Amidst local concerns about the future of the Corpus Christi Army Depot, national officials visited the installation on March 6.
In recent years, the workload at the depot has shrunk, leading to a drop in employees. In 2011, the depot employed 5,900 civilians. By 2021, the figure dropped to 3,191. Based on current workload projections, it could fall to 1,000.
In February, city of Corpus Christi and Nueces County leaders, along with the South Texas Military Task Force and the United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce, called on federal leaders to stop the decline. Local leaders traveled to Washington, D.C., to bring attention to the issue. Several local entities have issued proclamations of support.
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (front) discusses his support for the Corpus Christi Army Depot on March 6.
Army Under Secretary Mike Obadal, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez met with army depot leaders and toured the facility, joined by Nueces County Judge Connie Scott and Corpus Christi Mayor Paulette Guajardo. U.S. Rep. Michael Cloud did not attend but sent a representative.
Cornyn said that he had invited Obadal to come and learn about the army depot’s workforce and mission.
“We all know that CCAD’s workload has diminished given the changes in recent years and through no fault of their own,” Cornyn said. “It’s one of the largest employers in the region. This loss of workforce poses significant threat to the Coastal Bend economy, and that’s not something we’re going to take lying down.”
Cornyn said that there will be financial and policy changes to ensure fair treatment for the depot.
Gonzalez is a Democrat. Cornyn is a Republican. Gonzalez said that the meeting was fascinating and included discussion on policy changes to conserve jobs and potentially increase the workload.
“We’re doing this in a bipartisan manner,” Gonzalez said. “It’s something that’s good for the region, it’s good for the state and it’s good for our country.”
The Corpus Christi Army Depot is the largest helicopter repair facility in the world. Beyond major construction projects, the army depot does not receive funding directly from the federal government. Instead, it is paid for the repairs it completes.
But local leaders, including former leadership of the army depot, say that the federal government has not enforced rules that half of military repair work be done by the U.S. military’s depots and arsenals, known as the organic industrial base. As the army depot workload has shrunk, work has instead gone to other entities.
In previous statements, former Corpus Christi Army Depot Cmdr. Kyle Hogan said that it is important for strategic resiliency and national defense to maintain the military’s capability. Hogan was also in attendance on March 6.
Specifically, local leaders want Congress to accelerate the completion of CCAD’s engine and powertrain repair facility and expand the depot’s ability to support rotary-wing readiness. Other goals include reducing excessive cost recovery rates, moving additional work to CCAD, protecting right-to-repair policies and enforcing the 50/50 rule for military repair work.
Contact education reporter Olivia Garrett at olivia.garrett@caller.com.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Sen. Cornyn, Rep. Gonzalez visit Corpus Christi Army Depot