https://www.stripes.com/news/us/nor...ts-natural-disasters-nuclear-threats-1.528864
She's faced down North Korean missiles and Russian bombers. The worst hurricane season in decades and raging wildfires couldn't make her flinch. It takes a lot to scare Gen. Lori Robinson, who has led the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command through one of the busiest times. (What have our scholar generals faced? NDP?)
But, what's happening Thursday at Peterson Air Force Base is something she finds daunting, if not terrifying: retirement.
She's ending a 36-year Air Force career. For the first time in her adult life, Robinson won't have to worry about America's defense. After a few final salutes, she's off to a boat and a beach. (Proper retirement, not parachuting into SMRT or ministerial positions)
Thursday morning, with Defense Secretary James Mattis presiding, Robinson will hand off her leadership role to Air Force Gen. Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy, who comes to the new job after leading Air Force efforts in the Pacific and Asia.
Last year, she had to decide whether to risk Navy ships in the path of a hurricane to deliver rapid assistance to Puerto Rico or to move them to a safer location to make sure they could deliver help. The move cost time, a critical element in a crisis. But not making the move would have jeopardized the vessels. (Again, big issue to ponder about, in comparison to NDP and wargames)
"How can you ensure you don't do more damage by leaving it there?" she asked.
Robinson moved the ships, and the assistance arrived, later but safer. She took some criticism; it rolled off her back.
Robinson earned that tough exterior. She joined the Air Force in 1982 after giving up her dream of becoming a teacher. An air battle manager, she learned how to orchestrate the sweeping attacks by scores of planes that were first on display in the Persian Gulf War.(Our scholar generals join for money and to be part of the PAP)
She was a woman in a field dominated by men. It didn't bother Robinson, she treated her comrades as so many big brothers.
In the past two years, she's had to stay on call 24 hours a day. (Do our scholar generals even pull guard duty?)
The other issue that kept Robinson up at night was a string of unprecedented natural disasters. Ten hurricanes, including Harvey which deluged south Texas, Maria, which wrecked Puerto Rico and Irma, which slammed the Virgin Islands, taxed the command's resources as the military rushed medical aid, food, water, and other resources to back up civilian authorities.
The command was simultaneously coordinating military help in battling wildfires that blackened more than 10 million acres across the country in 2017.(And what disasters have our SMRT generals fixed?)
Robinson said the command learned form the fires and floods.
"It was a lot of good lessons," she said.
In all roles, Robinson said NORAD and Northern Command must be ready to react quickly and adjust for change.
"The world doesn't stand still," she said.
Being in charge in such troubled times cost Robinson plenty of sleep, but she has no regrets.
"These two commands are incredibly complex, but they serve a common purpose," Robinson said. "To have had the privilege of commanding them both is an absolute honor."
She's accepting the fact that her time at the top of those command is ending. (Ending, not parachuted into SMRT)
She's faced down North Korean missiles and Russian bombers. The worst hurricane season in decades and raging wildfires couldn't make her flinch. It takes a lot to scare Gen. Lori Robinson, who has led the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command through one of the busiest times. (What have our scholar generals faced? NDP?)
But, what's happening Thursday at Peterson Air Force Base is something she finds daunting, if not terrifying: retirement.
She's ending a 36-year Air Force career. For the first time in her adult life, Robinson won't have to worry about America's defense. After a few final salutes, she's off to a boat and a beach. (Proper retirement, not parachuting into SMRT or ministerial positions)
Thursday morning, with Defense Secretary James Mattis presiding, Robinson will hand off her leadership role to Air Force Gen. Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy, who comes to the new job after leading Air Force efforts in the Pacific and Asia.
Last year, she had to decide whether to risk Navy ships in the path of a hurricane to deliver rapid assistance to Puerto Rico or to move them to a safer location to make sure they could deliver help. The move cost time, a critical element in a crisis. But not making the move would have jeopardized the vessels. (Again, big issue to ponder about, in comparison to NDP and wargames)
"How can you ensure you don't do more damage by leaving it there?" she asked.
Robinson moved the ships, and the assistance arrived, later but safer. She took some criticism; it rolled off her back.
Robinson earned that tough exterior. She joined the Air Force in 1982 after giving up her dream of becoming a teacher. An air battle manager, she learned how to orchestrate the sweeping attacks by scores of planes that were first on display in the Persian Gulf War.(Our scholar generals join for money and to be part of the PAP)
She was a woman in a field dominated by men. It didn't bother Robinson, she treated her comrades as so many big brothers.
In the past two years, she's had to stay on call 24 hours a day. (Do our scholar generals even pull guard duty?)
The other issue that kept Robinson up at night was a string of unprecedented natural disasters. Ten hurricanes, including Harvey which deluged south Texas, Maria, which wrecked Puerto Rico and Irma, which slammed the Virgin Islands, taxed the command's resources as the military rushed medical aid, food, water, and other resources to back up civilian authorities.
The command was simultaneously coordinating military help in battling wildfires that blackened more than 10 million acres across the country in 2017.(And what disasters have our SMRT generals fixed?)
Robinson said the command learned form the fires and floods.
"It was a lot of good lessons," she said.
In all roles, Robinson said NORAD and Northern Command must be ready to react quickly and adjust for change.
"The world doesn't stand still," she said.
Being in charge in such troubled times cost Robinson plenty of sleep, but she has no regrets.
"These two commands are incredibly complex, but they serve a common purpose," Robinson said. "To have had the privilege of commanding them both is an absolute honor."
She's accepting the fact that her time at the top of those command is ending. (Ending, not parachuted into SMRT)
