Navy Backs Point Mugu as Site for Radar Planes

POINT MUGU — The Navy is recommending that four squadrons of radar planes be transferred to Point Mugu Navy base next year, bringing with them 1,100 jobs and bolstering the air station’s chances of surviving yet another round of base closures.

In an announcement Wednesday, Adm. Archie Clemins, commander in chief of the Navy’s Pacific Fleet, named Point Mugu his No. 1 choice for receiving the 16 E-2C Hawkeye planes.

Bringing the planes from San Diego to Point Mugu could help shield the base from the chopping block, when the Base Closure and Realignment Commission or BRAC begins looking for underused bases to shut down.

“This means initially 1,100 jobs for Ventura County but even more importantly is that it continues to make Mugu much more viable in the future,” said U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley), who received the news from Clemins late Wednesday afternoon. “The more operating forces you get at Mugu, the more viable it makes it in case of another round of BRAC.”

Added County Supervisor Frank Schillo: “The fate of Point Mugu hung in the balance on whether we got these E2s or not. We have all been hanging by our fingernails about this decision.”

Navy officials noted however that Clemins’ decision is only the first step in a long process, which will include an environmental review, public comment and final approval by the secretary of the Navy.

If all goes well, the planes will move to Point Mugu by the spring of next year, officials said.

Neighbors on Silver Strand Beach, who have complained about other Navy projects, say they are waiting to see the environmental reports before drawing any conclusions about the new planes.

Clemins’ decision overrules an earlier Navy recommendation that the planes be stationed at Lemoore Naval Air Station in the Central Valley. The planes, which travel with aircraft carrier battle groups to provide air traffic control assistance, will be transferred from the Naval Air Station Miramar in San Diego.

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A more recent proposal on where to base 92 new F/A-18 E/F strike fighters is still undecided.

One of the considerations that swayed Clemins on the Hawkeye decision is the cost savings Point Mugu offers, Gallegly said. Bringing the planes to Point Mugu will save taxpayers about $32 million because Lemoore needed to build hangars and other improvements for the planes, Gallegly said.

By comparison, Point Mugu already has the hangar facilities to accommodate the planes.

Capt. Steven Beal, the Naval Air Weapons Station commanding officer, greeted the news with enthusiasm and credits the entire community with pulling together on behalf of the base.

“We are excited,” Beal said. “This is very positive. I certainly acknowledge Congressman Gallegly, local officials and the citizens of Ventura County who have all been very supportive and active. It has been a collective group effort.”

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Ventura County officials formed a lobbying group in 1995 when the base was temporarily put on the closure list. After significant effort, Point Mugu was spared but its future is by no means ensured.

Secretary of Defense William Cohen announced this week that he would seek another round of closures in the coming years, and analysts say Point Mugu remains vulnerable.

The lobbying effort continues with the formation of the Regional Defense Partnership, a group of local and Navy officials and private citizens who meet monthly to discuss strategies.

In addition, Gallegly has championed the base with Navy and federal officials, meeting with the secretary of the Navy and with Clemins in January.

“This is a stand-up triple and the home run is coming,” said Supervisor John K. Flynn, chairman of the county’s lobbying group. “We are doing the right thing; this is a victory and we are going to win this one.”

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Officials at Lemoore said they were hoping the planes would come their way, but the decision was not a huge disappointment. Lemoore is the Navy’s preferred site for 92 F/A-18 E/F strike fighters currently on the production line.

“It’s good that a decision was made,” said Dennis McGrath, spokesman for the Lemoore base. “We would’ve loved to have had them but they are not coming, so we’ll love to death the people that are coming.”