Baker Donelson Proposal
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Attachment A: Outcomes & Highlights for Luke AFB Recurring West Valley Partners Hosted by Baker Donelson Team • Each year, the Baker Donelson team hosts the WVP in our Washington, D.C. office. This visit encompasses important meetings with Congressional members, DoD officials, and USAF officers in efforts to positively impact the WVP legislative objectives. These annual trips are critical not only to achieving the objectives set out by the WVP, but in communicating the importance of Luke AFB and the West Valley in the realm of national security. Baker Donelson Team Travels to Arizona • Annually, the Baker Donelson team has representatives travel to Arizona to meet with the WVP and Luke AFB. This trip is crucial in ensuring effective communication about the Fiscal Year objectives and legislation sought by the WVP, allowing our team to create a path forward to generate a successful outcome. 2018 F-35 Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization Appropriation • In 2018, the team secured a Congressional appropriation of $5M in additional Air Force Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization (SRM) funds to address safety and security needs identified by the Luke AFB Commander. This was critical in supporting the F-35 mission sustainability. F-35 Defense Funding & Strike Hazard Appropriations • The Baker Donelson team tracked the defense portion of the Omnibus Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018, in which important impacts to Luke AFB were seen. A summary of the Omnibus Appropriations Bill as it impacts Luke AFB is seen below: o $10.2B for 90 Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (48 F-35A aircraft) o Bird and wildlife aircraft strike hazard: and increase of $1.6M (specifically requested by Luke AFB) Tyndall AFB – Ensuring Future Placement of Two Squadrons • Ask for information re: how team delivered guarantee of the two squadrons returning. 2019 FY19: Squadron 5 Appropriations • The President’s Budget Request for the Fiscal Year 2019 included $40M for Squadron 5 Aircraft Maintenance and Squadron Ops Facilities. (Ask for more on this) 2020 Barry M Goldwater Range (BMGR) • In FY20, $28M was added by Congress to provide Barry M Goldwater Range with 4 new Joint Threat Emitters (JTEs) for installation by Luke AFB. This allowed Luke AFB to ensure the most optimal F-35 training environment available with current and realistic threat replication. This was a top priority addressed by the Baker Donelson team with the WVP in 2019 when the FY20 defense legislation was introduced. The team ensured updates were provided regarding the proposed budget and worked with officials to ensure that the funding for the JTE was properly implemented. Congressional Delegation Meetings • The Baker Donelson team met with the WVP Congressional Delegation to brief them on the FY2021 legislative requests. This Congressional Delegation included Sen. McSally, Sen. Sinema, Rep. Lesko, Rep. Gallego, and Rep. Kirkpatrick. This took place after a member of the Baker Donelson team had visited Arizona to meet with both the WVP, the Community Initiatives Team (CIT), and Brig Gen Canterbury to recap FY2020 and discuss upcoming priorities for FY2021. • Later in the year, the Baker Donelson team provided Sen. Kelly’s staff with read-ahead information that they had requested for a call with the WVP. Members of the team also participated in the West Valley Partners call with Sen. Kelly, providing an overview briefing of the coordination efforts between the WVP and Luke AFB and the Arizona Congressional Delegation. 2021 Pursuit of WVP Objectives • For Fiscal Year 2021, our team sought $15,000 for a new Child Development Center along with $13.1M from Congress for the Gila Bend Consolidated Ops building. Our team put in a request for these projects identified for Luke AFB, on behalf of the WVP. The request for funding of the Child Development Center garnered support from both Arizona Senator’s offices. Quality of Life Issues • The WVP formation of Working Groups in partnership with Luke AFB was a great accomplishment. The Housing Working Group and Defense Communities Infrastructure Program (DCIP) Working Group began prioritizing key issues that the partnership brought to their attention and were in pursuit of grants to fund agreed upon project objectives. 