F-15 drawdown
status and Future Training:
The Combat Air Force restructure plan will retire (112)
F-15s, (134) F-16s and (3) A-10 aircraft next year, and 48 of the F-15s
are based at Tyndall AFB. While Congressman Allen Boyd was able to
insert language in the House defense authorization and appropriations
bills that would force a delay in the restructure plan pending further
study, there is no language in the Senate authorization bill to support
the delay. The BDA is working closely with Senator Nelson and his staff
to encourage the Senator’s support for any proposed amendments that
might echo the House authorization language. The conference of these
bills is ongoing through September 30 and we will continue to seek
Senate support for the delay. Any slowdown in the departure of Tyndall’s
F-15s will help close the time gap between the loss of F-15s and arrival
of the next generation aircraft. F-15 air superiority pilot training
will, however, continue to support the remaining F-15Cs in the Air
Force, and current Air Force plans are to continue the training at
Kingsley Field, and Air National Guard unit located at the
Navy JLUS:
In cooperation with Bay County, the City of Panama City and the City of
Panama City Beach, Naval Support Activity Panama City has recently
completed the a joint land use study which was funded by the Office of
the Secretary of Defense, OEA. The final draft was reviewed recently by
the Policy Committee and is to be completed September 30, 2009. The
implementation plan includes presentation to a joint commission
comprised of
Community
Capacity Analysis:
One of the important considerations by the Department
of Defense in each legislated BRAC process is the surge capacity
of an installation in the event of contingency as well as the ability of
the installation and surrounding community to accommodate growth.
Recognizing the importance of having this information readily available,
Larry Dantzler requested the assistance of Florida State University
Panama City Campus to update a community capacity analysis in 1994 and
2004. Recently BDA member Leon Walters initiated a similar request for
an updated document. The 2009 draft was completed by Dr. Jeanne
Dexter’s Organizational Behavior class and was presented to the BDA
Board by Mr. Walters. Special thanks to Dr. Dexter, FSU-PC and the
following participating students, Tomila Benefield, Jeff Boutwell,
Jaclyn Brodie, Richard Gravatt, Jade Hatcher, Zack Hoskins, Donald
Johns, Alicia Lynch, John Madden, Sam Salih, Andrew Smith, Brianne
Starkey, Mandy Williamson. The document can be viewed on the BDA
website.
September 2009 Defense Grants: Thanks to the efforts of BDA support team, Deloitte, and the oversight of Larry Dantzler, the BDA has secured a 2009 Military Base Protection Grant in the amount of $42,500. The funds will be used to help with the cost of engaging specialized defense consultants. The BDA has also secured a Defense Reinvestment Grant in the amount of $130,316 to be utilized in accordance with the BDA plan of work. This is the largest Defense Reinvestment Grant award in the state this year and is provided through the Office of Tourism Trade and Economic Development, as our community had the highest score in terms of priority. The BDA also applied for a Defense Infrastructure Grant request to help with the efforts to bring LambdaRail Internet access to Bay County – only three counties prevailed in this grant category as 2010 funds are very limited. Bay County provided a $20,000 grant to help match the Florida Military Base Protection Grant and $10,000 toward operation
June
22 Air Force Leadership Visits Tyndall AFB:
Secretary of
the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Norton
Schwartz spent the day at Tyndall AFB on June 22, 2009.
After spending the morning addressing the troops and touring the base
with Congressman Boyd, the Secretary and Chief attended a lunch with
military leadership, Congressman Boyd, an
d
Bay Defense Alliance Members. The BDA briefed the visitors on the
key attributes of T
yndall
that make the installation ideal for F-35 pilot training. Following the
brief, General Roberson hosted a small group of community leaders and elected officials
who presented resolutions or letters of support from EVERY city Mayor
and Commissioner executed by ALL county Commissioners. The
Secretary and Chief then answered questions from the group about the
future of Tyndall
June 9-10 Washington Visit: BDA Members with congressman Boyd, congressional staffers on capitol hill as well as a Pentagon visit relative to Tyndall AFB in preparation for the scheduled visit to Tyndall by Air Force leadership on June 22.
June 9, 2009 Navy Congressional
Mine Warfare Caucus: Bay Defense Alliance
members attended the Congressional Navy Mine warfare Caucus Reception
in Washington DC. "The conference was one of the best ever," said
Leon Walters,
former SES at NSWC-PCD, "it was good to hear from the
Chief of Naval Operations and his commitment to mine warfare and he
important missions in Panama City." The CNO, Congressman
Boyd and other leaders addressed the conference, thanking the men and
women of the Navy and all the support contractor for their outstnading
contribution to national defense. Attending the conference were
Leon Walters, Glen McDonald, Tom Neubauer, Larry Dantzler, Lisa Walters
and Sean Corscadden.
