Kelly, a veteran, joins Senate Armed Services Committee

U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly has been named to the Senate Armed Services Committee, extending Arizona’s presence on the panel that helps shape the military’s budget and policies.

Kelly, D-Ariz., is a 25-year Navy veteran combat pilot and a retired NASA astronaut.

Kelly’s addition to the committee, which his office confirmed Tuesday, means that every Arizona senator who has held that seat since former Sen. Barry Goldwater, R-Ariz., has been a member of the prestigious panel.

Former Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., chaired the committee from 2015 until his death in 2018. Goldwater chaired it from 1985 to 1987 during his final term.

Former Sen. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., served on it during her two-year tenure in the chamber.

“Arizona trains some of the best pilots and intelligence officers in the world, it develops and tests many of the advanced weapons systems needed to outpace China and Russia, and it is home to a community committed to our national security and to supporting service members and military families,” Kelly said in a written statement. “It’s an honor to join the long legacy of Arizona Senators serving on the Armed Services Committee, and I look forward to working with Republicans and Democrats, and Arizona defense leaders, to protect and expand Arizona’s role in our national defense and meet the threats we face around the world.”

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., chairs the committee, which has oversight of the Pentagon and its annual $700 billion budget.

The committee has outsized importance to Arizona, which has historically deep military ties, with Luke Air Force Base and Davis Monthan Air Force Base, and other installations, such as Fort Huachuca and the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma.

Both of Arizona’s Air Force bases have had uncertain relations with the military in recent years because of longstanding efforts to retire the A-10 fighter jet and the pricey F-35 fighter jet, which has been in limited supply.

U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., is the state’s only member of the House

Armed Services Committee.

Kelly also was named to the Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the Environment and Public Works Committee, the special Committee on Aging and the Joint Economic Committee. Kelly’s committee duties will not overlap with those of U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz.

Sinema remains part of the Senate committees on Veterans’ Affairs; Commerce, Science and Transportation; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.