WEEK Wayne
F1 5-E AVOIDS THE AX
In a stunning reversal, thanks to Senator Ted Budd and Congressman Don Davis, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base's fleet of Strike Eagles is safe until the end of 2027.
DECEMBER 22, 202 4 Volume 2, Issue 17 NEWOLDNORTH.COM
EDITORIAL
EDITOR Ken Fine
EDITOR Renee Carey
DESIGN DIRECTOR Shan Stumpf
PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Casey Mozingo
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CONTENTS
4 20 minutes with GPD chief
As he prepares to lead the Goldsboro Police Department into the new year, Chief Mike West spoke to Wayne Week to provide updates on everything from the city's homelessness and gang violence crises to staffing levels and morale inside the GPD.
6 No. SJAFB hasn't had drone issue.
In recent days, in the wake of WrightPatterson Air Force Base closing its airspace for several hours because of "drone activity," some Wayne County residents have taken to social media — claiming unmanned aerial systems have been spotted near Seymour Johnson. 4th Fighter Wing officials, however, dispute those claims.
8 Merry Christmas, everyone!
This edition of Wayne Week will be the last of 2024, as our team members, like you, spend the week of Christmas with their families. But when we come back after a brief hiatus, you can expect even more of the local journalism that has defined the first 16 months of this journey.
10 Our take
Senator Ted Budd and Congressman Don Davis have delivered a major victory for Wayne County, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, and the F-15E Strike Eagle community. But in our view, it will mean nothing if local leaders do not use the next two-plus years to ensure the future of the Goldsboro installation is a bright one.
12 Cover story
In a stunning reveral orchestrated by Senator Ted Budd and Congressman Don Davis, the nation's fleet of F-15E Strike Eagles cannot be touched by Air Force brass until the end of 2027.
20 Spectator
We saved the photographs we took at the Goldsboro Christmas Parade for this edition to bring a little bit of holiday cheer to our readers before the man in the red suit makes his appearance.
COVER DESIGN BY SHAN STUMPF
NEWS + VIEWS
20 minutes with GPD Chief Mike West
From tackling the issues currently challenging the community to the state of the department as staffing levels increase, Goldsboro’s police chief is optimistic heading into 2025.
BY KEN FINE
Tuesday, Goldsboro Police Chief Mike West spoke to Wayne Week to provide an update on the many issues his officers have been charged with solving in 2024 — from gun violence to homelessness — and said he was optimistic about the year ahead as he anticipates working his way toward a “staffed up” department. The following responses from the chief have not been edited:
ON THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS
We’re still working with property owners. You know, when we see individuals cropping up on properties, we reach out to the property owner to get trespass agreements and try to move the individuals along. We’re still working with United Way and organizations like that to offer support and help in trying to steer individuals that way if they want the help, but we’re still doing a lot of backtracking — going back to original Tent City locations — because the homeless issue isn’t going away. It doesn’t seem like it’s getting any less. They’re just moving, and we’ve just got to stay after it, unfortunately. The location behind Ollie’s has repopulated to some degree, but more toward the Bojangles. We’ve identified the individuals who are there and gotten the trespass agreements, so we’re trying to move them along. There are some locations on the west end of town, out toward the 117/795 area — West Grantham Street — and these are individuals we have identified who were a part of the original Tent City. So, it doesn’t look like we’re taking on any new homeless, but it’s the same ones who don’t seem to be interested in taking any of the help. It’s just a cat and mouse game at this point. It’s frustrating. It’s requiring a lot of resources. But we’re committed to trying to help.
ON GUN VIOLENCE
We’ve seen a noticeable decrease with our violent crime and gun crime. We’ve gotten more guns off the street, so we’re definitely good there. The numbers are in a good spot right now. Our (violent crimes) in February and March, we were trending toward a 41-percent increase over the previous year, and right now, we’re at a 3-percent decrease overall. So, if things stay the same for the rest of this month, I expect our crime rate to be down 3 percent over the previous year, which, I think, it isn’t great, but it’s certainly better than where we were headed at the start of the year. The ShotSpotter is down 43 percent compared to this time last year. The number of rounds fired is down 49 percent. So, when we get staffed up and we get all of these specialized units back in place and we can get out there and do our targeted enforcements — where we see where our problems are and go out and get after it — it’s working for us right now, but we’ve just got to put the community component
back in place when I get more officers to do the one-on-one with the community. That’s something to look forward to.
