The Air Force's senior leader is telling a story about operations tempo. On the other hand, for families these are very difficult times. Air Force Secretary Sheila Widnall 's face shows a sense of concern as she continues the story. As secretary, recognition of the Air Force's ups or downs ultimately stops with her. Among her many responsibilities, it's the welfare of Air Force people that must fill her time.
Sharing becomes the essence of the secretary's job.
On Sept. 22, an unseasonable cold day in San Antonio, Widnall began her visit to Kelly by joining the two other service secretaries for meetings with the National Conference of Editorial Writers. McCord glanced over Windall's biography and was surprised to learn that she is the first female service secretary. He also noted she was a Massachusetts Institute of Technology faculty member for 28 years, and has been Air Force secretary since Aug. 6, 1993. When questions referenced the possibility that some of America's outlaw militia groups contain former military people, Widnall became increasingly dismayed. And I think everybody believes the quality of our younger people is even more outstanding.