AUGUST 24, 2026 – Readiness, modernization and cutting-edge aviation technology brought Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink to McConnell Air Force Base, Aug. 12.
When Meink first began his Air Force career, the KC-135 Stratotanker as his aircraft. Currently, he is the Air Force’s senior civilian leader, experiencing a new generation of tankers take its place.
During his visit, Meink discussed McConnell’s transition from the KC-135 to the KC-46A Pegasus, the importance of maintaining the Air Force’s air refueling advantage and the Airmen responsible for carrying out the mission to fly, fight and win — anytime, anywhere.
As the Air Force evolves to meet demands, so does McConnell’s mission.
Aerial refueling gives the joint force the endurance needed to project airpower around the world by reducing the need to divert from missions repeatedly to land and refuel.
This makes McConnell’s tanker mission essential to the United States’ ability to respond if and when needed.
“Air refueling is key to power projection and the backbone of global mobility and global reach for the joint force,” Meink said
“Make no mistake about it: our refueling capability is a distinct military advantage for the United States. We operate around three-quarters of the tanker aircraft in the world, and that gives us the unparalleled capacity to project and sustain airpower, anywhere around the globe.”
Team McConnell has begun sending KC-135s to other bases, while others are being retired from the service.
The KC-135 role is gradually being shared with the KC-46 as the newer aircraft are gradually becoming a larger portion of the overall tanker fleet.
For the Airmen making that transition, the change means learning a new aircraft while maintaining the air refueling mission throughout the transition.
“The departure of the KC-135s from McConnell will be a bittersweet moment for some, as we tend to get attached to the aircraft we operate,” Meink said.
“This transition is a part of the management and modernization of our current tanker fleet, and the KC-46 will extend our air refueling advantage.
The KC-135s are still going to be in use for many years to come, and we are modernizing the communications systems to ensure their viability into the future.
We plan to leverage the experience, capabilities and advantages of both airframes to continue providing air refueling, airlift, aeromedical and data platforms for the joint force.”
That balance between modernizing, yet still keeping existing capabilities mission-ready extends beyond McConnell’s gates and platforms.
During the visit, Meink also engaged at Wichita’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), where he saw digital engineering developments to B-1B Lancer sustainment work, replacing forward intermediate fuselage sections for select bombers.
The work comes as the Air Force continues to rely on the B-1B while preparing to bring the B-21 Raider into the bomber fleet.
“NIAR made a digital twin of each B-1 in the program to predict structural fatigue, design heavy structural repairs, and to design and fit replacement parts. This innovative use of digital engineering in sustainment work trimmed a 12-month repair process down to under nine months, returning that bomber to our fleet sooner and increasing capability in the process,” Meink said.
In the effort to stay ahead of dynamic challenges, speed matters just as much as innovation in the commercial sector as well.
“Our success now and in the future relies heavily on the strength and commitment of the aerospace defense industrial base,” Meink said.
“They help turn innovation into standard practice, and we need their commitment to ensure the weapons systems Airmen and Guardians need are fielded as fast as possible.”
For Meink, the people behind those missions and capabilities remain the Air Force’s most important advantage.
“Perhaps the most important part of any base visit is the time I spend with our Total Force teammates. Our people are our most decisive advantage, and we are committed to providing them and their families with the tools, resources, and quality of life they deserve,” Meink said.
Meink engaged Airmen in several stops on his visit, including having lunch with Total Force Airmen. During the lunch, a number of topics were discussed, including artificial intelligence, innovation, the broader perspectives necessary for large-scale decisions and aspects of leadership.
While much of their work happens out of the spotlight, Meink believes the energy and dedication of Airmen continue to drive the Air Force forward.
For Team McConnell, that means carrying that work into the next chapter of the tanker mission as the KC-135 departs from McConnell and KC-46 aircraft take their place.
By Senior Airman Paula Arce
22nd Air Refueling Wing