ON DRUGS
Right now, the fentanyl thing is still at the front. With drugs, I don’t know that there’s ever going to be a time where we’re not concerned about it, but maybe the fentanyl stuff has subsided just a little bit. You know, heroin, we haven’t had that big of a push. Cocaine, not so much. But marijuana is certainly an issue. You know, one of the things, and I don’t know if we have talked about it much, but in the past, we used to talk about marijuana as a gateway drug. But right now, I don’t know if vaping would be considered a gateway, but we’re seeing a lot of youth — underage people — getting into these vape stores and having vaping items sold to them. I don’t know if that’s going to be something that’s going to
capture their attention enough to turn them into the next group of (hard drug) users in the community, but we’ve got to work through that.
ON NUISANCE BUSINESSES
We’re still seeing some activity, but the owners did reach back out when they received the abatement letters from the mayor’s office. I think they are willing to work with us. What we’re doing right now is trying to keep officers at those places more … and they know we’re there and I think that’s helped. The same thing with the hotels. That’s where we’re trying to work better with more departments in the city. We need to work with Code Enforcement and Inspections and things like that, so we can arm them with information so they can go out and do what they do. Together, I think we can make a big difference.
ON HIS BIGGEST CONCERN
It’s the violence component with the youth. There are just more youthful offenders that are committing these crimes and we’ve seen it before, especially during the summer. You know, there’s no longer, it used to be that your crime — your violent crime — was happening at night or on the weekends. Now, it can be anytime during the day, during the week. So, it’s still concerning to me, the number of young people involved in the gangs and the crime. But I’ve got all the confidence in the world that when we get our numbers a little bit stronger, we’re gonna be back in the schools and stepping up our SRO program, and that’s where we can make an impact with these youth. We need to get to them before they get too deep into the gangs and the violence. It might take a year or two to turn that around, but until then, we are gonna do our hotspot enforcement — where we go to where the problems are.
ON GPD STAFFING LEVELS
I’m very optimistic. Right now, we’re at 20 vacancies, whereas six months ago, we were at 32 or 34. So, we’re staffed at 86 sworn positions — 20 vacancies and 15 of those are frozen. But out of those 86 positions, we’ve got to keep in mind that 12 of those officers are currently in some form of training, either they just recently graduated from BLET and now they’re moving on to their FTO or they’re currently with an FTO or they’re going into BLET. So, I don’t want people to think, ‘Oh. Now GPD is staffed up,’ because while we’re staffed up numbers-wise, we’ve got to get these 12 officers through training. It’s probably going to be early spring — maybe February or March — before we have (those) officers out on their own. But
Continued on page 6
I’m very optimistic. I think what the council did for us and what the public did for us — the taxpayers — has helped us get very competitive with other agencies. Our applicant pool has increased, and they are quality applicants. So, all that is positive. We’ve just got to stay focused.
ON MORALE
I’ve definitely seen an improvement. When we got the pay raises and recruiting was going up and we got the applicants, morale was very good. Now, it’s kind of plateaued.
ON THE GPD’S BIGGEST NEEDS
Vehicles are a big concern of mine because as we bring these new officers online, one of our big recruiting pitches was that we have countywide take home. Well, unfortunately, I’m 15 vehicles short. So, once we get these people on the street in March, I’m going to have to double up some officers to share vehicles and that’s going to be a morale hit. So, vehicles is my top priority. Technology and stuff, we can kind of offset that with grants, but we’ve just got to get more aggressive with pursing those opportunities. We’ve got to find them and go after them. The bigger thing for us … is this facility. It’s just falling down all around us and, yeah, I think its life is over. I don’t think there’s much more we can do with this building. That’s another morale hit. It’s antiquated and it’s got a lot of problems and it just doesn’t make you feel good to be working in it. Council is very aware of it. The city manager is very aware of it. And we’ll do whatever we can to try to overcome that problem. But if not, we’ll continue to move forward with what we’ve got. n
Lawmen: No recent drone sightings near SJAFB
The official did, however, say drone activity was reported on the Goldsboro installation “a couple of months ago.”
BY KEN FINE
New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Virginia, and Ohio residents have documented what they say are swarms of “car-sized” drones in recent weeks — a phenomenon that has resulted in national news coverage and official responses from the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, members of Congress, the White House, and President-elect Donald Trump.
Drone activity has been reported near U.S. military bases overseas — including Royal Air Force Lakenheath.
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base officials confirmed that they closed airspace over the installation for four hours last weekend because of drones.
But despite testimonials published on social media by local residents, Goldsboro Police Department officials said Tuesday they have received no recent reports of drones flying near Seymour Johnson Air Force Base since the issue came to the fore in mid-November.
