Pacific Northwest Economic Region tours Fairchild

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Sean Campbell
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
Pacific Northwest Economic Region members received a Fairchild Air Force Base mission immersion to learn about the 92nd Air Refueling Wing’s mission and how it works in tandem with the 141st ARW, 336th Training Group and other tenant units on July 25.

The PNWER consists of senators, state representatives, foreign nationals and industry leaders committed to increasing economic stability and quality of life for the Pacific Northwest.

Base leaders spoke with U.S. and Canadian legislators about Team Fairchild innovations, how its growth positively impacts the economy, and how Airmen modernize the KC-135 Stratotanker while improving operational effectiveness and efficiency.

“Fairchild is such an asset to the eastern Washington area. We should do everything we can to make sure it continues to grow and be funded at the congressional level,” said Sen. Chuck Winder, Idaho State Legislature and PNWER Transportation and Infrastructure Working Group co-chair. “Fairchild’s importance can be seen not only strategically around the world, but locally in the economy.”

The PNWER’s primary mission is to increase economic stability and quality of life for all the people of the Pacific Northwest Region to include the states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Yukon and Northwest Territories.

“I appreciate the different perspectives the members of PNWER bring and their commitment to finding ways to make this region better,” said Col. Derek Salmi, 92nd ARW commander. “Working together to generate new ideas and ways of thinking can benefit not only Fairchild, but U.S. and Canadian communities.”