ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) -- Secretary of the Air Force Troy E. Meink departed July 24 on his first international trip as SecAF, traveling throughout the U.S. Asia-Pacific area of responsibility to reinforce international partnerships and meet with Airmen and Guardians supporting the Department of the Air Force’s 2025 Department-Level Exercise.
Meink’s visit underscores the United States’ ongoing commitment to its allies and partners across all warfighting domains. It emphasizes the Department of the Air Force’s role in enhancing regional security through integrated operations.
“The United States remains committed to deterring potential threats in the Asia-Pacific,” Meink said. “This trip reinforces the Department of the Air Force’s commitment to prevent aggression and defend our allies and partners in the region.”
The secretary’s first stop included meetings with leadership from Pacific Air Forces and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii to receive a strategic overview of the mission in the region. He also received an update on the DLE series, which began July 10.
This DLE series is incorporating multiple command exercises into one overall threat deterrence scenario and is featuring 12,000 U.S. Air and Space Force personnel, more than 350 bomber, fighter, cargo and refueling aircraft, and space-based and space-enabled capabilities to include, but not limited to, space electromagnetic warfare, space domain awareness, orbital warfare and navigational warfare.
“This is a first-in-a-generation large-scale exercise for our Air Force and Space Force,” Meink said. “Bringing together Airmen and Guardians with our allies and partners strengthens our ability to operate jointly and reestablish deterrence across the Asia-Pacific.”
Meink’s trip will include Guam, the Philippines, Japan, and Alaska, where the delegation will engage with international senior leaders and visit Airmen and Guardians deployed and stationed throughout the Asia-Pacific region.