The source did, however, say that SJAFB officials reported drone activity “a couple of months ago” — that the sightings unfolded “from the southern parameter of the base.”
And according to a “Request for Information” filed this May by the 4th Fighter Wing Contracting Squadron, the topic has been on the minds of base leaders.
The RFI, which was first published by The War Zone, sought information about options for a “Counter Small Unmanned Aerial System Barrier.”
“Problem Statement: Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (s-UAS) disrupt airfield operations and agencies have limited response capabilities due to restrictions on counter measures posed by the Federal Aviation Administration (Section 130i, Title 10, USC),” the notice reads. “The requirement: Build a passive barrier that will prevent a Group 1 or Group 2 sUAS from making physical contact with an F-15E Strike Eagle using commercial off the shelf material.”
And the request got even more specific about the type of drones the base was seeking protection from.
“The strength to stop (a) 55lb drone traveling at 125 mph [nearly 109 knots,” the RPI reads. “Any space/gaps in material or design should not exceed six inches.”
According to U.S. Code, “the Secretary of Defense may take, and may authorize members of the armed forces and officers and civilian employees of the Department of Defense with assigned duties that include safety, security, or protection of personnel, facilities, or assets, to take, such actions … that are necessary to mitigate the threat (as defined by the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation) that an unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft poses to the safety or security of a covered facility or asset.”
And it allows for the following “actions” to be taken:
• Detect, identify, monitor, and track the unmanned
aircraft system or unmanned aircraft without prior consent, including by means of intercept or other access of a wire communication, an oral communication, or an electronic communication used to control the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft.
• Warn the operator of the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft, including by passive or active, and direct or indirect, physical, electronic, radio and electromagnetic means.
• Disrupt control of the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft, without prior consent, including by disabling the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft by intercepting, interfering, or causing interference with wire, oral, electronic, or radio communication used to control the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft.
• Seize or exercise control of the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft.
• Seize or otherwise confiscate the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft.
• Use reasonable force to disable, damage, or destroy the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft.
But before base officials would be authorized to act, “the Secretary of Defense shall coordinate with the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration before issuing any guidance or otherwise implementing this section if such guidance or implementation might affect aviation safety, civilian aviation and aerospace operations, aircraft airworthiness, or the use of airspace.”
At this time, it is unclear whether Seymour Johnson officials were forced to act against the drones that were reported to be sighted on the southern parameter of the installation a few months ago, as base officials told Wayne Week they do not “discuss specific force protection measures.”
But one thing is clear, according to guidance published by members of the 4th Security Forces Squadron on the 4th Fighter Wing’s website.
The use of recreational drones is not allowed on Seymour Johnson.
“The 4th Security Forces would like to remind base personnel and our guests that the usage of recreational Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Drones) is prohibited within the confines of Seymour Johnson AFB, Dare Range and Fort Fisher in accordance with SJAFB Force Protection Plan dated 21 Sep 2020,” the statement reads. “Signs have been posted around the perimeter of SJAFB advising personnel of this restriction. Military personnel violating this restriction may face UCMJ action. Civilians violating this restriction may face criminal action by local law enforcement. We ask our base community to report all suspicious activity to the Emergency Communications Center at 919-722-1212.” n
A HOLIDAY MESSAGE
The reason for the season.
We talk about that a lot this time of year. And many of you do not forget.
This big-hearted community shines always, but especially this time of year.
We take care of each other.
We share with those who are in need.
And we make sure our children and grandchildren never forget that Christmas is about a whole lot more than just brightly wrapped packages, colorful lights, and Santa Claus.
We make room in our homes for those who are far away from their loved ones, and make sure there is a place at the dinner table for anyone who has nowhere to go on Christmas Day.
That is just how we roll.
Faith is a big part of who we are here — and we make sure it plays a significant role in the Christmas season.
So, we might ooh and aah at the bright lights and Christmas finery, but there is still always a spot reserved for the story of a little baby born in a manger under a bright star.
We have already talked about gratitude, but we feel the need to add in another thank you here.
We have marveled at the number of people who care so much about this community and its future that they are willing to do whatever it takes to preserve it.
We are continually inspired by your bravery and courage, not to mention the commitment you have to making sure this community will be healthy and vibrant for generations yet to come.
It is a legacy left to you by the parents who helped build the neighborhoods and homes you cherish.
And it is a responsibility you never shirk.
We are proud to know you — and grateful you are here.
And we look forward to working alongside you as we continue to make a difference.
Over the last year, we have had many reasons to celebrate — victories won and battles waged to make this community a better place in which to live.
We have much to look back on with pride as this year ends.
We are taking our community back — and setting a course for an even better 2025.
And we should remember to thank those who give so much to that cause.
The volunteers whose contributions are not always in the headlines, but without whom we would not be the strong county we are?
Well, they help make our community a home — often without even a little fanfare or recognition.
We never cease to be amazed at how many of you there are.
Your stories inspire us every day — and we know you
are motivating others to step up.
An end-of-the-year reflection would be nothing without a moment to remember those we lost this year.
For many of you, they were cherished members of your families — fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, and best friends.
And we have seen many touching tributes to parents and grandparents — and promises that you will never forget the lessons they taught you.
We know you will make them proud.
All of those who are no longer with us made our lives better just by being themselves — and we know you feel their loss keenly this time of year.
We understand. And we are thinking of you as you navigate this holiday season.
Just know that they are always going to be with you — that if you look with your heart and watch for the signs, they will always find their way back to you.
We have lost some major players in our community this year — people who have contributed so much to making Wayne County a better place to live.
From former Goldsboro Mayor Al King to our latest goodbye, Jennifer Kuykendall, we remember along with you the impact these special people had on our community and the light they brought into our lives.
They will be missed.
Please honor their memory by carrying on the work they started and championing the community they loved — especially through the holiday.
That is a tribute that is more than fitting as a thank
you for what they have given us.
Christmas is a time of joy and celebration, and for giving and families.
Please remember that there are many people in this community who are not lucky enough to have the means to celebrate the season or the loved ones to celebrate with.
A kind gesture matters — a small gift, a warm hello, or an invitation to a meal.
We know this community will do what it always does — wrap its arms around those who need us.
It is just one of the reasons we are so proud to be part of Wayne County.
And yes, there will be gifts to open and smiles aplenty on Christmas Day.
We hope your morning will be filled with love and happiness as you gather together.
And, as is our tradition, we will take next week off to allow our employees to do the same.
But when we come back, we will look back at the ups and downs, the triumphs and the disappointments that were part of 2024.
We will think back on all that has been accomplished and look forward to the successes yet to come.
Yes, it has been a good year.
But we think that there is even more to look forward to as we say goodbye to 2024.
Then, we will head, full tilt, into an aggressive expansion of Wayne Week in 2025.
And we know you will be there with us all the way — and hope you will be proud of what you have allowed this newspaper to become.
This is a great community full of people who care about each other, and we remain proud to be the ones who tell your stories, and the ones who fight alongside you to make Wayne County stronger.
You care. That’s why so many of you have been such an integral part of the work that has been done this year to set a course for a new tomorrow — and why this county, we think, is on the right course.
So, our gift to you this Christmas is a sincere wish to enjoy the holidays with your families and friends and to be proud of the community you have built and are building.
Your work matters.
Your spirit matters.
Your faith and heart shine through.
And your dedication and commitment to creating a better tomorrow is why we are here.
So, Merry Christmas — and Happy Hanukkah— to all of you.
We are proud to be your neighbor and look forward to telling your stories and fighting for this community for years to come.
{ our TAKE }
NO TIME TO WASTE
Yes, Wayne County, there is a Santa Claus.
And he did not forget about us.
But just like any Christmas gift — it is not just about the excitement of opening the package, but what you do with it afterwards that determines whether that gift is a yay or a nay.
So, let’s start with the good news — and the celebration.
A delay has been placed on making any changes to the Air Force’s F-15E fleet — at least until the end of 2027.
In case you aren’t sure what that means, Wayne County has dodged a major bullet.
In fact, had this not happened, some Strike Eagles would be leaving Goldsboro in the coming months — for good.
We have told you many times what would happen to this community if there was a major change to the mission at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base — the money that would be lost, the jobs that would disappear, and the chilling effect there would be on the housing and employment markets.
So, when the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act resulted in the announcement that the 4th Fighter Wing’s mission would change — and that one of its four fighter squadrons would be deactivated — there was an audible gasp not only in our office, but in board rooms across this community.
And what made the news even worse was that no one seemed to know it was coming.
Not our county leaders.
Not our city leaders.
Not our seasoned state representative, who has championed and fought for the base and the military for years.
Not our local congressmen or senators who have always kept a sharp eye on military matters.
Not the Chamber of Commerce’s Military Affairs Committee.
Not the Friends of Seymour.
And, most notably, not the highpriced lobbyists hired to watch out for, alert us to, and work hard to fight against just this sort of potential catastrophe.