2022 • As Congress completes its work on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Budget, Baker Donelson has actively engaged the Arizona Congressional Delegation, the Defense Oversight Committees, and the US Air Force to successfully achieve the following for Luke AFB: o Authorization and appropriation of $4,750,000 in Planning & Design funds for the construction of a Child Development Center at Luke AFB. Working with Luke AFB’s CIT and Luke’s higher Headquarters (Air Education & Training Command (AETC)), we have also positioned Luke to have $18,750,000 in construction funds for the CDC to be programmed for inclusion in the FY 2024 President’s Budget Request. o Authorization and appropriation of additional funds in the US Air Force’s Sustainment, Restoration & Modernization account which is accompanied by Congressional report language that notes the importance of up to $5,000,000 being made available for the Gila Bend Turnaround project which is among Luke’s unfunded priorities. • Baker Donelson also coordinated a successful campaign involving Luke AFB and the West Valley Partners, which secured over $1,200,000 for Luke AFB from AETC to security enhancements required at the Auxiliary 1 Field to protect the critical Instrument Landing System equipment located as this remote site. Protection of the equipment at this site is an important safety and operational requirement for the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke AFB. Attachment B: Baker Donelson Team Bios Steve Hyjek Mr. Hyjek provides legislative and government relations guidance to his clients, focusing on procurement policy, military base enhancement, defense policy, export controls on military technologies and public policy matters. Mr. Hyjek has been formally recognized by state and federal agencies for his government relations achievements. Prior to joining Baker Donelson's Government Relations and Public Policy Group, Mr. Hyjek was a principal in a federal marketing and lobbying firm for 24 years. During that time, he was selected to represent an array of defense technology developers and manufacturers on defense policy and government procurement matters. Mr. Hyjek has successfully advised multiple public sector clients as the lead consultant during each of the base realignment and closure rounds dating back to 1991. He has developed and executed strategies for his military base clients which resulted in the gain of over 50,000 full-time equivalent positions and helped secure over $700 million in Congressionally-approved Military Construction funding (over 90 percent of which remains in local communities). In the most recent BRAC round in 2005, he represented over 20 installations that experienced gains or remained intact when the process concluded. He was also successful in representing communities in conjunction with force structure adjustments conducted by the Department of Defense. In addition, Mr. Hyjek has successfully represented a number of U.S. and international corporations, serving as an advocate for their interests with Congress and federal agencies. Mr. Hyjek maintains an active U.S. Government Security Clearance and a Pentagon Access Badge, which ensure his access to critical decision-makers on behalf of clients in the challenging budget environment. From 1981 to 1986, Mr. Hyjek served as a Congressional Liaison Representative for the Secretary of the Army. During his tenure with the Department of the Army, he represented the Army's interests to Congress on procurement, environmental, privatization and chemical demilitarization issues, as well as base closures and realignments. He advised the Army leadership on the impact of Department interests on Congressional interests, as well as facilitated discussions between Congressional leaders and Army principals to secure legislative support for the service's initiatives. Mr. Hyjek began his career in Washington with the Senate, where he gained experience in the legislative process. He is a graduate of the American University with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and a Master's degree in International Law. General (Ret.) Howie Chandler General Chandler retired from the Air Force in March 2011 after completing more than 36 years on active duty. His last assignment was in the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as Vice Chief of Staff, United States Air Force, where he was responsible for formulating Air Force policy and guidance for over 680,000 Airmen including organizing, training and equipping Air Force personnel for worldwide operations. He led Air Force budgeting and resourcing decisions as Chair of the Air Force Council. General Chandler's assignments as a general officer covered 14 years and included Commander, Pacific Air Forces; duty as Air Force Director of Operations in the Pentagon; Commander, Alaskan Command and 11 AF; Director of Operations at the beginning of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom at Air Combat Command; an additional Pentagon assignment as Director of Operational Plans; Chief of Staff, Allied Air Forces Southern Europe in NATO during the air war over Serbia; and Commander, 56 Fighter Wing, the USAF's largest fighter wing at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. He served multiple overseas assignments where he worked closely with air forces of other nations in the Middle East, Europe and the Pacific. As Commander of Pacific Air Forces, he was responsible for approximately 45,000 Air Force members and their families principally in Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Japan and the Republic of Korea. He directed operations at nine major bases with approximately 350 aircraft operating primarily