Air Force Global Strike Command kicked off the four technology and innovation symposium on Nov. 4 at Barksdale AFB, La. The event is the culmination of the three-month Global Strike Challenge, during which security forces, maintainers, missile, and bomber crews competed to earn bragging rights as the “best of the best” in their given specialty. Teams from all six AFGSC wings, the Air Force Reserve, and Air Combat Command arrived at Barksdale for the official score posting and awards ceremony. “We are a big piece of our nation’s strategic deterrence,” said AFGSC boss Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson during his opening remarks. “We’ve assembled some of the best and brightest from around the country … Ask [them] challenging questions, think about what they say, and internalize it. Think about how we can make ourselves better.” Maj. Gen. Garrett Harencak, assistant chief of staff for strategic deterrence and nuclear integration, as well as former Commander-in-Chief of Strategic Air Command retired Gen. Jack Chain, former 8th Air Force Commander retired Lt. Gen. Robert Elder also spoke at the event. "For generations, the American people understood the value of what you do in the deterrence mission. They don't now. That is my fault— it's all of our faults— because we don't talk about it," said Harencak.