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      Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson shares a laugh with members of the 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, July 19, 2017, at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. During her visit, Wilson toured the base and gained insight into the dominant persistent attack and reconnaissance mission the Airmen of the 432nd WG complete 24/7/365 for our nation and coalition partners. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christian Clausen)SecAF gets firsthand look at MQ-1, MQ-9 mission
                        
                        
                        Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson shares a laugh with members of the 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, July 19, 2017, at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. During her visit, Wilson toured the base and gained insight into the dominant persistent attack and reconnaissance mission the Airmen of the 432nd WG complete 24/7/365 for our nation and coalition partners. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christian Clausen)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson is briefed on the Multi-Spectral Targeting system by Staff Sgt. Evan, 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron avionics craftsman July 19, 2017, at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. During her visit, Wilson was briefed on the specifics on the current MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper fleet as the missions they enable for the joint force commanders. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christian Clausen)SecAF gets firsthand look at MQ-1, MQ-9 mission
                        
                        
                        Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson is briefed on the Multi-Spectral Targeting system by Staff Sgt. Evan, 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron avionics craftsman July 19, 2017, at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. During her visit, Wilson was briefed on the specifics on the current MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper fleet as the missions they enable for the joint force commanders. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christian Clausen)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson is briefed on the Block 5 MQ-9 Reaper by Staff Sgt. Stephen, 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, July 19, 2017, at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. Wilson was able to interact with members of the 432nd Wing and learn about their mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christian Clausen)SecAF gets firsthand look at MQ-1, MQ-9 mission
                        
                        
                        Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson is briefed on the Block 5 MQ-9 Reaper by Staff Sgt. Stephen, 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, July 19, 2017, at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. Wilson was able to interact with members of the 432nd Wing and learn about their mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christian Clausen)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

SecAF gets firsthand look at MQ-1, MQ-9 missionPublished July 21, 2017
                    
                    By Senior Airman Christian Clausen
                    
                    
                    432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
            **CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFNS) --**Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson visited Creech Air Force Base July 19, 2017, to get a closer look at the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper mission.
During her visit, Wilson toured the base and gained insight into the dominant persistent attack and reconnaissance mission the Airmen of the 432nd Wing complete 24-7-365 for our nation and coalition partners.
“The Secretary of Defense has given us a task to focus on improving the lethality and readiness of the force to do the missions the nation expects of us, and anybody who wants to see what that looks like should come to Creech AFB,” Wilson said. “These Airmen are incredible warriors who get up every day and think about how to keep our country and our families safe, and we’re deeply grateful for it.”
While the remotely piloted aircraft enterprise has proven themselves in combat, it hasn’t been without strain on the relatively small community of Airmen who provide the most requested assets downrange.
“The RPA community is punching above its weight and we all know that,” Wilson said. “So we’ve done a couple of things [to help that] and I’m personally committed to the get-well plan for the RPA community.”
The secretary said the number of combat lines provided by the Air Force won’t increase until the RPA community has reasonable dwell time, can complete professional military education and has the ability to maintain a healthy balance between the mission and their lives.
Wilson also had a chance to speak with Airmen who have contributed their inventions to the mission in order to improve the force.
Master Sgt. Eric, 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron production superintendent, briefed Wilson on an engine trainer he created in his spare time to fill a training need within the squadron. He said it was a unique opportunity to show her his creation.
“This community is innovating faster than almost any other part of the Air Force and we should be proud of that and enable it,” Wilson said. “I’ve been very impressed with what I’ve seen.”MQ-1 



MQ-9 



RPA 



SecAF 



Secretary of the Air Force 



mission 



Creech AFB 



ACC 



taking care of Airmen 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