GENERAL EVALUATES EDWARDS; BASE SECURE, BUT COST-SAVING MEASURES VIEWED.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

Edwards Air Force Base is ``a cherished piece of property'' but there will continue to be pressure to make it operate as cost effectively as possible, a four-star general said Thursday.

Edwards' assets such as dry lake beds for landing aircraft, its restricted air space and test range would be either impossible or cost-prohibitive to duplicate elsewhere, said Gen. George Babbitt, commander of the Air Force Materiel Command, Edwards' parent unit.

``This is, to the Air Force, a pretty cherished piece of property. That doesn't mean we won't make it as effective as we can,'' Babbitt said.

Babbitt was at Edwards for a conference aimed at developing a six-year financial plan for Materiel Command, which conducts research, develops and tests weapon systems and provides logistics support for those weapon systems.

He made the remarks during a luncheon with Antelope Valley business and civic leaders organized by the Antelope Valley Board of Trade.

Among the processes being used to ensure cost effectiveness is one called A-76, named after an Office of Management and Budget circular requiring open competition for work that has traditionally been done by government employees.

Last year, Edwards awarded a contract for supply operations to a private contractor, eliminating 121 government civilian jobs and 215 military positions. The base has other A-76 studies in the works.

In about half the cases, the Air Force retains the existing government workers for the jobs, Babbitt said.

These competitions have resulted in savings of 20 percent to 25 percent, Babbitt said.

Also under Babbitt's command is Air Force Plant 42, a government-owned, contractor-operated aircraft production installation in Palmdale. The

installation includes the production site for the B-2 bomber and the maintenance sites for the F-117 stealth fighter and U-2 spy planes.

Babbitt said he believes the Air Force will retain ownership of Plant 42 in the foreseeable future, rather than sell it off as has been proposed in the past.

``We would be eager to sell our plants if there are offers that are reasonable or attractive. Plant 42, however, is very effective with contractor leases,'' Babbitt said. ``I see more continuous leasing for work for the Air Force.''

The command has a budget of about $30 billion a year.

``We're looking at doing the same work with a little less money each year,'' Babbitt said.

During the Board of Trade luncheon, Babbitt said the Air Force is taking measures to retain its personnel - a problem generating concern in the service and in Congress.

With an eye toward retention, Congress in October approved a 4.8 percent pay raise for military personnel in the 2000 defense budget.

The Air Force also has made organizational changes that will make it possible for personnel to know when they are likely to be deployed overseas and for how long.

``The pay raise and the regular schedule helps us convince people to stay in the Air Force,'' Babbitt said.