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By Col. Gregory M. Kuzma, 419th Mission Support Group Commander
MIAMI, Fla. — Senior leaders from Headquarters Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command and organizations across the Total Force gathered with more than 50 Reserve Advisors during the 2026 Reserve Advisor Symposium at U.S. Southern Command’s Conference Center of the Americas, May 20-22.
The annual symposium brought together Reserve Advisors from major commands, combatant commands, numbered air forces, headquarters staffs and other organizations to strengthen enterprise alignment, share best practices and reinforce the Reserve Advisor’s role in advancing Air Force Reserve priorities across the Department of the War.
This year’s event focused on the “Total Force Broker” concept, emphasizing the Reserve Advisor’s responsibility to connect Active Component requirements with Reserve Component capabilities while ensuring Air Force Reserve equities are represented early in staff coordination, planning and decision-making.
Lt. Gen. John P. Healy, Chief of the Air Force Reserve and Commander of Air Force Reserve Command, addressed attendees and reinforced the importance of Reserve Advisors serving as informed, credible representatives of the command.
“You are the voice of the Reserve,” Healy said. “Your priority is to represent the Air Force Reserve and bring an enterprise perspective to the discussion with your active duty organizations.”
Healy highlighted the value of the Reserve Component as the Department of the Air Force continues adapting to global security challenges, modernization demands and evolving force-presentation requirements. He emphasized that Reserve Citizen Airmen provide proven capability, experience, accessibility and lethality across the full spectrum of military operations.
“The Air Force Reserve is a force advantage,” Healy said. “Our Citizen Airmen bring operational experience, readiness and depth that help the Air Force meet today’s mission while preparing for the future fight.”
Maj. Gen. David Smith, deputy to the chief of the Air Force Reserve, spoke about the importance of leveraging relationships, addressing friction early and ensuring Reserve equities are understood before issues reach senior decision forums.
“Our goal is to resolve friction early,” Smith said. “Reserve Advisors help ensure the right people are connected, the right questions are asked, and Reserve equities are understood before decisions are made.”
Maj. Gen. Regina Sabric, AFRC deputy commander, encouraged Reserve Advisors to remain connected to the field and use their headquarters and joint experience to strengthen future command teams. She also emphasized the importance of helping active-component leaders understand how to access Reserve capability through the appropriate authorities, funding and planning processes.
“Reserve Advisors carry the command’s message into critical staff environments,” Sabric said. “They help explain the ‘why,’ connect leaders to the right expertise, and ensure the Air Force Reserve position is understood.”
Chief Master Sgt. Israel Nuñez, AFRC Command Chief, and is also dual hatted as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the CAFR joined senior leader discussions and reinforced the relationship between standards, readiness and Airman development.
“Readiness depends on disciplined, professional Airmen,” Nuñez said. “Reserve Advisors can help ensure our IMAs are supported, trained, and ready to execute the mission.”
Throughout the symposium, attendees received updates from AFRC functional leaders and headquarters staff on readiness, force design, mobilization support, legislative priorities and Individual Reservist support. Briefings and breakout sessions provided Reserve Advisors an opportunity to discuss common challenges, identify best practices and improve communication across organizations that rely on Individual Mobilization Augmentees and Reserve expertise.
A key focus area was strengthening support to the Individual Reservist enterprise. Headquarters Readiness and Integration Organization leaders discussed ongoing efforts to improve support to Individual Reservists assigned across a wide range of organizations and geographic locations. Those efforts are intended to improve standardization, communication and administrative support for Individual Reservists and their active-component supervisors.
Functional breakout sessions allowed attendees to compare challenges across major commands, combatant commands, functional communities and headquarters staffs. Participants identified recurring themes, including the need for continued mentorship, improved continuity tools, stronger onboarding processes and more consistent communication among Reserve Advisors, Mobilization Assistants, active-component leaders and AFRC functional staffs.
Col. Brett Dorey, the Reserve Advisor to Headquarters U.S. Southern Command and host for the symposium, said the event was designed to move beyond information-sharing and produce tangible outcomes for the Reserve Advisor community.
“Our goal was to maximize Reserve Advisor engagement by identifying common challenges, opportunities and best practices from across the enterprise,” Dorey said. “Reserve Advisors play a critical role in supporting active-duty organizations while also advocating for their Individual Mobilization Augmentees and Air Force Reserve Command equities.”
The symposium also produced several follow-on initiatives designed to professionalize the Reserve Advisor role. Attendees volunteered to support a Reserve Advisor Steering Group, establish a mentorship network and contribute to a Reserve Advisor guide intended to help incoming advisors better understand expectations, authorities, processes and available support channels.
Col. Melinda Albiston, Reserve Advisor at Space Systems Command, said the symposium’s in-person format provided valuable perspective and momentum for advisors working across different mission sets.
“Swapping ideas with fellow RAs and hearing from senior leaders in Miami was really motivating,” Albiston said. “It highlighted how our shared efforts push the Air Force and Air Force Reserve forward—and the local food was a huge bonus. I left inspired by the creative solutions in other commands and ready to tackle our local challenges.”
Post-event feedback reflected strong support for the symposium’s format and focus. Attendees noted the value of in-person collaboration, functional breakouts and direct engagement with senior leaders. For many participants, the symposium’s greatest value was the opportunity to build relationships across a geographically separated community.
Reserve Advisors serve in unique positions across the Department of the Air Force, often operating outside traditional Reserve organizational structures. The symposium provided a venue to connect those advisors, reinforce shared priorities and help ensure consistent messaging across the enterprise.
By the end of the two-day event, senior leaders and attendees emphasized that Reserve Advisors play a critical role in helping the Total Force compete, deter and, if necessary, win.
“The Reserve Advisor is not just a liaison,” Healy said. “Reserve Advisors are part of how we translate Reserve capability into operational advantage.”
The 2026 Reserve Advisor Symposium reinforced the importance of active-component and Reserve Component integration, strengthened professional connections across the career field and advanced the Air Force Reserve’s ability to deliver ready, experienced Citizen Airmen in support of the Joint Force.
| Date Taken: | 08.12.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 08.12.2026 12:02 |
| Story ID: | 572218 |
| Location: | MIAMI, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 15 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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