Senate confirms Barrett as Air Force secretary

Barbara Barrett has garnered Senate confirmation to become the nation’s 25th Secretary of the Air Force, with lawmakers voting 85-7 to approve the action.

“I can think of no position that offers more excitement, challenge and meaning than the secretary of the Air Force,” Barrett, replacing Heather Wilson, who resigned in May, said. “Our Air Force is the best in the world because of extraordinary Airmen and civilians with whom I am now proud to serve.”

During the confirmation process, Barrett emphasized the need for modernization to recover from previous years’ budget cuts while offering support for expanding the fleet of F-35 Lightning II aircraft.

“Ambassador Barrett has had an impressive career both inside and outside of government,” Sen. John Thune, (R-SD), the Senate’s second-ranking Republican said before the confirmation vote.

“This is an exciting day for our Air Force,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein said. “Secretary Barrett brings an incredible background and a level of strategic understanding that will propel us into the future. We won the lottery…again!”

Two years ago, Barrett resigned as chairwoman of the board for the Aerospace Corporation, the only federally funded research and development organization focused on space, after four years in the role.