14 | Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation
are classified as Condition Code 1, the high-
est quality of buildings, and are collectively
worth more than $116 million,” says Dod-
son.
Ironically, in the midst of reviewing such
propositions, the military has announced
plans to increase its focus and presence in
the Pacific. In conjunction with that strat-
egy, Fairbanks is now being considered as a
new site for stationing of F-35 fighter units,
a move that would likely keep both the F-16s
and current infrastructure firmly in place.
Dodson echoes sentiments expressed by
many as to how nonsensical it would be to
downsize operations in a region that not
only holds strategic benefits, but air-combat
and joint force training proving benefits.
“This is coming at a time when defense is
focusing on the Asiatic theatre and we have
67,000 square-miles of unrestricted air train-
ing space, what’s more, the largest air, land
and sea training space in the world, compare
