Armed Forces Support Committee Meeting - January 8, 2026

The Armed Forces Support Committee convened on January 8, 2026, to hear updates on the 27th Combat Aviation Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, legislative developments from federal and state partners, and the kickoff of a major resilience grant. The meeting featured the unanimous appointment of Mayor Mike Davidson of Portales as the new Vice Chair and the successful adoption of a resolution supporting the New Mexico Military Base Planning Commission's legislative priorities for the 2026 session. Community members presented on housing allowance calculation discrepancies, and a steering committee structure for a new federal grant was formally established.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: The committee adopted the minutes from the August 6th meeting unanimously.
• Vice Chair Appointment: The committee unanimously appointed Mayor Mike Davidson (Portales) as the Vice Chair of the Armed Forces Support Committee, succeeding Mr. Miller.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mr. Carolyn: Expressed support for the committee's composition but highlighted a systemic issue regarding the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) calculation. He stated that the current mathematical equation is not applicable to rural installation areas like Cannon AFB, arguing that the methodology is flawed for rural contexts even if the intent (supporting housing costs) is correct. He noted that 16 of the lowest 25 BAHs in the nation are for rural bases. He reported that he has already submitted a nine-page proposal to the Association of Defense Communities and has had meetings with the Military Family Advisory Network, the Base Planning Commission, and Congressional staff to advocate for rewriting the equation rather than just increasing the allowance.
• Ms. Forger: Was introduced as the new manager at Roosevelt County; no specific testimony was given during public comment.

Discussion Items

• Cannon Air Force Base Update (Col. McMaster):
  • Reported on operational readiness, noting a high ops tempo with participation in global exercises (Talisman Saber, Southern Star, Arctic Edge).
  • Highlighted quality of life improvements, including a new indoor playground, an updated mini-mart in Chavez housing, expanded medical circuit rider programs, and the opening of a state-of-the-art CADM (shooting range) facility.
  • Discussed community support following a warehouse fire affecting airmen, noting that the community provided significant aid.
  • Outlined 2026 plans: Refurbishment of the "Airman's Attic" for spring opening, the launch of "Starbase" STEM classes for fifth graders, and an Air Show on June 6th with the theme "From Normandy to Now."
  • Expressed a position that 2026 will be a busy operational year for the 27th CAW due to emerging threats and theaters.
• Federal Updates:
  • Senator Lujan's Office (Ms. Constance Williams): Detailed impacts of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including a 3.8% pay raise for service members, protections for remotely piloted aircraft crews, and billions in funding for national laboratories (Los Alamos and Sandia) and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.
  • Congresswoman Fernandez's Office (Mr. Salazar): Reiterated support for the Cannon mission and indicated a visit could not be scheduled for 2026 at this time.
  • Senator Heinrich's Office (Ms. Ventura): Reported specific NDAA wins for Canon, including $90 million for the dormitory and $79 million for the deployment processing center.
• State of New Mexico Office of Military Base Planning and Support (Ms. Megan Cornet):
  • Discussed legislative priorities for the upcoming session, including an appropriation to the Military Base Impact Fund (advocating for the full $12 million requested, with House Bill 29 proposing $8 million).
  • Proposed legislation for concurrent juvenile jurisdiction (noted as potentially not proceeding in 2026), military interpersonal violence reporting, and child abuse reporting.
  • Advocated for professional licensure compacts (medical and social work) to facilitate military spouse employment, noting that compact membership is a grading criterion for federal healthcare grants.
  • Suggested the committee consider removing the juvenile jurisdiction priority from the upcoming resolution draft for the 2026 session.
• Base Community Council & Community Groups:
  • Mr. Pyle (Base Community Council): Updated on upcoming events, including a February luncheon on DAF water security and an April 24th breakfast covering infrastructure projects by the NM Department of Transportation and Clovis Airport improvements.
  • Mr. Sid Strebeck (Clovis Committee of 50): Reported on successful fundraising ($60,000 raised for Angel Arms to assist airmen with airfare) and the expansion of the "Five and Thrive" committee to include energy and natural resources.
  • Ms. Robbins (Portales Military Affairs): Reported on the New Mexico Appreciation Game Day (approx. 100 attendees despite rain), a community tour, and an upcoming military appreciation game at Eastern New Mexico University with a "Your Lifesaver" theme.
  • Mr. Vernon Luce (Joint Veterans Council): Highlighted participation in the Fire Department's Halloween giveaway, the Airmen's Christmas party, and upcoming Memorial Day flag placement.
  • Mr. Willie Griego (Employer Support Guard and Reserve): Provided an overview of the ESGR mission, noting a 90% resolution rate in mediating employer-reserve conflicts and seeking volunteers for outreach in Curry County.
• OLFCCC Grant Project (Ms. Burroughs, Ms. Gray, Mr. Bartholomew):
  • Announced the successful award of a $525,000 Military Installation Resiliency Review grant to the City of Clovis.
  • Established a collaborative three-tiered governance structure: The Armed Forces Support Committee will serve as the Steering Committee, a Technical Committee will consist of municipal managers and base representatives, and Matrix Design Group will serve as the primary consultant.
  • Outlined the scope: A 13-month period focusing on water, land use/encroachment, energy security, security, and aviation access, culminating in a tabletop exercise (targeted for August) and a prioritized action plan.

Key Outcomes

• Appointment: Mayor Mike Davidson was unanimously appointed as Vice Chair of the committee.
• Resolution Adoption: The committee unanimously passed a resolution supporting the 2026 legislative priorities of the New Mexico Military Base Planning Commission. It was agreed during the discussion to strike the "concurrent juvenile jurisdiction" item from the final draft before submission to the legislature.
• Grant Governance: The committee formally agreed to act as the Steering Committee for the new OLFCCC grant project, with the technical committee and Matrix Design Group to follow.
• Next Meeting: Scheduled for May 20, 2026, at 10:00 AM at the City of Portales.
• Housing Initiative: Mr. Carolyn's proposal regarding the BAH calculation methodology for rural bases was noted for further tracking and potential collaboration with the committee's future advocacy efforts.