FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BARRY MOORE EXCITED ABOUT F-35A DEPLOYMENT WITH 187th FIGHTER WING,
ALABAMA AIR NATIONAL GUARD “TRULY DESERVING OF THIS ADVANCED FIGHTER”
Enterprise, AL– Veteran Barry Moore expressed his approval of the Air Force’s decision to deploy F-35A ‘Lightning II’ multi-role stealth fighter planes with the 187th Fighter Wing, Alabama Air National Guard.
The Air Force’s decision came after the 187th’s home, Dannelly Field in Montgomery, was selected first as a “potential” then a “preferred” site to receive the aircraft. The final deployment decision was announced by Secretary of the Air Force Barbara M. Barrett on April 15th, 2020 following an extensive 3-year analysis. The decision was lauded by ALNG Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Sheryl Gordon, who said it “continues the tradition of the Red Tails and Tuskegee Airmen.”
Barry Moore said in a statement:
“I’m very excited that the 187th Fighter Wing will receive the F-35A. It’s a tribute to their hard work, performance and excellence, and also to the dedication and support of the community. The F-35A is not only the most advanced tactical fighter plane in our military inventory, but having them deployed in Montgomery will mean hundreds of jobs for Alabamians. It will also mean roughly $3 billion dollars in investment for the River Region and the state, and I’m pleased that Alabama is going to get that boost to our economy.
“I know from my time as Chairman of Military and Veterans Affairs in the Alabama Legislature, what kind of effort went into getting these planes here. I sponsored the package of 8 bills that ultimately led to this announcement and brought the F35-A to Montgomery. We passed those bills and Governor Ivey signed them in 2017, which tells you how long this has been in the works.
“Everyone involved is entitled to congratulations for their work in securing these planes for our Alabama Air National Guard’s 187th Fighter Wing.”
“To be one of the first Air National Guard wings to convert to the F-35A is a tremendous honor and shows the faith that the Air Force has in our Red Tail Airmen and the state of Alabama,” said Col. Ed Casey, Commander of the 187th Fighter Wing. “Our Airmen show up and get the mission done day after day, and we’ll continue to do that through this transition.”
The Air Force and Alabama Air National Guard will be working with the Montgomery Airport Authority, the city of Montgomery and state officials to prepare facilities to accommodate the F-35. Construction of these facilities is expected to begin within weeks to months, with the aircraft expected to arrive in December 2023 to replace the 187th’s current F-16’s.
Barry Moore is a candidate the Republican race for the AL-2 congressional seat and will face Dothan businessman Jeff Coleman in the July 14th runoff election. Moore is a veteran, a former Alabama Legislator, a small businessman, husband and father of four from Enterprise.
For more information: www.BarryMooreforCongress.com or on Facebook @BarryMooreforCongress
###
Photo: 2017 signing of F35 package of bills – State Senator Bill Holtzclaw, Governor Kay Ivey, State Representative Barry Moore
Press Contact: Jonathan Barbee, press@barbeemg.com