Air Force leaders have a busy week on Capitol Hill, with Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh and Secretary Deborah Lee James sitting before both the House and Senate Armed Services committees.
The two will appear with other service chiefs and secretaries before the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday tomorrow, and will face their toughest test on Wednesday before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The Senate panel second hearing, was rescheduled from earlier this month due to weather, earlier this month. The Senate hearing will be the first time the Air Force leaders face the new committee under its new chairman, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., will face the leaders with the gavel in his hand. Questioning will likely focus on the plan to retire the A-10, a move the senator has repeatedly vowed to block. A-10s are based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in McCain's home state.
McCain has also been a vocal critic of the Air Force's use of the Russian-made RD-180 rocket engines.
The committee also includes Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., perhaps the most vocal critic of the A-10 plan. Ayotte's husband is a former A-10 pilot.
Other officials are also expected on Captiol Hill as the budget approval process continues. Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., said Monday today the budget committee will begin the markup process on Wednesday.
Lt. Gen. Stanley Clarke, director of the Air National Guard, and Gen. Frank Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau, will appear alongside the director of the Army National Guard and Army Reserve on Tuesday tomorrow at the House Appropriations Committee.
The Senate Armed Services airland subcommittee on Thursday will question William LaPlante, Air Force assistant secretary for acquisition, Lt. Gen. James Holmes, deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and requirements, and Lt. Gen. Tod Wolters, deputy chief of staff for operations, on Thursday.
