YARS Named ‘Preferred Location’ for 8 C-130 Aircraft

VIENNA, Ohio – The Air Force Reserve Command has selected Youngstown Air Reserve Station as the “preferred location” to receive eight new C-130Js, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan announced late Thursday.

The Secretary of the Air Force is expected to issue a final decision on the basing of the C-130Js in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, the congressman said.

Ryan, a member of the House’s Defense Subcommittee on Appropriations, inserted approximately $800 million in funding into the fiscal 2020, fiscal 2021, and fiscal 2022 Defense appropriations bills to fund the purchase of the planes. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and Ryan worked closely together to ensure final passage of that funding, and they advocated through numerous engagements over the years to ensure Youngstown was selected as base for these planes, Ryan’s office said.

“Every day, the men and women stationed at YARS put their lives on the line for our safety, and it is our job to give them the resources they need to succeed,” said Ryan in a statement.“Today’s announcement is the culmination of many years of effort in concert with my Ohio delegation colleagues and I couldn’t be prouder to have helped make it happen.”

In his statement, Brown noted that the “910th Airlift Wing performs critical missions throughout the country and around the globe. “The Youngstown Community proudly supports the 910th. I’m grateful that the Air Force Reserve Command, and Secretary Frank Kendall, recognized how important Youngstown Air Reserve Station is to our national security and selected it as the preferred location for eight C-130Js. Congressman Ryan and I have worked with the entire delegation to upgrade these planes and it’s finally happening.”

Said Col. Jeff Van Dootingth, commander of the 910th Airlift Wing at the base, “The replacement of our eight C-130Hs with these new planes will allow the 910th to continue to answer our nation’s call anywhere around the globe for the foreseeable future.”

Among those praising the announcement and commending Ryan and Brown and the Ohio delegation were Anthony Trevena, executive director of the Western Reserve Port Authority and Dave Christner, president of the Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission.

“This announcement to base new J models at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport cements the long-standing military value of this facility for years to come,” Trevena said.

“This is a huge announcement for the Valley and the 910th,” Christner said.

According to the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, the new planes amount to an “a nearly $1 billion federal investment” at the air base.

The chamber praised the advocacy of the Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission and its leader, Vito Abruzzino. Since the chamber created commission in 2015, the annual economic impact of YARS increased from less than $90 million to more than $150 million last year, the chamber said.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.