Role of Base Advocacy Committee

The Base Advocacy committee handles the day-to-day liaison activities between the Edwards Community Alliance (ECA) and individual elected officials, or their staffs, to effectively influence "non-BRAC" policies concerning the Edwards Air Force Base mission.  Base Advocacy also will handle administrative and policy matters affecting the entire scope of the programs and activities of the ECA.

Base Advocacy will keep current on developments and trends affecting the scope of programs of ECA. The committee also supports and facilitates an effective interchange of information, which is necessary to maintain close and harmonious relationships between elected officials and ECA.

Public Advocacy for AV College Bonds

The Edwards Community Alliance (ECA) at its August 16th meeting, by unanimous vote of its Board, resolved to support the current AV College bond measure that will be on the November 2nd ballot. ECA is the base retention and expansion organization representing those Los Angeles and Kern County communities adjacent to Edwards Air Force Base and Flight Test Center.

A key requirement for military base retention and expansion is the availability of a work force that is adequate to the high-tech missions assigned to Edwards by the Department of Defense (DoD). In the case of Edwards, its research, development, and flight testing missions are heavily dependent on a skilled workforce trained in the scientific, engineering and technical fields.

ECA has been a strong promoter of local "Grow Our Own Engineers" initiatives such as the "Project Lead the Way" curricula for middle and high schools, and the new four-year, engineering undergraduate college curriculum. The success of the AV College bond measure will be a key factor in assuring that Edwards can continue to acquire the high-tech workforce it needs to compete for its DoD missions.

The college bond measure passed.

Letter to ECA from AV College President Jackie Fisher, Sr.