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Saturday, July 26, 2025 at 12:50 PM

NAS Fallon Generates $517 Million in Local Economy

NAS Fallon Generates $517 Million in Local Economy

by Rachel Dahl -- Captain David Halloran gave his last presentation to the community on Wednesday at the Churchill Economic Development Authority Business Council breakfast. He retires from the Navy after 27 years, and officially hands over the base to Captain Evan Morrison at the Change of Command today. Referring to Naval Air Station Fallon as the Navy’s “Aircraft Carrier in the Desert,” Halloran contributions the Navy makes to the Fallon community as it carries out the “critical” mission of preparing for and maintaining freedoms. “This is a strategic asset and the Navy is putting a lot of money into it and will continue to for a long time,” he said. In addition to generating $517 million for the local economy, NAS Fallon provides $84 million in direct payroll for personnel working at the base in 4,586 jobs, and creates $22 million in state and local taxes. “We are required to train properly,” said Halloran. He said the growth of technology and the advancement of our adversaries, means we aren’t preparing for conflict the way we should. “North Korea can hit us, Russia is rebuilding, and China has had a 30-time defense budget increase,” he said. These countries have greatly expanded the realm of where they can go, but they still don’t have the logistics capabilities we do. However, Halloran said China does has an advantage over us in their training and preparation because they don’t have regulations or democracy to contend with, meaning they have as much land and resources as they want. “We haven’t been training our pilots for the past 20 years the way we should.” He said the NAS Fallon ranges haven’t been modernized in 30 years. For the past two years, Halloran has been working on the Fallon Range Training Complex Modernization which would expand the ranges and modify the airspace around Fallon. There have been many public meetings, and the comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement just closed. The process will continue until the final document is approved and sent to Congress for approval and appropriation of funds. Halloran talked about the REPI program, Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration, that provides funding to buying agriculture easements that prevent future development protecting space around the base and the ranges. The Navy is also investing heavily in several military construction projects on the base and Halloran said will continue for at least five more years, using local contractors and construction companies. This growth will result in at least 200 more jobs over the next three years. “We have not gone against a near-peer adversary in 30 years,” said Halloran, “we need this base so if we have to go to blows we are prepared.” Halloran has spent most of his life moving around the world and said he’s never had a home town. After 13 “change of stations” during his 27 year career, he and wife Maggie will retire here in Fallon with their two children. “I have never been stationed anywhere where there is such a welcoming relationship between the Navy and the community as there is here” said Halloran.


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Comment author: Mike HinzComment text: I knew Sam as a member of our church growing up. He always had a warm smile, a kind word, and a great sense of humor! He will be great missed!Comment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:57 AMComment source: Obituary -- Samuel Bruce WickizerComment author: Mike HinzComment text: Great teacher, great coach, but even a better person!!! Rest in peace Mr. BeachComment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:53 AMComment source: Obituary -- Jack Victor Beach, Jr.Comment author: Mike HinzComment text: I had Mrs Hedges for First Grade at Northside Elementary in 1969. I still, to this day, remember her as a wonderful teacher…one of my favorites!!Comment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:29 AMComment source: Obituary - Nancy Marie Hedges C Comment author: Carl C. HagenComment text: What are MFNs and PBMs ?? ............................ From the editor: This is a very good question and we apologize for not catching that wasn't in there. We reached out to the writer/submitter and got this info back...hope it's helpful. PBM: Pharmacy Benefit Managers are pharmacies that are owned by insurance companies. (CVS is one.) They negotiate with drug makers to get reduced pricing for medications, but they historically have not passed along those savings to patients. https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/pharmacy-benefit-managers-staff-report.pdf MFN: Most Favored Nation pricing is a policy that means a country agrees to offer the same trade concessions (like tariffs or price reductions) to all member nations of the World Trade Organization (WTO). When applied to pharmaceuticals, it could disrupt global access, deter innovation, and obscure the deeper systemic issues in American health care. https://petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2025/05/22/the-global-risks-of-americas-most-favored-nation-drug-pricing-policy/Comment publication date: 6/23/25, 7:47 AMComment source: L E T T E R TO THE EDITOR
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