AMC Chief Stresses Airmen, Aircraft Readiness at AFA

Lt. Gen. Rebecca Sonkiss outlines priorities to modernize mobility fleet and boost connectivity for future conflicts

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Lt. Gen. Rebecca Sonkiss, the interim commander of Air Mobility Command, addressed servicemembers, industry, and journalists on the state of mobility readiness at the 2026 Air and Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colorado. Readiness was the central theme, with Sonkiss emphasizing the need to invest in connectivity, survivability, and modernization to ensure mobility Airmen can operate in contested environments.

Why it matters

As the U.S. military faces the prospect of future conflicts, ensuring the readiness and modernization of the mobility fleet is crucial. Sonkiss' remarks highlight the challenges and priorities for AMC in maintaining the airlift, aerial refueling, and aeromedical evacuation capabilities that enable the broader joint force to project power globally.

The details

Sonkiss discussed the need to recapitalize the strategic airlift fleet, including advancing the Next Generation Airlift program to replace aging C-5M and C-17 platforms. She also emphasized the imperative to bolster connectivity across mobility aircraft, the global air mobility support system, and aeromedical evacuation forces to increase survivability and joint force coordination. Additionally, Sonkiss outlined how predictive mobilization models can leverage the Air Reserve Component to ease active-duty requirements and preserve readiness for future conflicts.

  • Lt. Gen. Rebecca Sonkiss took over as Air Mobility Command's interim commander earlier this month.
  • The 2026 Air and Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium took place on February 24, 2026 in Aurora, Colorado.

The players

Lt. Gen. Rebecca Sonkiss

The interim commander of Air Mobility Command who addressed the 2026 AFA Warfare Symposium.

Gen. Ken Wilsbach

The Air Force Chief of Staff who emphasized his back-to-basics priorities for the Air Force, including flying, fixing, deterring, and if deterrence fails, fighting and winning.

Gen. Adrian Spain

The commander of Air Combat Command who joined a panel on improving readiness for peer conflict with Lt. Gen. Sonkiss.

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What they’re saying

“Flying and fixing is about the maintainers generating aircraft, the weapons troops loading with precision, intel sharpening the picture and defenders securing the flight line. It's tankers extending their range, planners stitching the timeline together, command and control assets communicating clearly and providing timely information to our shooters.”

— Gen. Ken Wilsbach, Air Force Chief of Staff (Mirage News)

“The things we need to invest in to ensure we can operate in contested environments is connectivity, survivability and modernization. All of those things are necessary, and we must [rapidly] give those tools to our Airmen, so they can get after exercising with them.”

— Lt. Gen. Rebecca Sonkiss, Interim Commander, Air Mobility Command (Mirage News)

“We had Midnight Hammer and the [Southern Command] operations as well, where the connectivity in our KC-46 actually played out in being that assured connectivity for our [joint] partners, where they were able to relay information on the mission and ensure that there was not failure in execution.”

— Lt. Gen. Rebecca Sonkiss, Interim Commander, Air Mobility Command (Mirage News)

What’s next

Sonkiss outlined the imperative to bolster connectivity across mobility aircraft, the global air mobility support system, and aeromedical evacuation forces to increase survivability and joint force coordination. This will be a key focus area as the Air Force works to modernize the mobility fleet and prepare for future conflicts.

The takeaway

Ensuring the readiness and modernization of the mobility fleet is a critical priority for the U.S. Air Force as it faces the prospect of future conflicts. Lt. Gen. Sonkiss' remarks highlight the need to invest in connectivity, survivability, and modernization to empower mobility Airmen to operate effectively in contested environments and support the broader joint force.