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VCJCS returns to Travis, partakes in 75th anniversary celebrations

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jonathon Carnell
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  U.S. Air Force Gen. Paul J. Selva, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife, Mrs. Ricki Selva, experienced rapid global mobility up close and took a stroll down memory lane June 15, during a visit at Travis Air Force Base, California.

Upon arrival, Gen. Selva flew on a KC-10 Extender for the first time in 17 years during a heritage flight.

“That was a great experience and brought back so many wonderful memories,” he said. “Coming back to Travis has been very exciting.”

Gen. Selva was the 9th Air Refueling Squadron commander at Travis from 1994 to 1995. He was also the 60th Operations Group commander from 1998-2000. One thing the general noticed during the visit were the upgrades currently underway on the base’s airfield.

“I noticed, while taxiing in, part of the airfield is under major construction,” he said. “Parts of the airfield that we quit using when I was squadron commander here are now being utilized as part of our mobility platform, which describes the future of Travis: we are going to continue to change and modify to make our Air Force better.

“It’s not just the location of Travis, it’s also the infrastructure,” the general added. “Travis is in a location that is inherently joint and conveniently located to be a hub for the rest of the Pacific.” 

During his visit, Gen. Selva received several mission briefings, attended the unveiling of the 9th ARS Heritage Wall and served as the guest speaker at the Travis Air Force Base 75th anniversary dining out.

Additionally, Mrs. Selva spoke with Airmen at the Phoenix Spark Innovation Lab. 

“I got to fly today, but my wife got to go to the Phoenix Spark Lab to watch Airmen creating innovative technologies and ideas that will make our Air Force better,” said Gen. Selva. 

“Whenever I come back and get to touch one of the places that I consider a home plate, I get to see the changes. The changes are essentially the Airmen at Travis. Being able to come back and see Airmen who I’ve heard about really feels amazing.”

For the past 75 years, the Airmen at Travis have served locally and engaged globally, supporting numerous operations around the world. The base has assisted with hurricane relief efforts, been a vital part of operations from the Middle East to Africa and just recently, aided volcano relief efforts in Hawaii. 

Gen. Selva said he’s proud of the dedication he’s seen from America’s Airmen and expects even more in the future. 

“Our Airmen have to be ready to answer whatever mission may come about,” said Gen. Selva. “If we are ready individually, we can really be prepared as a unit.”

During the dining out event, Selva delivered one powerful, resounding message: Thank you. 

“I want to thank the (60th Air Mobility) Wing for this opportunity,” said Gen. Selva. “Travis has done a magnificent job. It’s not just celebrating a squadron I happened to be a commander of. It’s the history and heritage of the base that means a lot to the nation.”