Yesterday, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, completed his inaugural tour of Southwest Oklahoma in Lawton and Altus. These stops were part of Mullin’s first official statewide tour as a U.S. Senator, which kicked off earlier this week in Guymon and Boise City.
Mullin began the day at the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce, meeting with business leaders and taking questions about some of the most pressing issues facing Southwest Oklahoma. The Senator spoke about his role on the Senate Armed Services Committee, the debt limit, and the future of state commerce.
Mullin then attended the Fires Innovation Science and Technology Accelerator (FISTA) grand opening to celebrate the city’s newest public-private partnership which will bring aerospace and defense industry opportunities to Lawton. In his remarks, Senator Mullin highlighted that the FISTA will bring high-paying jobs, added revenue, and attract desirable businesses from across the nation. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Mullin holds a vital position in ensuring Oklahoma’s military installations and defense industry have what they need to protect and serve our nation.
Mullin then visited Fort Sill to receive an operations overview of the Field Artillery School from Col. John Barefield and Col. Curtis King, Commandant of the Air Defense Artillery. The Senator spoke with Base leaders about fleet expansion, modernization, training Ukrainian forces, and the future of Fort Sill.
Mullin spent the afternoon in Altus, where he met with Vice Commander Col. Patrick Brady-Lee of the 97th Air Mobility Wing for a briefing and tour of Altus Air Force Base (AFB). The Senator learned about how Altus AFB has become the premier installation for producing the world’s most inspired, proficient, and adaptive mobility warriors to deliver airpower for America.
Mullin concluded his visit with an Altus community meet-and-greet at the Museum of the Western Prairie. After brief introductions, Senator Mullin opened it up for questions, where he spoke about the threat of Communist China, aid to Ukraine, the ongoing drought in Western Oklahoma, and the latest on the farm bill and federal crop insurance.
Over the past week, Senator Mullin made fifteen stops across Western Oklahoma in his new capacity to meet with community members and understand their needs. Mullin kicked off his first statewide tour in the panhandle; visiting Guymon, Boise City, and Beaver before moving east to Laverne, Shattuck, Woodward, Lawton, and Altus.