AREA MEMBERS JOIN STEARNS IN OUTLINING IMPORTANCE OF NADEP PRIOR TO BASE CLOSING ROUND

Washington, Apr 27, 2005 - Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-6th) today sent a letter to the Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, outlining the importance of the Naval Air Depot (NADEP) Jacksonville to our national security.  "As you are poised to begin a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round to comprehensively examine our nation's defense infrastructure, we are writing to share with you some information about the uniquely important role to our nation's security of the Naval Air Depot in Jacksonville, Florida," wrote Stearns.  "NADEP Jacksonville has made direct contributions to fleet readiness, which we are proud to share with you."  Reps. Corrine Brown, Ander Crenshaw, and John Mica joined Stearns in signing the letter.

The letters pointed out specific examples in which NADEP personnel contributed directly to returning equipment to combat readiness.  In one instance, NADEP corrected a problem in an engine component of the F/A-18.  The engine manufacturer, General Electric, estimated a lead-time of two years to replace the component.  However, NADEP Jacksonville developed a way to correct the problem and went into production of the repaired component more than 20 months sooner than General Electric's original estimate.

The letter noted, "Getting our naval aviators, crew, and material skyward is critical, and NADEP Jacksonville is an exemplary depot in its efficiency, accuracy, and dedication to the mission and to our nation's security."