Page 3 - Aerotech News and Review, Feb. 3 2017

Civilian aircraft crash kills Edwards pilot
An officer assigned to the 419th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., lost his life when the privately owned aircraft he was operating crashed near San Antonio, Texas, the afternoon of Jan. 25.
Maj. Lee Berra, 32, a B-1 test pilot with the 419th FLTS, was flying a single- engine Cirrus SR22 from San Antonio International Airport to Stinson Municipal Airport in San Antonio, when his aircraft went down at approximately 3:45 p.m. He was the sole occupant of the aircraft.
Berra was temporarily assigned to the 12th Flying Training Wing, Joint Base San Antonio for T-38C Pilot Instructor Training. He was in his third week of the 14-week course. Berra held a private pilot license and used his personal aircraft for transportation to the training location. He was also a licensed commercial pilot.
During his 10-year career, Berra flew 2,599 total military flight hours in 30 dif- ferent aircraft, with 2,270 in the supersonic B-1 Lancer. From 2010 through 2015 Berra was assigned as a B-1 pilot at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. He was reas- signed to Edwards Air Force Base to attend the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, where he graduated with Class 15B in June of 2016.
He is survived by his wife and parents.
The cause of the crash is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Trump to nominate Heather Wilson as next AF Secretary
President Donald J. Trump intends to nominate Heather Wilson as Secretary of the Air Force, according to a White House press release issued Jan. 23.
Air Force Academy
Heather Wilson, who graduated in 1982 from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., has been nominated by President Donald J. Trump to become the next Secretary of the Air Force. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Wilson will be the first Air Force academy graduate to become Secretary of the Air Force.
Wilson is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, a Rhodes Scholar and a former U.S. congresswoman who represented New Mexico from 1998 to 2009.
“Heather Wilson is going to make an outstanding Sec- retary of the Air Force,” Trump said in the release. “Her distinguished military service, high level of knowledge and success in so many different fields gives me great confi- dence that she will lead our nation’s Air Force with the greatest competence and integrity. Our debt to America’s men and women in uniform is eternal. Their service is an inspiration to us all and we honor their service and sac- rifice.”
Wilson said in the release, “America and our vital na- tional interests continue to be threatened. I will do my best, working with our men and women in the military, to strengthen American air and space power to keep the country safe.”
Third female secretary
If confirmed, Wilson would succeed former Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, who served as the 23rd Air Force secretary. Wilson would also be the third woman to become Air Force secretary. Sheila Widnall served as the 18th Air Force secretary from 1993 to 1997.
Since 2013, Wilson has been president of the South Da- kota School of Mines and Technology, an engineering and science university, the release said. In her position at the university, Wilson has grown enrollment and increased research while earning a reputation as a sound financial manager and accessible leader, the release added.
As a U.S. representative, Wilson served as a senior mem- ber of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and chaired the House Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical
Intelligence, according to the release. She also served on the House Armed Services Committee.
Before being elected to the Congress, Wilson ran a large state government agency in New Mexico, according to the release.
Wilson grew up in Keene, N.H., and was in the third class to include women at the Air Force academy in Colo- rado Springs, Colo. She graduated in 1982. She earned mas- ter’s and doctoral degrees as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University in England. She served as an Air Force officer in Europe during the Cold War and on the National Security Council Staff under President George H.W. Bush during the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Warsaw Pact.
The daughter and granddaughter of aviators, Wilson is an instrument rated private pilot. Wilson is married to Jay Hone, an attorney and retired Air Force colonel. They have three adult children.
Air Force photograph by Liz Copan
Heather Wilson, who graduated in 1982 from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., has been nominated by President Donald J. Trump to become the next Secretary of the Air Force. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Wilson will be the first Air Force academy graduate to become Secretary of the Air Force.
Disbrow to serve as acting AF secretary
Under secretary of the Air Force Lisa S. Disbrow will serve as the acting secretary of the Air Force as of Jan. 20, until the Senate confirms a permanent replacement.
Under federal law, the under secretary automatically assumes the job of acting secretary until a replacement is confirmed. Disbrow succeeds Deborah Lee James, who served as secretary of the Air Force from Dec. 13, 2013, until Jan. 20.
“It is an honor to continue to serve our airmen,” Disbrow said. “I look for- ward to ensuring continuity during the transition and will continue to partner with our civilian and military leaders to support Air Force priorities.”
The secretary is responsible for the affairs of the Department of the Air Force, including organizing, training, equipping and providing for the welfare of its more than 660,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian airmen and their families. She also oversees the Air Force’s annual budget of more than $139 billion.
February 3, 2017
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