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- [Robert] The honorable Heather Wilson,

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Secretary of the Air Force,

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made her first visit to
Tinker Air Force Base

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November 15th and 16th.

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The visit provided an overview

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of the Air Force Sustainment
Center's mission,

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as the supporting command for readiness

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in the US Air Force.

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Secretary Wilson engaged in discussions

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related to readiness challenges

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and the lethality of our Air Force.

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The Air Force Sustainment Center

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headquartered at Tinker Air Force Base

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is the Art of the Possible birthplace,

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a business model implemented in 2011

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to produce and sustain more
cost-effective readiness.

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Throughout the visit,
Team Tinker demonstrated

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the Art of the Possible, showcasing its

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aircraft sustainment, service life

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and capability enhancement operations,

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including a tour of the program's

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depot maintenance line for
the KC-135 Stratotanker.

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Secretary Wilson also
visited Tinker's renowned

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REACT Cell Laboratory,
for a firsthand look

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at Tinker's modernization
and innovation efforts.

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The REACT Cell Laboratory
is saving taxpayers

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millions of dollars on
components, engine repairs

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and fabrication work
through its use, development

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and advancement of new tools,
technology and training.

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Wrapping things up,
Secretary Wilson toured

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two of Tinker's largest
military construction projects,

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the new air traffic control tower

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and the KC-46 Pegasus
campus, which will be

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the maintenance mecca for
the new refueling fleet,

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bringing an estimated 1,300 new jobs

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to the state of Oklahoma.

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The highlight of the trip,
however, came at the end

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when Secretary Wilson announced

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the bed-down for the new B-21 bomber.

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- We have decided that
Tinker Air Force Base

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will be the hub for the B-21 sustainment

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when the B-21, America's newest bomber,

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comes onboard in the mid-2020s.

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Tinker was selected because of
its experience and expertise

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in large aircraft and the
quality of the workforce here.

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This is, when you get right down to it,

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it's all about people, and the
ability to take what we have

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and apply it to the next new mission.