U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, a Republican from Mississippi and Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has been named the recipient of the W. Stuart Symington Award by the Air and Space Force Association (AFA). The award is considered the highest civilian honor given by the AFA.
Senator Wicker’s background includes service as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) Officer in the U.S. Air Force, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel from the Air Force Reserve. The W. Stuart Symington Award is named after the first Secretary of the Air Force and has previously been awarded to notable figures such as Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, as well as former Senate Armed Services Committee Chairmen John McCain and Jim Inhofe.
“It is my honor to receive a commendation so meaningful as the W. Stuart Symington Award. I am humbled to be named alongside some of my heroes. Air power changed the battlefields of the 20th century, and space has become one of the 21st century’s most consequential fronts,” said Chairman Wicker. “We must ensure that the U.S. Air and Space Forces remain a bulwark against both conventional and nuclear threats. My Senate Armed Services Committee colleagues and I are committed to supporting America’s Airmen and Guardians—particularly by equipping them with the equipment necessary for today’s mission. I am grateful that the Air and Space Force Association shares that mission and has consistently advocated for these service members and their families.”
Lieutenant General Burt Field, USAF (Ret.), President and CEO of AFA, praised Senator Wicker’s contributions: “Sen. Wicker’s steadfast commitment to modernize our Air Force and Space Force and to increase our military readiness are just two examples of what makes him an extraordinary leader in the Senate. His current work to reform our defense acquisition system will be vital in ensuring the taxpayer receives real value for their money while providing our servicemembers with war-winning equipment and support. The AFA and our 130,000 Members are grateful for his leadership of the US Senate Armed Services Committee. Simply put, we are more secure as a nation because of him.”
