News
Business Summit discusses aerospace and energy
April 29, 2009
Courtney Crauthers
The Edmond Sun
OKLAHOMA CITY - Tinker Air Force base soon could face economic challenges as its workforce ages and the Air Force retires about 250 airplanes.
Retired Lt. Gen. Dick Burpee and Brigadier Gen. Ben Robinson, Edmond resident and director for education and training at the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute, spoke about the current economic status of Tinker Air Force Base at the 2009 Business Summit at Oklahoma City University's Meinders School of Business.
Phil Busey, Edmond businessman, said the Busey Group, which helps individuals and small, minority-owned and tribal businesses with start up and expansion, said his business began the summit several years ago.
"The idea is to bring business leaders together that affect Oklahoma's economy," Busey said. "We have two powerful industries in this state - aerospace and the energy industry."
He said one commonality in both industries is an aging work force, with the average worker being in their 50s. States need to focus on education, training and workforce development in both industries, Busey said. When companies look for new locations, Oklahoma does not have the work force it needs.
"The issue is making it easier for businesses to find a work force," he said. "We think Edmond is a perfect place for that."
Busey said one thing he wants to focus on for next year's summit is scheduling the event so that some of Edmond's high school students can attend. This year the summit took place the same week as state testing.
Tinker Air Force Base plays a major role in Oklahoma's aerospace sector and it will need a new generation of highly trained professionals. The base currently employs about 25,000 people and contributes $3 billion to the state's economy each year, Busey said.
Burpee said he recently attended a conference in Washington, D.C., that discussed current and future events occurring in the U.S. Air Force. He said they are fast becoming an unmanned air force and soon will add 525 Predators, Reapers and Global Hawks.
Burpee said they will retire 250 fighters, which is an attempt to decrease the work force so they can afford this new aircraft.
Robinson said even though that many fighters will be retired, there still are many aging aircraft that need maintenance and repair. He said one of Tinker's primary services is engineering and modification. However, according to a 2006-07 college report, only one college, Tulsa Community College, listed engineering as one of its top five majors offered.
Students have to be prepared for careers in engineering at the high school level, Robinson said. Busey said the city that can provide some kind of pilot program that targets educating high school students about the aerospace and energy industries is the city companies will look to locate in.
Edmond resident Tim Patterson, of Citi Smith Barney, said he attended the event to learn about some of the contacts and developments that the Meinders School of Business has to offer. He brought three of his employees so they could network and learn about economic development opportunities in Oklahoma.
Todd Neaves, of Gallagher, an Edmond business, said Delaware Resource Group, a Busey Group Company, was a major sponsor of the event and is one of his clients.
"It helps to understand what they are dealing with," he said.