Austria, Turner press DOD to keep ECSS program

Two Dayton-area congressmen plan to pressure the federal government to keep a program on track that could costs hundreds of local jobs if cut.

U.S. Rep. Steve Austria, R-Beavercreek, and U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Centerville, Tuesday sent a joint letter to the U.S. Department of Defense expressing concern about the Expeditionary Combat Support System, or ECSS, program, currently headquartered in Beavercreek.

The ECSS program is the major part of an initiative known as the Expeditionary Logistics for the 21st Century — or eLog21 — which is expected to result in a 10 percent cost savings over the Future Years Defense Program for the Air Force.

A program delay or interruption, as called for in a decision memorandum from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, will negatively impact the ECSS program, likely resulting in future schedule delays and cost overruns.

“Such a move could cost the taxpayer millions of dollars, and will cost the Dayton region hundreds of jobs,” Turner said in a statement. The Pentagon needs to explain how stopping this important modernization program benefits the Air Force and supports our national security.”

A statement says Austria and Turner will continue to put pressure on the Department of Defense to keep the ECSS program on track.

“While I understand the Air Force’s recent concerns, moving the legacy system may be counter-productive,” Rep. Austria said. “The loss of this project would cost the region and state a significant number of jobs that are critical in supporting Wright Patterson Air Force Base and if the ECSS program goes away the Air Force will need to come up with a robust program in which to maintain the system.”

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