President Trump announced his nomination of Barbara Barrett, former chairwoman of The Aerospace Corp., to be the next U.S. Air Force secretary, CNN reported Tuesday. She will succeed Heather Wilson, who stepped down from the SecAF post to join the University of Texas at El Paso as president, once she receives Senate confirmation.Â
Barrett is former U.S. ambassador to Finland and previously served on the boards of Raytheon, Piper Aircraft, Exponent, the Space Foundation and Mayo Clinic. She also served as deputy administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration and vice chairman of the Civil Aeronautics Board.Â
Barrett chaired the Arizona District Export Council and the Economic Club of Phoenix and served as interim president of Thunderbird School of Global Management.