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Exhibit 1: Estimated Total Contribution of
Dyess Air Force Base to the Texas Economy, 2025
Employment and Other Populations
Texas Military Installations, 2025 Dyess Air Force Base
Background
Dyess Air Force Base was established in 1942 in Abilene and manages one of the nation’s two intercontinental ballistic missile wings as an installation under the Air Force Global Strike Command. The 7th Bomb Wing’s Operations Group has 23 B-1 bombers, and its 1,655 personnel are spread across three squadrons. One of them, the 9th Bomb Squadron, dates to 1917 and is the oldest currently existing in the Air Force.1 Another significant unit at Dyess is the 317th Air Wing, which operates C-130J missions, providing airlift worldwide.2
The 7th Bomb Wing has several subunits that provide civil engineering, maintenance, munitions and medical support to the Operations Group. The 317th Air Wing also has a maintenance squadron and is responsible for overall airfield management. Dyess also hosts tenant commands such as the
- 21st Air Task Force
- 77th Weapons Squadron
- 377th Test and Evaluation Squadron
- 436th Training Squadron
- and several other detachments.
These units equip Dyess with strategic capabilities, from intercontinental ballistic missile operations to comprehensive global mobility and airlift operations, highlighting the base’s pivotal role in airpower projection and rapid global mobility. The base is equipped with an array of military and support assets showing its significant operational and strategic importance.3
Economic Impact
As of 2025, Dyess is home to 5,377 direct employees, including 4,764 active-duty military personnel. The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts estimates the population directly affiliated with the base contributed at least $3.6 billion to the Texas economy in 2025.4
The Comptroller’s office and the Texas Military Preparedness Commission collected economic data from each of the state’s 14 U.S. military installations. This data was collected using a survey designed to ensure consistency in determining the total direct and indirect contribution of the base’s populations to state-level employment, gross domestic product, output and disposable personal income (Exhibit 1).5
| Contribution | Value |
|---|---|
| Total direct employment6 | 5,377 |
| Total employment (direct & indirect)7 | 14,374 |
| Output8 | $3,641,206,000 |
| Gross domestic product9 | $2,247,634,000 |
| Disposable personal income10 | $966,140,000 |
Source: Regional Economic Models Inc. (REMI) - model for Texas
The Comptroller’s economic impact analysis represents a conservative estimate of the economic importance of Dyess to Texas. Each installation’s distinctive characteristics contribute to the Texas economy in different ways. This analysis uses a consistent model to determine the economic impact of each of the state’s military installations on the state’s economic growth.
| Contribution | Value |
|---|---|
| FULL-TIME DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE | |
| Active-Duty Army | 0 |
| Active-Duty Navy | 0 |
| Active-Duty Air Force | 4228 |
| Active-Duty Marine Corps | 9 |
| Active-Duty Coast Guard | 0 |
| Active-Duty National Guard/Reserve | 527 |
| Full-Time Employees Not Listed Elsewhere | 0 |
| FULL-TIME CIVILIAN PERSONNEL | |
| Appropriated | 418 |
| Non-Appropriated | 93 |
| PART-TIME DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (FTE) | |
| Army Reserve | 0 |
| Navy Reserve | 0 |
| Air Force Reserve | 0 |
| Marine Corps Reserve | 0 |
| Coast Guard Reserve | 0 |
| PART-TIME CIVILIAN PERSONNEL | |
| Appropriated | 0 |
| Non-Appropriated | 24 |
| OTHER | |
| Contractors, Total (staff) | 93 |
| Average Daily Student Load | 72 |
| TOTALS | |
| Total Direct FTE Employment | 5,377 |
| Number of Dependents | 1,695 |
| Total Indirect FTE Employment | 14,374 |
Source: Dyess Air Force Base
End Notes
- Dyess Air Force Base, “7th Operations Group,” (Last visited May 8, 2026). ↳
- Dyess Air Force Base, “317th Operations Wing,” (Last visited May 8, 2026). ↳
- Dyess Air Force Base; “Dyess History,” (Last visited April 30, 2026) ↳
- This study represents an analysis of the economic impact of the population and employees directly affiliated with the base. This includes active duty, visiting, and other military personnel, dependents, civilian employees and contractors directly affiliated with the base – as reported in documents emailed from Dyess Air Force Base to B. Keith Graf, Texas Military Preparedness Commission, February 2026. ↳
- Estimate inputs and assumptions include the following: (1) all data submitted are for 2025; (2) input includes full-time, permanent employees and a full-time equivalent (FTE) for any part-time employees; (3) dependents are associated with Dyess Air Force Base only; and (4) all economic impact is within Texas. ↳
- “Total direct employment” refers to both actual full-time and full-time equivalent (FTE) employees plus contractors. For part-time employees, their FTE is calculated based on their hours divided by the standard 40-hour work week. ↳
- “Total employment” refers to both direct and indirect employment, meaning “Total direct employment” as noted above plus any indirect employees such as temporary contractors. ↳
- “Output” refers to the total value of all goods and services (both final and intermediate) produced in Texas. Intermediate goods are those used to produce final goods. Sugar, for example, would be an intermediate good when used in the production of candy (final good) by candy companies. ↳
- “Gross domestic product” refers to the total value of all final goods and services produced in Texas. ↳
- “Disposable personal income” refers to post-income-tax income. ↳