So, when our local leaders heard the announcement and read the then-4th Fighter Wing commander’s comments — many of them said they heard the news first from Wayne Week — they had to act fast and from a position of not knowing how we got here or when the decision was made.
And we should thank our lucky stars that many of them did.
Then-House Majority Leader John
Bell, then-County Commission Chairman Chris Gurley, Goldsboro Mayor Charles Gaylor, and others did not simply sit around wringing their hands or dismissing the threat with “things will work out.”
And while there were a few who did not believe it at first — and promised that the solution “was in the works” and there was no need to worry — fortunately for Wayne County, not everyone was so sure.
Bell was furious — and determined.
He started working to get to the bottom of the news — making calls, visiting with SJAFB leaders, and reaching out to Congressman Don Davis, Senator Ted Budd, Senator Thom Tillis, and Governor Roy Cooper.
As usual, he led from the front.
It is the kind of effort that no one really sees — the groundwork that is laid to maintain relationships and to keep our bases safe.
And when there is a threat? Men like Davis and Budd refuse to back down.
Budd has been active in the effort to stop the divestment of F-15Es for a while now and sounded a warning that there was a serious concern connected with the plan to realign the 4th Fighter Wing’s mission long before the 2024 NDAA was signed by President Joe Biden.
He even battled and got a change inserted into the proposal that would have protected the F-15E.
But it was not enough, at least not enough to stop the announcement of the end of
They take their oaths of office seriously.
They are there for this community and ready to do the work to get the job done.
They are not all about the talk — or the furrowed brow only when election time rolls around.
But even with this victory, we need them now more than ever.
Because, you see, despite the fact that the 2025 NDAA has been passed and the reprieve has been achieved, the work is not done.
This is not a complete reversal of the Air Force’s plans for the future.
In reality, it is simply a delay.
And if we want to make sure Seymour Johnson remains an important and active part of the Air Force’s future mission, we have to
And if we want to make sure Seymour Johnson remains an important and active part of the Air Force's future mission, we have to go all in — right now.
County leaders also demanded answers and started the questions of how and why — and then insisted on a change.
Gaylor was visibly frustrated, too, publicly calling for accountability from the Roosevelt Group before recommending that the city and county get a new lobbying firm to act on the community’s behalf.
All of them understood why this mattered and were determined to take the action needed to protect the base.
But behind closed doors, many wondered if it was too late — if the die had already been cast.
Fortunately, two very important people — Budd and Davis — were determined to stick with the fight.
Both were already steadfast warriors in the fight to protect Seymour Johnson — and, really, military bases across the country.
Davis, a retired Air Force officer, particularly is credited with much of the work that has put the county and the region in good standing with military brass and Washington bureaucrats.
one of SJAFB’s storied squadrons, the 333rd “Lancers” — and the switch in the 4th’s mission to training.
At that point, he could have packed it up and licked his wounds.
But he wasn’t finished.
He got on the phones, started lobbying, and ensured that the 2025 version of the NDAA would reverse what he characterized as a short-sighted, dangerous decision by Air Force brass.
And this week, we got the news.
Mission accomplished.
We certainly hope voters will remember that the next time Davis and Budd run for re-election.
Because their behavior is exactly what we should expect from those who represent us in Washington.
Republican? Democrat? It didn’t matter.
These two men worked together — across the aisle — because it was the right thing to do.
Wayne County is lucky to have more than a few of those kinds of leaders.
concerns about the education system in our community, we have to address them — aggressively.
Wayne County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Marc Whichard certainly seems to get that.
That’s why we have had some good news — some very good news — about some very positive results on WCPS campuses.
We need more of that.
And we also know that just being a community that supports active duty and retired service members and their families is not enough.
We have to create more relationships with those who come through our doors and to remind those with authority that we are a special place — a good location for young servicemen to start their careers, for pilots and maintainers to develop theirs, and for seasoned veterans to call home when they retire.
We can be proud of the reputation we have earned, but never, ever take it for granted.
And as the new year begins, we have to be proactive.
We need to make it clear that this county is committed to doing whatever it takes to prepare for the next evolution of the mission — that Seymour Johnson is a great place for the next phase of warcraft, whatever form it might take, and that this community is ready to do the work to support it.
But that takes real initiative — and requires much more than simply throwing a barbecue or two, rubbing elbows at an air show, or wining and dining Washington brass.
We have said it before and we will say it again. We need the out-of-the-box thinking and relationship-building that got us to this point.
go all in — right now.
Just like your favorite truck, the Strike Eagle will not last forever.
We have seen it at Seymour Johnson time and time again.
