Skip to main content (Press Enter).
  Home

    News
    
        Newsroom

    Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    Coronavirus Disease 2019

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Adjunct Professors

    Fact Sheets

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library Bookshelf

    2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Portraits in Courage
    
        Portraits In Courage Vol. I

    Portraits In Courage Vol. II

    Portraits In Courage Vol. III

    Portraits In Courage Vol. IV

    Portraits In Courage Vol. V

    Portraits In Courage Vol. VI

    Portraits In Courage Vol. VII

    Portraits In Courage Vol. VIII

    Portraits In Courage Vol. IX

    Portraits In Courage Vol. X

    Events 2021

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site Registration

    COVID-19

    The Air Force at 75U.S. Air Force LogoAir Force
        
        75th AnniversaryNewsroomBiographiesAbout UsAF Senior LeadersCOVID-19     Secretary of the Air Force nominee Heather Wilson testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee, as a part of the confirmation process March 30, 2017, in Washington, D.C.  In her opening statement, Wilson said, "We have the liberty to enjoy our blessings because thousands of America's best citizens volunteer to protect the rest of us."  (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)SecAF nominee testifies before Congress
                        
                        
                        Secretary of the Air Force nominee Heather Wilson testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee, as a part of the confirmation process March 30, 2017, in Washington, D.C.  In her opening statement, Wilson said, "We have the liberty to enjoy our blessings because thousands of America's best citizens volunteer to protect the rest of us."  (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Secretary of the Air Force nominee Heather Wilson testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee, as a part of the confirmation process March 30, 2017, in Washington, D.C.  In her opening statement, Wilson said, "We have the liberty to enjoy our blessings because thousands of America's best citizens volunteer to protect the rest of us."  (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)SecAF nominee testifies before Congress
                        
                        
                        Secretary of the Air Force nominee Heather Wilson testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee, as a part of the confirmation process March 30, 2017, in Washington, D.C.  In her opening statement, Wilson said, "We have the liberty to enjoy our blessings because thousands of America's best citizens volunteer to protect the rest of us."  (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Secretary of the Air Force nominee Heather Wilson testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee, as a part of the confirmation process March 30, 2017, in Washington, D.C.  In her opening statement, Wilson said, "We have the liberty to enjoy our blessings because thousands of America's best citizens volunteer to protect the rest of us."  (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)SecAF nominee testifies before Congress
                        
                        
                        Secretary of the Air Force nominee Heather Wilson testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee, as a part of the confirmation process March 30, 2017, in Washington, D.C.  In her opening statement, Wilson said, "We have the liberty to enjoy our blessings because thousands of America's best citizens volunteer to protect the rest of us."  (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Secretary of the Air Force nominee Heather Wilson testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee, as a part of the confirmation process March 30, 2017, in Washington, D.C.  In her opening statement, Wilson said, "We have the liberty to enjoy our blessings because thousands of America's best citizens volunteer to protect the rest of us."  (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)SecAF nominee testifies before Congress
                        
                        
                        Secretary of the Air Force nominee Heather Wilson testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee, as a part of the confirmation process March 30, 2017, in Washington, D.C.  In her opening statement, Wilson said, "We have the liberty to enjoy our blessings because thousands of America's best citizens volunteer to protect the rest of us."  (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Secretary of the Air Force nominee Heather Wilson testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee, as a part of the confirmation process March 30, 2017, in Washington, D.C.  In her opening statement, Wilson said, "We have the liberty to enjoy our blessings because thousands of America's best citizens volunteer to protect the rest of us."  (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)SecAF nominee testifies before Congress
                        
                        
                        Secretary of the Air Force nominee Heather Wilson testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee, as a part of the confirmation process March 30, 2017, in Washington, D.C.  In her opening statement, Wilson said, "We have the liberty to enjoy our blessings because thousands of America's best citizens volunteer to protect the rest of us."  (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Secretary of the Air Force nominee Heather Wilson testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee, as a part of the confirmation process March 30, 2017, in Washington, D.C.  Seated with her were Senators John Thune, left, and Mike Rounds, both from South Dakota. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)SecAF nominee testifies before Congress
                        
