UPDATE (8:30 p.m.) – Vice President Mike Pence was greeted by a cheering crowd when he arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base early Wednesday evening.
Pence met with base leaders and received a tour of the Combined Space Operations Center (CSpOC) where he was briefed on launch operations.
CSpOC’s mission includes tracking the more than 25,000 objects in orbit around Earth, as well as supporting military on the ground.
Following the tour, the Vice President spoke to a crowd of about 400 Air Force personnel.
He was introduced by his wife, Second Lady Karen Pence.
As part of his remarks, Pence said the space domain is changing and threats are increasing. He said he hopes to increase the U.S. presence in space and there’s no doubt CSpOC and Vandenberg Air Force Base will play a major role in it.
“Get ready folks, the United States Space Force will be here before you know it,” he told the crowd.
Officials at Vandenberg say Pence is the first person from the White House to visit the base in several decades.
Following their visit to Vandenberg, the Pences are traveling to San Diego.
UPDATE (4:22 p.m.) – Vice President Mike Pence addressed a crowd at the Freitas Family Farm in Lemoore on Wednesday afternoon.
He spoke about the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and how the Trump administration expects the trade deal to benefit the economy and American workers.
Next, Pence is headed to Vandenberg Air Force Base where he will receive a launch operations briefing at the Combined Space Operations Center and deliver remarks to base personnel.
UPDATE (2 p.m.) – Second Lady Karen Pence addressed military spouses Wednesday at Naval Air Station Lemoore, focusing on employment solutions.
According to the Department of Defense, the unemployment rate for military spouses stands at 24 percent.
Last fall, the Second Lady launched an awareness campaign to elevate and encourage military spouses.
UPDATE (11:53 a.m.) – Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, have arrived in California.
Air Force Two landed at Naval Air Station Lemoore shortly after 11 a.m. Wednesday.
The Vice President’s first stop on his trip will reportedly be a fundraiser at Harris Ranch in Coalinga.
Following that, he is scheduled to visit Freitas Family Farm in Lemoore and deliver remarks on trade, specifically the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Karen Pence will be speaking with military spouses at Naval Air Station Lemoore about employment.
(10:45 a.m.) – Vice President Mike Pence will make a stop at Vandenberg Air Force Base during a trip to California on Wednesday.
Flying on Air Force Two, Pence is expected to arrive at the base just before 5 p.m. He will reportedly visit the Combined Space Operations Center to receive briefings on launch operations and deliver remarks to base personnel.
Earlier in the day, the Vice President is scheduled to visit Lemoore for a “Trump Victory luncheon” and to deliver remarks on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Later, he’ll travel to San Diego.
KSBY News will have full coverage of the Vice President’s visit online and on the air.
