Mikulski concerned about Navy funding

Friday, March 24, 2006

In a statement, Mikulski said, ‘‘Navy officials are implementing a 20 percent work force reduction at [the Patuxent River Naval Air Station] ... where personnel are applying resources in innovative ways to meet the nation’s emerging threats, while creating thousands of high-tech jobs in Southern Maryland.”

With a daily work force in the neighborhood of 20,000 people, that could translate to as many as 4,000 fewer jobs at Pax River.

Melissa Schwartz, Mikulski’s press secretary, said the manpower reduction would come through attrition and that ‘‘nobody is being laid off.”

But, Schwartz added, that raises another concern for the senator. Who are these people who won’t be replaced? And are their jobs essential to the future of the projects on which they’re working?

‘‘Is the Navy sacrificing future maritime superiority,” Mikulski asked, ‘‘for short-term cost savings? At Pax River they are developing the smart new weapons and technologies that are going to keep America safe. Is the Navy satisfied with having 20 percent fewer smart weapons and technologies?”

One government worker suggested the 20 percent figure doesn’t specifically apply to Pax River, but refers to a work force reduction across all eight Naval Air Systems Command activities, through retirements and other unfilled job vacancies. The reductions would occur between fiscal years 2004 and 2009.

A statement prepared by NAVAIR in response to Mikulski’s press release said, ‘‘The Navy feels confident that the Fiscal Year ’07 budget request provides ably for the future maritime security of the United States, our allies and our partners, not only in the coming year, but in future years as well.

‘‘The Navy appreciates Senator Mikulski’s concerns, as well as her long-standing support for the U.S. Navy. We look forward to working closely with her and the Congress as a whole as we move through the budget process.”

The NAVAIR statement does not address the proposed 20 percent reduction in manpower.

John Savich, director of the St. Mary’s County Department of Economic and Community Development, said last week he was trying to learn more about Mikulski’s statement.

‘‘If 20 percent of work goes away, it would have significant impact on our economy,” Savich said.

If there is a reduction, perhaps other Navy projects could be available to utilize its investment in the sprawling base.

‘‘The Navy and the community have had a good relationship for decades,” Savich said. Other work may be found ‘‘that would be compatible with the Navy.”

E-mail Paul C. Leibe at pleibe@somdnews.com.

E-mail Kevin Conron at kconron@somdnews.com.