Press Releases
October 28, 2008
Conrad Calls for Expanding Weapons Maintenance Mission at Minot Air Force Base
Senator says MAFB Can Help Restore Confidence in Nation's Nuclear Programs
Washington – Just days after pressing defense leaders to consider Minot Air Force Base as the future home of a new nuclear command, Senator Conrad today made the case for Minot to be the headquarters for a complementary mission, helping to oversee the operation of Air Force weapons storage areas nationwide.
“Given the scale of the weapons storage areas at Minot and the fact that it supports both bombers and a missile wing, it seems logical that Minot host the consolidated munitions maintenance group in addition to its munitions maintenance squadron,” Senator Conrad wrote in a letter to Air Force Secretary Michael Donley.
Last week, the Air Force unveiled the highly anticipated nuclear roadmap, a blueprint for restoring confidence in the security of America’s nuclear mission. The Air Force report calls for centralizing nuclear missile and bomber forces under one entity to be called Global Strike Command. Senator Conrad has been pushing to have Minot as the headquarters for this new command as well as a nuclear-focused Weapons School.
The nuclear roadmap also details plans for the Air Force to create a new Munitions Maintenance group responsible for the operation of weapons storage areas at all Air Force bases in the continental United States. In making the case for North Dakota to be the home for this new mission, Senator Conrad noted basing the Munitions Maintenance command in Minot would centralize oversight and help restore confidence in the nation’s nuclear programs.
Minot is home to the B-52H Stratofortress bombers of the 5th Bomb Wing as well as the 91st Missile Wing and its fleet of 150 Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs). It is the nation’s only dual nuclear mission base.
Senator Conrad is a member of the Senate Air Force caucus and co-chairman of the ICBM caucus.
The letter to Secretary Donley is below.
October 28, 2008
The Honorable Michael Donley
Secretary of the Air Force
1670 Air Force Pentagon
Washington, DC 20330-1670
Dear Secretary Donley:
Congratulations on the release last Friday of the Air Force’s roadmap, Reinvigorating the Air Force Nuclear Enterprise. I commend you for the comprehensive and balanced approach that your task force took in crafting a plan for implementing the sometimes contradictory recommendations of the numerous expert studies and commissions investigating the nuclear missteps. Please pass my thanks to Maj Gen Don Alston for his tireless work in preparing this plan of action.
After reviewing the report, I believe that the State of North Dakota can further contribute to carrying out this plan by hosting a new munitions maintenance group. As you know, I have previously written you suggesting that Minot Air Force Base would be an outstanding home for the Air Force Global Strike Command headquarters and for a potential nuclear-focused Weapons School. And as Air Force leaders have already announced, Minot is the logical site for an additional B-52 squadron to support the “Global Deterrence Force” concept. However, the roadmap also identifies another new organization that would benefit from being located at our nation’s only base with dual nuclear missions.
It is my understanding that the roadmap calls for Air Force Materiel Command to create a new munitions maintenance group, reporting to the 498th Maintenance Wing at Kirtland AFB. The group will take responsibility for the operation of weapons storage areas at all operational Air Force bases in the continental United States and supervise detached squadrons at each WSA. Given the scale of the WSA at Minot and the fact that it supports both bombers and a missile wing, it seems logical that Minot host the consolidated munitions maintenance group in addition to its munitions maintenance squadron.
If the Air Force also chooses to headquarter the Global Strike MAJCOM at Minot, the leadership of that command would benefit from direct geographic proximity to group-level leadership of the maintainers who ensure our nuclear weapons remain safe and reliable. This could help mitigate any risks from consolidating nuclear weapons sustainment activities in Air Force Materiel Command under the Nuclear Weapons Center while giving responsibility for the operational strategic nuclear units to Air Force Global Strike Command.
Again, thank you for your leadership on these issues in a critical time for our country. Please continue to keep me informed as your work progresses.
Sincerely,
KENT CONRAD
United States Senate
