May 11, 2017 at 8:20am
Heather Wilson was confirmed as the new Secretary of the Air Force by the Senate May 8. Photo credit: Scott M. Ash
Heather Wilson will be the next secretary of the Air Force, following her confirmation by the Senate May 8.
Wilson, who is stepping down from her position as the president of the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology to take the post, is expected to be sworn in within a week.
"We live in a remarkable country, protected by innovators and intrepid airmen who take great risks on our behalf," said Wilson. "I look forward to getting to work, focusing on readiness, modernization, development of leaders and research for the future."
Wilson graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in the third class to include women. After graduating from USAFA in 1982, she earned masters and doctoral degrees as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University in England. She served as an Air Force officer in Europe during the Cold War and on the National Security Council Staff under President George H.W. Bush during the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the collapse of the Warsaw Pact. She has also worked as an advisor to several large defense and scientific organizations both before and after serving for a decade in the U.S. Congress.
The daughter and granddaughter of aviators, Wilson is an instrument rated private pilot.
Wilson becomes the second confirmed appointee in the Defense Department and will be responsible for organizing, training and equipping the U.S. Air Force of 660,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian airmen, as well as managing its $132 billion budget.
Wilson replaces Lisa Disbrow, who has been Acting Secretary of the Air Force since Jan. 20.
22nd Special Tactics Squadron, 262nd Information Warfare Aggressor Squadron, 361st Recruiting Squadron, 446th Airlift Wing, 5th Air Support Operations Squadron, 62nd Airlift Wing, 62nd Maintenance Group, 62nd Medical Squadron, 62nd Mission Support Group, 62nd Operations Group, 728th Airlift Squadron, Afghanistan, Air Mobility Command, Air Rodeo, Awards, Ceremony, Contest, Defense News, Dependent, Deployment, Education, Environment, Family Readiness, Food and Drink, Furlough, Health, History, Holidays, Honors, Iraq, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Lacey, Lakewood, Madigan, McChord Air Museum, McChord Base Exchange, McChord Commissary, Memorial, Military Discount, Military Policy, News To Us, Olympia, Space-A Travel, Sports, Tacoma, Training, U.S. Air Force, USO, Veterans, Web/Tech, Weekly Volcano, Western Air Defense Sector
Thanks for listing down some of the things to consider when buying renters insurance. I totally...
you are say about this Air Force highly recommends absolutely right and i appreciate your...
This is real take it serious, my name is marian i, who will believe that a herb can Cure...
Its always a treat to be able to get on base and all of the planes from around the world come...
Thanks for giving us nice info. Fantastic walk-through. I appreciate this post.
Read Comments