That sort of evolution is necessary and inevitable — just as it was when the F-105 gave way to the F-4, which was later replaced by the Strike Eagle.
So, while we can note that the last major U.S. missions over the Middle East have been led by F-15Es — and that Biden pointed out that those who conducted those battles were “the best in the whole damn world” — we have to also acknowledge that there will need to be some shifts and advancements down the road.
Yes, it is true that we can rest a little easier now that we know they won’t be going anywhere for a while.
But as we look to the future, if we want to cement our place in the Air Force’s ever-evolving mission, we have to show that this community understands the needs of the mission and the airmen.
So, when we hear that there are some
Sometimes the old ways really are the best ways.
And just in case anyone was wondering, we need to hold our new lobbyist accountable and to make sure we are getting the information and representation we need from Day 1.
The good news?
We feel certain that more than a few of our county and city leaders are laser-focused on that mission.
So, today we can celebrate a victory — and, most importantly, thank those who made it happen.
It might sound crazy, but give Davis or Budd a call or send an email to their offices to tell them how much what they just accomplished means to you, your family, and your business.
And tomorrow, join us as we get busy getting the job done — ensuring that we are in a position to keep Seymour Johnson and the heroes who serve there in this community, and ensuring that the sounds of freedom are forever ripping through Eastern North Carolina skies.
F1 5-E AVOIDS THE AX
In a stunning reversal, thanks to Senator Ted Budd and Congressman Don Davis, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base's fleet of Strike Eagles is safe until the end of 2027.
They wanted to ensure Seymour Johnson Air Force Base’s fleet was protected for the next five years — to give local, state, and federal military advocates an opportunity to continue to push for a future that included replacement fighter jets for the Goldsboro installation when, at some point down the road, the F-15E is phased out.
They wanted to protect the more than 500 jobs they said would have been lost if the 333rd Fighter Squadron was, indeed, deactivated — a measure confirmed in February by then-4th Fighter Wing Commander Col. Lucas Teel in a statement provided to Wayne Week.
But for Senator Ted Budd and Congressman Don Davis, inserting language into the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act that would “fully prohibit” the Air Force from divesting any of the nation’s Strike Eagles until the end of 2029 was not simply about safeguarding millions of dollars in annual economic impact on Eastern North Carolina — or righting what they believe was a wrong signed into law by President Joe Biden late last year. It was about national security — and showing respect and appreciation for recent successes delivered by F-15E crews in the skies over the Middle East.
Davis said as much in the Dec. 15 edition of Wayne Week.
And while the result of bipartisan negotiations left the men short of their goal, the 2025 defense spending plan that was green lit by Congress in recent days does reflect a short-term victory for Wayne County, Seymour Johnson, and the Strike Eagle community — buying SJAFB advocates time to chase the bright future they believe the home of the storied 4th Fighter Wing deserves.
But assuming President Joe Biden signs the “compromise NDAA” into law now that Congress has passed it, it would order the Secretary of the Air Force to not “retire, prepare to retire, or place in storage or on backup aircraft inventory status any F-15E aircraft until Sept. 20, 2027” — a direct reversal from provisions in last year’s
plan that “blindsided” local leaders.
It would be a battle won, Davis said, even though “the fight isn’t over.”
The first warning sign was delivered during a marathon Senate Armed Services Committee hearing July 11, 2023, when then-Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Brown Jr. was asked, by Budd, about plans spelled out in the Department of Defense’s “Report on Force Structure Changes for the Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Budget” — specifically, the proposed retirement of 119 F-15Es.
The general, who currently serves as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the senator that the decision was made to “balance capability and capacity”
— that to do so, the Air Force would retire the least-advanced Strike Eagles in its inventory while adding F-35 Lightning IIs and F-15EXs.
“Prioritizing modernization efforts to keep pace with near-peer competitors requires difficult tradeoffs with existing inventories and programs,” Brown said. “The Air Force determined the best mix for the fighter fleet calls for maintaining an F-15E fleet of 99 aircraft … and shifting resources to maximize procurement of newer fighters and capabilities.”
Air Force leaders, the general added, believe backfilling the fleet with more than 100 F-15EXs — a two-seat fighter with a stronger airframe and 28-percent larger payload than the Strike Eagle — was the most prudent path forward.
Continued on page 14
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And while Budd later attempted — by inserting language into the Senate’s version of the 2024 NDAA — to protect Seymour Johnson’s fleet, his effort came up short.
Fewer Strike Eagles would be taken out of the inventory because of him, but there would still be an impact on the 4th Fighter Wing.
