State of the Base 2025 provided much-needed insight and updates from Robins Air Force Base 

WARNER ROBINS — The Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual State of the Base event on Thursday, March 13, where community members could get much-needed information from Robins Air Force Base’s leadership and see what the future of the base looks like. 

Installation and 78th Air Base Wing Commander Col. Deedrick Reese said that the base is thriving and that they are Robins Proud. He said the overall economic impact Robins Air Force Base has contributed to the State of Georgia is $4.2 billion for FY24. 

Reese then addressed the impacts on the federal force, civilians on base, Air National Guard members, and reservists. He said they are all impacted by what is going on with the government right now. 

“Our leaders are focused on ensuring we manage personnel and resources efficiently while we execute this mission, and specifically our mission here at Robins,” he said. “Some decisions are still pending, but what I’ll tell you about Robins Air Force Base is that we will comply with all of our Presidential Executive Orders and anything beyond that is pure speculation. We’ll continue to lead our way through this, lead with grace, compassion and empathy.” 

Reese said change is inevitable as they have experienced this before. 

“We’ve been at change here at Robins and with the community, but we’ve done it together because on the back side, we’ve been successful and stronger,” he said. “This community and this base together, the resilience is unmatched, and that’s what is going to carry us through.” 

Resse explained their culture and DNA at Robins Air Force Base for those who do not know why Robins is built differently. 

“We can’t help but to go through the challenges and come out on the other end successful, and that’s what we will do this time,” he said. “We will adapt, lead and execute this mission with excellence, and that is why we are Robins Proud.” 

Brig. Gen. and Commander of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex Jon Eberlan gave updates on the Air Logistics Complex’s production efforts. He said FY24 was an incredible year for them. 

“We executed 4.1 million production hours, produced 132 aircraft and 75,000 for aircraft across our nation’s Air Forces,” he said. 

Eberlan pointed out they have to overhaul around 130 aircraft a year and also said they have an electronics maintenance group and a commodities maintenance group. 

“They overhaul pieces and parts like flight controls, line replaceable units that go on an aircraft and help an aircraft function,” he said. 

Ererlan then reflected on the improvements of their C-5 Production Squadron. He said back in FY22, it would take them 932 days to fully overhaul a C-5, and the warfighter requirement is 391 days. 

“Our last C-5 in FY24 was delivered back to our warfighting customer in 391 days,” he said. “Why does that matter? If [the aircraft] is here, it’s not out in the field unit being employed, so every aircraft we overhaul here, we have to get it done in accordance with the warfighter requirement because our job is to support the war fighter.” 

The Air Logistics Complex also produced 50 C-130s in FY24. Eberlan said it is the most they have produced and three more than what the customer requirement was. 

“We’re delivering them all ahead of schedule now because of an incredible team of men and women,” he said. “[These] men and women serve our country just like I do, they just do it in a depot, and they’re incredible Americans, talented leaders, outstanding engineers, and they’re the ones that make this happen.”

For those not as familiar with the Air Force Reserve Command, Maj. Gen. Frank Bradfield said they have been around for 77 years and a major command for 28 years. 

“We have nine host space wings around the country, 37 wings total in 34 states including Guam, and we’ve got about 65,000 airmen,” he said. “We have 1,600 people that work here at the major command.”

Of the 65,000 airmen, Bradfield said about 77% are part-time and 23% work full-time. He also mentioned they have eight units here and they work closely with the Air Logistics Complex. Bradfield said their Air Force Reserve Command budget is 4% of the overall budget but does 14% of the warfighting capacity. 

“Some examples include the California forest fires this past year as we actually had folks on the hook to actually go out there and fight fires with C-130s that are fixed and repaired locally,” he said. “Same with hurricane hunters as those are C-130s too as we’re the sole component that does that for the nation, not just the Air Force, so every hurricane season we are doing that mission. We’re proud to be a part of the community.” 

Bradfield added the AFRC has a direct economic impact of $300 million on Middle Georgia. 

Col. Adam Shelton of the 461st Air Control Wing said their efforts this past year have been groundbreaking. He mentioned they have partnered up with the Spectrum Warfare Group and the 319 Reconnaissance Wing. 

“Our path isn’t solo as we’re definitely tied with our ACC partners as we continue to drive this transformation,” he said. 

Shelton said their unit also received accolades as they were recognized by the ACC with the Meritorious Unit Award. 

“What we’re really looking to try and emphasize is to create organizations solely based on figuring out how to tie to theater warfighting focused designs, the ways that they see their theory of victory being executed and how we make sure of personnel are tied to go to whatever theater is designated as the next conflict location; our folks can plug in a moment’s notice and be able to execute regardless of function based solely on the mission,” he said. 

Shelton said 75% of their workforce is different than it was last year. 

“The community aspects are not lost and the new people feel welcomed when they show up,” he said. “They’re immediately embraced and feel that sense of home.” 

Col. Christopher Dunlap of the 116th Air Control Wing gave insight on the new missions here at Robins Air Force Base for the Georgia Air National Guard. 

On the facilities front, Dunlap said they started building the new operations building in late 2021/early 2022.

“We are currently about 65% complete and our Initial Operating Capability (IOC) state for operations on the RPAI side is October 26, and we’re on time for that,” he said. 

The logistics facility supporting RPAI Dunlap mentioned is also on schedule and will likely be completed in spring 2027. 

“We want to be up, fully mission capable and ready to do the job, but most importantly, ready to detour because that’s our primary mission set,” he said. 

Dunlap provided that the Air National Guard is 100% manned, but mentioned they are still and will never stop recruiting. 

“On the air crew side, we are about 40% trained, on the aircraft maintenance side we’re about 15% trained,” he said. “We’re moving along and, right now, we don’t foresee any hiccups. We’re trying to synergize the training of all the military members and our civilian employees with the facilities when they come up on line.”