Hill Air Force Base wing commanders in Utah won't have to report to a three-star general in Ohio, or in Sen. Orrin Hatch's words, Hill won't have to play without a quarterback.

As part of ongoing budget cuts throughout the Air Force, a proposal was floated to eliminate two-star commanding officer positions at three Air Logistics Centers, including the job belonging to Hill's Maj. Gen. Kevin Sullivan.

If approved, the proposal would have meant that at least five wing commanders at Hill's 6,700-acre base would report to a three-star general at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

Tuesday morning, Hatch, R-Utah, learned that the Secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force Chief of Staff rejected the proposal.

Hatch said the Air Force is in the process of modernizing its depot maintenance policies through the so-called LEAN initiative, which aims to achieve more efficient and effective depot operations. But as LEAN initiatives are implemented, Hatch said the Air Force needs "strong, on-the spot-leadership" at its bases to implement its modernizing policies.

"Asking a general in Ohio to run a base in Utah would be like asking the mayor of St. George to be in charge of Ogden as well," Hatch said.

The proposal originated sometime over the past year at the Ohio base's headquarters for the Air Force Materiel Command, according to base spokeswoman Maj. Stephanie Bindemann.

At some point, Hatch became involved.

With Hill located in Hatch's home state and with the base having survived being downsized last year to save money, Hatch has made it a point to be a friend to the Air Force at every level.

"As a senator, I have always promoted initiatives supporting the Air Force and Hill Air Force Base. Accordingly, I have built a relationship of trust and respect with senior Air Force personnel, and they have always been gracious enough to listen to my opinion," Hatch told the Deseret Morning News. "Regarding the proposal to remove two-star generals from the nation's three Air Logistic Centers, I made my objections known and I am grateful that the Air Force took my point."

Bindemann said the Air Force will continue to reduce its force structure and budget and to consider a variety of options toward that goal. "We will continue to look at ways to transform Air Force Materiel Command operations while delivering war-winning capabilities to the war fighter," she said.

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E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com