Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Former Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James and Artist Michele Rushworth pose for a photo during a portrait unveiling ceremony at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., April 6, 2018. The portrait will be displayed at the Pentagon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rusty Frank)AF unveils official portrait of 23rd SecAF
                        
                        
                        Former Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James and Artist Michele Rushworth pose for a photo during a portrait unveiling ceremony at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., April 6, 2018. The portrait will be displayed at the Pentagon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rusty Frank)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson listens as former SecAF Deborah Lee James speaks during her portrait unveiling ceremony at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., April 6, 2018. During the ceremony, Wilson spoke about James’ leadership and dedication to the military. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rusty Frank)AF unveils official portrait of 23rd SecAF
                        
                        
                        Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson listens as former SecAF Deborah Lee James speaks during her portrait unveiling ceremony at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., April 6, 2018. During the ceremony, Wilson spoke about James’ leadership and dedication to the military. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rusty Frank)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Tuskegee Airmen listen to former Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James during a portrait unveiling ceremony at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., April 6, 2018. During her remarks, James spoke about how both past and present Airmen have influenced her career. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rusty Frank)AF unveils official portrait of 23rd SecAF
                        
                        
                        Tuskegee Airmen listen to former Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James during a portrait unveiling ceremony at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., April 6, 2018. During her remarks, James spoke about how both past and present Airmen have influenced her career. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rusty Frank)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson speaks during a portrait unveiling ceremony in honor of former SecAF Deborah Lee James at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., April 6, 2018. During the ceremony, Wilson spoke about James’ leadership and dedication to the military. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rusty Frank)AF unveils official portrait of 23rd SecAF
                        
                        
                        Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson speaks during a portrait unveiling ceremony in honor of former SecAF Deborah Lee James at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., April 6, 2018. During the ceremony, Wilson spoke about James’ leadership and dedication to the military. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rusty Frank)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

AF unveils official portrait of 23rd SecAFPublished April 9, 2018
                    
                    By Staff Sgt. Rusty Frank
                    
                    
                    Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
            A portrait of former Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James was unveiled during a ceremony at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., April 6, 2018.
Current Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson hosted the ceremony and spoke on the impact James’ tenure left on the service and her priorities.
 “First and foremost, among her priorities were taking care of people, and I think that probably showed up in a lot of things that she did while she was Secretary of the Air Force,” said Wilson. “Her second priority was readiness... and third, making every dollar count at a time when bending the cost curve was really an important part of what the Air Force had to do.” 
Artist Michele Rushworth was commissioned to create the portrait and wanted to bring to life the more than three decades of service James has given to the nation. 
“It’s an honor to play a small part in paying tribute to her more than 30-year career serving our country for work in both the public and private sectors,” said Rushworth. “Many decades from today when we are gone and there is only this painting to look at, it is my hope that people will see it and think there was a person of warmth and intelligence who lived a life of real dedication to her country.”
During the unveiling James thanked those in attendance, including her family, and she expressed how she misses her Air Force family and helping Airmen. 
“I really miss working on the really salient or important issues of the day,” said James. “Where we collaborated and we figured out an approach and a way ahead to do things better for our Airmen.”
Looking at her portrait, James reflected on what makes the Air Force a strong and successful service--its Airmen.  
“Many of you have heard me say if you can get the people part of that particular equation right, the rest is much more likely (to) come into focus,” said James. “I will say to you (I give) my deepest appreciation to all of you once more for being part of my life... I think I got the people part right.”
James led the Air Force as the 23rd SecAF for more than three years after being confirmed in December 2013.SecAF 



SAF 



Deborah Lee James 



JB Anacostia-Bolling 



Heather Wilson 



Priority 



nation 



readiness 



official portrait 



appreciation Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF, CSAF, CMSAF begin Indo-Pacific trip focused on ACE
                    
                    DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fightInnovation
                F-16s arrive to be modified for autonomous testing
                    
                    AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalistsMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil