FEBRUARY 12, 2026 – Under Secretary of the Air Force Matt Lohmeier visited Kadena Air Base, Feb. 4, concluding his tour of Pacific Air Forces installations across the Indo-Pacific region.
The visit capped a weeklong engagement that included stops at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Osan AB, South Korea, and Yokota AB, Japan, where Lohmeier met with Airmen, Guardians and senior leaders to assess readiness, connect with the force and reaffirm the Department of the Air Force’s commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“It’s a privilege to visit the Pacific, where readiness and deterrence are tested every day,” Lohmeier said. “This trip was about listening to our Airmen, understanding their challenges firsthand and ensuring they have the tools and support to continue generating combat-ready forces.”
During his visit to Kadena AB, Lohmeier met with Brig. Gen. John Gallemore, 18th Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Will Cupp, 18th Wing command chief, for discussions on operational readiness, force sustainment and quality-of-life initiatives that enable the base’s mission.
“Hosting the Under Secretary allows us to demonstrate how Team Kadena generates combat-ready Airmen and aircraft every day in support of the Pacific Air Forces mission,” Gallemore said. “Our discussions centered on readiness, installation capabilities and the programs that empower our Airmen to sustain forces forward: assuring our allies and deterring adversaries and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Lohmeier also toured key facilities across the installation, including maintenance and operations units, to speak directly with Airmen who sustain the Air Force’s largest combat wing.
“Having senior leadership here shows our Airmen that their work matters to the overall mission,” Cupp said. “It’s meaningful when leaders see firsthand how daily mission execution contributes to deterrence and stability across the region.”
Throughout his Pacific tour, Lohmeier emphasized the importance of collaboration between Airmen, Guardians and allies across the theater. From Hickam’s command and control operations, to Osan AB’s forward defense posture, to Yokota AB’s mobility hub and Kadena AB’s power projection mission, each installation plays a vital role in ensuring the U.S. and its allies remain ready to respond to any contingency.
“Across the Indo-Pacific, I’ve seen the professionalism and commitment of our Airmen and Guardians on full display,” Lohmeier said. “Their work underscores America’s enduring commitment to regional stability and our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Lohmeier’s visit reaffirmed the Department of the Air Force’s focus on readiness, resilience, and partnership across the Pacific. As the Keystone of the Pacific, Kadena AB continues to stand at the forefront of that mission: deterrence through strength, advancing warfighting capabilities and standing ready to defend our allies and partners.
By Airman 1st Class Karina Lopez
18th Wing Public Affairs