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AU commander discusses innovation, future development with AUM, community leaders

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Charles Welty
  • Air University Public Affairs

Lt. Gen. Anthony J. Cotton, Air University commander and president, spoke with community leaders as part of Auburn University at Montgomery’s Business Breakfast series, Friday, May 11 on AUM’s campus in Montgomery, Alabama.

 

Typically attended by local business owners, political leaders and corporate presidents, this monthly breakfast welcomes a prominent speaker to each gathering to discuss relevant topics as well as provide local leadership with engagement opportunities.

 

Although the 2018 series originally concluded in April, it was extended for one more breakfast this year to give the local community members a chance to hear from the new AU commander and president.

 

Cotton covered topics such as AU’s relationship with Montgomery, future plans for base development as well as MGMWERX, a new joint venture between AU and the City of Montgomery, Montgomery County and the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce created to encourage innovation in addressing leading-edge Air Force issues.

 

“MGMWERX is the start of something that is just going to blossom into much more,” Cotton said. “Today there are still people who want to offer a lot to the government, but because it’s so complex and so difficult, they’d just rather say it’s not even worth their time. MGMWERX gives us an opportunity to say it’s not going to be that difficult for you to engage with us. That’s why I’m so excited about it, because I think what that will do is spearhead different ways for me, and our organization, to be able to have touchpoints with even greater amounts of folks.”

 

In addition to MGMWERX, Cotton shared his vision and future plans for Air University, including the idea of providing more opportunities for qualified Airmen to attend AU’s Air War College.

 

Cotton also took time to hail the city of Montgomery by acknowledging how unique it is in the sense that almost 100 percent of Air Force officers will have visited the city at some point in their careers. As Cotton explained, this is largely due to the presence of the Squadron Officer College, which every Air Force captain is required to attend.