Lt. General Michael Conley, Commander of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), delivered a thought-provoking and forward-looking address on the future of AFSOC innovation at the America250 FieldWerx Summit. He began by acknowledging the evolving and increasingly complex global landscape and challenged the audience to consider what the future battlefield will look like for the warfighter.

Lt. Gen. Conley reflected on three key inflection points that have shaped AFSOC’s evolution:

1. 1980 – The Iranian Hostage Rescue Attempt: This pivotal moment revealed the urgent need for special operators ready to respond at a moment’s notice.
2. 2001 – The Aftermath of 9/11: The establishment of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) embedded innovation into AFSOC’s DNA, as the force evolved to meet the nation’s needs in a rapidly changing environment.
3. 2025 – Today’s Global Challenges: The world now faces a rising China, an aggressive Russia, and increasing drug trafficking activity. Yet, unlike previous eras, this period lacks a unifying moment or “rallying cry” to drive investment and innovation. While Airmen continue to generate cutting-edge ideas in partnership with academia and industry, limited funding continues to constrain progress.

Lt. Gen. Conley emphasized that the future is already here and that maintaining relevance requires rapid, agile innovation. He urged AFSOC to leverage existing technologies, move swiftly in collaboration with industry partners, and pursue the necessary policy reforms to ensure the U.S. remains competitive with its adversaries. “We can’t wait for technology to be perfect,” he cautioned. “If we do, it will already be irrelevant.”  Lt. Gen. Conley closed out his remarks with a Q&A session with the audience.