TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Travis Air Force Base held its second State of the Base event Feb. 11, 2022. The event, hosted by Col. Corey Simmons, 60th Air Mobility Commander, serves as a platform to provide key constituents with an open and transparent “behind-the-scenes” look into Travis AFB and encompasses high-level discussions on the integral role of the installation to national defense and critical updates on future growth.
“This event is crucial to maintaining strong relationships with our community partners and providing the right tools for their advocacy,” said Simmons. “Our community plays a vital role in our mission success, so by sharing our wins and struggles, these leaders can enable our critical support to national defense.”
Congressman John Garamendi, California’s 3rd District representative, provided opening remarks for the event. This served as an opportunity to present members of Team Travis with a congressional commendation honoring their service and recognizing their efforts in support of Operation Allies Refuge.
“It is an honor to join the men and women of Travis Air Force Base for their ‘State of the Base’ event and present them with a Congressional Commendation honoring their heroism and bravery demonstrated during the withdrawal from Afghanistan during Operation Allies Refuge,” said Garamendi.
“Recently, I spoke with Capt. Kayleigh Migaleddi, who helped evacuate 117 orphan children from the region during Operation Allies Refuge. She spoke about how she would have been at the Abbey Gate the moment a suicide bomber blew himself up and killed 13 Americans had it not been for an orphaned child who needed her assistance elsewhere on base. With tears in her eyes she told me that she owed her life to that child, who she later helped reach safety and begin a new life.
“This is the kind of exemplary character, leadership and bravery that is cultivated at Travis Air Force Base. I am grateful every day that I have the opportunity to represent such an upstanding community in Congress. Your service and character is imitable, and I thank you all for your service.”
Prior to the formal presentation, Congressman Garamendi read the commendation aloud, which will be added to the congressional record —
“Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and commend the service, dedication, and sacrifice of the members of the 60th Air Mobility Wing, the 349th Air Mobility Wing, the 621st Contingency Response Wing, and their partner agencies at Travis Air Force Base, which I have the distinct privilege of representing as part of California’s Third Congressional District. They exemplify the best of America, and their tireless efforts guarantee the safety of all those who call America home.
“For eighty years, Travis Air Force Base has stood as a pillar of strength, projecting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and providing support to American troops around the world. This mission is only accomplished thanks to the blood, sweat, and fortitude of the 18,000 airmen and their families that maintain the highest levels of readiness and capability. Every single day this all-volunteer force provides essential aerial refueling, airlift operations, aeromedical evacuation, highly-specialized rapid response contingency operations capabilities, and unmatched support to produce and execute rapid global mobility in support of our national defense.
“Last year alone, the men and women of Travis Air Force Base met a challenge of colossal scale when they played a pivotal role in completing the drawdown of forces from Afghanistan. Team Travis aircrews evacuated 12,962 Afghans while managing security and operations at the airport in Kabul.
“The valor and heroism displayed by the men and women of Travis was imitable and worthy of recognition. Last month, I spoke with Captain Kayleigh Migaleddi, who helped evacuate 117 orphan children from the region during Operation Allies Refuge. She spoke about how she would have been at the Abbey Gate the moment a suicide bomber killed 13 Americans had it not been for an orphaned child who needed her assistance elsewhere on base. With tears in her eyes, she told me that she owed her life to that child, who she later helped reach safety and begin a new life. Captain Migaleddi’s story is just one of the many stories I heard that exemplify the character, leadership, and bravery that is cultivated at Travis Air Force Base. Service records only scratch the surface of the courageous actions performed by these men and women. They put their hearts and lives on the line to save so many. I am grateful every day that I have the opportunity to represent such an upstanding community in Congress.
“This total force effort of active and reserve airmen directly enabled the largest noncombatant evacuation operation in known world history, ultimately saving over 124,000 lives. Simply put, Travis Air Force Base is the very best our nation has to offer. Its strategic importance stands as a beacon of hope to our allies and a stern reminder of American resolve to our enemies. On behalf of a grateful nation and all the constituents of California’s Third Congressional District, I would like to thank the men and women of Travis Air Force Base and express my sincere gratitude for their sacrifice and contributions to the defense of this great nation.”
Following the reading of the commendation, Simmons said this:
“The Airmen of Team Travis don’t show up every day and do their jobs just for the recognition… but without a doubt, they deserve it. Every day, these men and women enable the massive logistical and operational lift needed to execute rapid global mobility… it’s unlike anything I’ve truly seen in my 23 years of service. Serving as their commander has been one of the most humbling and honorable roles of my career.”
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About Travis Air Force Base: Travis is comprised of our host unit, the 60th Air Mobility Wing, along with the 621st Contingency Response Wing, the 349th Air Mobility Wing and more than 50 partner organizations, with more than 26,000 Travis active duty, reservists and civilian employees assigned. The 60th Air Mobility Wing is the largest air mobility organization in the Air Force with a versatile fleet of C-5M Super Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III cargo and KC-10 Extender refueling aircraft. As the host unit of Travis Air Force Base, the wing controls more than $11 billion in total resources and handles more cargo and passengers than any other military air terminal in the United States. Travis is the West Coast terminal for aeromedical evacuation aircraft returning sick or injured patients from the Pacific area. For more information, go to www.travis.af.mil.