Article Body
Office of the Governor
500 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501
(605) 773-3212
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, May 13, 2005
CONTACT: Mark Johnston or Roxy Everson at 605-773-3212
Gov. Rounds’ statement on the Base Realignment and Closure announcement
PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Mike Rounds gave the following statement on the announcement that Ellsworth Air Force Base is being recommended for closure under the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission. The Department of Defense has completed its BRAC 2005 process and the Secretary of Defense has forwarded his recommendations to the independent BRAC Commission that Ellsworth Air Force base be closed.
“We are disappointed with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld’s announcement that Ellsworth Air Force Base has been recommended for closure. For more than six decades, Ellsworth has been one of our nation’s most valued military installations and a pillar in the foundation of our nation’s defenses. From the early days of World War II to the current Worldwide War on Terrorism, it has served as home for tens-of-thousands of military members and their families and has been instrumental in the defeat of our nation’s enemies and helped sustain our nation through the Cold War. Contrary to the Secretary’s conclusions, we view Ellsworth as a premier installation that has proven it can be a competitive military base for decades to come.
Over the course of the next several days, we will conduct our analysis of the Secretary’s decision. I fully anticipate we will be able to develop a compelling rebuttal argument based on Ellsworth’s current military value and future potential. As the basis of the Secretary’s recommendation has not previously been made available to us, we believe the decades of work of Air Force leaders, our Congressional Delegation and community leaders may have been underestimated. As we assess Ellsworth, it is a highly cost-efficient operational facility, geographically centered base of operations that provides opportunities for housing current and future generations of aircraft and advanced military systems. We also believe the fact the Ellsworth is not threatened by the challenges of encroaching development, congested airspace and limited natural resources may have been seriously underestimated.
The bottom line is that we will be working in parallel paths. First, we must do all we can to convince the Base Closure Commissioners that Ellsworth is a viable base that can readily meet or exceed the challenges facing DOD’s current military missions. Secondly, should we not be successful in keeping the base open, we will work towards developing a plan that will generate commercial opportunities utilizing this great facility.”
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