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'Happy to report, it’s good news!': Robins AFB 2022 State of the Base address

Robins leaders spoke at the Cary W. Martin Conference Center.

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Robins Air Force Base leaders gathered at the Cary W. Martin Conference Center for the 2022 State of the Base address on Tuesday.

The annual event serves as a platform for mission partners at Robins to share their priorities and the total economic impact of Robins in the community.

Colonel Lindsay Droz says that she’s “happy to report, it’s good news!”

The economic impact is always of high importance, Droz says the base “is running strong.” That’s with the growth of payroll and contracts.

Droz says the new methodology, in which they hope to “mirror” corporate America, is working well. The major focus being on the dollar spent and not just base population like in previous years.

“It’s a great news story,” Droz said. “Even through the pandemic like our local community we continue to grow… our mission remains as strong as ever.”

Brigadier General Jennifer Hammerstedt spoke about the 80 years of critical mission work the base has provided. She said that the men and women who serve at the base have a “tremendous” direct impact on many missions.

She says only 35% of her workforce are veterans, the rest are local civilians.

“We don’t do it alone,” Hammerstedt said.

Director of Contracting, Emily Jay, whose been speaking at the address for years, says that Robins was “supporting the COVID mission” with major contracts within PPE partnerships.

Colonel Brian Clough spoke about the future for scientist and engineers. He says he’s optimistic, because through the pandemic, his team still went out to events and garnered recruits.

They’ve had an increase in need for talent, so they’ve amped up the hiring process. He says that as new systems are developed to build in cyber defense, “we’re going to need cyber professionals on the front lines.”

He says not to fear the reduction of the workforce when looking at technology, but that it strengthens it. Colonel Amy Holbeck and Colonel Steven Shepan also came up to talk about JSTARS.

“Bittersweet to see it come to an end,” Holbeck said. “We’re still in high demand across the world.”

“We all have to recognize that our people are beginning to think about what’s next for them,” Shepan said.

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