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How Tyndall’s F-22 Announcement Came Together
07/29/10 - 04:49 PM
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The US Air Force announced Thursday through Congressman Allen Boyd that a squadron of F-22 Raptors are on their way to Tyndall Air Force Base.  The process that went into the announcement started two years ago, when the Bay County Community learned that Tyndall would lose its 48 F-15s in an acceleration of a planned drawdown. 

Congressman Allen Boyd then used his seat on the Defense Appropriations Committee to start talking to senior officials about bringing a new mission to Tyndall. 

When Air Force officials visited Tyndall, they were greeted by dozens of community leaders expressing support for the base.  Boyd said the Air Force recognized the value of the base’s assets, as well as its community support.  So after two years of meetings and phone calls, the highest ranking member of the Air Force, General Norton A. Schwartz, called Boyd Thursday morning.  He said 538 jobs and 21 aircraft are on the way. That doesn’t count possible contractor jobs.

“We don’t have all those kinds of details yet,” Boyd said.

“But obviously the number of jobs coming is gong to be about the same number that was associated with the F-15, so that’s a very positive thing.”

The Air Force said 650 jobs are to be relocated when the F-15s leave Tyndall by late October.  Tom Neubauer, President of the Bay Defense Alliance, said it’s possible more than 589 jobs could come.

“We may see all kinds of numbers from 500 to 700 people,” Neubauer said.

“It’s just hard to say what the numbers are going to be.”

He said it was fairly certain that no F-35s would come to Tyndall.  But he said the news that they’ll be at Eglin is still good for the state.

“To have two leading aircraft inventory right here in [The Panhandle] says a lot for Northwest Florida,” Neubauer said.

“And it says a lot for the state and for our gulf range, which is an important asset for the Department of Defense.”

Tyndall beat out three other bases for the F-22s.  Boyd said he wasn’t worried about the announcement’s affect on his re-election.  When pressed, he stayed quiet.

“We’ll just keeping working hard and make sure we do the right thing for the people of bay county and that will all take care of itself.”

Neubauer said those at Tyndall are doing the same thing, and probably will be for awhile.

“We’ve got some very strong tenant commands at Tyndall in addition to the flying units,” Neubauer said.

“So I think Tyndall has a very bright future.”