Citizen committee to support F-35

Yuma has a rich tradition as a military town, one that a fledging committee wants to demonstrate in support of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter that military officials have said will arrive at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma first.

"We're forming a citizen action committee to show community support for the F-35," said Julie Engel, president and CEO of Greater Yuma Economic Development Corp. "Yuma has historically told the DOD (Department of Defense) that this is a military-friendly town."

That's a tradition she hopes to continue with formation of the committee as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter comes on board.

Engel said a number of people, among them elected officials and business leaders, have already stepped up and made a commitment to serve on the committee.

However, formation of the committee is just in the initial stages. She said the hope is to have 200 members on the main committee, with elected officials, military personnel, the business community and the public at large. Subcommittees also will be formed to tackle specific tasks.

"We won't turn anyone away," she said.

An initial meeting has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 9 at the former City Hall, 180 W. 1st St., in the old Yuma City Council chambers.

During that meeting, she said, a report will be presented on the latest information on the F-35. Scheduled guest speakers from MCAS Yuma include Lt. Col. Mark A Workman, plans officer; Lt. Col. Geoff Olander, JSF site activation; and Maj. James Combs, community planner.

"We want the public to be informed," Engel said. "We want to educate the community about the project and the economic impact it will have."

To that end, GYEDC also has applied for a grant from the Department of Commerce Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) to fund the development and maintenance of a Joint Strike Fighter Web site, dedicated toward the dissemination of news and information as well as garnering public support for the F-35.

Included within this grant application are dollars dedicated toward the advertising of public meetings, the creation and distribution of fliers and other materials that will be used for public information purposes, Engel said.

The hope is that the committee not only would lend support to the F-35 being based in Yuma but also to potential contractors who would be involved in the project, she said.

"We're looking at it as an opportunity to promote Yuma to them as well. We want to demonstrate that Yuma embraces the military, technology and industry."

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will be made in three versions for use by the Marine Corps, the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy as well as the nation's allied defense forces worldwide.

The version for the Marine Corps would be the next-generation fighter jet capable of vertical landings and takeoffs to replace the aging Harriers now based at MCAS Yuma.

For more information about the committee, call GYEDC at 782-7774