Madison Government Affairs

I am often asked if I really think Travis Air Force Base is at risk from another round of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) decisions or by other government actions.

Implied in the tone of the question is doubt, based on the knowledge that Travis has enjoyed years of infrastructure investments and the acquisition of new missions. Why be concerned when the base sits in a strategic location on the Pacific Coast with abundant training and operational air space, redundant access to aviation fuel, access to water and aerial ports with a never-ending demand for its capabilities in conflict and humanitarian response?

While I readily agree that Travis is sound, these are not normal times.

The economy is dreadfully weak and there is a sleeping giant in the room — the national debt — which is now approaching $14.4 trillion and is projected to nearly equal the annual Gross Domestic Product by 2020. That will mean one in every five dollars spent by the government will be consumed just to pay off the debt.

The details of the recent agreement to reduce the deficit are unfolding, but one cannot escape the implications. Discretionary spending, according to the Congressional Budget Office, comprises less than a quarter of government outlays. The rest is “mandated” by various entitlement programs. Of the discretionary amount, half goes to the Department of Defense. The easiest cuts are clearly in defense, because its constituencies are nowhere near as strong as those of entitlements.

In fact, during the second round of anticipated cuts, many federal benefit programs will be sheltered, including Social Security, Medicaid and veterans and federal retirement benefits.

A war-weary nation will likely see the return of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan and conclude the nation can use this “peace dividend” to stem spiraling indebtedness.

Never mind the need to rebuild the Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force and reserve forces after more than two decades of the most prolonged and highest military operations tempo in our nation’s history.

Air Force Chief of Staff Norton Schwartz has said the Air Force has 20 percent more infrastructure than it needs. Will that mean more consolidation of operating bases? The Air Force simply may have no choice, with or without BRAC. Recently, former Defense Secretary Robert Gates shuttered the Joint Forces Command in Hampton Roads, Va., without BRAC, putting more than 2,000 people out of work.

A tough challenge for all military installations will be the ability to maintain infrastructure with declining funds. A decade or so of deferred operations and maintenance investment can make a once top-notch installation mediocre by comparison and, hence, a candidate for realignment or closure. Military construction projects also will be much harder to get in this environment.

Travis currently is in a seemingly good position to accommodate additional missions and people, should these consolidations materialize. But that requires constant vigilance and focus on what is happening on Capitol Hill and at the Pentagon.

The job of the Travis Community Consortium (TCC) is to ensure that we stay on top of the issues and read the minds of the decision-makers. TCC was formed before the most recent BRAC round. It pooled the resources of Solano County, its seven cities, the Travis Regional Armed Services Committee, Solano Community College, Solano Economic Development Corp. and the region’s businesses to employ the services of Madison Government Affairs in Washington D.C.

Madison has been our eyes and ears in the Pentagon and on the Hill. Indicative of its work was getting the full California delegation to sign a letter urging the Air Force to bring a new small-training aircraft to Travis to provide training for Latin American military partners.

Travis Credit Union recently joined the consortium. Cities still members of TCC are Fairfield, Dixon, Suisun and Vacaville.

These coming months and years will surely test our government institutions at local, state and federal levels. With an annual economic impact $1.5 billion and the largest employer in Solano County, Travis remains the most important asset to this region because nearly everything is affected by it. Now, more than ever, the TCC and community awareness are critical to our future.

The 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base is under new leadership after a change of command ceremony that said goodbye to Col. James Vechery and welcomed Col. Dwight Sones.

After serving for two years as the commander of the 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis, Vechery is headed to Scott Air Force Base in Illinois to be deputy director of Operations and Mobility Command. Sones comes to Travis after serving as commander of the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing, Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyz Republic.

“I thank God for blessing me with this wonderful second opportunity to command and for leading us through the challenges we faced,” Vechery said. “God inspired me daily to remember my job was to serve, and not be served.”

added that Sones is gaining a family, a very large family at Travis.

“Travis is a very special place because Travis has very special people,” he said. “We have a family here and I’m so blessed to have been a part of it.”

A highlight of his service at Travis, according to Vechery, was the response from military personnel after a massive earthquake and tsunami hit Japan in March.

“I witnessed the Travis family come to life,” he said.

The Travis family welcomed 2,517 family members to the military base and cared for them like they were their own.

“This display of love and affection is what I witnessed continuously during my tenure as your commander,” he said. “You make everyone feel important.”

On Friday, Vechery was awarded the Legion of Merit medal.

Taking command of the largest air mobility wing in the Air Force, Sones said he could describe it in one word, “incredible.”

“It’s easy to see why Team Travis is the best in (Air Mobility Command),” he said. “It’s exciting for me and my family to be a part of this team.”

Lt. Gen. Robert Allardice, commander of the 18th Air Force at Scott Air Force Base, joined the ceremony Friday and commended the men for their jobs well done.

“These are

Col. Dwight C. Sones talks during a change of command ceremony Friday at Travis Air Force Base. (Rick Roach / The Reporter) two phenomenal leaders in the Air Force today,” he said and added that change of command ceremonies give everyone a time to pause and celebrate as a team.

The air mobility team, Allardice said, makes a tangible impact every day with at least one airplane taking off every 90 seconds around the world for the nation and the nation’s cause.

“This installation represents all air mobility,” he said. “Folks, you can’t imagine how important this installation is for our nation.”

He added that Vechery is certainly leaving Travis better than he found it.

Col. James Vechery, left, and his replacement Col. Dwight Sones, right, participated in the change of command ceremony for the 60th Air Mobility Wing Friday morning at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield. (Mike Greener/Daily Republic)TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE — Col. Dwight Sones took command of the 60th Air Mobility Wing Friday morning, saying Travis is up to the mission of continuing to give the nation its global reach.

“What a blessing it is to work and serve with you,” Sones told a flight line hangar of Travis personnel and civic leaders from the surrounding communities.

The base’s new commander also had praise for the man he took command from, Col. James Vechery.

“It is an honor to follow in your footsteps,” Sones told Vechery. “It is easy to see why Travis is the best in Air Mobility Command.”

Sones was previously commander of the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing based at Manas Transit Center in Kyrgyzstan, which was the top air mobility hub for supporting American and coalition operations in Afghanistan.

He started his Air Force career in 1988 after he was commissioned following his graduation from Pennsylvania State University. His background includes experience in aerial refueling, and strategic and tactical airlift missions. Sones has participated in the Gulf War and has served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Vechery heads next to Scott Air Force Base, Ill., to become Deputy Director of Operations at Air Mobility Command.

Lt. Gen. Robert Allardice, commander of the 18th Air Force at Scott, presided over the ceremony where Vechery handed over the 60th AMW’s flag to Sones and was awarded the Legion of Merit with Oak Leal Cluster in honor of his two years of service running Travis.

Allardice described Vechery and Sones as “two of the finest leaders in the Air Force today,” lauded Vechery for his “extraordinary leadership” and Sones for his work running Manas, which is “so vital to our military effectiveness.”

Vechery took the opportunity to thank the Travis family, the Travis airmen who served under him, describing them as “the warriors who make it happen every day,” and the community leaders who support the base.

He particularly pointed out the work they did helping people evacuated from Japan as a prime example of the Travis family “that came together in a way that was miraculous.”

Sones told the crowd he has watched Travis and its airmen from afar for some time “and your actions speak louder than your words.”

While Sones said the coming years will be a challenge to keep up the excellence Travis has attained in supporting the mission and the base’s families, “Team Travis is up to the challenge.”

Reach Ian Thompson at 427-6976 or ithompson@dailyrepublic.net.