SECAF begins Pacific visit at 15th WG, HQPACAF

by Staff Sgt. Alexander Martinez
15th Wing Public Affairs

11/19/2014 - JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James toured the 15th Wing flightline and Pacific Air Forces headquarters and met with Airmen during a brief visit to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Nov. 17.

Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, was James' first stop on an 11-day trip through the Pacific region. During her trip, James will have the opportunity to better familiarize herself with command missions and communicate her priorities to Airmen, as the rebalance of the Air Force's presence to the Pacific continues -- a mission she described as being "very much alive."

"The Pacific is increasingly important to us," James said during a PACAF press conference. "We have been a Pacific power for many years, and ... we are going to remain a Pacific power for many years to come."

After an office call and joint press conference with Gen. Lori J. Robinson, PACAF commander, James received a windshield tour of the JBPHH flightline en route to the 19th and 199th Fighter Squadrons to learn about the active duty and Air National Guard F-22 Raptor mission here and discuss current and future Raptor operations.

From there, James headed to the Binnicker Professional Military Education Center where she visited with the staff of the center, followed by a one-on-one meeting with the base's sexual assault response coordinator.

"Thank you, everyone, for all that you do," James said. "It's a lot of responsibility to shape the Air Force's future leaders, and I know you are all doing a great job in doing so."

After a lunch with Airmen and wing leadership, James thanked everyone for their help during her visit before heading to the U.S. Pacific Command to meet with leadership.

James' Pacific visit will take her to bases in Guam, Japan, Korea and Alaska before heading back to Washington D.C.