The Implementation of Federal Government Policy in the Reuse Planning of Military Installations: A Case Study of Gentile Air Force Station.

Local communities affected by a base closure are uncertain as to their future and look to the federal government for guidance and economic assistance in rebuilding their local economy. The local communities want to close the base with as little federal government interference as possible and convert the base to civilian use with as much federal financial assistance as possible. During 1993-1994 two Air Force Institute of Technology research teams began logitudinal case studies of the base closure and rescue process at Gentile Air Force Station, Ohio to determine the effectiveness of the federal governments current approach. These research teams identified three main federal agencies involved in the process Office of Economic Adjustment OEA, Base Transition Office BTO, and the Air Force Base Conversion Office AFBCA. This case study is a continuation of their research and studies the same three agencies during the reuse planning phase of base closure. The recommendation for the federal government is to consolidate the OEA, BTO, and AFBCA into a single, Department of Defense base closure office and locate representatives from this office at each closure base authorized to act as a single federal interface with the local community regarding base closure and reuse issues.