General Schwartz - Journey: memoirs of an Air Force Chief of Staff

Copyright 2018 by General Norty Schwartz

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover design by Rain Saukas

ISBN: 978-1-5107-1033-7

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-1034-4

Printed in the United States of America

Dedicated to Suzie, who made this journey possible, and all those members of the Armed Forces and their families with whom we had the extraordinary privilege to serve.

Feathers shall raise men even as they do birds towards heaven.
That is by letters written with their quills.

L EONARDO DA V INCI

The men and women [of our Air Force] are a national asset, and together we will recommit ourselves to our core values and uphold the highest standards of excellence that have made our Air Force the best in the world.
Our nation deserves nothing less. We will be ready if called upon.

G ENERAL N ORTY S CHWARTZ
upon nomination for Chief of Staff
July 22, 2008

USAF photo

CONTENTS

The greatest book has not been written, the fastest train has not been built, the greatest painting has not been dreamed. Go to, young man, go to.

J ACK M C C ALMONT
USAF Academy Class of 1973

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

S uzie and I started this project with the thought that some of what happened to us might be of modest historical significance, but it is also a story of two American kids, one from Arkansas, one from New Jersey, drawn together not by common experience, family or faith, but by respect for one another and a shared appreciation for the nobility of public service. We hope that our story illuminates the possibilities that our country offers to those who aspire and care.

We would never have completed the effort without the dogged assistance of coauthor Ron Levinson; and all those working behind the scenes, including our agent, Dan Strone, editors Chris Evans and Joe Craig, and editorial assistant Mike Campbell. Nor would we have the had success we enjoyed without wonderful friends and mentors: Gene Reinartz, Al and Barbara Navas, Mort Freedman, Al Peck, Alan Gropman, John Shaud, Dick and Annie Potter, Jim and Diane Hobson, Mike and Jane Ryan, Pete and Cindy Schoomaker, Dick and Mary Jo Myers, Pete and Lynne Pace, Mike and Victoria Carns, Joe and Dede Ralston, Don and Joyce Rumsfeld, Bob and Becky Gates, Leon and Sylvia Panetta, Mike and Gail Donley, Mike and Deborah Mullen, George and Sheila Casey, Gary and Ellen Roughead, Jim and Annette Conway, and John and Jan Ellsworth. And from my youth: Bob and Pam Munson, Steve and Leslie Lorenz, Frank and Nancy Klotz, Mike and Sandra Mosier, Skip and Joanne Sanders, Ron and Mary Scott, and Jim Green. To each of them, and so many others, Suzie and I express our admiration and gratitude.

The stories in this book reflect my best recollection of events. Some names, locations, occupations, physical properties, and identifying characteristics have been intentionally changed to protect the privacy of those depicted. Other alterations are unintentional, as memory fades.

Aristotle reminds us that memory is the scribe of the soul, but the older I get, the more I realize that the ink is not indelible. Ive done my best to relay events in a way that evokes the feeling and meaning of what was said and what occurred; in all instances, the essence of the dialogue and events described are as accurate as memory allows.

Shortly after I was sworn in as Chief, I celebrated Air Force Week with a speech at Bellevue University in Bellevue, Nebraska. The words I shared that day still resonate within me, cutting to the core of why I embarked on this journey and how much I believe that the future of our great nation depends on others being similarly inspired to do so. To those who have, and those who will, I dedicate this book.

We are going to need young men and women to continue to step forward and say Send meand that applies to every branch of our armed forces. We need people who know that accountability, character, and leadership are the only answers for the demands that we face. We need people who know that the blessings we enjoy come at a price. There are, indeed, some things worth fighting for and they are well worth defending for those who will follow us. We need people who know that the future of a free people will be written by people who serve. And those with honor, integrity, and creativity will justify Americas confidence in us. It all depends on what we do now and in the days to come.

FOREWORD

by Leon Panetta

N orty is, I believe, one of the finest officers Ive had the honor to work with. He came at a very critical time in the history of the Air Force, and he responded with incredible leadership in making the Air Force an essential, credible, and capable partner in our national defense.

As a young man, he understood the importance of hard work and dedication to his country, values that led to his decision to serve this nation in uniform. These values have guided him through a distinguished career in both the conventional and special operations communities.

As the 19th Air Force chief of staff, Norty has led the Air Force with tremendous judgment, vision, and honesty. Even though he was planning to retire after his time at TRANSCOM, when he was called upon to help the institution he loves, he accepted the mission. And he always has.

Norty led the Air Force during a period of intense operational demands and evolving strategic and fiscal challenges. He quickly moved to restore confidence in our nuclear enterprisean absolutely vital component of our national security.

[He was at the helm for] the Libya operation, where the Air Force flew over eight thousand sortiesconducting airstrikes and providing ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) and air refueling capabilities to the NATO-led coalition. All of this helped rid the world of a brutal dictator.

In Afghanistan, the Air Force flew more than thirty-three thousand close air support sorties in 2011 alone, in addition to having thousands of airmen serving on the ground. As the ground infantrymen tell me, there is no more comforting sound than jets arriving overhead to help get them out of a jam. Norty worked tirelessly to ensure that those jets would be there.

Norty worked with his teammate, Mike Donley, to help the Air Force prepare for the futurea future that includes the security challenges like cyber, and opportunities to have to deal with fiscal constraints, and opportunities to open up the Air Force to all of those who want to serve their country.