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Exhibit 1: Estimated Total Contribution of
Laughlin AFB to the Texas Economy, 2025
Employment and Other Populations
Texas Military Installations, 2025 Laughlin Air Force Base
Background
Laughlin Air Force Base was established in 1941 near Del Rio. It is home to the 47th Flying Training Wing, an undergraduate pilot training school for the U.S. Air Force.1 The 47th Flying Training Wing has been active at Laughlin AFB since 1972 and has trained more than 15,000 pilots for the U.S. Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard and its allies. Today, it utilizes the T-6 Texan II and T-38C Talon.2
In addition, Laughlin houses the 47th Operations Group and the 47th Maintenance Directorate.
- The Operations group trains pilots through the Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Program, which consists of close to 200 hours of flight time over 52 weeks.
- The Maintenance Directorate supports the training program and supports a combined 80,000-plus hours of flight time annually.
- Also on site is the 96th Flying Training Squadron, a Reserve unit.3
The base also houses several squadrons, support and operation groups, and medical facilities.
Economic Impact
As of 2025, this command is home to a total of 3,231direct employees, including 1,879 active-duty military personnel. The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts estimates the population directly affiliated with the Laughlin Air Force Base contributed at least $2.3 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 | 3,231 |
| Total employment (direct & indirect)7 | 10,021 |
| Output8 | $2,338,968,000 |
| Gross domestic product9 | $1,418,480,000 |
| Disposable personal income10 | $696,391,000 |
Source: Regional Economic Models Inc. (REMI) – model for Texas
The Comptroller’s economic impact analysis represents a conservative estimate of the importance of Laughlin to Texas. Each installation’s distinctive characteristics contribute to the Texas economy in different ways. This analysis uses a consistent model to determine the impact of each of the state’s military installations on the state’s economic growth.
| Description | Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) |
|---|---|
| FULL-TIME DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE | |
| Active-Duty Army | 0 |
| Active-Duty Navy | 0 |
| Active-Duty Air Force | 1,360 |
| Active-Duty Marine Corps | 0 |
| Active-Duty Coast Guard | 0 |
| Active-Duty National Guard/Reserve | 519 |
| Full-Time Employees Not Listed Elsewhere | 0 |
| FULL-TIME CIVILIAN PERSONNEL | |
| Appropriated | 790 |
| Non-Appropriated | 136 |
| PART-TIME DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE | |
| Army Reserve | 0 |
| Navy Reserve | 0 |
| Air Force Reserve | 35 |
| Marine Corps Reserve | 0 |
| Coast Guard Reserve | 0 |
| PART-TIME CIVILIAN PERSONNEL | |
| Appropriated | 0 |
| Non-Appropriated | 11.25 |
| OTHER | |
| Contractors, Total (staff) | 406 |
| Average Daily Student Load | 700 |
| TOTALS | |
| Total Direct FTE Employment | 3,214 |
| Number of Dependents | 858 |
| Total Indirect FTE Employment | 6,774 |
Source: Laughlin Air Force Base
End Notes
- Laughlin Air Force Base, “Laughlin AFB History,” (Last visited May 1, 2026)
- Laughlin Air Force Base, “47th Flight Training Wing History,” (Last visited May 1, 2026) ↳
- Laughlin Air Force Base, “About Us,” (Last visited May 4, 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 Laughlin 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 Laughlin only; (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. ↳