The commander of the Grand Forks Air Force Base said the possibility of another base closure process is not surprising, but the community has prepared well if there is one.
"I believe the community has done everything they need to do," said Col. Timothy Bush, who said the base was positioned well to be spared from closing.
Bush was speaking at a Wednesday meeting of the Community-Base Enhancement Initiative, a group that coordinates efforts to protect the base's viability and expand its mission.
John Schmisek, the group's co-chairman, called the possibility of a new Base Realignment and Closure round "the elephant in the room."
U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said last week that the Obama Administration would ask Congress to authorize a new BRAC round to cut $487 billion over 10 years.
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"I certainly suspected it," said Bush, who is not part of the decision-making process on closures. "They look to continue to find ways to gain efficiencies and streamline."
Better base
However, he said that improvements to the base and its suitability for new missions would reduce the likelihood that it would be closed.
The base is a candidate for a new air refueling mission, and Bush said it would able to take on the new role with only minor construction and modification.
Bush also said the base had strong representation in the process and would do well according to BRAC scoring criteria.
"The community has done very well by the Grand Forks Air Force Base," he said.
Representatives of North Dakota's Congressional Delegation said a BRAC round was a top concern, but said it was probably not an immediate threat during an election year.
"This isn't imminent on the horizon," said Jim Malachowski, a defense advisor for Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D.
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Tom Brusegaard, a field representative for Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., told the group that it was likely the Pentagon would look at overseas commitments before eliminating domestic facilities.
Local leaders will meet with Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Facilities Terry Yonkers at the end of the month in an annual trip to Washington along with a delegation from Minot, home to the state's other Air Force base.
Sheila Bruhn, coordinator for the Base Realignment Impact Committee, said that until Congress authorizes a BRAC round it was difficult to specifically address the process. "We just kind of wait and it's business as usual for us."
Schmisek said the community has been preparing for another BRAC round since the last one. "Since 2005, I think we've laid really good groundwork and a good foundation."
Reach Bjorke at (701) 780-1117; (800) 477-6572, ext. 117; or send e-mail to cbjorke@gfherald.com .
