Air Force Secretary Visits Base in Toledo
By: Gabby Deutch, Toledo Blade
June 7, 2016
Deborah Lee James, U.S. secretary of the Air Force, visited the Ohio Air National Guard 180th Fighter Wing on Monday, the first time an Air Force secretary has appeared at the base.
Mrs. James, addressing questions about whether her visit was related to the Air Force’s search for two facilities to house the new F-35A Joint Strike Fighter jets, said Toledo is absolutely being considered.
“Toledo has a lot going for it,” Mrs. James said. “I’m really impressed with everything going on here.”
The Air Force plans to narrow its current list from 18 facilities down to between five and eight by the end of the summer, after which “more study and scrutiny” will be needed to select the final two. That decision will not be announced until the spring of 2018, and aircraft delivery will be in 2022.
Four criteria are being examined to make that decision: mission impact, runway and hangar space capacity, environmental impact, and cost. U.S. Sen. Rob Portman and U.S. Reps. Bob Latta and Marcy Kaptur, all present at the base for Mrs. James’s visit, agreed that Toledo excels in those criteria.
“We believe what we have here is the best in the country,” said Mr. Latta, whose district includes the base. Miss Kaptur echoed that sentiment and urged the Air Force to “reward those whose performance has been beyond excellence.”
The Ohio Congressional delegation authored a letter in February inviting Mrs. James to visit the 180th. On Monday, Mr. Portman said that support for the 180th will remain nonpartisan.
The secretary’s visit is not indicative of a decision, since she likely will not visit all 18 sites being considered. But, she said, it feels good to be invited.
“I wanted to come here,” Mrs. James said. She discussed the strategic importance of the 180th, mentioning that the 600-mile radius it oversees contains 60 percent of the U.S. population.
“Regardless of the F-35 decision, this is an important base,” Mrs. James said. She noted the support of the community, who, she said, have “made very clear that they stand with the Air Force and with our people.”
Mrs. James expressed gratitude for the work of the 180th in “delivering on the mission of homeland security” and helping the local community “when disaster strikes.” In addition to the deployment of troops overseas, the 180th responds to local emergencies with its Fire and Emergency Services Flight.
It remains unclear whether the Thunderbirds will perform next month at the Toledo Air Show, the first at Toledo Express Airport since 2004. The demonstration team, scheduled to headline the show, is important to the Air Force, Mrs. James said, but safety is most important.
The Thunderbirds have been ordered to stand down for an indefinite amount of time after a Thunderbird F-16 crashed in a field last week shortly after doing a flyby at the Air Force Academy Graduation Ceremony.
Its pilot ejected safely before the crash.
“This type of flying is dangerous,” Mrs. James said. A similar show was canceled in New Mexico last weekend, she said, indicating that the same could happen in Toledo if the investigation is not yet complete.
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