Tanker Contract Must Be National Security Priority

Under the headline, U.S. Air Force’s tanker fleet showing its age, writer Molly McMillin of the The Wichita (Kan.) Eagle shared a story Sunday about the Air Force’s aging fleet of KC-135 air refueling tankers and the $35 billion contract battle between Boeing and Northrop Grumman that has immense national security implications.

At the same time as her article evoked memories from my days as a young Air Force public affairs officer, it also stirred grave concerns about the future of our nation’s defense capabilities.

I share those memories and concerns here.