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Air War College hosts the 2025 National Security Forum

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Evan Lichtenhan
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. --  

Senior military leaders, foreign military officers, and civic leaders gathered at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, for the 2025 National Security Forum, held May 6–8, 2025.

Attendees heard from keynote speakers including Performing the Duties of Under Secretary of the Air Force Mr. Edwin Oshiba, Gen. David Allvin, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess, U.S. Space Forces–Space Commander and Combined Joint Force Space Component Commander.

Edwin Oshiba, Performing the Duties of Under Secretary of the Air Force, briefs civic leaders from across the country at the National Security Forum at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, May 6, 2025. This is the 71st anniversary of the SecAF-sponsored NSF hosted by Air University's Air War College, May 6-8, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trey Ward)

Edwin Oshiba, Performing the Duties of Under Secretary of the Air Force, briefs civic leaders from across the country at the National Security Forum at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, May 6, 2025. This is the 71st anniversary of the SecAF-sponsored NSF hosted by Air University's Air War College, May 6-8, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trey Ward)
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U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin provides the capstone address to the Air War College class of 2025 and the civilian guests of the 71st National Security Forum at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, May 8, 2025. NSF is a Secretary of the Air Force-sponsored program that brings civilian business leaders, entrepreneurs and academics together with their military counterparts to foster communication and learning. (US Air Force photo by Melanie Rodgers Cox)

U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin provides the capstone address to the Air War College class of 2025 and the civilian guests of the 71st National Security Forum at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, May 8, 2025. NSF is a Secretary of the Air Force-sponsored program that brings civilian business leaders, entrepreneurs and academics together with their military counterparts to foster communication and learning. (US Air Force photo by Melanie Rodgers Cox)
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“This year’s AWC National Security Forum was a truly exceptional opportunity—not only does it allow some of the finest U.S. and international military leaders to engage with our civic and private sector partners but also allows for those strategic leaders to forge enduring partnerships,” said Mr. Oshiba. “This forum offers a venue to discuss valuable insights into the Department of the Air Force’s evolving priorities—highlighting a renewed focus on deterring China, defending the homeland, and burden-sharing with allies and partners.”

Hosted by the Air War College, the forum featured discussions on a range of pressing topics, including challenges in the Pacific, the Russia-Ukraine war, wargaming, and an F-22 aerial demonstration.

U.S. Air Force Capt. Nick Le Tourneau, F-22 Demonstration Team pilot, performs precision aerial maneuvers during the National Security Forum at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, May 7, 2025. Since 1954, the Secretary of the Air Force's National Security Forum has brought together the nation's most influential and valued civic leaders with the military's developing senior leaders to enable open discussions on historic and contemporary national security strategies and challenges. Over a three-day period, attendees engage with U.S. and foreign military officers and government civilians through a lecture and seminar format. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Richard P. Ebensberger)

U.S. Air Force Capt. Nick Le Tourneau, F-22 Demonstration Team pilot, performs precision aerial maneuvers during the National Security Forum at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, May 7, 2025. Since 1954, the Secretary of the Air Force's National Security Forum has brought together the nation's most influential and valued civic leaders with the military's developing senior leaders to enable open discussions on historic and contemporary national security strategies and challenges. Over a three-day period, attendees engage with U.S. and foreign military officers and government civilians through a lecture and seminar format. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Richard P. Ebensberger)
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A focal point of the forum was the evolving role of space in national defense. 

“Our Space Force capabilities are critical to the joint force and to our American way of life. That’s truth number one,” said Lt. Gen. Schiess. “Truth number two is the Space Force must defend its capabilities, or the joint force will not be able to project its power.”

The National Security Forum, established in 1954, continues to bring together leaders from diverse sectors to examine past, current, and emerging conflicts through the lens of national security’s strategic realities.

“We are in a time of consequence,” said Gen. Allvin. “These next few years is going to be absolutely critical. So, we need every bit of learning that these great professors shoved into your head over the last year. We need every bit of that to come to bear because we’ve got some important decisions coming up.”