Mass. Air Force base to retain mission
BOSTON—The Pentagon is assuring Massachusetts lawmakers that Hanscom Air Force Base in the Boston area will retain its mission in spite of potential defense cuts and reorganization.
U.S. Sen. John Kerry and Scott Brown and Reps. Ed Markey, John Tierney and Nikki Tsongas received a letter Monday from Air Force Secretary Michael Donley confirming that Hanscom's core electronics and cyber warfare missions will not change despite plans to realign the command and administrative structure.
The response follows the delegation's recent letters urging Pentagon officials to maintain operations at the base.
Kerry, a Democrat, said the assurance will go a long way in expanding cyber and electronic capabilities in the future. But he and Brown, a Republican, expressed disappointment in the command restructuring plan, which would move a three-star general position from Hanscom.
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