You can watch Senator King’s questioning HERE, or download broadcast quality video HERE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today highlighted the strategic importance of the 101st Air Refueling Wing in Bangor, which he called the “step over the North Atlantic that is such an important part of our system.” While questioning Dr. Ravi Chaudhary – nominee to be Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and the Environment – during a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator King emphasized the longstanding service and geographic value of the base to America’s military and urged Dr. Chaudhary to seriously consider the base for a new fleet of Boeing KC-46 Pegasus. If selected, the aircraft fleet would bring up to 200 active duty servicemembers to Bangor, bolstering the base’s work on behalf of America’s national security and strengthening the region’s economy. In response to King’s request, Dr. Chaudhary pledged to “definitely” give the 101st due consideration.

“You used the term when you were talking with Senator Tuberville of the basing decisions being a strategic basing,” said Senator King. “I hope that you will take cognizance of the fact that there is no more strategic air refueling wing than the 101st in Bangor, that is the step over the North Atlantic that is such an important part of our system. So when you’re talking the KC-46s, please keep in mind the Maniacs up in Bangor and the 101st.”

“Thank you, Senator. I will definitely do that. And as somebody who has received fuel from the Maniacs many times – AR206 is probably one of the most familiar refueling tracks that I’ve received gas to ensure my mission was complete from Maine so many times,” Dr. Chaudhary replied. “The one experience that I have is actually flying in approach in the weather in a storm and watching the runway break out in front of my face and see that beautiful runway in Bangor, Maine and knowing that I can complete a safe mission. So I really really appreciate and value everything that the Bangor, Maine airfield does.”

“Keep that thought in mind when you’re making decisions about the KC-46,” Senator King concluded.

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Senator King also asked Dr. Agnes Schaefer – nominee to be Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs – to consider how the Army could recruit mid-career people with advanced technical skills to bring their new ideas and experiences to strengthen America’s defense.

“The military is the only organization that I know of that recruits people in their teens and twenties and then keeps them for their whole career and nobody enters the system mid-career,” said Senator King. “Do we need to think about the option of bringing in people, particularly people with technical skills who didn’t necessarily enlist or join from one of the academies at a young age, but at the age of 40 decided that they would like to serve their country and they have a skill that we need?”

Senator King, thank you for your question. I definitely think that we should be thinking out of the box on these issues, and especially when we’re thinking about our technical career fields. We have explored the option of lateral entry, and I greatly appreciate the expanded authorities that this committee has given to the services,” Dr. Schaefer responded. “Regarding the expansion and increasing flexibilities within DOTMA, I’ve done quite a bit of work on that issue. The services are taking on those expanded flexibilities, but I think that we need to build on that, increasing that flexibility, to be able to recruit the talent that we need right now, especially in this difficult recruiting environment. So if confirmed, I would definitely be thinking about these sort of out of the box options for ways to bring more people into the Army.”

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator King has long worked to support Maine’s national defense infrastructure that protects our nation and strengthens our communities – including Bangor’s 101st Air Refueling Wing. In the recent 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, Senator King secured authorization of $4.9 billion for the procurement of 3 DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers for Maine’s Bath Iron Works, and has secured significant funding for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.