U.S. Senator and Bothell resident Patty Murray (D-WA) demanded a formal briefing today from high-ranking United States Air Force officials on the decision-making process for basing the KC-46A tanker program. Earlier today, the Air Force released a preliminary decision to base the aerial refueling tanker at McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas instead of Fairchild Air Force Base in Eastern Washington.  Air Force officials will brief Senator Murray in her office in Washington, DC this week.

Murray will also discuss the Air Force’s decision later today at a meeting with General Martin E. Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and will press Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on the basing decision in several meetings in the coming weeks.

“I’m extremely disappointed by the Air Force’s decision today, and I have plenty of questions on how they reached this conclusion,” said Murray. “With unmatched community support, world-class facilities and infrastructure, and an ideal location to support the military’s focus on the Asia-Pacific region, it’s difficult to understand how Fairchild was not chosen as a home for the tanker fleet.  Later today and in the coming weeks, I will raise my deep concerns about this decision with the highest levels of our military.”