Air Force Secretary visits Ali Airmen

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. James A. Rush
  • 407th AEG Public Affairs
ALI BASE, Iraq --  The Secretary of the Air Force toured 407th Air Expeditionary Group facilities and dined with some of the unit's top Airmen March 28. 

The Honorable Michael Wynne dined with the group's recent monthly award nominees, including Senior Airman Timothy Fleshman, a vehicle maintenance technician from RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom. 

"It was pleasure and an honor to sit with Secretary Wynne and 'break bread' with a man of his stature. A truly once in a lifetime opportunity," Airman Fleshman said. "I enjoyed hearing about Secretary Wynne's past. It gave us a better outlook on his history and a better understanding of where our leadership in the Air Force comes from. We also had an interesting conversation about the future of the Air Force and where he would like to see it go." 

Secretary Wynne, joined by U.S. Central Command Air Forces Commander Lt. Gen. Gary North, began his visit with a group mission briefing. Col. Larry Kauffman, 407th AEG commander, provided the initial presentation. 

More detailed briefings at the 407th AEG's squadrons followed as the secretary heard about the many projects undertaken to improve Ali Base. Airmen from security forces, services, communication, civil engineering, airlift, operations and logistics gave details about their units' accomplishments during Air Expeditionary Force 5/6. 

Leaving behind more capable bases for the next group is one of the strong points of the AEF system, according to Secretary Wynne. He last stopped at Ali Base only 18 months ago, but still was impressed with the many changes. 

"You get to be here for a short time," he said. "You see what it's like when you arrive and you see how you make it better." 

Secretary Wynne's visit was part of a two-base tour of Air Force units in Iraq. He flew into Kirkuk Air Base earlier in the day. During his Ali stay, he repeatedly thanked Airmen for their hard work and for representing the United States honorably. 

"We say that every Airman is an ambassador and you can look in the mirror in the morning and say that ambassador is me," he said. "[Through you] people can see that America is a good place to be from." 

Dinner and conversation in the group conference room with some of the 407th AEG's ambassador's was the last stop prior to leaving. 

"He is very personable, a true gentlemen," said Airman Fleshman. "When we spoke, whether we were an Airman or a sergeant, he gave us his undivided attention truly caring about what we had to say. Overall it was an amazing dinner one I will never forget."