by Fernando Reyes Chairman of the Board
San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Published 12-12-07
San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Published 12-12-07
When the closure announcement of Kelly AFB was announced more than ten years ago our community feared a bleak and uncertain outcome on how this would impact San Antonio’s economy. Port San Antonio and its tenants such as The Boeing Company are now part of a bright and certain future for San Antonio.Many city state and federal leaders contributed to making Port San Antonio the managing entity for the former base an inland port and an international hub with one purpose in mind - keeping good paying jobs in the Southside of San Antonio.
Now under a new contract all Air Force KC-135s will fly to San Antonio for their periodic maintenance work.
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison is among those leaders who have worked tirelessly to ensure Port San Antonio has the infrastructure training commercial tenants and federal support to keep southwest San Antonio economically vibrant. She and her colleagues have been instrumental in bringing recognized employers like Boeing to the Port and they continue to work on projects that will play a significant role in our future success.
For example in September Senator Hutchison announced the Air Force award of a 10-year $1.1 billion contract to Boeing for continued maintenance of the current KC-135 Stratotanker fleet. The San Antonio Boeing facility has been one of two sites performing this important work for the Air Force.
Unfortunately the losing company has filed a protest of the Air Force award with the Government accountability Office or GAO. Thus the award is under review but since the Air Force made the award based on quality of service and price the Boeing workforce remains optimistic the GAO will uphold the Air Force decision.
Boeing already employs 300 people to maintain the KC-135 and plans to hire an additional 200 people with the new contract.
I note too that Senator Hutchison along with the full San Antonio congressional delegation which includes Senator John Cornyn Representative Henry Cuellar Representative Charlie Gonzalez Representative Ciro Rodriguez and Representative Lamar Smith have given their full support of the Air Force award and the sustainment of the award to San Antonio.
For example in September Senator Hutchison announced the Air Force award of a 10-year $1.1 billion contract to Boeing for continued maintenance of the current KC-135 Stratotanker fleet. The San Antonio Boeing facility has been one of two sites performing this important work for the Air Force.
Unfortunately the losing company has filed a protest of the Air Force award with the Government accountability Office or GAO. Thus the award is under review but since the Air Force made the award based on quality of service and price the Boeing workforce remains optimistic the GAO will uphold the Air Force decision.
Boeing already employs 300 people to maintain the KC-135 and plans to hire an additional 200 people with the new contract. I note too that Senator Hutchison along with the full San Antonio congressional delegation which includes Senator John Cornyn Representative Henry Cuellar Representative Charlie Gonzalez Representative Ciro Rodriguez and Representative Lamar Smith have given their full support of the Air Force award and the sustainment of the award to San Antonio.
With all the work performed at the former Kelly AFB and particularly by Boeing it seems like there is always a new contract competition on going which in turn leads to some uncertainty.
This year we have waited for the Air Force decision on the KC-135 and next year we expect the Air Force to begin a new competition for ongoing maintenance work related to the KC-10 tanker fleet.
Although competition is likely for the contract work I am confident the exceptional San Antonio workforce along with state-of-the-art logistics processes and facilities will again offer the superior proposal to win the work.
This year we have waited for the Air Force decision on the KC-135 and next year we expect the Air Force to begin a new competition for ongoing maintenance work related to the KC-10 tanker fleet.
Although competition is likely for the contract work I am confident the exceptional San Antonio workforce along with state-of-the-art logistics processes and facilities will again offer the superior proposal to win the work.
Boeing is now engaged in a competition to build the next generation of tankers for the United States Air Force.
This is a substantial new acquisition program for the Air Force and one that will bring more jobs and economic growth to our State. If selected the Boeing KC-767 which is the American designed and built tanker solution will support approximately 3000 jobs in Texas with an annual economic impact of $125 million.
Although there are no plans for assembly work locally San Antonio would potentially benefit from future tanker maintenance operations and it is my goal to work with Senator Hutchison and other elected officials in our state to help bring future tanker maintenance and logistics work to San Antonio.
This is a substantial new acquisition program for the Air Force and one that will bring more jobs and economic growth to our State. If selected the Boeing KC-767 which is the American designed and built tanker solution will support approximately 3000 jobs in Texas with an annual economic impact of $125 million. Although there are no plans for assembly work locally San Antonio would potentially benefit from future tanker maintenance operations and it is my goal to work with Senator Hutchison and other elected officials in our state to help bring future tanker maintenance and logistics work to San Antonio.
Without the success of Port San Antonio the closing of Kelly AFB would have been devastating for the San Antonio economy.
Without Senator Hutchison and our other community leaders the Port-area would be struggling to survive.
The award of the new tanker maintenance contract to Boeing will also mean a continuation of support for the Port and the talented hard-working and dedicated men and women of San Antonio.
Without Senator Hutchison and our other community leaders the Port-area would be struggling to survive.
The award of the new tanker maintenance contract to Boeing will also mean a continuation of support for the Port and the talented hard-working and dedicated men and women of San Antonio.
