Naval air station pumped $2.7 billion into Fort Worth’s economy last year, study finds
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth contributed at least $2.7 billion to the local economy in 2021, according to a study by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
NAS JRB Fort Worth employs about 10,500 active-duty and Reserve personnel, contractors, civilian workers and others. It is home to units in the Navy, Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and Texas Air National Guard.
“The Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth has and continues to be an asset for Fort Worth,” said Brandom Gengelbach, president and CEO of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. “This report quantifies the tremendous economic impact the NAS JRB has in Fort Worth and DFW.”
The Texas Military Preparedness Commission’s report to the governor’s office aims to show the impact of military installations across Texas. The data highlights the success of the state’s installations in aiding the nation’s defense while bringing career opportunities and financial support to local economies, officials said.
The study showed Fort Worth’s joint reserve base contributed to $1.6 billion in gross domestic product and $1.1 billion in disposable personal last year. The comptroller estimated the state’s military installations contributed more than $114 billion to the economy.
Joint Base San Antonio was the state’s largest with more than 211,000 direct or indirect jobs and $39.2 billion in economic impact, followed by Fort Hood’s nearly 161,000 jobs and $28.9 billion impact.
“Texas is the proud home to 15 military installations and the U.S. Army Futures Command,” said Gov. Greg Abbott said in a press release. “Not only are these military installations critical for the defense of our nation, they support more than 622,790 jobs in communities across this great state. Many are the largest employer in their area; all are key drivers for both the local and state economies.”
The Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth includes 40 tenant commands across the Department of Defense. It is located at the site of the former Carswell Air Force Base, which was named after Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Maj. Horace S. Carswell Jr., a Fort Worth native killed in action during World War II.
This story was originally published July 6, 2022 at 5:17 PM.
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to more accurately reflect the number of people directly employed at the base and to clarify the nature of the tenant commands at the installation. It also corrects the name of what was then Carswell Air Force Base, established in the 1940s.
