Washington, DC —
Senator Thune today announced the U.S. Air Force has selected Ellsworth Air Force Base over several other candidate bases as the best site to locate the consolidated Air Force Financial Services Center (AFFSC). This action will result in more than 775 additional military and civilian jobs at Ellsworth. The award of this highly sought-after mission further elevates Ellsworth to one of the premier Air Force bases in the country.
"It is welcome and well-deserved news that Ellsworth Air Force Base has been chosen to host the Air Force Financial Services Center. Ellsworth is an outstanding military facility with excellent turn-key capacity to host this center," Thune said. "Today's announcement will translate into hundreds of jobs for South Dakotans, boost the economy of the Black Hills area and secure the future for Ellsworth."
"I have been working closely with Air Force and Department of Defense officials on this and other future missions since last year, shortly after BRAC. Ellsworth's growth and security remains a top priority for me. This is the first of several new missions I am working to establish at Ellsworth."
Ellsworth has not received a major new mission since the late 1980s. The base had four Wings and a Strategic Warfare Center in 1990, but steadily lost missions until only the 28th Bomb Wing remained by 1995. Last year, Senator Thune led a successful campaign to reverse the Department of Defense's BRAC closure recommendation. The BRAC victory and the selection of Ellsworth as the location for the finance center represents the beginning of Ellsworth's climb back to prominence.
The Air Force Financial Services Center will be comprised of a central processing center and a 24/7 call center. The center will conduct financial services transactions and respond to inquiries from Air Force service members and civilian employees stationed at air bases, worldwide. These functions are being relocated from U.S. air bases all over the globe and consolidated at Ellsworth.
More than 775 military and civilian jobs will be created, with personnel expected to begin occupying the center by November of 2006. The mission will not be fully staffed until 2008.
At the suggestion of Senator Thune, the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce recently announced plans to establish a program to help identify, recruit and train prospective employees for the financial services center. This will assist the center in becoming operational by creating a ready pool of qualified personnel.
Senator Thune's Efforts to Bring Financial Services Center to Ellsworth:
January 25, 2006: Senator Thune speaks with Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne via phone regarding the potential selection of Ellsworth to host the financial services center.
February 1, 2006: Senator Thune sends letter to Rapid City Chamber of Commerce President Jim McKeon, suggesting the Chamber establish an employee recruitment and training program to address Air Force concerns about the adequacy of the employment pool in Rapid City for the financial services center.
February 2, 2006: Rapid City Chamber of Commerce Executive Board passed a motion supporting the implementation of Senator Thune's request to establish a recruitment and training program to create a pool of prospective employees for the financial services center.
February 9, 2006: Senator Thune meets with Secretary Wynne in the Senator's Washington office to discuss the financial services center. Senator Thune updates Secretary Wynne on the Rapid City Chamber's plans to establish an employee recruitment and training program, and also shares job data from the Governor's office demonstrating that Rapid City and the surrounding areas have a more-than-adequate employee base to host the center.
February 16, 2006: Senator Thune meets with General T. Michael Moseley, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, in the Senator's Washington office to discuss the financial services center, among other issues relating to Ellsworth.
February 21, 2006: Senator Thune visits Ellsworth to tour possible sites for the financial services center.
February 22, 2006: Senator Thune speaks with Secretary Wynne via phone regarding the financial services center.
March 2, 2006: Senators Thune and Johnson and Representative Herseth send letter to Secretary Wynne stressing South Dakota's adequate employee base for the financial services center.
"It is welcome and well-deserved news that Ellsworth Air Force Base has been chosen to host the Air Force Financial Services Center. Ellsworth is an outstanding military facility with excellent turn-key capacity to host this center," Thune said. "Today's announcement will translate into hundreds of jobs for South Dakotans, boost the economy of the Black Hills area and secure the future for Ellsworth."
"I have been working closely with Air Force and Department of Defense officials on this and other future missions since last year, shortly after BRAC. Ellsworth's growth and security remains a top priority for me. This is the first of several new missions I am working to establish at Ellsworth."
Ellsworth has not received a major new mission since the late 1980s. The base had four Wings and a Strategic Warfare Center in 1990, but steadily lost missions until only the 28th Bomb Wing remained by 1995. Last year, Senator Thune led a successful campaign to reverse the Department of Defense's BRAC closure recommendation. The BRAC victory and the selection of Ellsworth as the location for the finance center represents the beginning of Ellsworth's climb back to prominence.
The Air Force Financial Services Center will be comprised of a central processing center and a 24/7 call center. The center will conduct financial services transactions and respond to inquiries from Air Force service members and civilian employees stationed at air bases, worldwide. These functions are being relocated from U.S. air bases all over the globe and consolidated at Ellsworth.
More than 775 military and civilian jobs will be created, with personnel expected to begin occupying the center by November of 2006. The mission will not be fully staffed until 2008.
At the suggestion of Senator Thune, the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce recently announced plans to establish a program to help identify, recruit and train prospective employees for the financial services center. This will assist the center in becoming operational by creating a ready pool of qualified personnel.
Senator Thune's Efforts to Bring Financial Services Center to Ellsworth:
January 25, 2006: Senator Thune speaks with Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne via phone regarding the potential selection of Ellsworth to host the financial services center.
February 1, 2006: Senator Thune sends letter to Rapid City Chamber of Commerce President Jim McKeon, suggesting the Chamber establish an employee recruitment and training program to address Air Force concerns about the adequacy of the employment pool in Rapid City for the financial services center.
February 2, 2006: Rapid City Chamber of Commerce Executive Board passed a motion supporting the implementation of Senator Thune's request to establish a recruitment and training program to create a pool of prospective employees for the financial services center.
February 9, 2006: Senator Thune meets with Secretary Wynne in the Senator's Washington office to discuss the financial services center. Senator Thune updates Secretary Wynne on the Rapid City Chamber's plans to establish an employee recruitment and training program, and also shares job data from the Governor's office demonstrating that Rapid City and the surrounding areas have a more-than-adequate employee base to host the center.
February 16, 2006: Senator Thune meets with General T. Michael Moseley, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, in the Senator's Washington office to discuss the financial services center, among other issues relating to Ellsworth.
February 21, 2006: Senator Thune visits Ellsworth to tour possible sites for the financial services center.
February 22, 2006: Senator Thune speaks with Secretary Wynne via phone regarding the financial services center.
March 2, 2006: Senators Thune and Johnson and Representative Herseth send letter to Secretary Wynne stressing South Dakota's adequate employee base for the financial services center.