A New Era For Moffett Field
In an attempt
to reduce the
federal budget
deficit, U.S.
Secretary of Defense
Dick Chaney in
January 1990 issued
his recommendations
for which military
bases across the
nation should
be closed. Chaney's
list of 25 installations
included Moffett
Field.
That year Congress
agreed to remove
Moffett from the
list, but the
reprieve was temporary.
By April 15, 1991,
the Naval Air
Station was on
a new "hit
list". As
it had many times
in Moffett's history,
the Peninsula
wanted to have
its say in the
airfield's future.
In response to
the federal government's
decision, officials
from the cities
of Mountain View
and Sunnyvale
joined forces
with local chambers
of commerce, Silicon
Valley aerospace
and research and
development industries
and other local
businesses. Their
goal was to retain
the airfield as
a federal joint-use
facility under
the control of
NASA Ames Research
Center.
Other suggestions
for the base ranged
from converting
it into a civilian
airport to using
the site for housing.
But those supporting
the NASA proposal
argued that unlike
other bases, the
Moffett Field
complex was an
irreplaceable
resource to the
nation. The airfield
should be retained
in order to preserve
the unique interdependence
that exists between
the airfield's
federal tenants
and users and
Silicon Valley
industries.
By December 1992,
the federal government
had made its final
decision and the
official documents
were signed. The
stewardship of
NAS Moffett Field
would be transferred
to NASA.
During the past
60 years, NAS
Moffett Field
has been recognized
as a center for
innovation in
aviation as well
as a significant
contributor to
the nation's defense
capabilities.
The efforts by
local businesses
and governments
- similar in many
ways to the regional
campaign that
led to the creation
of Moffett 60
years ago - has
ensured that under
the direction
of NASA the facility
will remain a
vital and valued
resource to the
Peninsula and
to the nation.
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