MUGU SUPPORT POSTS AT RISK THOUSANDS OF JOBS MAY BE SHIFTED TO CHINA LAKE.

Byline: Eric Leach Staff Writer

Leaders of an effort to save thousands of jobs at Naval Base Ventura County say they believe the Department of Defense initially wanted to close, not simply scale back, operations at Point Mugu.

``It appears that Point Mugu came very close to being closed,'' said Bill Simmons, manager of the Base Realignment and Closure 2005 Ventura County Task Force. ``Instead, at essentially the 11th hour, the decision was made to keep the base open.

``Unfortunately, it appears that many of the jobs were already considered realigned to China Lake and there was no time left to undo those moves.

``We can only assume at this point that the analysis was performed on the basis of Point Mugu being closed and that its true military value was not considered.''

Simmons and other Ventura County BRAC task force officials estimate that their coastal community faces a potential loss of more than 6,000 high-paying military and related civilian jobs, largely because of the Department of Defense's recommendation to shift personnel from Point Mugu to the Naval Air Weapons Station at China Lake in the Kern County desert.

Glenn Flood, a Department of Defense spokesman, said it is now up to the federal Base Realignment and Closure Commission to evaluate the recommendations and make any changes the commission deems warranted.

``We stand by our recommendations,'' he said.

Ventura County officials are planning to take their arguments for saving the local jobs to the federal BRAC hearing expected to be held July 14 in Southern California.

The commission is holding hearings throughout the nation this summer before making recommendations to President George W. Bush.

Ed Summers, co-chairman of the Ventura County BRAC Task Force, said local officials were initially relieved that the Department of Defense did not recommend closing Point Mugu.

``But we realized that the plans for realignment (of jobs) would have as devastating an effect as the base closure,'' he said. ``Since the plan is currently to leave the Point Mugu airstrip open, it makes no sense to move all the support services to China Lake.''

The BRAC 2005 Ventura Task Force will hold a community meeting today. Hundreds of people attended a similar meeting in Camarillo on June 15, including concerned workers who might have to move their homes and families from the coast to the desert 150 miles away.

``Over 6,300 jobs lost will devastate Naval Base Ventura County's ability to execute its remaining missions and support of our deployed troops,'' said Simmons.

``What will be the loss of intellectual capital in those who refuse to move from the coast to the desert?'' he asked. ``What will be lost in the support provided by these talented people to our troops?''

Eric Leach, [phone]

eric.leach(at)dailynews.com

IF YOU GO

The BRAC 2005 Ventura Task Force will hold a community meeting on how to save local jobs at 6 p.m. today at Oxnard City Hall, 305 W. Third St.

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IF YOU GO (see text)