News Releases


Sen. Moran greets Sec. James as she lands at McConnell Air Force Base on Thursday, July 28.

WICHITA, Kan. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today welcomed U.S. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James for her first visit to McConnell Air Force Base. Tomorrow, Sen. Moran and Sec. James will meet with the airmen of the 22nd and 931st Air Refueling Wings, the 184th Intelligence Wing, the 177th Information Aggressor Squadron, and tour newly constructed facilities to support the arrival of KC-46 tankers.

“Welcoming Sec. James to Wichita to see the contributions of the men and women at McConnell Air Force Base is an honor,” said Sen. Moran. “I’m pleased to be involved in her first visit to the base and am looking forward to sharing some of the McConnell's critical functions and meeting with many of those stationed here tomorrow.”

Sec. James is the 23rd Secretary of the Air Force and has been serving in the role since 2013. She has more than 30 years of homeland security and national defense experience, both in the federal government and in the private sector.

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, Sen. Moran has worked to secure funding for important military construction projects in fiscal year 2017 to prepare McConnell Air Force Base for the arrival of KC-46A tankers including:

  • A new Air Traffic Control Tower: $11.2 million for construction;
  • KC-46A Alter Flight Simulator Buildings: $3 million for flight simulator buildings in preparation for the KC-46A tankers; and
  • A new KC-46A ADAL Taxiway Delta: $5.6 million for construction.

Since 1941, McConnell Air Force Base has been an instrumental part of the Wichita community. The base employs more than 17,000 people, military and civilian, and last year it had an overall impact of more than $520 million on our local economy. McConnell supports all branches of the military and allied partners, refueling off of either coast and around the world every day.

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