WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) met with Ohio Adjutant General Major General Deborah Ashenhurst on Feb. 6 to discuss upcoming priorities and long-term strategic planning for Ohio’s National Guard. At the meeting, Brown expressed his support for continued air missions at the Mansfield Air National Guard base.
“The men and women of the Mansfield Air National Guard base represent the best of the Ohio National Guard and I am thankful for their service to our state and nation,” Brown said.
“Similar to any organization, it takes investment to retain and attract the best and the brightest. Maj. Gen. Ashenhurst and her team at the Ohio National Guard understand this and are taking the appropriate actions to ensure that Ohio’s National Guard is well suited for continued mission success. I look forward to working with Maj. Gen. Ashenhurt in supporting these efforts and ensuring continued missions and expanded operations in Mansfield,” continued the Senator.
In September 2013, during a meeting with Deborah Lee James, nominee for Secretary of the Air Force, Brown pressed the importance of protecting critical missions and resources of the Mansfield base. Brown discussed a number of his Ohio priorities with James during a meeting in Brown’s office and reminded her of President Obama’s commitment to the base and finding it a long term flying mission.
At the meeting, Brown was joined by Maj. General Mark Bartman, Assistant Adjutant General for Air and Brigadier General John Harris, Assistant Adjutant General for Army.
Ohio is home to more than 5,000 air guardsmen and women, and six Air Force bases including, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Mansfield Lahm Air National Guard Base, Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Springfield Air National Guard Base, the Toledo Air National Guard Base, and the Youngstown Air Reserve Station.
Sen. Brown is the only Ohio Senator to serve a full term on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and is Co-Chair of the Senate Air Force Caucus.
