Politics & Government
News Nearby: First Lady to Meet with Military Personnel in Moon
First Lady Michelle Obama will speak at a Democratic National Committee event after landing at Pittsburgh International.
First Lady Michelle Obama Today will meet with service members of the Moon-based 911th Airlift Wing and 171st Refueling Wing.
Obama will arrive at Pittsburgh International Airport at 3:30 p.m. to meet with military personnel and their family members, including Senior Airman Domenic Mash of the 911th Airlift Wing and his wife Katlyn. Mash had been deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan and received an Air Force Achievement Medal for his duty.
The First Lady will deliver remarks at a Democratic National Committee event in Pittsburgh following her arrival.
Find out what's happening in Cranberrywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Her arrival in the area coincides with presidential candidate Mitt Romney's campaign event in Bethel Park.
It also coincides with testimony expected today by Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair before the House Armed Services Committee on the Air Force's planned closure of Moon's 911th Airlift Wing.
Find out what's happening in Cranberrywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The committee is in the process of crafting its National Defense Authorization Act for 2013. Murphy is expected to argue in his remarks that the 911th is one of the most cost-effective military installations in the country, according to a statement from his office.
The 911th is set to close in 2013. The closure will eliminate more than 1,100 military and 280 civilian positions. The base was targeted for close as a part of a plan to cut $8.7 billion from the Air Force's 2013 fiscal budget. The 911th, which makes use of runways at Pittsburgh International Airport, has the of C-130 tactical aircraft in the military.
The Air Force announced yesterday that Col. Craig C. Peters will assume command of the wing until its closure.
Obama's visit has raised much speculation. Via the Associated Press, as published on the Washington Post:
“The timing here is very interesting. Believe me, my phone rang off the hook” on Monday, said retired Air Force Col. Jerry Kintigh, who chairs the nonprofit Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Job Retention and Military Presence.
Check back with Patch for coverage of both events.
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