                        
                        Secretary of the Air Force nominee Heather Wilson testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee, as a part of the confirmation process March 30, 2017, in Washington, D.C.  Seated with her were Senators John Thune, left, and Mike Rounds, both from South Dakota. (U.S. Air Force photo/Scott M. Ash)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

SecAF nominee testifies before CongressPublished March 30, 2017
                    
                    By Tech. Sgt. Robert Barnett
                    
                    
                    Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
            **WASHINGTON (AFNS) --**Heather Wilson testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee during her confirmation hearing for secretary of the Air Force in Washington, D.C., March 30, 2017.The Air Force veteran and former New Mexico representative was introduced by Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds of South Dakota. “If confirmed, she will become the first Air Force Academy graduate in history to serve as the secretary of the Air Force,” Thune said.She has served on the National Security staff for President George W. Bush and is currently the president of the South Dakota School for Mines and Technology.“People who worked with her in South Dakota described her as a great manager and inspiring leader,” Rounds said. “South Dakota’s loss will be our nation’s gain.”As secretary of the Air Force, Wilson said she will modernize fighters, tankers, bombers, intelligence platforms, the nuclear deterrent force, munitions, space capabilities and more.“If confirmed, I will work with the secretary of defense and the United States Congress to restore the readiness of the force,” she said. “I will also work with Congress to address constraints imposed by the Budget Control Act so that the Air Force can be cost-effectively modernized.”Wilson, the first female veteran to serve in Congress, addressed several topics, including the pilot shortage across the total force.“We are short fighter pilots,” she said. “The Air Force is not currently ready to fight against a near-peer competitor, and that should concern all of us.”Wilson said if confirmed as secretary of the Air Force, she will focus on innovation that supports readiness.“The pace of change is going to accelerate,” Wilson said. “We’re either going to have to rapidly accelerate ourselves and be able to spin-on innovation to the service, or we’re going to be left behind.”The nominee for secretary of the Air Force concluded her confirmation hearing stating senior leaders need to think about the full range of potential conflicts.“From low-intensity warfare through a near-peer adversary and nuclear deterrents,” she said. “There are new techniques, and cyber is one of them, that can be used by both nation states and by terrorists or insurgents to achieve their political objectives ... we need to be able to play both offense and defense in all of those realms.”SecAF 



innovation 



Academy 



south dakota 



modernization 



senate 



senator 



Wilson Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                CSAF, CMSAF visit AFPC, talk talent management
                    
                    ‘Power of partnerships’: Austin gives commencement speech to AF Academy’s Class of 2022
                    
                    CSAF hosts Indonesian counterpart visit
                    
                    AETC Det. 23 ‘rebrands’ to transform 21st century Air Force learning and readiness
                    
                    Robinson takes reins at AETCInnovation
                ShOC-N battle lab hosts distributed command and control event
                    
                    DAF Gaming delivers gaming expo, esports championship at FORCECON 2022
                    
                    Air Force, Space Force announce next hackathon at 3 locations and classifications, enabling government, industry, citizens to build emergent weapons system capabilities
                    
                    ‘FORCECON 2022’ spurs collaboration, innovation for Air Force, industry, academia
                    
                    AETC Det. 23 ‘rebrands’ to transform 21st century Air Force learning and readinessMAJCOM News
                Servicing support for Airmen assigned to Space Force fully operational
                    
                    KC-46A Pegasus approved to refuel 97% of joint force receivers
                    
                    C-17 Globemaster III dedicated in honor of ‘Candy Bomber,’ Berlin Airlift
                    
                    Robinson takes reins at AETC
                    
                    Bunch inducted into Order of the Sword
 Quick Links
Site MapQuestionsContact UsRSSFOIAIGAF SitesAccessibilityEEOLink DisclaimerSuicide PreventionSAPRUSA.govNo FEAR ActOSI Tip LineCareers
AF CareersJoin the Air ForceAF BenefitsBecome an OfficerGo ANGBecome A ReservistCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website