Supporting the legacy of our armed services
Over the past century, Oklahoma has played a crucial role in our nation’s military readiness. Our five worldclass installations have been instrumental in training America’s warfighters, while our munition plant kept them supplied on the battlefield — and our depots have surpassed equipment manufacturing and repair standards.
That military presence is deeply embedded in our state’s history, carrying our nation through war and peace. It’s an absolute honor to have been appointed to the Senate Armed Services Committee to help carry on this legacy and play a small part in preserving centuries worth of defense excellence. It is a responsibility I will not take lightly.
When our military communities succeed, our state succeeds. Together, the five installations employ more than 70,000 military personnel and civilians and contribute $19.3 billion annually to our state’s economy.
The McAlester Army Ammunition Plant is the largest storage facility for conventional ammunition in the Department of Defense (DOD), storing nearly one-third of our entire stock. Tinker Air Force Base (AFB) in Midwest City is the largest military depot repair complex in the world. Further, our Army National Guard had the highest recruitment numbers in the nation in 2021. Our military represents a third of our economy, serving as a direct testament to the success of our bases and the surrounding communities.
Tinker AFB has recently been tapped to maintain the United States’ new stealth bomber, Northrup Grumman’s B-21. This is a reflection of the Air Force’s trust in Tinker’s outstanding maintenance capabilities and a nod to the personnel excellence in maintaining the legacy B-1 and B-2 systems. Also, Fort Sill will receive the Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) schoolhouse by Fiscal Year 2024, providing stationed troops with essential training in a new field of warfighting. This will provide incredible opportunities for economic growth as corporations like Epirus and Kratos partner with the DOD to bring the latest technology as well as hundreds of jobs to the thriving Oklahoma aerospace sector.
Within Senate Armed Services, I am thrilled to have been assigned to three subcommittees including, Airland, Emerging Threats and Capabilities and Readiness and Management. These assignments present an excellent opportunity for our state, and I’m proud to give a voice to the installations and military personnel who call Oklahoma home. I look forward to working with the ranking member Roger Wicker and remaining in lockstep with leadership across the state to advance our shared priorities.
As our nation faces increased security threats and unprecedented global challenges, we must approach them head-on and ensure our priorities remain clear. The Armed Services Committee must work in a bipartisan manner to conduct oversight over the DOD and prioritize fiscal responsibility within the annual defense budget. We must demand accountability from the Pentagon and streamline efficiency to cut waste, fraud and abuse.
As your Senator, I am committed to ensuring our servicemen and women have the tools they need to safely and effectively protect our nation from harm. I’ll be working alongside our installations to modernize our forces, support military intelligence and keep our organic industrial base strong. Our bases understand that operational readiness is key to promoting global stability.
Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to visit Vance AFB in Enid as well as Tinker AFB to receive maintenance updates and hear of the successes and challenges of training our Airmen. Soon, I look forward to seeing Altus AFB, Fort Sill Fires Center of Excellence Army Base and the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in my new Senate capacity to hear first-hand how I can best serve our robust military community.
I’ve spent the last 10 years in a different capacity traveling the state, meeting with active-duty personnel and veterans, and hearing stories of their service. Our men and women in uniform exemplify our best here in Oklahoma, and I will not settle for any less than topquality resources and instruction for them as I advocate from a new post.
My grandfather served our country in uniform, and his service has left a lasting impact on our family. I understand the sacrifices our servicemen and women make every single day, as well as the sacrifices of their loved ones. I am grateful for the opportunity to support our great state.