Reporter's Notebook

Wake up Colorado Springs

Defense Secretary Robert Gates was met yesterday evening by Gen. Bob Kehler, head of Space Command, and Gen. Victor Renaurt, head of U.S. NorthCom, after flying into Peterson Air Force Base, Col., from Langley Air Force Base, Va.

I heard Gates enjoyed a steak dinner last night at MacKenzie’s Chop House in downtown Colorado Springs. For those visiting the Springs, I would recommend the Phantom Canyon Brew Pub. They serve a delicious trout dish.

Today, Gates kicks of the second leg of his Air Force tour speaking to airmen at Peterson Air Force Base, Col. at 8:30 a.m. local time before flying over to Scott Air Force Base, Illi where he’ll speak to Air Mobility Command airmen at 1:00 p.m. local time.

I wonder if Gate’s chief of staff nominee Gen. Norton Schwartz will be in attendance. Schwartz calls Scott home and was getting ready to start his retirement after 30-plus years of service, but instead of planning that fishing trip he might need to check out some D.C. real estate.

Looking forward to seeing today if Gates will provide any more detail into Adm. Kirkland Donald’s investigation into the mis-shipment of four nuclear nose cones to Tawain. I still question what set him off to fire Moseley and Wynne considering both an Air Force report and a Defense Science Board team came to the same conclusions Gates said he discovered in the Donald report.

And, yes that is CNN’s very own military correspondent Jaime McIntyre coming off the plane behind Gates.