Leaders meet to protect Wright-Patt, military jobs in Ohio

Looking to head off what could be an economic disaster for the state, members of Congress and military leaders met Friday in Columbus to look for ways to protect Ohio’s military assets from taking hits in a possible upcoming base realignment and closure process.

The federal government periodically runs a BRAC to look for ways to save money, increase efficiency and strengthen national security. It’s a high-stakes process that can mean the gain or loss of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity for a region.

U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Centerville, said the meeting is a chance to get first-hand information from military commanders “what they see as the challenges and threats to their facilities and also the opportunities so that we can work cooperatively.”

Turner, Steve Stivers, R-Columbus, Bill Johnson, R-Marietta, and Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, met behind closed doors on Ohio State University’s campus Friday with Col. John M. Devillier, who is commander of the 88th Air Base Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio National Guard Interim Adjutant General Mark Bartman and others.

After the last round of base realignment and closures (BRAC) in 2005, Wright-Patterson gained 1,200 jobs with the relocation of the 711th Human Performance Wing and the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine.

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is the largest single site employer in Ohio with more than 27,000 military and civilian employees.

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About the Author

Laura A. Bischoff

Laura Bischoff is our Columbus bureau reporter and covers politics and state government. She keeps a close eye on elected leaders, public employees and taxpayer money. Bischoff tries to write stories that inform voters, hold leaders accountable and strengthen democracy.