Community’s support for Tinker continues to pay dividends
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November 07, 2011
The Oklahoman Editorial
The Oklahoman
11/4/2011
A shuffling announced Wednesday by the Air Force offered further evidence of the wisdom in local residents’ willingness to invest in and support Tinker Air Force Base.
That support helped Tinker survive and indeed prosper during realignments that saw some bases around the country close. County voters have come through twice in recent years by passing bond issues that benefited the base. The latest, in 2008, allowed the county to buy the former General Motors plant and turn it into the Tinker Aerospace Complex.
These efforts get noticed by decision-makers at the Pentagon. The latest Air Force streamlining will see Tinker’s aircraft repair depot become home to a new Sustainment Center, something U.S. Rep. Tom Cole says will heighten the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center’s profile and make it more attractive to private contractors.
“There’s no question that Tinker and Oklahoma emerged as major winners,” said Cole, R-Moore. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, said Tinker will be “at the heart of the Air Force’s drive to increase efficiency and cost effectiveness.”
About 120 positions will be eliminated, which is unfortunate, but that’s a small fraction of the 26,000 civilian and military personnel employed at Tinker. And Roy Williams, chairman of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, says this new designation “will likely have a positive impact in the long term.”
Locals have long recognized Tinker’s importance. It’s good to know the military brass recognizes Tinker as being important to their mission as well.
