Congressman Cliff Bentz announced on Apr. 7 that the President’s 2027 budget includes an $80 million allocation for building a new F-35 Formal Training Unit at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, Oregon.
The funding will go toward constructing an Academic Training Center to help transition Kingsley Field and its personnel from operating the F-15C to the more advanced F-35A Lightning II aircraft. The project aims to ensure that U.S. Air Force and National Guard pilots receive up-to-date training, supporting national defense efforts as threats evolve.
Bentz said, “Kingsley Field has long been one of the most important cornerstones of our nation’s air defense. This $80 million investment in an F-35 Academic Training Center recognizes that those at Kingsley are training the best fighter pilots in the world and also reflects our nation’s commitment to maintaining the highest level of national security. Kingsley Field, located near Klamath Falls, Oregon, is central to this mission and will continue to play a critical role in fully training and preparing those who will face the incredible risks of war.”
Cliff Bentz currently serves as a member of Congress representing Oregon’s 2nd district after replacing Greg Walden in 2021, according to Wikipedia. He has held this seat since 2021 and previously served both in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2008 to 2018 and on the Oregon State Senate from 2018 to 2020, according to the official congressional biography.
Bentz was born in Salem, Oregon in 1952 and currently resides in Ontario; he is now age 71 as reported by the Biographical Directory of Congress. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Eastern Oregon University in 1974 before receiving his Juris Doctor from Lewis & Clark College three years later, according to his official House website.
Observers note that with this new funding for advanced pilot training infrastructure at Kingsley Field, southern Oregon could see continued strategic military investments aimed at maintaining U.S. air superiority.
