DOTHAN, Ala. (WDHN) — Former Dothan Mayor and one-time Dothan city school board chairman, Mike Schmitz, says Ft. Rucker has an annual $2 billion impact on the Wiregrass.

On Wednesday morning, Schmitz spoke at the Enterprise Chamber of Commerce military affairs committee. He is the civilian aide in Alabama to the U.S. Secretary of the Army.

The U.S. Air force veteran says he continually stresses to Pentagon officials the importance of Ft. Rucker in its mission as home to army aviation.

Schmitz says Ft. Rucker is integral to America’s defense and integral to the Wiregrass economy.

Later this fall, Schmitz expects congress to vote on name changes for military installations currently named after confederate war heros’.

It’s expected that Ft. Rucker will be changed to Ft. Mike Novosel. The late U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer and former Enterprise resident was awarded “The Medal of Honor” for heroism as a helicopter pilot saving lives during the Vietnam War.