from the West Coast of the United States to India. After beginning his flying career as an instructor pilot in the T‐38, General Chandler flew all models of the F‐15 Eagle with one assignment flying the F‐16 Fighting Falcon. He has flown approximately 3,900 hours and commanded two fighter wings, a support group and a fighter squadron. He also completed staff assignments in the Pentagon, at Pacific Command, Pacific Air Forces, and the Military Training Mission, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Before joining Baker Donelson he was Vice President, Business Development and International Programs, at Pratt and Whitney Military Engines, a United Technologies Company. At Pratt and Whitney, he was responsible for domestic and international military sales, assessing U.S. Military requirements and developing business strategies. General (Ret.) Robin Rand General Rand is a retired U.S. Air Force four-star general and former commander of Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) and Air Forces Strategic, U.S. Strategic Command. He retired from the Air Force in 2018 after serving over 40 years on active duty. As commander of AFGSC, he was responsible for providing strategic deterrence, global strike and combat support. The command consisted of two numbered Air Forces, 11 active duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve wings, the Joint Global Strike Operations Center, and the Nuclear Command, Control and Communications (NC3) Center. Weapon systems assigned to AFGSC included all U.S. intercontinental missiles and bomber aircraft; UH-1N helicopters, E-4B National Airborne Operations Center aircraft, and the remaining U.S. Air Force NC3 weapons system. He previously served as the commander of Air Education and Training Command (AETC) at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in Texas where he was responsible for recruiting, training, and educating Air Force personnel. During his military career, which included six overseas assignments, he had multiple flying assignments, served as an air liaison officer duty with the U.S. Army, and completed staff tours on the Joint Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and Headquarters U.S. Air Force. General Rand has more than 5,100 total flying hours, mostly in the F-16, including more than 480 combat hours. In addition to his two commands at AFGSC and AETC, other command duties included the 36th Fighter Squadron at Osan AB, Republic of Korea; USAF Weapons School at Nellis AFB, Nevada; 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea; 56th Fighter Wing at Luke AFB, Arizona; 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Balad AB, Iraq; and 12th Air Force (Air Force Southern) at Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona. General Rand also serves as chief executive officer for the Gary Sinise Foundation, a non-profit organization that offers a variety of programs, services and events for our active duty military members, veterans, first responders, and their families. Lieutenant General (Ret.) James Jackson Lt Gen James F. Jackson, USAF (Ret), is an experienced senior leader with 25+ years as a U.S. government executive. During his last Department of Defense position, he served as the Chief of Air Force Reserve and Commander, Air Force Reserve Command. During that time, he was the principal advisor on Reserve matters to the Secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force Chief of Staff. As Commander, Air Force Reserve Command, he had full responsibility for organizing, training and equipping of U.S. Air Force Reserve units worldwide. Working closely with Congress and the local communities, he ensured the successful planning and execution of a $6.2 Billion congressional appropriation for over 60 geographically dispersed units in every Air Force mission and approximately 70,000 Citizen Airmen. General Jackson’s Air Force career included flying tours in Europe and the Pacific, in addition to multiple military aviation and leadership assignments in the United States. He is a 1978 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Factors Engineering. His demonstrated leadership and experience include assignments in Air Combat Command, Air Mobility Command, Pacific Air Forces Command and U.S. Air Forces Europe. General Jackson’s joint experience includes nuclear, conventional and cyber operations in U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. Pacific Command as well as three tours of duty in the pentagon. His relevant expertise also includes significant civilian aviation experience as a Captain with a major air carrier for over 20 years. Additionally, he has a Master’s Degree in Aeronautical Sciences from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University where he taught as an adjunct professor in their aviation safety, airfield management and aeronautical engineering courses. General Jackson is a graduate of multiple senior executive training programs including: Air War College, National Defense University National Security Course, Senior