Eighth Air Force dedicates Air Operations Center

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The 8th Air Force Air and Space Operations Center got a new name Wednesday when it was dedicated to one of "The Mighty Eighth's" most legendary leaders. 

In a ceremony presided over by 8th Air Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Floyd L. Carpenter, the AOC was officially renamed The Eighth Air Force Eaker Air & Space Operations Center, named for Gen. Ira C. Eaker. 

General Carpenter said General Eaker was chosen to be honored in such a way not only for his historic ties to the organization, but for his reputation as both an innovator and a planner, both important values that have endured in "The Mighty Eighth." 

"He certainly got thrown in as a great planner in World War II when he went to England ... and said 'we have no ground capability to stop the Germans. We have to keep them at bay somehow. How are we going to do that?'" General Carpenter said. 

"Long range aviation was the only answer we had, and the thought to do that in daytime, when you took a lot of casualties, that was a decision that took great moral courage, and a great moral courage to defend," he added. "The British got to fly at night, when it was relatively safer, at least from the fighters, but he held up and stood by that decision ... and he certainly had a lot to do with the planning efforts that went on. So I think it's very fitting that we dedicate this facility - that's very much into the planning of what we do today - to Ira C. Eaker." 

In today's 21st Century, the nature of war has changed dramatically. Wars now are conducted, really in the realms that we don't get to see, not in land and air as much as in space and cyberspace," he said. "This 8th Air Force organization continues to lead at the very tip of the spear in that effort for our war fighters." 

General Carpenter said that the AOC is an integration center for the planning, executing and daily assessment of operations employing global kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities in order to deliver strategic effects for the Commander, United States Strategic Command and others. 

"Because of this AOC's global mission and capabilities, it has provided tremendous support not only to U.S. Strategic Command, but to other Combatant Commanders around the globe," General Carpenter said, citing the recently completed GLOBAL THUNDER exercise, in which strategic bomber missions were planned and executed in coordination with geographic commanders around the globe for simultaneous attacks half a world apart. 

In addition, "this Air and Space Operations Center has also been on the forefront of developing the command and control of cyber operations so that this new form of warfare can be integrated with other joint capabilities," the general added. "This Center's cyber strategists and planners are in high-demand and are constantly traveling to planning efforts across the globe." 

General Carpenter said the AOC will continue to play a vital role in modern warfare, but memorializing a pioneer aviator and airpower leader such as General Ira Eaker will honor his historical ties to "The Mighty Eighth" and recognize his legacy of achievement, excellence and innovation. 

"Our hope is to follow his example in like manner as we continue in our work defending this great nation of ours," General Carpenter said.