Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) met with Gen. Norton Schwartz, Air Force Chief of Staff, on Sept. 23 to discuss the way ahead for USAF and Air National Guard forces in North Dakota. In a statement, Conrad called the conversation “frank and positive.” He said Schwartz knows that both Grand Forks and Minot Air Force Bases have “tremendous community support” and believes that Schwartz understands “the valuable role each [base] will continue to play in securing our nation.”
The Air Force has finished modifying and testing the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft that will serve as a temporary Air Force One, the service announced May 1. All that’s left now is to finish painting the jet before it starts flying this summer.