Secretary of Defense eyes Andersen capabilities, growth Published May 30, 2008 By Capt. Joel Stark 36th Wing Public Affairs ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Dr. Robert Gates, the United States' 22nd Secretary of Defense, visited Andersen and Guam for his first time in the position, viewing the growth has put the base and Guam in the international spotlight recently. Dr. Gates arrived the evening of May 29 and was greeted by island military and government leaders including 36th Wing commander Brig. Gen. Doug Owens. On this, his second major trip to Asia in three months, the Secretary spoke to Governor Felix Camacho the night of his arrival about DoD's partnership with the island on the upcoming transfer of 8,000 Marines from Okinawa. The next day Gates met with Brig. Gen. Owens, discussing Andersen's upcoming growth, which is slated to include the Global Hawk unmanned aerial reconnaissance vehicle, fighter rotations and a state of the art combat training facility at Northwest Field, a formerly dormant WWII airfield. The U.S. cabinet member also took time to meet with a group of Andersen Airmen before officiating the most well-attended of his stops, a ceremony for a civilian retiring with 66 years of combined federal service. Secretary Gates said of the honoree, Seikichi "Mr. Paul" Kaneshiro, who is also a WWII veteran, "Of course our country is only as strong as its citizens and their willingness to serve the greater good. In this respect Mr. Paul is an example to us all. An example of the type of extraordinary service required to keep our nation safe, prosperous and strong." After a quick but no doubt meaningful reenlistment ceremony of two Andersen sailors and an Airman, the secretary and his staff capped their whirlwind visit with a helicopter tour of the island courtesy of two MH-60S Knighthawks from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Two-Five stationed here. Dr. Gates expressed surprise and satisfaction with the apparent progress of military construction he observed, reminding Airmen of the enormity and significance of the growth ahead. "All in all it will be one of the largest movements of military assets in decades and continue the historic mission of the United States military presence on Guam: to serve as the nation's first line of defense and to maintain a robust presence in a critical part of the world," he said. "This is especially important," he added, "when one considers the diffuse nature of the threats and challenges facing our nation in the 21st century, a century that will be shaped by the opportunities presented by the developing nations of Asia." In expressing the goals of his overall trip, the Secretary's words echoed Andersen's frequently touted advantages of proximity to and training opportunities with regional allies. "Above all if there's one theme that connects [my] different stops it is affirming that the United States is not distracted by our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan from our long-term interests here in Asia and the cultivation and the strengthening of our relationships with allies, partners and others here in the region," he said before departing. In an interesting tie with Andersen's high-profile bomber rotations, after being commissioned as an Air Force lieutenant in 1967 Gates served as an intelligence officer at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, now home to a frequent Andersen deployer, the B-2 Spirit bomber.