Moran meets with Air Mobility Commander

By Jacob Weston

CREATED Feb. 26, 2013

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Senator Moran met Tuesday with General Paul Selva, Commander of the Air Mobility Command.

They discussed basing options for the new KC-46A tankers, and the strategic role Kansas plays in air mobility. McConnell and Forbes are finalists to base the new tankers.

Below is the full statement given by Moran after the meeting with the General:

“Today, I had the pleasure of getting to know General Paul Selva who took Command of AMC in November, succeeding General Raymond Johns. The AMC leads global mobility operations for our Armed Serves including the vital aerial refueling mission that Kansas-based Forbes Airfield and McConnell Air Force Base carry out on a daily basis.

"As the Air Force continues to evaluate base finalists for the new KC-46A tankers, I wanted General Selva to know the imperative and strategic role Kansas plays to execute global mobility with the airmen at McConnell and Forbes. Both have been selected as finalists for the Formal Training Unit, Main Operation Base No. 1 and Main Operation Base No. 2, and currently provide their aerial refueling mission with KC-135 tankers.

"I was also pleased to learn that General Selva has completed a number of flying hours in the KC-135 and understands the importance of refueling missions at home and overseas. We discussed the KC-46A basing selection process, and it was valuable to hear his perspective and outlook as the AMC Commander. 

“Additionally, with his experience as the Director of Operations for U.S. Transportation Command, General Selva is very familiar with the need for rapid global reach and strategic positioning — factors often used to describe Kansas air mobility and refueling capabilities. As we move forward on the KC-46A tanker basing selection process, I am confident General Selva will be an effective leader for the AMC and a first-rate advisor to Chief of Staff General Mark Welsh.”
 
Both McConnell and Forbes have been conducting refueling missions since the 1970s.