The Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday approved the nomination of Heather Wilson to be the next Secretary of the Air Force with a vote of 22 to 5. The nomination now moves to the full Senate for a vote. Wilson is a former Republican congresswoman from New Mexico, president of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, and a 1982 Air Force Academy graduate. During her confirmation hearing she urged Congress to repeal sequestration budget caps, and vowed to work with industry to get the best deal on a variety of USAF acquisition programs.
Earlier this spring, the 388th Fighter Wing proved just 12 Airmen can operate an F-35 contingency location, refueling and rearming the fighters at spots across Georgia and South Carolina. The demonstration, part of exercise Agile Flag 23-1, marks yet another proof of concept for the Air Force’s plan to send…