WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Robin's Air Force Base leaders are sharing the status of Central Georgia's economic engine. They say all is good as they prepare for four new missions.
"As far as the mission goes, what I would say, like back in the day when we flew bombers is, we are on time, on target," Col. Christopher Dunlap said.
Many base leaders echoed the same goals: readiness and getting prepared.
As a whole, the main goal is to strengthen our technology and resources, so the war machine can stand against and defeat any potential adversaries, such as China.
As they welcome new planes and new technology, they hope to welcome new infrastructure, too.
"We have to modernize our infrastructure. Over 50 years old is some of our infrastructure," Col. Deedrick Reese shared.
He says the updates are especially needed to support the base's Air Logistics Complex.
"Being the number one industrial complex in the state, we need those systems to be modernized, so that we can continue to meet the output that he is requiring," he told leaders.
Base leaders are also modernizing technology.
"General Kelly is quoted as saying, "If we lose in the electromagnetic spectrum, we're gonna lose in combat and were gonna lose quickly," Lt. Col. Christopher Cox said.
Cox is the Commander of the 350th Warfare Wing Detachment 1 and 87th Electronic Warfare Squadron Detachment 1.
That's why Lt. Col. Cox shared the urgency to create the 950th Spectrum Warfare Group.
"Two detachments that we are going to stand up here are an operations group and an electronic warfare squadron," he shared.
Part of the goal is to make sure during battle all of the Air Force's technology and warfighter systems can work together.
"Denying the enemies use of their radars, their radios, their navigation systems as well. If we can ensure and verify our effectiveness to do that, then being able to predict whether we can win or not win the next conflict, and therefore identify what we need to invest in for the next conflict, is really what the 950th's mission is," he added.
The new group will stand up on June 1. In the next three years, they plan to employ at least 300 workers at Robin's for the group.
"Many members of our organization wear a patch that says 2027 on it, because we understand that the importance of getting after these missions isn't something we can wait for. We have to get after it now," Lt. Col. Cox shared.
Every leader promoted their need for staff. They are looking to hire anyone with cyber engineering, programming, IT, artificial intelligence, and any other cyber intelligence backgrounds.
There is a civilian hiring fair, on Tuesday, April 30, and they're looking for folks with cyber security, telecommunications, programming and cyber engineering experience.
Some leaders say with new missions, we will see more young singles come to our community. They said that would mean a bigger need for affordable housing and more entertainment options.
Robins Air Force Base has a significant economic impact not only in Central Georgia but for the entire state. It poured $3.8 billion into the state in 2023. Just over $1 billion in goods and services, and $2. 7 billion went for employee payroll.
If all 850 civilian vacancies were full, the base would add an additional $76 million in payroll.