? If so, how is the school adapting to this new generation?
Another question I always like to ask senior leaders. We often hear from people in the military and veterans that the new generation of Millennial is somehow weaker or softer, that they need "safe spaces" and should be treated with "kid gloves," etc. From your experience in education and your position at the USAFA, do you find these notions to be true? Are kids today different and softer than those of generations past? If so, how is the school adapting to this new generation?
Lt Gen (Join to see)
SSG Madden - Thank you for your question. First, I certainly don't think that this generation is soft, and I'll speak to it from two different perspectives that I've experienced in my career. I've been working with millennials as a leader out in the operational Air Force for years now. I've seen them at work and in combat, and they're excelling. With all of the negativity in the conversation I sometimes see regarding this generation, we forget that they populate the bulk of our all-volunteer force. So they're already out there and they're doing a great job.
Second, from my perspective as Superintendent of the Air Force Academy, I'm amazed by the capabilities of our cadets every day. So yes, this generation of young people is different, but different in good ways. They're capable of processing massive amounts of information, and they're sophisticated in the depth and breadth of their capabilities. They're natural innovators, well suited to the complexity of the battlespaces they will encounter -- fights that require strength and firepower, but also creativity and mental agility.
So I'm confident in this generation. We haven't lowered our standards, and it's no less easier to be a cadet at USAFA. Combat is only increasing in its complexity and volatility. But still they're excelling.
Second, from my perspective as Superintendent of the Air Force Academy, I'm amazed by the capabilities of our cadets every day. So yes, this generation of young people is different, but different in good ways. They're capable of processing massive amounts of information, and they're sophisticated in the depth and breadth of their capabilities. They're natural innovators, well suited to the complexity of the battlespaces they will encounter -- fights that require strength and firepower, but also creativity and mental agility.
So I'm confident in this generation. We haven't lowered our standards, and it's no less easier to be a cadet at USAFA. Combat is only increasing in its complexity and volatility. But still they're excelling.
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