Air Force official shares 'continuing commitment' to base

In a letter to U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich from a U.S. Air Force deputy secretary and shared by Heinrich’s office, the secretary wrote he wanted to “share my continuing commitment to Cannon (Air Force Base) and the communities that have supported our Airmen for nearly a century.”

The letter from Ravi Chaudhary, assistant secretary of Air Force energy, installations and environment, to Heinrich was in response to letters Heinrich wrote to Air Force command on July 25 and handed to President Joe Biden on Aug. 8 as the president was visiting New Mexico.

“While there will be planned reductions of personnel, the Air Force will maintain a significant presence at Cannon AFB as a premier Power Projection Wing for the nation,” Chaudhary wrote in his letter to Heinrich dated Aug. 21. “The Department of the Air Force is committed to the long-term future of the 27th Special Operations Wing,” based at Cannon.

“The Air Force is transforming to meet emerging threats and challenges, and Air Force Special Operations is adapting to better address those future threats,” Chadhoury wrote.

Cannon’s mission Is “enduring,” Chaudhary’s letter stated, “and key to the Air Force’s efforts to focus investments on critical capabilities required to execute the National Defense Strategy. “

From 2005 to the present, the letter pointed out, “Cannon personnel have increased from 3,950 personnel to well over 6,500 today.”

The letter stated, “the Air Force will continue our strong relationship between Cannon AFB, the local community and the state of New Mexico.”