KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- At the invitation of the chairman, U.S. Air Force Colonel Justin Secrest, newly appointed commander of the 377th Air Base Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base, addressed the New Mexico State Legislature’s Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee, July 15. The meeting, held at the University of New Mexico’s Student Support and Services Center, was hosted by the Office of Military Base Planning and Support.
Secrest outlined the strategic importance of Kirtland’s operations to national security and its profound economic impact on the Albuquerque region.
“Our focus is on maintaining a world-class installation that supports both its mission and the people who serve it,” said Secrest. “We can only reach that level through strong local and state partnerships.”
The commander emphasized Kirtland’s role as one the most diverse installations in the Air Force, hosting 109 mission partners from four Air Force major commands, the U.S. Space Force, the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, and Sandia National Laboratories to name a few. As the installation’s host wing, the 377th provides direct support to all tenant units and is uniquely positioned with both operational and support missions.
During his presentation, Secrest spotlighted several challenges:
- Family Support: Two Quality-of-life initiatives include seeking exemptions for military families to expand both access to charter schools and increasing employment opportunities for military spouses.
- Housing and Healthcare: Challenges the base faces include a backlog of military housing requests and limited local access to medical specialty care, prompting costly out-of-state referrals.
- Community Security: Secrest cited an uptick in unauthorized entry attempts and emphasized ongoing collaboration with local law enforcement.
He also announced the upcoming release of a new economic impact statement, expected to show growth as well as the enhanced-use lease project—70 acres of federally owned land near the base recently opened to industry development in a push to boost local job creation.
“This marks the beginning of what I hope will be an enduring and productive partnership,” said Secrest. “We live and work here, and it’s imperative that we continue fostering strong relationships across our community and state.”
For more information on Kirtland Air Force Base, contact the Kirtland Public Affairs Office at 377abw.pa@us.af.mil or call 505-846-5991.