Barbara Barrett confirmed as Air Force Secretary

The United States Senate voted Wednesday to confirm Barbara Barrett as the next Secretary of the Air Force.

North Dakota Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer confirmed the news. The Senate approved Barrett by a vote of 85-7.

Barrett, an Arizona native, is a former aerospace executive who also served as U.S. Ambassador to Finland under President George W. Bush.

Hoeven and Cramer said they look forward to working with Barrett, particularly on efforts to continue developing unmanned aerial systems in North Dakota.

Barrett takes over for Heather Wilson, who resigned in May after being named the new President of the University of Texas-El Paso.