TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Tinker Air Force Base hosted its third annual State of the Base April 17 at Rose State College in Midwest City, Oklahoma, discussing future military innovations and community partnerships.
The event provided community stakeholders with the latest updates and opportunities to ask questions directly to senior leaders. The discussion highlighted Tinker’s integral role in national defense, its economic impact for the state, and its strategic role as a power projection platform defending the nation.
Team Tinker is extending across the globe — so many of our military capabilities and assets all over the world are impacted in one way or another from missions here at Tinker.
Speaking to civic leaders and community partners in attendance, Col. Cisco Harris, 72nd Air Base Wing and installation commander said, “While other bases are shrinking, Tinker Air Force Base is growing and expanding, and we need to be prepared to work with our community and academia to bring on the next generation to take care of the world’s most complex issues and challenges that can only be solved right here in Oklahoma.” He added Oklahoma is the gold standard for supporting the military and thanked the community for embracing Tinker Air Force Base and our families.
“If you want to know how we’re doing, look at what’s happening around the globe — look at what’s happening in the aircraft sustained through the OC-ALC enabling missions around the globe,” said Brig. Gen. Lindsay Droz, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex commander. “We are producing the nations air power and our Airmen are all in the fight.”
The panel for the event included senior leaders from across the base.:
Col. Cisco Harris, 72nd Air Base Wing and installation commander
Brig. Gen. Lindsay Droz, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex commander
Stephen Gray, 448th Supply Chain Management Wing director
Col. James Vandross, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center deputy director for propulsion
Col. James Capra, 552nd Operations Group commander
U.S. Navy Capt. David Gardner, Strategic Communications Wing 1 commodore
Col. Melissa Jones, 507th Maintenance Group commander
The State of the Base event served as an opportunity to showcase Tinker’s varied missions and how critical it is to ensure each wing is intimately in lockstep supporting one another.
Before closing out the event, Harris announced Tinker’s direct and indirect combined economic impact on the community for fiscal year 2025 was $8.6 billion. This includes $2.9 billion in payroll, $283 million in construction spending, and more than $1.44 billion in locally produced goods and services.
“Tinker Air Force Base is a powerful engine at the center of Oklahoma’s aerospace sector,” said Harris. “The state, having built a dynamic and supportive ecosystem of private companies, educational institutions, and government initiatives that support Tinker’s critical national security mission, but also drives significant economic growth and innovations for the entire state.”
After hearing about the missions of the 552nd Air Control Wing, Navy Stratcom Wing ONE, and the 507th Air Refueling Wing, Col. James Vandross, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center deputy director explained the mission of the AFLCMC.
“AFLCMC is responsible for all the aircraft, weapon systems, from the acquisition to the sustainment of those weapon systems, and modernizing the weapon systems,” said Vandross. “There are 21,000 members of the AFLCMC, and of that number, 10% are located here in Oklahoma City.” Adding they cannot do what they do without the support of everyone here.
The 2026 State of the Base event showcased Tinker’s strategic priorities and reaffirmed its community and economic development commitment. Each commander at the event provided insightful details on their respective roles, underlining the comprehensive and integrated approach required to sustain and enhance the U.S. military’s readiness and strategic capabilities in the face of evolving global changes.
The event concluded with an announcement for the next air show June 5-6, 2027.