[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 79 (Monday, May 8, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S2796]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Confirmation of Heather Wilson
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I am honored to speak tonight after casting
my vote to confirm Dr. Heather Wilson as Secretary of the Air Force. I
have known Heather for nearly 20 years and submit that President Trump
could not have selected a more qualified candidate to lead the Air
Force in these demanding times. I am pleased that the Senate was
finally able to confirm her nomination, and I wish her great success.
As an Air Force veteran, former Member of Congress, and most recently
the leader of one of the top science and engineering schools, the South
Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Dr. Wilson has repeatedly
demonstrated leadership abilities that will serve her and the Air Force
well in this next chapter.
Her commitment to duty links back to her time as a cadet at the Air
Force Academy, where she was a distinguished graduate. In fact, she
will be the Academy's first graduate in history to serve as a Secretary
of the Air Force. Dr. Wilson went on to serve as an Air Force officer
in Europe during the Cold War, where she was based in the United
Kingdom and at the U.S. Mission to NATO in Brussels. Upon leaving the
Air Force, she served on the National Security Council staff of
President George H.W. Bush, working on NATO and conventional arms
control.
At a time when America's partnerships are being challenged by threats
around the world, I am confident that her experience will lend a steady
hand to our military decisionmaking.
Dr. Wilson will also bring with her great experience honed in the
Halls of Congress. At the start of her decades-long representation of
New Mexico's First Congressional District, she quickly became one of
the go-to Members on national security issues. Heather took on tough
issues not unlike the ones she will surely face as Secretary of the Air
Force. Whether on issues of strategic objectives and readiness or
personnel matters, such as military sexual assault, she is prepared to
have frank discussions on the issues and will contribute insightful
proposals on how to best tackle the many challenges facing the Air
Force. She understands not only the Air Force's key capabilities but
the perilous outcomes we may face as a nation if we do not properly
train and fund our military. She knows that rising to meet the
challenges of the day must be done with an eye to the future so we may
also deter and defeat the threats of tomorrow.
At a time when national security is of foremost concern, Dr. Wilson
understands the Air Force's tremendous responsibility in keeping
Americans safe and will be guided by the core values of the Force:
integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all that the
Air Force does.
I could not be happier for my friend, Dr. Heather Wilson, and wish
her and her husband Jay the best of luck. South Dakota and the South
Dakota School of Mines and Technology are losing an asset, but I am
confident that the new era of excellence Heather helped usher in leaves
the school well-positioned to remain a foremost engineering, science,
and research institution. We are proud of Heather's continued success
and trust she will represent us well as the 24th Secretary of the Air
Force.
I would like to thank my colleague, Chairman McCain, for his work to
advance Dr. Wilson's nomination through the Senate Armed Services
Committee and for granting me the opportunity to introduce Dr. Wilson
at her confirmation hearing. It was my honor to endorse her before the
committee and to cast my vote in support of her nomination this
evening. I am glad the Senate has advanced another of President Trump's
nominees and wish Dr. Wilson, our next Secretary of the Air Force,
continued wisdom and success as she continues her outstanding
leadership in service to our country.
Thank you, Mr. President.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.
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