Air Force Secretary nominee Barbara Barrett testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee, as a part of the confirmation process, on Sept 12, 2019, in Washington, D.C. Air Force photo by Wayne Clark.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein praised Air Force Secretary nominee Barbara Barrett in a Sept. 17 keynote address at AFA’s 2019 Air, Space & Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Md., near Washington, D.C.
After leading the standing-room-only audience in a chorus of “pending confirmation”—a lighthearted reminder that the Senate has yet to vote on her fate in the position—Goldfein rattled off highlights from her resume, which includes stints as a pilot, astronaut, ambassador, and more.
“Ladies and gentlemen, here’s what I’ll tell ya: We won the lottery—again—and we can’t wait to welcome her to our Air Force.”
President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Barrett as former SECAF Heather Wilson’s successor via Twitter on May 21.
The White House formally submitted her name to the Senate on Sept. 9.
During her Sept. 12 nomination hearing on Capitol Hill, she told lawmakers from the Senate Armed Services Committee that her priorities for the role include ensuring the military’s space deterrence capabilities, formulating a Space Force warfighting ethos, attracting, training, and keeping cyber operators in USAF ranks, boosting Air Force work-life balance, and keeping airmen and USAF families healthy and safe, Air Force Magazine previously reported.