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        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James looks to the crowd before speaking to Airmen Nov. 21, 2014, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. James had multiple stops on her trip before coming to Japan, and will continue her journey throughout the Pacific after leaving Yokota AB. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Cody H. Ramirez)Yokota: SECAF tours PACAF
                        
                        
                        Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James looks to the crowd before speaking to Airmen Nov. 21, 2014, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. James had multiple stops on her trip before coming to Japan, and will continue her journey throughout the Pacific after leaving Yokota AB. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Cody H. Ramirez)
                
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        Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James takes a selfie with Junior ROTC Cadets Nov. 21, 2014, at Yokota’s High School at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Along with having lunch and getting to know the cadets, James participated in a question and answer session. Secretary James visited Yokota AB to discuss the future of the Air Force and as well as meet Airmen serving in the region. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Michael Washburn)Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James takes a selfie with Junior ROTC Cadets Nov. 21, 2014, at Yokota’s High School at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Along with having lunch and getting to know the cadets, James participated in a question and answer session. Secretary James visited Yokota AB to discuss the future of the Air Force and as well as meet Airmen serving in the region. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Michael Washburn)
                
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        The crowd claps for a fellow Airmen as he is recognized by Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James during an all call Nov. 21, 2014, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. James mentioned the importance of her main priority – taking care of Airmen – during the all call and thanked the service members for their commitment to the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Cody H. Ramirez)Yokota: SECAF tours PACAF
                        
                        
                        The crowd claps for a fellow Airmen as he is recognized by Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James during an all call Nov. 21, 2014, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. James mentioned the importance of her main priority – taking care of Airmen – during the all call and thanked the service members for their commitment to the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Cody H. Ramirez)
                
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SecAF visits Yokota Air BasePublished Dec. 3, 2014
                    
                    By Tech. Sgt. Christopher Marasky
                    
                    
                    374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
            **YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) --**Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James visited here Nov. 20-21 to meet with Airmen, discuss her priorities and see first-hand Yokota Air Base’s mission and capabilities as the Pacific Air Forces airlift hub.
During her visit James met with U.S. Forces Japan and 374th Airlift Wing leadership, ate breakfast with the Airmen, and toured a number of facilities to include the Western Pacific transportation facility, which serves as a key logistical hub in the region.
She also held an all call to share her top three priorities, discuss the challenges the force faces in the current fiscal environment, and to answer questions from Airmen.
"We are experiencing a lot of strain right now, as we are the smallest Air Force we've ever been, with the smallest number of people," she said, addressing the Air Force's high ops tempo.  "But we're also a busy Air Force, whether it's providing humanitarian missions here in the Pacific, fighting Ebola in West Africa or conducting air strikes in Iraq and Syria."
While speaking on the difficulties faced by the Air Force, James highlighted the recent successes of Yokota AB.
"You've shouldered your fair share, or more, of missions here at Yokota," James said.  "Whether it was during Operation Damayan in the Philippines, or Operation Tomodachi here in Japan, you have provided hope and aid to people in very dire situations.  You should be very, very proud of the work you have done."
At the 459th Airlift Squadron, James was able to witness first-hand Yokota Airmen focusing on one of her top priorities: making every dollar count by improving efficiency and ensuring good stewardship of taxpayer's dollars.
"One shout out for Team Yokota, I learned yesterday about Low-Cost, Low-Altitude bundles," she said during her all call, referencing the bundles that use readily available resources and repurposed personnel parachutes to build supply pallets at a fraction of the cost of other airdrop bundles.  These pallets are dropped at low altitude, which improves drop accuracy.
"These are small bundles that are dropped from C-130's during relief operations.  Each bundle used to cost about $300 and each bundle now costs about $20.  And you know who came up with that concept?  Four of our Airmen did."
James also spoke to the importance of Yokota airlift to the Air Force.
"I have been asked how important providing global mobility is to our entire force before, and the answer is that it's critically important," James said.  "If you can't get from point A to point B, or you run out of gas because the tankers aren't available, you don't have a mission.  And Yokota plays an important role to global mobility here in the Pacific.”
Her final message for Airmen focused on the importance of the Pacific region and Yokota AB’s role in it.
"The Pacific is an area full of challenges and great potential," James said.  "And that's why the U.S. is so dedicated to the region.  You are the front line defenders, the front line responders and the front line diplomats in this very large, very important neighborhood."Japan 



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