When military bases close, entire communities can be left searching for a path forward. Senator David Pryor (D-Ark.) helped ensure they were not left to navigate that challenge alone.
Pryor, who died in 2024, was a foundational champion for defense communities, helping shape how the federal government supports regions impacted by base closures and military transition. His perspective was grounded in experience. As Arkansas governor before his Senate career, he saw firsthand how military installations serve as economic anchors and what is at stake when missions change.
During Pryor’s Senate tenure, Arkansas communities were directly affected by the early rounds of the Base Realignment and Closure process following the Cold War. The closure of Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville and the transition of Fort Chaffee underscored the real-world consequences of defense decisions. Pryor used those experiences to push for stronger federal support for impacted communities.
He became a key advocate for expanding the Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment – now the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation –and related programs, helping communities access planning assistance, redevelopment support and federal resources. Through defense authorization and appropriations legislation, he backed efforts to strengthen economic adjustment tools, accelerate environmental cleanup and improve the transfer of surplus property for reuse.
Pryor’s leadership helped shape many of the core policies still used today, creating a more coordinated, community-focused approach to base closures and military transition. He consistently emphasized that national security extends beyond the installation gate and depends on the strength of the surrounding community.
In recognition of his impact, ADC named its highest honor, the David Pryor Award, after him. His legacy continues to guide how defense communities adapt, recover and thrive.
This profile is a part of the ADC50 Changemakers series, where we highlight members of our community who have supported defense communities and ADC over its history.
FEMA photo by Jocelyn Augustino
