Press Releases
April 15, 2005
Delegation Speaks to Air Force Secretary, Defense Undersecretary
Washington — In the latest of a series of high-profile meetings with top Pentagon brass, Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan and Congressman Earl Pomeroy met with newly-appointed Acting Air Force Secretary Michael Dominguez and Defense Undersecretary Mike Wynne in their Pentagon offices. Adjutant General Mike Haugen joined the delegation in their Pentagon meetings.
North Dakota has Air Force bases in Minot and Grand Forks, and an Air National Guard base in Fargo that is home to the 119th Fighter Wing known as the Happy Hooligans. The purpose of the delegation's visit to Secretary Dominguez was to welcome him to the job and speak to him about the great strengths of the bases in North Dakota.
"Our bases in North Dakota are critical to the security of nation. And our meetings today were designed to ensure that Secretary Dominguez — who is new to the job — and Undersecretary Wynne know everything they need to know about North Dakota's bases," the delegation said in a joint statement. "Whether it's the missile and bomber wings in Minot, the Happy Hooligans in Fargo or the refueling tankers in Grand Forks -- a base known as the 'crown jewel' of Air Mobility Command -- our bases in North Dakota play a critical role in defending the country."
Today's visits with Secretary Dominguez and Undersecretary Wynne were just the most recent in a string of meetings and telephone calls between Defense Department officials and the delegation and other state representatives, including Gov. John Hoeven and community leaders.
North Dakota's military bases have been the recipients of major military construction funding secured by the efforts of the delegation. More than $200 million in construction projects, including new housing, runways and operations centers, have been launched over the last three years at the bases in Grand Forks, Minot and Fargo.