May 27-28 Florida Defense Alliance
Meeting in Jacksonville: Members of the BDA attended the semi-annual Florida Defense Alliance meetings at
Jacksonville Naval Air Station on 28 and 29 May 2009. The meeting
enable the organizations that support
May 7, 2008 - Defense Budget:
The defense budget proposal was released by the pentagon on May 7, 2009
and included the anticipated cuts that will impact Tyndall AFB.
If passed by Congress, the budget will end the F-22 program after
production of 187 aircraft; retires 250 F-15, F-16 and A-10 aircraft
which would remove all F-15s from the ramp at Tyndall during FY 2010.
While there is still some potential that congress will not accept all
aspects of the budget, AF and congressional consensus seems to concede a
high probability that we will see these cuts occur despite strong
opposition from a significant number of congressional representatives.
HB 1219 –
Mine Warfare Symposium:
Another successful mine warfare conference was held at the Bay Point
Marriott on May 18-19. As always, board members Pete Mallory, L-C
Communications is taking the lead to ensure that interested BDA members
will have access to some or all of the events. Military Affairs
Chairman Andy Phillips will host an event for the conference attendees
on Tuesday May 19th at the Marriott. More information about
the conference can be found at http://www.minwara.org/Meetings.htm.
MIW Caucus Reception:
The Congressional Navy Mine Warfare Caucus reception is scheduled for 9
June 2009 in
March 4-5, 2009 – The third meetings of the Joint Land Use Study
was held at the Bay County Public Library.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009 – The third meeting of the JLUS Technical
Committee was held at 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009 – Second General Public Meeting for the JLUS
was held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 5, 2009 – The third JLUS Policy Committee met at
2:30 p.m.
NSA-PC Commander's Bridge Breakfast: March 18, 2009 – The Bay Defense Alliance will host a Commanding Officer’s BRIDGE Breakfast at Florida State University Panama City campus.
BDA Board Meeting: A full board meeting was held on August 19, 2008
at the St. Andrew Bay Yacht Club. The agenda addressed all major
BDA initiatives and discussion with congressman Allen Boyd on the
subject of importance to installations. The BDA also voted to
create a proclamation which emphasizes the importance of keeping oil/gas
platforms out of the military Gulf of Mexico range complex.
March 28-29, 2009 – Tyndall Air Force Base will host the 2009 Gulf Coast Salute / air show open to the public.
May 12-14 2009 – The Northwest Florida Defense Coalition will
travel to Washington, D.C.
May 18-29, 2009 – The Mine Warfare Association (MINWARA) symposium
will be held in Panama City.
Senator Martinez and Staff visit NSA-PC: August
5, 2008 included a tour of the VA clinic on the base. The Senator
announced plans to expand the clinic with a new facility that would
provide up to 20,000 square feet.
2008 Semi-Annual Florida Defense Alliance Meeting was held at Tyndall AFB June 3-4. The Florida Defense Alliance
held its semi-annual meeting which included two defense working groups and a general session where members around the state
were briefed on Florida's efforts to protect and strengthen missions at bases and ensure that Florida will continue to lead the nation as a defense friendly state.
As part of the visit, FDA members toured the 1st Air Force Air
Operations Center, and heard the 325th FW mission brief. For more information about the Florida Defense Alliance click here.
2008 Northwest Florida Washington DC Visit: The BDA participated in the annual Northwest Florida Defense Alliance visit to Washington DC May 14-16. NW Florida installations which share the Gulf Range Complex and comprise the strength of NW Florida's defense infrastructure. The visit provided the group with joint briefings by senior defense leadership or projects and programs of interest and ensures that our congressional delegations are aware of the important military value that each mission and installation provides to the region.
Navy Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) Naval Support Activity Panama City has embarked upon a JLUS which will improve the long range planning process and ensure better compatibility between missions at NSAPC and our community. A JLUS is a process where communities and military installations work together to develop common growth management strategies. The JLUS was developed in response to the BRAC Commission, a congressional committee tasked with selecting military installations for closure as a result of reductions in military spending. Funding for the projected is provided by the OEA (Office of Economic Adjustment) and the process will include many community and military participants. For more information visit the office of economic adjustment website.