AF nominee’s smooth sailing

Despite President Trump's initial nominees for secretaries of the Army and Navy having removed their names for consideration, Air Force secretary, a former congresswoman and an AF academy graduate, Heather Wilson’s nomination process appears unimpeded. The Trump administration has an immediate predicament of not likely having Army and Navy secretaries to assist with navigating the president’s first budget process. The task will fall on interim department heads and career military employees. At least three undersecretaries are also stalled until the service secretary nominations are resolved. By some estimates, it could take until May before any new service secretary nominees get through the Senate confirmation process. Wilson was the first female military veteran elected to a full term in Congress. (Source: Military Times 02/27/17) Gulf Coast Note: Significant AF facilities along the Gulf Coast include Columbus AFB, Miss.; and Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field, Fla. Wilson became a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership that introduced legislation to make the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a presidential cabinet department. Newly-serving Florida 1st District congressman Matt Gaetz of Pensacola recently introduced legislation to dismantle the EPA. Wilson’s grandfather, George Gordon "Scotty" Wilson, flew for the UK’s Royal Flying Corps in WWI. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1922 and served as a courier pilot during WWII and started New Hampshire’s Civil Air Patrol where he became a Wing Commander.