WARNER ROBINS – U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall, D-GA, offered a broad brushstroke assessment of defense issues Monday predicting that another BRAC round could come within five years and that economies being undertaken by Defense Secretary Robert Gates might benefit Robins Air Force Base, particularly the massive Warner Robins Air Logistics Center.

Marshall also said the Air Force fully supports new engines for the Joint STARS fleet at Robins although the process is being delayed by a “specific little issue.”

The District 8 congressman was in town to meet with Houston Healthcare officials and physicians regarding impacts of the new health care reform law.

He said during an impromptu press conference following the session at Houston Medical Center that Robins and the community should posture themselves for another Base Realignment and Closure process. BRAC is an initiative used by the federal government to close, consolidate and realign military installations. The last BRAC round came in 2005.

“I believe we will have another round of BRAC in the near future,” Marshall underscored. “Within five years wouldn’t surprise me.”

He said Robins should have steady work even with the economies Gates is implementing. The defense secretary has called for a shift of more than $100 billion – about $28 billion for the Air Force – from overhead and operations accounts to areas that directly impact military capability.

“It is true that general cutbacks in operations and maintenance could result in the cutting of programs that would impact Robins,” Marshall noted. “But at this point you can’t really predict what those cutbacks will be and how they will unfold.”

History shows, the former Macon mayor indicated, that cutbacks usually mean older, legacy systems remain in the inventory longer than planned.

“That means we’re going to have a lot of opportunity for sustainment, maintenance and modernization,” he said. “And it’s likely that Robins will benefit from those kinds of activities.”

Marshall also said that Gates’ push for consolidation and efficiency could steer more joint service work to Robins and other Air Force depots. He cited the new Joint Cargo Aircraft as an example. The JCA is a new system managed by the Air Force to meet the Army’s need for transporting troops and supplies in and out of isolated, austere locations.

“The Army wanted the program but was going to use contractor maintenance probably forever,” he said. “That’s not cost effective and it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see that kind of work come to the Air Force. The Air Force has been doing a good job of thinking about data rights, transition to management and execution of sustainment when it acquires a new system.”

Other opportunities could come from the Marines and Navy, he believes. “I would expect to see more jointness with regard to depot work as we consolidate,” the former Army Ranger noted. “The Air Force is taking a real lead in this area.”

Marshall would not identify the “specific little issue” holding up full Air Force support of new engines for Joint STARS. The 116th Air Control Wing at Robins is the nation’s only Joint STARS wing.

The airborne ground surveillance system has been a critical asset in the war on terror both in Iraq and Afghanistan but is hampered by aging, underpowered engines that restrict performance, drive maintenance costs and aircraft down time and restrict time over target. So far, funding for new engines has been measured and incremental.

The congressman said new technology and a growing role for unmanned systems were not impacting support for Joint STARS.

“Right now, Air Force views Joint STARS as an important platform and is committed to re-engining,” Marshall stressed. “I’m not sure I am free to talk publicly about the issue that has slowed the process. Hopefully, we will get the re-engining.”