Secretary of Defense visits Airmen at 129th Rescue Wing

Dec. 4, 2023

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III visited with Airmen at the Cal Guard's 129th Rescue Wing, Dec. 1, during his trip to Silicon Valley to meet with leaders at the Defense Innovation Unit and to discuss the Australia-United Kingdom-United States Security Partnership.

During his visit, Austin recognized top performers among the the 129th RQW during a troop engagement prior to heading to the DIU to speak with defense innovation leaders.

The Secretary spent time with DIU personnel who are accelerating the adoption of leading commercial technology throughout the military and growing the national security innovation base.

The DIU focuses on fielding and scaling commercial technology across the military. It’s directly plugged into Silicon Valley, working with venture-capital firms and tech innovators who are often doing business with DOD for the first time.

Man in suit talks with military personnel.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III meets with personnel assigned to the California Air National Guard 129th Rescue Wing at Moffett Federal Airfield. (DoD photo by Chad J. McNeeley)

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III meets with personnel assigned to the California Air National Guard 129th Rescue Wing at Moffett Federal Airfield. (DoD photo by Chad J. McNeeley)

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III presents a coin to Senior Airman Kevin Nious, a 129th Rescue Wing public affairs specialist, as he takes a minute to recognize outstanding Airmen at Moffett Air National Guard Base, in Mountain View, on Dec. 1. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Joseph Prouse)

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III speaks with Airman 1st Class Nicole Farr of the California Air National Guard 129th Rescue Wing at Moffett Air National Guard Base, Dec. 1. (DoD photo by Chad J. McNeeley)

Man in suit presents coin to female Airman.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III presents a coin to Master Sgt. Alice Nitzsche, a 129th Medical Group bioenvironmental engineer, as he takes a minute to recognize outstanding Airmen from the 129th Rescue Wing at Moffett Air National Guard Base, Dec. 1, in Mountain View. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Joseph Prouse)

Two men shake hands in front of tactical equipment.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III shakes hands with Steven J. Butow, director of the space portfolio at the Defense Innovation Unit and a brigadier general who commands the California Air National Guard, during a visit to Silicon Valley on Dec. 1. The visit helped maintain oversight of emerging technologies that support Department of Defense missions. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Joseph Prouse)

Man looks at satellite model with solar panels.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III visits the Defense Innovation Unit, in Mountain View on Dec. 1. Secretary Austin spend time with DIU personnel who are accelerating the adoption of leading commercial technology throughout the military and growing the national security innovation base. (DoD photo by Chad J. McNeeley)

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Australia, and the Right Honourable Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Defence, United Kingdom answer questions during a press conference in Mountain View, Dec. 1. The three leaders met to discuss the Australia-United Kingdom-United States Security Partnership (AUKUS) on the campus of the Defense Innovation Unit. The leaders will review progress made in implementing the Optimal Pathway to provide Australia with a conventionally-armed, nuclear powered submarine capability and discuss current and future efforts to develop and deliver advanced capabilities and promote deeper collaboration between the three nation’s innovation ecosystems and defense industrial bases. (DoD photo by Chad J. McNeeley)