ADMIRAL BACKS LOCAL HOME FOR E-2CS.Byline: Jesse Hiestand Daily News Staff Writer The Navy on Wednesday selected the Naval Air Weapons Station at Point Mugu as the preferred site for four E-2C E-2C Hawkeye; Navy Airborne Warning and Control System Aircraft Hawkeye squadrons now based in San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. , and Congressman Elton Gallegly Elton W. Gallegly (born March 7 1944), an American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1987, currently representing the 24th District of California (map). said the expected move should help the base during future defense cutbacks. Gallegly, R-Oxnard, said Admiral Archie Clemins, commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet, has recommended that the 16 planes, which function as flying aircraft controllers, move to Point Mugu instead of Lemoore Naval Air Station A Naval Air Station is an airbase of the United States Navy. Such bases are used to house Naval Aviation squadrons and support commands. List of Functioning US Naval Air Stations
The only remaining step is for the Navy to complete an environmental impact statement. The final draft is expected in summer 1998, and then the secretary of the Navy can make the final decision, said Lt. Charles Brown Charles Brown is the name of: In politics:
``This is truly a coup,'' Gallegly said Wednesday from his office is Washington, D.C. ``It increases the viability of the base significantly.'' When completed, the relocation of the E-2C Wing is expected to bring 1,100 new jobs to the base and result in a savings to taxpayers of more than $32 million when compared with alternate sites, Gallegly said. The wing must leave its home at Miramar Naval Air Station before that base becomes a Marine Corps facility in October. Gallegly, with help from city and county officials, and base officials, lobbied Navy officials long and hard to bring the planes north to Ventura County. ``It's always nice for the Navy to know that not only is it economically good for them and the taxpayers, but that they're wanted in the community,'' he said. Although the reassignment is not a done deal, the admiral's blessing is the ``key to moving it ahead,'' Gallegly said. ``This is the beginning of the final leg of this ordeal.'' On top of the new jobs and cost savings, the decision to base the planes at Point Mugu may help keep the base off any future closure lists, officials said. Earlier this week, Defense Secretary William S William, crown prince of Germany William or Frederick William, 1882–1951, crown prince of Germany, son of William II. In World War I he commanded (1914) an army on the Western Front and was nominal commander in the German attack . Cohen cohen or kohen (Hebrew: “priest”) Jewish priest descended from Zadok (a descendant of Aaron), priest at the First Temple of Jerusalem. The biblical priesthood was hereditary and male. announced that at least one more round of base closures is needed. Two years ago, Point Mugu survived a similar federal defense spending cutback cut·back n. 1. A decrease; a curtailment: "The political effects of food cutbacks could be devastating" New York Times. 2. . Ventura County officials on Wednesday said they were not looking forward to another fight over Point Mugu. Supervisor Frank Schillo said the E-2C Wing could decide the fate of the base. ``Just hours ago I was thinking if we don't get the E2s, we're out of business. Point Mugu would probably be closed.'' |
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