National Defense Issue

"The struggle against terrorism will define the national security environment of the 21st Century. Defeating this enemy will require the United States to transform our military and the way it fights. Our forces must be mobile, stealthy, and lethal. Achieving these advantages means the research and development expertise in New Mexico is more important than ever. As a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I will continue to support our R&D community to ensure that the men and women of the armed forces have the very best technology for the defense of our country."
Senator Pete V. Domenici

No legislator has been a greater champion of military research, development, test, and evaluation than Senator Pete Domenici. Nationally recognized for his commitment to the health and well-being of U.S. service personnel and retirees, Senator Domenici has received numerous awards from the nation's top military advocacy groups.

As senior member of the Defense Subcommittee on Appropriations, Senator Domenici has consistently secured millions in defense funds for New Mexico's military bases and defense community. Senator Domenici led the successful efforts to save Kirtland Air Force Base from the 1995 base closure and realignment process and Cannon Air Force Base from the 2005 base closure and realignment process. He also strongly believes in transformational technology and is the top advocate in the United States Senate for research and development of high energy lasers for military applications. He also worked to ensure that Holloman Air Force Base had a new mission flying F-22A Raptors before the Air Force carried out its plans to retire F-117A stealth fighters from the base.

Senator Domenici recognizes the tremendous ingenuity of New Mexico's small business community and works hard to leverage its technological expertise for Department of Defense missions. Along with helping New Mexico's small business community, the Senator is strongly committed to providing regular infrastructure upgrades for New Mexico's military bases to assure quality of life and safety for base personnel and their families.

Holloman Air Force Base is home to the 49th Fighter Wing. After several years the home to F-117s, in 2009 its primary mission will be to maintain mission readiness of the F-22A Raptor. The vast airspace and ideal weather of southern New Mexico provides ample room and ideal conditions for flight training and bombing practice. The German Air Force Flying Training Center is also located at HAFB. As guests of the USAF, the GAF takes advantage of NM's unmatched airspace to train its pilots on Phantom and Tornado aircraft.

Cannon Air Force Base is home to the 27th Special Operations Wing. The 27th is the Air Force's premier special operations unit. Its primary mission is to conduct unconventional warfare, counterinsurgency, and psychological operations. The 27th has the ability to perform insertion, extraction and re-supply of un-conventional warfare forces and equipment into hostile or enemy-controlled territory and perform aerial reconnaissance. The 27th also operates AC-130H Spectre gunships, a heavily armed aircraft designed for close air support, armed reconnaissance, and interdiction. As the 27th grows, Cannon will become home to several additional airframes, including the CV-22 Osprey and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Kirtland Air Force Base is home to the 377th Air Base Wing. The wing's primary mission is munitions readiness and maintenance. But Kirtland is also home to a multitude of other "tenants" with very important national security missions. They include the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC), Sandia National Laboratory, Air Force Research Lab, 58th Special Operations Wing, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the 150th Fighter Wing of the New Mexico Air National Guard, and others.

White Sands Missile Range is the preeminent testing range in the United States. Its 3,200 square miles of restricted land and airspace provide the ideal setting for missile, high energy laser, electronic, and other highly sensitive military testing.

For more information on the Department of Defense, please visit:
http://www.defenselink.mil

For more information on Senator Domenici's views and activities on national defense, visit our online News Center.

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