WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) – the co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Air Force Caucus – announced today that the Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes authorization for $15 million, which Brown helped secure to make facility improvements for Toledo’s 180th Fighter Wing to perform its Aerospace Control Alert mission.
“The men and women of Toledo’s 180th Fighter Wing perform important missions every day that require the most up-to-date facilities,” said Brown. “This is a significant investment in the 180th Fighter Wing’s future that will allow these Airmen to maintain their proven record of success.”
This authorization of funding will enable Congress to provide funds to install new hangars for F-16 aircraft that are needed to carry out the mission at Toledo. Brown requested that the Armed Services Committee include this critical authorization in its bill, which passed the full Senate this evening. Brown and U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) worked together to secure the funding.
In April, Brown met with Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson ahead of her confirmation and highlighted key priorities for Ohio Air Force bases. During the meeting, Brown urged Wilson to support the funding needed at Toledo’s Air National Guard Base.
The 180th Fighter Wing employs approximately 1,400 individuals in northwest Ohio and conducts the nation’s number one homeland defense mission, Aerospace Control Alert. Last year, then Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James visited the Toledo Air National Guard Base at Brown’s invitation.