Information Warfare Course, Harvard University Senior Executives in National and International Security Course, George Washington University Senior Executive National Security Studies Program and the Leadership at the Peak Course, Center for Creative Leadership. The founder and managing partner of JJackson Consulting LLC, his company is focused on the areas of Department of Defense Policy, Civilian Aviation Policy, Congressional and Community Relations, Strategic Planning and Budgeting, Aviation and Airfield Operations and Senior Leader Development and Succession Planning. His professional affiliations include being a lifetime member of the United States Air Force Academy Association of Graduates, the Air Force Association, the Military Officers Association of America, the Reserve Officers Association, the Airlift/Tanker Association and the Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Alumni Association. Lt Gen (ret) Jackson is as a member of the Air Force’s Adjunct Contract Professor (ACP) Program, providing Air Force senior leader training, mentorship and specialized subject matter expert (SME) expertise. He also serves as a member of the Falcon Foundation Board of Trustees, United States Air Force Academy. Retired from the Air Force in 2016, Lt Gen Jackson’s military biography is available on the Air Force website. Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) James Mitchell Lt Col Mitchell served as a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force, flying with the 56th Fighter Wing. Upon retiring from the Air Force, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Mitchell was a pilot for United Airlines for over twenty years and served as the Director for the Luke AFB Community Initiatives Team (CIT). In this position he was acknowledged as the primary contact between the surrounding community and senior leadership of the nation’s largest fighter wing. Lieutenant Colonel Mitchell has experience with both state and national development firms that sought compatible development in the Phoenix Basin, while also containing impactful knowledge of the legislative process in helping ensure mission sustainability. His work includes drafting legislative and policy documents that became codified in state law, ultimately protecting all installations within Arizona. The SecAF and CSAF identified Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Mitchell and the Luke CIT team as the “Gold Standard” for community relations during his time as Director. John Armbrust John Armbrust formerly served as the President for the Association of Defense Communities (ADC). Mr. Armbrust was also the Executive Director (Emeritus) of the Kansas Governor’s Military Council. He is a DCIP and P4I subject matter expert that provides the team with critical insights and analytics. His connection with the ADC serves the team well as Luke AFB is a pertinent example for Air Force communities around the country. Thomas Shaw Tom Shaw works on aerospace and defense policy issues for clients in both the public and private sectors. He advocates for clients in Congress, in the Pentagon, and within various federal agencies. Mr. Shaw has assisted states in navigating new regulations and policy, efforts in mission sustainment and growth, and advocating for legislative priorities. Prior to joining Baker Donelson, Mr. Shaw attended the George Washington University School of Law. Mr. Shaw is licensed to practice law in Washington, DC. Before attending law school, Mr. Shaw worked with the Senate Budget Committee under chairman Senator Kent Conrad. Mr. Shaw also spent time working in Congressman Dan Benishek's Office (MI-R). Brian Schaffner Brian Schaffner joined Capitol Hill Consulting Group as Senior Vice President in 2021 after spending over 8 years at Baker Donelson as a senior member of the Federal Aerospace and Defense Policy Team. Prior to joining Baker Donelson, Mr. Schaffner worked as the senior legislative assistant to House Armed Services Committee Member and Congresswoman Kathy Hochul. He also served as the military legislative assistant and appropriations director for Congressman Dan Maffei. Mr. Schaffner has over a decade of experience advising clients on national security policy and funding opportunities in both the public and private sectors. He has worked with state and local governments and Department of Defense (DoD) suppliers of all sizes, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small business suppliers. His knowledge of the legislative and appropriations process combined with his strong understanding of the DoD and other federal agencies allows him to develop and execute successful strategies for a wide range of clients. Over the years, Mr. Schaffner has helped to secure millions of dollars in federal funding for clients as well as favorable legislative provisions to ensure clients remain competitive in their individual markets. Mr. Schaffner prides himself on his ability to build and maintain relationships across the U.S. government, a significant benefit for his client base.