National Security and Hill Air Force Base

As the only member of the Utah House delegation representing Hill Air Force Base, I have made it a top priority of mineto engage with Department of Defense leadership, small businesses, and military families to ensure the needs of Utah’s defense community are represented in Washington.

Having previously served on the House Armed Services Committee, I used my productive working relationships with members of both parties to ensure that the Committee passed the vast majority of my submissions for the most recent defense authorization cycle for Fiscal Year 2025. This included key F-35 maintenance facility modernization, alternative locality pay calculations, a strong resourcing plan for the nation's military Depots, repealing the DoD's 180 day waiting period for military retirees to take civilian jobs, full funding of the LGM-35A Sentinel Program (also known as the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent), and better resources and housing for military families.

I publicly testified before the Armed Services Committee during its annual “Member Day" in March, where I outlined the needs and defense priorities of the Utah First District and his ongoing defense priorities. Full testimony can be found here.

I also waived onto the Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee’s annual posture hearing on April 30, in which I questioned General James C. Slife, Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force about depot performance and sustainability issues. That exchange can be found here.

While in office, I have taken multiple visits to Hill AFB and engaged with both uniformed leadership and enlisted servicemembers to better understand the base's diverse capabilities and mission set. This included visits with the 75th Air Base Wing, Ogden Air Logistics Complex, Landing Gear Center of Excellence, the 649th Munitions Squadron, and the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings, the Air Force’s first fully operational F-35 squadrons to deploy overseas. I’ve also maintained rigorous study of Utah’s diverse defense capabilities by visiting the Utah Test and Training Range, the Defense Logistics Agency, and the Falcon Hill Enhanced Use Lease complex.

I am Co-Chair of the bipartisan Air Force and Depot caucuses, where I discuss with my House colleagues the challenges and opportunities facing our Depots and military communities. It is an honor to be a voice for Hill Air Force Base and Northern Utah’s military families.