WASHINGTON — The prospective new Air Force chief of staff said service officials must look into further base consolidations in Europe as part of the larger effort to trim military spending and stabilize the national economy.

Gen. Mark Welsh III, outgoing commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, told lawmakers during his confirmation hearing Thursday that the region remains critical to the nation’s strategic plans, but budget realities warrant a close look at how many bases and personnel the service needs to keep there.

“We should consider reductions and consolidation opportunities in Europe,” he said in a statement to the Senate Armed Services Committee. “That planning must begin with a careful assessment of the enduring missions in Europe. … We should focus our reduction and consolidation efforts on the force structure and facilities that remain.”

The comments were greeted warmly by the lawmakers, several of whom have publicly pushed for deeper cuts to the military’s footprint in Europe. Committee Chairman Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., said he would push Welsh for specific ideas about Europe force reduction after his confirmation.Click here to read more

In this December 2010 photo, Gen. Mark A. Welsh III gives his inauguration speech as new commander U.S. Air Forces Europe and Allied Air Command Ramstein. Christian Timmig/Courtesy Ramstein Air Base Photo by