Wes is a fourth generation Southern Californian born in Arcadia and raised in Glendora and is the youngest of three sons. His dad was a salesman whose territory was the western United States, and the family’s summer vacation was to jump into the ’73 Ford Maverick and join their father.
As an F-15 and F-22 Fighter Pilot, Wes protected refugees by flying combat missions in no-fly zones and was part of the forward force providing stability in the Asia-Pacific.
​
America is the beacon of freedom for people across the globe. Many come to America for a
better life. They want freedom to run their business without government interference. They
want freedom to worship. And they want freedom from violence.
To deter the warfare that creates global instability, human tragedy, and refugee crises requires
a well-resourced military. When our adversaries see that we are prepared and possess the
ability and will to act, they do not attack. The reason no-fly zones worked is because our
adversaries knew that well-trained pilots with the best equipment and the will to take action
were patrolling the skies. That is what keeps the refugees on the ground safe.
We as a country must make a commitment to that deterrence. We need to make efficient use
of taxpayer dollars. We need to be competent in how we manage the resources entrusted to
defense. And, we need a Congress that will not only hold accountable those making defense
decisions, but will also make sure the necessary resources are provided to keep America’s
strength a credible deterrent against aggression. Bad actors will always look for weakness to
take advantage. We need to be strong enough that we can deter future attacks.
As part of that process, we should be investing in the relationships with other countries with
similar values. Countries that value political, religious and economic freedom are our allies. We
need to invest in those trade and other relationships to ensure that together we present a
united deterrent to those who would take away people’s freedom and impose their
system on us.
Wes knows this both from his time in combat and serving at the highest levels of our
government to include in the White House and as the senior Air Force officer in the House of
Representatives. He is a national security expert and holds four master’s degrees in
international relations, military arts and sciences, grand national strategy, and resourcing.