Teel unwrapped the repercussions in the Feb. 11 edition of Wayne Week .
The 333rd would be deactivated.
The 335th Fighter Squadron, known as the “Chiefs” and currently one of the 4th’s two operational fighter squadrons, would become a training squadron in 2025.
And the wing itself would shift to a strictly-training mission.
“The recently approved divestment of some F-15E aircraft will result in the restructuring of our fighter assets,” Teel said. “The Air Force is evolving and changing the way we do our war fighting business, and the 4FW looks forward to playing our part in that process.”
A week later, community leaders reacted.
They knew “the math” did not look good when Budd’s last-ditch attempt to derail the divestment of Strike Eagles re -
sulted not in his perfect-world prohibition of F-15E cuts but a compromise that would see more than 31 percent of the nation’s dual-role fighters sent to The Boneyard.
But they were shocked when Teel detailed the real-world impact of the NDAA.
Then-House Majority Leader Rep. John Bell said, quite candidly, that the decision reflected a failure among those charged with protecting Seymour Johnson and safeguarding its future.
“It’s clear, in my opinion, that somebody was asleep at the wheel. That’s what I assumed happened,” Bell said. “So, I want to go through and find out what, when, how, and why. That way, I’ll know how to use the resources — the contacts I have in Washington — to see if we can stop this from happening. And if we can’t stop this from happening, can we go on offense to pick up more missions to support Seymour Johnson? We can never fall asleep on protecting our base.”
Goldsboro Mayor Charles Gaylor agreed — and said he and members of the City Council would have to “reassess” the city’s “downstream relationships.”
Continued on page 17
John D. Lewis Gaston Lewis
TIMELINE OF PLANS FOR THE F-15E RETIREMENT
JULY 2023
Then-Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Brown Jr. tells the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Air Force intends to retire 119 F-15Es and backfill the branch’s fleet with more modern fighter jets.
DECEMBER 2023
Thanks to Senator Ted Budd, the Senate passes its version of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, which includes a provision that would protect Seymour Johnson Air Force Base from planned F-15E cuts.
DECEMBER 2023
President Joe Biden signs the 2024 NDAA into law, but the spending plan allows the Air Force to move forward with some Strike Eagle cuts.
FEBRUARY 2024
Then 4th Fighter Wing Commander Col. Lucas Teel confirms, in a statement provided to Wayne Week, that the 333rd Fighter Squadron would be deactivated, the 335th Fighter Squadron would transition to a Formal Training Unit in 2025, and that Seymour Johnson would lose some of its F-15Es as a result of the 2024 NDAA.
MARCH
2024
Goldsboro and Wayne County leaders cut ties with the lobbying firm The Roosevelt Group and sign a contract with Crossroads Strategies after being “blindsided” by the fallout from the NDAA.
APRIL 2024
The 335th and 494th Fighter Squadrons engage and destroy more than 80 one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicles and at least six ballistic missiles fired at Israel by Iran and Houthi-controlled Yemen. Biden lauds the F-15E crews, calling them “the best in the whole damn world.”
JUNE 2024
Budd and Congressman Don Davis insert language into the Senate and House of Representatives’ respective versions of the 2025 NDAA that would reverse the decision to divest F-15Es from the Air Force’s fleet and protect F-15Es through the end of 2029.
DECEMBER 2024
After the toppling of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s regime, Strike Eagle crews participate in the bombing of ISIS targets in Syria.
DECEMBER 2024
The House of Representatives and Senate approve a “compromise” version of the 2025 NDAA. It includes a provision that would prevent the Air Force from divesting any F-15Es from the nation’s fleet until the end of 2027.
U.S. Congressman Don Davis
U.S. Senator Ted Budd
Seymour Johnson Airforce Base
Continued from page 14
“We can’t be caught off guard on something this big,” he said.
Beyond the obvious “we’re losing actual jets” headline, Bell said he understood that a shift to a training-only mission for the 4th Fighter Wing could have serious implications for the community — that there is a big difference between having high-ranking officers dig roots in Wayne County because they know they could be bouncing back and forth between the base’s two tactical fighter squadrons, the 335th and 336th, for years and years and a “two years and you’re gone” scenario that would be the reality for those who would come here to learn to fly before leaving Seymour Johnson for more permanent duty stations.
In other words, they would be less likely to, for instance, buy homes and invest in the community if they knew their time in Goldsboro was fleeting.
So, he committed to fight.
“We have the political clout and the strength to really advocate hard for our base,” Bell said.
