Wing commander stresses base's impact Published Dec. 16, 2015 By Ryan Stark Nucleus writer KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Kirtland Air Force Base has a $7.5 million impact on the local economy, at last count, according to the base commander. Col. Eric Froehlich, 377th Air Base Wing commander, addressed business and civic leaders at a breakfast Friday at the invitation of the University of New Mexico's Anderson School of Business. Around 150 people packed a room at Albuquerque's Hotel Andaluz to hear Kirtland's commander talk about the base's impact on the community and about the Air Force in general. Among the items on the agenda, Froehlich pointed out Kirtand's economic impact in the Albuquerque area, estimated at $7.5 billion in total economic activity during the Air Force's 2014 fiscal year. "And about half that amount has direct local impact," Froehlich said. "That's a lot of money." He added that Kirtland accounts for around 13 percent of the overall number of jobs in Albuquerque, about 10 percent of the area's gross product and over $100 million in spending directed at small business. "Our proud professionals who work on the base are part of the fabric of the Albuquerque community," Froehlich said. "They're your friends, neighbors, fellow churchgoers and are reflections of the community." Froehlich also provided attendees with an overview of the Air Force, framing it as a corporate structure similar to that found in the business world. Introducing the audience to the relationships between Air Force Headquarters, major commands, wings, groups and Kirtland's numerous tenant organizations, he also spoke of the dedication and professionalism of "Big-A Airmen," as he put it, be they active-duty, National Guard, Reserve, civilians or contractors. "Our Airmen are part of a family," Froehlich said. "There's plenty of people to take care of them." Froehlich also shared a story about his experiences on Sept. 11, 2001, working at the Pentagon. He said he was about 100 yards away from where a hijacked airliner struck the building as part of Al Qaeda's attack. "At that point in my career, I was a young captain who could have gone either way, and I was considering getting out (of the Air Force)," he said. But that day changed his mind. "After that day, there was no question in my mind this would be a lifelong thing for me," Froehlich said emotionally. The event concluded with a question-and-answer session that included queries about base realignment, the role of women in Air Force combat roles and more. Froehlich made a point of saying that the Air Force's core values and the mission of UNM's Anderson school aligned. "You value excellence and service as well," he said. "Why we choose to serve in the Air Force has a lot of commonality with what you do."