Heather Wilson
Heather Wilson is the former United States secretary of the Air Force. She was the 24th person to serve in the position. President Donald Trump nominated her for Air Force secretary on January 23, 2017. On May 8, 2017, the Senate confirmed Wilson by a vote of 76-22. She was sworn in on May 16, 2017. Wilson stepped down on May 31, 2019, to serve as president of the University of Texas at El Paso.[1][2][3][4]
The Air Force secretary is responsible for overseeing the United States Air Force and reports directly to the secretary of defense.
Wilson represented New Mexico's 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House from June 25, 1998, to January 3, 2009. In 2012 and 2008, she sought election to the U.S. Senate from New Mexico, but she was unsuccessful.[5][6]
Biography
Wilson served in the United States Air Force from 1978 to 1989. She attended the United States Air Force Academy, and she was the first woman to command basic cadet training. She earned a M.Phil. and a D.Phil. in international relations from the University of Oxford. She served in Congress from June 25, 1998, to January 3, 2009, making her the first female veteran elected to a full term in Congress.[7]
Career
Below is an abbreviated outline of Wilson's academic, professional, and political career:[7][8]
- May 16, 2017 - May 31, 2019: Secretary of the Air Force
- 2013 - 2017: President of the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
- January 23, 2017: Nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as Secretary of the Air Force
- 2012: U.S. Senate Candidate from New Mexico
- 2008: U.S. Senate Candidate from New Mexico
- June 25, 1998 - January 3, 2009: U.S. House Representative from New Mexico's 1st Congressional District
- 1995 - 1998: Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department
- 1989 - 1991: Director for European Defense Policy and Arms Control, National Security Council
- 1978 - 1989: Served in the United States Air Force
- 1985: Earned D.Phil from the University of Oxford
- 1984: Earned M.Phil from the University of Oxford
- 1982: Graduated from the United States Air Force Academy
Confirmation vote
Senate vote
On May 8, 2017, the Senate voted 76-22 to confirm Wilson as secretary of the Air Force.[2]
Elections
2012
Wilson ran in the 2012 election for the U.S. Senate, representing New Mexico. She defeated Greg Sowards in the June 5, 2012, Republican primary, and she was defeated by Martin Heinrich (D) in the November 6, 2012, general election.[9]
Primary election
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
 Heather Wilson |
70% | 63,631 |
| Greg Sowards | 30% | 27,214 |
| Total Votes | 90,845 | |
Campaign contributions
Wilson was defeated by Martin Heinrich in 2012. During that election cycle, Wilson's campaign committee raised a total of $7,170,513 and spent $7,108,688.[10]
| U.S. Senate, New Mexico, 2012 - Heather Wilson Campaign Contributions | |
|---|---|
| Total Raised | $7,170,513 |
| Total Spent | $7,108,688 |
| Total Raised by Election Winner | $1,312,424 |
| Total Spent by Election Winner | $1,208,911 |
| Top contributors to Heather Wilson's campaign committee | |
| Elliot Management | $33,711 |
| Alliance Resource Partners | $32,500 |
| Mewbourne Oil Co | $25,000 |
| Yates Patroleum | $20,850 |
| Blue Cross/Blue Shield | $19,050 |
| Top 5 industries that contributed to campaign committee | |
| Retired | $837,784 |
| Oil & Gas | $325,900 |
| Leadership PACs | $304,025 |
| Securities & Investment | $269,066 |
| Real Estate | $190,850 |
Recent News
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Heather Wilson Secretary of the Air Force. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- U.S. Department of Defense
- United States Senate elections in New Mexico, 2012
- United States Senate elections, 2012
- Called to Serve: 11 female veterans seeking election to Congress
Footnotes
- ↑ Politico, "Trump picks Heather Wilson as Air Force secretary," January 23, 2017
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Senate.gov, "On the Nomination (Confirmation Heather Wilson, of South Dakota, to be Secretary of the Air Force)," May 8, 2017
- ↑ Air Force Times, "Heather Wilson sworn in as 24th Air Force secretary," May 16, 2017
- ↑ Reuters, "U.S. Air Force Secretary Wilson to resign, leaving new vacancy," March 8, 2019
- ↑ CNN, "New Mexico Senate Race - 2012 Election Center," November 6, 2012
- ↑ Roll Call, "Heather Wilson Has GOP Confident in New Mexico," April 5, 2012
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "Heather Wilson," accessed September 24, 2014
- ↑ SDSMT.edu, "US Senate Confirms Heather Wilson as Air Force Secretary," May 8, 2017
- ↑ Associated Press, "New Mexico - Summary Vote Results," June 6, 2012
- ↑ Open Secrets, "Steven Porter 2012 Election Cycle," accessed April 10, 2013
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Deborah Lee James |
U.S. Secretary of the Air Force 2017 - 2019 |
Succeeded by - |
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