Sen. Ossoff secures commitment from U.S. Air Force to prioritize upgrades needed to prepare Moody AFB for F-35’s arrival
Moody AFB, Ga. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff continues to work to prepare Moody Air Force Base for the new F-35A fighter jet mission.
Sen. Ossoff, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, today held a hearing about funding priorities for military construction projects and highlighted key projects in Georgia, including upgrades needed to prepare Moody for the next F-35A fighter jet mission.
Sen. Ossoff serves as the top Democrat on the Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee, positioning him to fight for and deliver Federal funding for key Georgia projects impacting national security, military readiness, quality-of-life for servicemembers and military families, and more.
During the hearing, Sen. Ossoff spoke with Lieutenant General Kenyon Bell, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering, and Force Protection for the United States Air Force, and discussed the importance of preparing Moody Air Force Base for the arrival of the new F-35A fighter jet mission.
“Moody is preparing for the future bed down of the F-35 and I’ve been working closely now for years with the Air Force and with the local community, with Dr. Lucy Greene, and Mayor Matheson to prepare the local infrastructure and to accelerate the arrival of the aircraft,” Ranking Member Ossoff said. “Can you please update the Committee on what infrastructure and facility improvements are already underway at Moody, what additional military construction or support requirements remain unfunded or unmet, and I’d also like your commitment, General, to continue working with me and the community down in Valdosta to expedite all necessary preparations to ensure those aircraft can come as swiftly as possible and be prepared to defend the nation.”
“Ranking Member Ossoff, thank you for that question. As you know, first of all, thank you for the design funds that you’ve been able to give to us for the F-35 simulator training there at Moody. Moody is a consequential base for us, with multiple missions that are going on there. As you know, the A-10 has been extended there, but F-35 coming soon. Seven different projects are planned throughout the fight up for Moody in the realm of the F-35. We are committed, and I will commit to you to ensuring that we prioritize those, those –– the infrastructure as it is planned out through the FYDP to make sure that it is ready for when the F-35 arrives there,” Lieutenant General Bell said.
Click here to watch Sen. Ossoff’s line of questioning.
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