Tinker Air Force Base leaders spent Friday at the Reed Conference Center in Midwest City making a very public case that the installation is still one of Oklahoma’s biggest economic engines. At the annual State of the Base event, commanders walked through how modernization work, from new software and AI tools to big-ticket construction projects, is reshaping operations, and they capped the gathering by promising the Tinker Air Show will be back next summer. The crowd of military, civic and industry leaders got a clear message: Tinker is not just busy, it is central to the region’s economy and military readiness.
Big numbers: what Tinker contributes to Oklahoma
Tinker’s Fiscal Year 2024 Economic Impact Statement pegs the base’s combined direct and indirect footprint at about $7.53 billion, supporting roughly 56,417 jobs statewide, with payroll and construction spending both up year over year, according to Tinker Air Force Base. The statement puts direct FY24 payroll at about $1.98 billion and construction spending near $322 million, underscoring just how much money…..