HAFB girds to avoid closure

The president must accept or reject the list without modification by Sept. 23, 2005. If the president wants modifications, he can return it once to the commission with suggestions (which the commission may accept or revise by Oct. 20, 2005). A final decision by the president on any modified list must come by Nov. 7, 2005.

If the president sends a final list to Congress, it has 45 legislative days — or until adjournment for the year — to reject the list as a whole (it cannot amend it). If it is not rejected, the list becomes final.

The competitors

In the past, Hill has competed for survival against other Air Force depot bases that provide repairs, maintenance and supply logistics. The Air Force now has only three of the large air logistics centers remaining: at Hill and at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma and Robins Air Force Base in Georgia.

"But this year, they may also have to compete against Army and Navy depots — and even the private sector," Hansen says. "This (defense) secretary, more than others, is looking for ways to combine things across services, and to use the private sector more."

So McCall says that instead of Hill simply competing against Tinker and Robins, it will also compete against the three Navy logistics centers and two similar Army centers.

Virtually all of them have groups similar to the Utah Defense Alliance seeking high-powered help not only to defend and lobby for their bases, but to look for ways to maybe win more missions from their competitors.

In Georgia, for example, a group of civic and business leaders called the 21st Century Partnership is working to save Tinker Air Force Base, and a main consultant is retired Maj. Gen. Ron Smith, former commander of the Warner Robins air logistics center.

In Oklahoma, retired Lt. Gen. Richard A. Burpee is leaving his current job as president of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce to accept appointment by Gov. Brad Henry to head the Oklahoma Military Strategic Planning Commission to plan defense of Tinker.

When Burpee's appointment was announced, Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce President V. Burns Hargis said, "We are taking nothing for granted. Oklahoma City must be ready to defend and protect our military presence."

Like its two chief competitors, the Utah Defense Alliance also has several former commanders of Hill helping as volunteer consultants. Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, said it is also looking to hire former Hill commander Lester L. Lyles as a paid adviser.

Formed during the 1993 and 1995 closure rounds, the Utah alliance never disbanded as it worked to help with survival fights it knew loomed.

Working to help