


McSally, a former fighter pilot, tweeted her congratulations to Barrett, thanking Trump "for taking my recommendation on this important role and selecting an incredibly talented leader as next AF Secretary!"
Barrett, an attorney, serves on a number of boards, including for RAND Corporation, the Smithsonian Institution and the California Institute of Technology, and she's held a number of senior executive positions for Fortune 500 companies.
She and her husband, former CEO of Intel Corp., own Triple Creek Ranch, a luxury resort in Montana's Bitterroot Valley.
Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, chairman of the Senate’s Armed Services Committee, said in a tweet Tuesday that Ms. Barrett’s “extensive government, business and diplomatic experience — not to mention her background as a trained pilot and astronaut — makes her well suited for the job.”
Ms. Barrett’s “appreciation for governmental leadership began in 1972 as an intern at the Arizona State Legislature,” according to an archived biography on the State Department’s website. She holds a law degree from Arizona State University. . .
In 1994, Ms. Barrett poured $1 million of her own money into a campaign to become Arizona’s governor, but she was defeated in the Republican primary by Fife Symington, the incumbent. . . .
> Barrett would become the third woman in a row to serve as the Air Force’s top civilian, overseeing the service’s attempt to refocus on conflict with other advanced militaries in the midst of a massive modernization bill and an ongoing pilot shortage. The Arizona resident is an instrument-rated pilot who became the first civilian woman to land an F/A-18 on an aircraft carrier, and is certified for space flight. . .
In a May 21 release, Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) said she pushed for her close friend’s nomination, even speaking with Trump last week, since Wilson announced her resignation earlier this year.“Ambassador Barrett is a force to be reckoned with and has the leadership, experience, and knowledge to lead our Air Force into the future during a time of increased global threats,” McSally said.