Sen. Kent Conrad (R-N.D.) says Air Force leaders have Minot AFB, N.D., “in their long-term plans,” reports The Minot Daily News. Conrad, who spoke at a press conference last week after touring the base, has been key in the Senate ICBM Coalition’s push to restrain the Air Force from removing 50 ICBMs from service unless USAF needs the missiles for test flights. He said in a statement that the coalition has “several military objectives that will only help to secure the future of Minot Air Force Base as a thriving partner in the Minot region’s economy.”
Navy Adm. Samuel J. Paparo Jr. assumed leadership of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, succeeding Navy Adm. John Aquilino at a change of command ceremony, urging action amid China's “increasing intrusive and expansionist claims,” on May 3