defense intel Tyndall 2.0 Building Momentum, Providing Opportunities by: Tom Neubauer, Bay Defense Alliance
T
he $5 billion rebuild of Tyndall Air Force Base, the “installation of the future” continues to be a leading topic of conversation across the Air Force and throughout
Wasserman Schultz, chair of the House Appropriations subcommittee on Military Construction. Following her visits to Tyndall and NSA-PC with Dr. Dunn, the rebuild effort became a bi-partisan
our community. Amazing progress has occurred since October
initiative. H.R. 268 (Supplemental appropriations act) was suc-
10, 2018, when the future of Tyndall was in question. In the days
cessfully placed on the calendar and approved on January 22, 2019.
and weeks that followed the storm, Tyndall was visited by senior
The legislation resulted in a $4.1 billion emergency supplemental
leaders from the Air Force, Congress and the administration. The
for Tyndall.
trust relationships built by the Bay Defense Alliance over nearly
8
three decades offered opportunities for open communication with
The Air Force commitment to rebuild and legislation to provide
senior leaders in the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill. The decision
funding by Congress were just the beginning of a lengthy process.
of the Air Force to rebuild Tyndall AFB was strongly supported by
The National Environmental Policy Act would require a thorough
Florida’s congressional delegation and leadership at all levels. Dr.
environmental study to gather the information needed to influ-
Neal Dunn organized visits by key decision-makers, began working
ence a final Record of Decision or “ROD” for the bed down of F-35s
on an emergency supplemental immediately after the storm and
at Tyndall. The EIS process began with a public notice in the federal
helped author the legislation. Dr. Dunn reached out to Debbie
register in November 2019. A draft EIS was published for public
BAY BIZ / FALL 2021