For the city and county governments, that meant parting ways with lobbying firm The Roosevelt Group and contracting with Crossroads Strategies, LLC.
“When we learned that we were losing a squadron at Seymour Johnson, Friends
We have the political clout and the strength to really advocate hard for our base.
- Rep. John Bell
of Seymour didn’t know. Our lobbyist that we had on retainer didn’t know. Our congressional delegation didn’t know. Our state delegation didn’t know. We all found out about that in a backwards way,” Gaylor said when that decision was made. “(Crossroads’) efforts would be specifically around our agenda towards protecting the ground and the facility that is Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. We all know that the F-15 is an aging airframe, but it’s an amazing airframe. So, we want to do what we can to protect that airframe for as long as it has strategic viability within the Air Force, but we also — and this is where we need help from our politicos, seasoned lobbyists, and consultants — we need to make sure that we’re in line for the next mission.”
But he had no idea at that March meeting that 4th Fighter Wing aircrews would, a little more than a month later, make a statement of their own — that on an April night, they would remind the nation why the Strike Eagle was so valuable.
On April 13, the sound of air raid alerts and explosions jolted many Israelis from their beds.
Within seconds, they were hit both with messaging urging them to seek immediate shelter and the reality that for the first
Continued on page 18
time in history, Iran had launched an attack on their country.
What they did not know was that American aircrews were, in those very moments, helping to ensure what Biden characterized as an “unprecedented aerial attack” would ultimately fail — that members of the 335th Fighter Squadron and other F-15E aviators were waging an assault on some 80 unmanned aerial vehicles and at least six ballistic missiles, weapons launched, according to the Department of Defense, from Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.
And when the commander-in-chief of the nation’s armed forces publicly acknowledged the 335th’s role in defending Israel, some saw it as an opening to celebrate Seymour Johnson — and to fight for its future, as the community continued to navigate the fallout from the decision to shift the 4th’s mission and stand down one of its Strike Eagle squadrons.
Biden told the airmen they were “the best in the whole damn world.”
He said they had made “an enormous difference” for one of the U.S.’s key allies — that they had potentially
Seymour Johnson Airforce Base
By pushing off the retirement of F-15E aircraft until 2027, we have more time to achieve a long-term solution.
- Congressman Don
Davis
saved “a lot of lives.”
He championed their “enormous skills” and said he was in awe of their “remarkable” execution of the mission.
And he asked them to “keep it going,” as tensions in the Middle East remain.
“Let me tell you, you make me proud, and I’m not just saying that,” Biden said. “I swear to God. You’re incredible.”
Bell took notice — and advantage of the opportunity to fire a shot at those who voted to divest F-15Es.
“I think it’s time to remind the folks in Washington just who the president was talking to and the pressure their base and its community have just been put under,” he said. “We can, and should, remain proud of the fact that when our allies need us, it’s the F-15E crews stationed right here at Seymour Johnson that get the call. And that message is one we need to keep driving home in Washington to ensure we do everything in our power to protect the 4th Fighter Wing and the Strike Eagles they take down range.”
Budd and Davis went on offense, too — using the successful defense of Israel to lobby for a reversal of the decision to divest F-15Es.
In June, Budd touted his effort to insert a provision into the 2025 NDAA that “fully prohibits” the Air Force from divesting F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft at Seymour Johnson through 2029.
And on the House side of Congress, Davis did the same.
“I refuse to stand idly by as the proposed 520-job cut at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base threatens to damage eastern North Carolina’s economy, already one of the most economically distressed regions in the nation.
The Air Force’s plan to eliminate an entire squadron at Seymour Johnson is unacceptable. That is why I authored an amendment in the NDAA requiring transparency and accountability to the people of Wayne County and eastern North Carolina,” he said in a press release this summer.
And while, in the end, neither Budd nor Davis got exactly what they wanted, should Biden sign the recently passed NDAA, Seymour Johnson advocates will have something they, less than a year ago, feared had passed them by.
Time.
“By pushing off the retirement of F-15E aircraft until 2027, we have more time to achieve a long-term solution and continue prioritizing economic stability for Wayne County and eastern North Carolina,” Davis said.
Budd also celebrated the victory.
“The Air Force's plan to divest F-15E Strike Eagles from Seymour Johnson would harm our national security and make us weaker,” he said. “I am thrilled that my colleagues agreed with me and prohibited divestment.” n
the SPECTATOR
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
We saved the photographs taken at this year's Goldsboro Christmas Parade for this week's edition to give everyone one more shot of holiday cheer before Santa makes his appearance.
PHOTOS BY KEN FINE
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