Military Officers Association of America Banquet

Military Officers Association of America Banquet

Deliverd by Lt. Governor Mead Treadwell | State of Alaska | October 23, 2014

Anchorage, AK (As delivered, edited for clarity) --

The Honorable Mead Treadwell,  Lt. Governor, State of Alaska: Good evening, officers, and thank you to Gen. Campbell for the invitation. I feel like I’ve been giving a lot of farewell speeches lately. Tonight is no exception.

As your Lt. Governor, I’ve been honored to participate in your change of command ceremonies, your memorial services, your retirement parties, your funerals.

I recall a funeral service during my first year in office, in which a graduating senior lost her father. She had no other immediate family. And I felt like that was must have been most painful gun salute a congregation has ever had to endure.

I recall the Memorial and Veterans’ Day ceremonies each spring and fall. Every wreath and salute and national anthem never became less stirring.

I recall every retirement ceremony, in which grateful men and women publicly honored the families that had uprooted and supported and carried on with them through so many transitions – moves, promotions, deployments.

There is so much a military family has to endure. If anything, they know how to regroup, how to make new friends and cherish old ones, and – most difficult of all – they know how to wait.

My former Chief of Staff, David Stone, had a son in Afghanistan during my first year in office. His name was Brandon, and he had a wife and a child in Virginia. We were all proud of his service, but we were even more anxious for him to come home. We were all waiting. Brandon did come home, but only after being severely wounded. We were waiting for Brandon, and for news we didn’t want to hear. But we consoled, we supported, we carried on.

All of that said, I’ve tried to understand the unique challenges that face our active duty military and veterans’ community, and I’ve tried to advocate for you; to ease the transitions; to promote your work.

It’s time to mark our progress – in making sure Alaska and America are doing right at home and abroad – to remain invulnerable, to lead internationally, to protect and enjoy liberty.

I’ve spent the past four years pitching our geostrategic location to the rest of the nation and the world. Gen. Billy Mitchell, speaking before Congress in the 1930’s, once called Alaska the most strategic place on earth. From shipping routes to missile defense to polar aviation crossroads, we continue to prove our worth at the top of the world.

I’ve long advocated for a robust and reliable missile defense system at Fort Greely, and during our term we were rewarded by the announcement that 14 new interceptors would be added to improve our ground-based missile defense. I am very proud that Alaska serves as America’s first line of defense against a potential North Korean missile attack. I’m very proud of our service men and women standing guard.

During the past four years, we’ve also defended our strategic location as reason to keep the F-35 squadron at Eielson Air Force Base. It is an Arctic-trained force; it has access to the Pacific theatre; and I believe we will win that battle. I’ve also advocated to bring business to the Kodiak Launch Complex. Alaska’s inclination gives it access to polar orbits that other launch sites can’t provide, and we’re very excited about the interest we’ve received.

Finally, through my role as Chairman of the Aerospace States Association, along with other lieutenant governors nationwide, we’ve addressed major issues facing our states. From sequestration, to statewide digital mapping upgrades, to UAS implementation, to NextGen technology, to cyber and electromagnetic pulse threats, I want you all to know there is a very committed team of aerospace experts working on our behalf to make our state a safe place to operate.

Behind all of these efforts has been a desire to improve our quality of life, to promote job growth and to diversify our economy. We want you to thrive and to stay. It has truly been an honor to be a part of your lives. The culture of camaraderie and tradition that you bring to our community is invaluable. Our state and local community is so much richer for your presence. I’m so very proud that Anchorage is a base town. I’m so very proud of what you bring to it.

Thank you all for your service, and Godspeed.