Alabama congressman may become head of Air Force, report says

[Boats]

Alabama congressman may become head of Air Force, report says
By: Paul Gattis - 10-5-18
RE: https://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/20...ay_become.html

Because of his enthusiasm and insight on the creation of a space force touted by President Trump, U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, has been named in a report as a leading candidate to become the head of the U.S. Air Force.

The report at ForeignPolicy.com, published Thursday, said Trump is unhappy with Heather Wilson, the current Secretary of the Air Force because of efforts to undermine the space force initiative.

The report said Trump is considering replacing Wilson after next month's midterm elections and listed Rogers as the top name the White House is weighing as a replacement.

The report cited three unnamed sources for its information.

The White House issued a statement Thursday to ForeignPolicy.com denying that Trump was a part of any discussion to fire Wilson. "All reporting to the contrary is simply false," the report quoted White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters as saying.

Rogers, Alabama's second-longest serving congressman, is seeking a ninth term in Congressman in the Nov. 6 election. He is being challenged by Democrat Mallory Hagan.

Rogers is a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and chairman of its Strategic Forces Subcommittee. He is trying to help Trump succeed in his vision of a separate branch of the military devoted to space defense.

Rogers' office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday from AL.com.

Trump first announced in June his intentions to push the Pentagon to create a space force, though the reaction has been largely mixed.

"He wants it done, and he knows this town, particularly the Pentagon, will do anything they can to slow things down" until Trump is out of office, Rogers told AL.com in June. "That's because the Air Force doesn't want the new force and has ignored the need and fought a new force for years."

While space force has its critics, Rogers is not one of them.

"We have become heavily dependent on space to fight and win wars," Rogers told AL.com reporter Lee Roop in June. "Just like in our personal lives. People don't realize it, but they use satellites every day, whether it's that smart phone in their hand or the banking transactions they do with their business or watching TV or using a credit card at the gas pump."

AL.com reporter Lee Roop contributed to this report.