Date of Award

9-1996

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

Craig Brandt, PhD

Abstract

This thesis studies the experience of the local community during the privatization in place of Newark Air Force Base (NAFB), Ohio. Licking County faced the loss of its largest employer after the 1993 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC), a five-year commission established by President George Bush as a measure to cut national defense spending after the Cold War's end, recommended closing the Air Force repair facility. In its base closure recommendation, the BRAC gave the Air Force flexibility to craft a privatization in place plan. But the Air Force did not know how much the plan would cost or if it was in the best interests of national defense. The Air Force, as a result, embarked on a long, complicated procedure to determine the future of NAFB. At stake for Licking County were jobs for over 1,500 base employees and a $200 million economic impact. Licking County leaders cited a new federal initiative announced by President Clinton--the Five Part Program for Revitalizing Base Closure Communities--as justification for privatization in place. Licking County leaders also sought help from the man that the local community considers the "father of NAFB" to lead a push for privatization in place. An in-depth historical analysis identifies the critical issues as seen through the eyes of the local community and places them in an economic and political context.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GTM-LAL-96S-12

DTIC Accession Number

ADA319524

Comments

Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Logistics and Acquisition Management of the Air Force Institute of Technology

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