Press Releases

Rep. Barry Loudermilk and Senator Raphael Warnock led the Georgia Congressional Delegation in a letter to Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall advocating for Dobbins Air Force Base (ARB) to be selected for the Air Force Reserve Command recapitalization of eight C-130H aircraft with eight C-130J aircraft.

Text of the letter:

The Honorable Frank Kendall
Secretary of the Air Force
1000 Air Force Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20350

Dear Secretary Kendall,

We write today regarding your recent selection of Dobbins Air Reserve Base (ARB) as a candidate location for the Air Force Reserve Command recapitalization of eight C-130H aircraft with eight C-130J aircraft. We believe Dobbins ARB would be an excellent choice to host these recapitalized aircraft.

Dobbins ARB is located in Marietta, Georgia, a community devoted to the men and women serving in our nation’s Air Force Reserve and our nation’s security. The base is a regional landmark, created in 1941 as Rickenbacker Field, and serves as a historical marker. For many years, Dobbins ARB has provided employment for Georgians. Located across the runway, Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is the applied research division of Georgia Tech and conducts more than $728 million of research annually for government and private industry. Additionally, local residents were vital to our nation’s war effort in World War II, building the B-29 Superfortress at the former Bell Aircraft plant. Also adjacent to the base, Lockheed Martin, employs thousands in the north Georgia community and has served our nation through the manufacturing of the B-47 Stratojet, C-141 Starlifter, C-5 Galaxy, F-22, F-35, and even the C-130 Hercules itself. There is no place else in America with closer ties, both operational and industrial, to the historic and indispensable C-130 and all its variants than the Marietta and north Atlanta community.

Dobbins ARB is essential to the Air Force Reserve in Georgia, operating as the home of the 22nd Air Force and 94th Airlift Wing, and the servicing installation for more than 400,000 eligible beneficiaries in the greater Atlanta region. The base also hosts a Navy Operational Support Center and the Georgia National Guard Headquarters.

Beyond its role in defense of the nation, Dobbins ARB contributes to the greater community and support of military families. The Chamber of Commerce in Cobb County, where Dobbins ARB is located, hosts a regular meeting of business and civic leaders that prioritize supporting the airmen and their families. The Georgia General Assembly and Governor Brian Kemp recently established the Georgia Joint Defense Commission, a 19-member commission that provides recommendations on supporting active duty servicemembers, their families, and veterans. Georgia provides licensing boards the discretion to recognize out-of-state licensures of military spouses resulting from a military transfer.

The past and current contributions of Dobbins Air Reserve Base to our nation’s security cannot be overstated. We believe that Dobbins ARB offers tremendous advantages, and encourage you to fully consider this critical installation as the future site of the C-130J aircraft.

Sincerely,

Barry Loudermilk
Member of Congress

A PDF link can be found, HERE.