On Friday morning, more than 50 people gathered to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the privatization of the former Newark Air Force Base on the campus of the Heath Central Ohio Aerospace and Technology Center.

Michael Murasky, site manager for the Boeing Guidance Repair Center, kicked off the event with remarks on the site’s efforts over the past quarter century.

“Since that day in 1996, this building behind me and everyone in it has watched over the security of this country by doing the work they do every day on critical defense missions for the nation and its allies under the rule. Boeing banner, ”Murasky said. “It continues the Air Force tradition that was here from Newark Air Force Base before.”

In 1993, the closure of Newark Air Force Base was announced. When the base closed three years later, some of its 1,400 employees and their families left to work at other Air Force bases, but some remained on the Heath campus to work for contractors from the Air Force in the privatized facility.

Following:Port Authority moves closed Air Force base from uncertainty to stability and growth

According to Murasky, Boeing has around 600 employees in the Licking County community. Their site, he said, is responsible for maintaining readiness and modernizing the country’s guidance, navigation and control systems, etc. He also praised the site’s impact at the local level through volunteer work and charitable contributions. Two grants were awarded to The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology, and Mental Health America of Licking County.

Cindy Gruensfelder, Vice President and General Manager of Missile and Weapon Systems at Boeing Defense, Space & Security, explained how the Boeing Guidance Repair Center’s diverse portfolio in the past and present positions them to continue supporting their partners in defense and stimulate community growth.

“We have a lot to celebrate today and a lot to look forward to in our next quarter century here in Heath, Ohio,” she said. “There is no secret to success. It really is that simple and… they are our teammates here at the site. You are all the reason Boeing continues to be successful, not only here at Heath but throughout the Boeing business. “

Carl Unholz, Air Force Metrology and Calibration Program Director, reviewed the history of the site before introducing US Air Force Col. Lea Kirkwood, Program Manager and Director of the Agile Directorate Combat Support at the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

“All of this (history) leads to this rich legacy which has evolved into our current partnerships with Boeing, Port Authority and Bionetics,” Unholz said. “There is a lot of pride here in our collective contributions in the form of support services to all services in general …”

Reflecting on the closure of Newark Air Force Base, Kirkwood said the withdrawal of an Air Force base is a significant emotional event as there is a lot of economic investment in the community.

“I think it’s a real achievement on how they went from a brown field, a green field, if you were, to a real Air Force station at an Air Force base. , then back down from an Air Force base to a technology center, which still serves the mission that originally began, ”Kirkwood said. “I think it’s a real achievement when you look at how a base evolves and head into a more hybrid style mission involving all of the team members and stakeholders who have a role to play. in this mission. “

During the event, Joe Zeis, senior aerospace and defense advisor to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, presented a proclamation recognizing the 25th anniversary.

Heath-Newark-Licking County Port Authority Board Member Bob Klingensmith also announced that the Port Authority has announced a scholarship program for people working on the campus of Central Ohio Aerospace and Technology Center, for their spouses and children who pursue graduate studies in science. , technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) on the campus of Ohio State University Newark and Central Ohio Technical College for $ 50,000 per year for the next 20 years starting this fall.

Rick Platt, president and CEO of the Port Authority, said there are many reasons the campus still exists and they could speed up the base’s closure and privatization 25 years ago .

“The reason this place came in the first place, the reason it is still here and the reason we have hope for the future – if there is one common denominator, it’s the people “said Platt. The announcement of the base’s closure in 1993, he said, was a blow to the community, but they were able to move on to where they are today asking how they keep people and skills In the region. “STEM skills and people are the reason (the center) is here and the reason it will stay.”

The event ended with a cake cutting ceremony following the announcement of the new scholarship program.