Rep. Mike Turner was named Thursday to head a House panel that will give him greater oversight of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the long-endangered Lima Tank Plant.

Turner will serve as chairman of the House Armed Services tactical air and land subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over programs for the Army and Air Force as well as all Navy and Marine Corps aviation programs.

Referring to “looming defense cuts” in the coming years, Turner said in a statement that “this subcommittee places me in a role to continue my strong advocacy for the men and women at Wright-Patt, the Lima Tank Plant, and a number of other facilities which preserve the safety and security of our nation.”

Turner, R-Centerville, will leave his current chairmanship at the Strategic Forces subcommittee of the armed services committee.