Nevada Air Guard asks Reno leaders to back C-130 fleet upgrade to keep unit and missions local

Brigadier General David Chauvin and Nevada Air National Guard leaders briefed the Reno City Council Sept. 24 about the unit’s missions and asked local leaders to support efforts to secure federal funding to modernize the Nevada Air Guard’s tactical airlift fleet from aging C-130H aircraft to C-130J models.

The Air Guard described a broad set of missions that includes tactical airlift overseas and domestic response roles such as firefighting retardant drops, chemical and biological incident support and community outreach programs. Brig. Gen. Chauvin said the Reno unit is “embedded in the community,” operates from the south side of Reno–Tahoe International Airport, and supports both state emergency response and national deployments.

Captain Emerson Marcus, who flew city officials on a recent demonstration flight, and Brig. Gen. Chauvin highlighted the unit’s firefighting work this year, noting the Guard dropped more than 1,000,000 pounds of retardant. A separate economic analysis prepared by University of Nevada researchers estimated the Nevada Air Guard provides roughly 1,295 jobs and more than $123 million in annual economic impact, with most of that localized in Washoe County.

Chauvin told councilmembers an upgrade to the C-130J is key to sustain the Guard’s mission in Reno into the future. “The biggest threat that keeps me up at night is not upgrading our aircraft to C-130J models,” Chauvin said. He asked council members to advocate for the unit in Washington and to consider writing letters of support to Nevada’s federal delegation and Defense Department budget and appropriations staff.

Council members vocally supported the Guard and several said they would work with the Guard to secure congressional support. Councilman Reese said he had already reached out to congressional offices after his demonstration flight and urged colleagues to sign letters backing the conversion. Others said they would join the Guard in outreach and noted the Guard’s local recruitment, training and community education contributions.

The briefing highlighted both the Guard’s national deployments — including operations on all seven continents in recent years — and local civilian-focused programs, such as community engagement, a civil support team for hazardous substance incidents and youth outreach in schools.

Ending: The City Council pledged advocacy and asked staff to help coordinate letters and engagement with Nevada’s congressional delegation as the Guard pursues funding for the C-130 fleet modernization. The unit will also proceed with outreach and public demonstrations to showcase the Guard’s missions and local economic value.