Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), chairman of the House Armed Service Committee, has come out in strong support of Erin Conaton’s nomination to be the undersecretary of the Air Force and encouraged his Senate colleagues to move quickly to confirm her nomination. In a release Tuesday, the same day that the White House announced her candidacy to fill the long-vacant post, Skelton said Conaton “has consistently demonstrated her leadership ability, mastery of national security issues, and dedication to our men and women in uniform” since she became the committee’s majority staff director in 2007. Her work ethic is “unparalleled,” he said. But “more importantly, she has a rare gift for getting along with people,” and she is “unflappable and approaches every challenge with a level head,” he continued. Skelton called her “a trusted advisor and friend.”
Loved Ones Mourn 6 Airmen Killed in KC-135 Crash
March 16, 2026
Tributes to the six crew members that died in the KC-135 Stratotanker crash in Iraq have flooded social media since the Pentagon released their identities March 14. They were the first Airmen to die while supporting Operation Epic Fury against Iran.