News

Senators meet with general
By Celeste Calvitto, Journal Staff Writer

WASHINGTON — South Dakota’s U.S. senators met Wednesday with a top Air Force official to discuss future missions for Ellsworth Air Force Base, including strengthening the B-1B Lancer bomber mission.

In separate meetings, Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., and Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., talked with Maj. Gen. Roger Burg, director of Strategic Security for Air and Space Operations in the Air Force.

Burg is originally from Hot Springs and formerly served as director for Nuclear Policy and Arms Control on the National Security Council, according to a news release from Johnson’s office.

In the news release, Johnson said that in addition to finding future missions for Ellsworth, “we must focus on enhancing the B-1 bomber mission.” 

“The old adage says that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. As such, I’m going to do all I can to strengthen the B-1 bomber mission,” Johnson said. “I wanted to make sure the general understood our ongoing commitment to this mission as we looked for additional missions.”

In a conference call with reporters on Wednesday, Thune said his discussion with Burg focused on the B-1 and other potential missions. Both senators referred to the B-1 as the “workhorse” of the Air Force.

“The B-1 is the backbone of the bomber fleet that gives us distance and flexibility in theaters throughout the world,” Thune said.

In August, the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission rejected the Pentagon’s recommendation to close Ellsworth and move its B-1 bombers to Dyess Air Force Base in Texas. Since then, South Dakota’s congressional delegation has been focusing on what they call “BRAC-proofing” Ellsworth by trying to find additional missions for the base as well as enhancing the B-1 mission.

Earlier this month, Johnson helped secure $5 million in the defense spending bill that will be allocated toward secure communications for the B-1 bomber, and last year, he helped secure an additional $22.5 million to modernize the B-1 fleet, according to the news release.

Thune said “there are a whole range of discussions going on” about future missions. He said that when the Defense Department’s Quadrennial Defense Review is completed, “we’ll have a better idea about weapons systems, platforms and strategies.”

Contact Celeste Calvitto at 394-8438 or celeste.calvitto@rapidcityjournal.com