07/08/2026
Regional Leaders Conduct Emergency Readiness Exercise to Strengthen Energy Resilience Around March Air Reserve Base
Tabletop exercise brings together military, utilities and local governments to prepare for major infrastructure disruptions
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (July 6, 2026) — Military leaders, utility officials and local government representatives gathered recently to test how western Riverside County would respond to a major disruption of the regional electric grid, reinforcing partnerships that are critical to protecting both national defense missions and the communities that support them.
The tabletop exercise, hosted by the March Inland Port Airport Authority (MIPAA) and March Air Reserve Base (ARB), brought together stakeholders from across the region to examine how interruptions to electrical transmission and distribution could affect military operations, public services and critical infrastructure — and how agencies would coordinate their response.
The exercise focused on strengthening communication, decision-making and recovery strategies in the event of widespread power disruptions or other emergencies that cross jurisdictional boundaries.
March Air Reserve Base and the March Joint Powers Authority, which includes MIPAA, represent one of Southern California's most important economic and transportation assets, supporting more than 15,400 jobs and generating an estimated $10.1 billion in regional economic activity. At the same time, like most military installations nationwide, March ARB depends on the civilian electric grid to support its mission, making community infrastructure an essential component of military readiness.
“Preparedness doesn’t begin when an emergency occurs – it begins with strong relationships and thoughtful planning,” said Chuck Conder, Vice Chair, March Joint Powers Authority and a Riverside City Councilmember. “Exercises like this bring together the military, utilities and local governments to identify challenges before they become crises. By working together today, we’re strengthening the resilience of our region and helping ensure March Air Reserve Base can continue carrying out its critical national defense mission while protecting the communities that surround it.”
Southern California Edison participated as the exercise’s utility partner, providing insight into grid operations, ongoing infrastructure improvements and efforts to reduce the risk of Public Safety Power Shutoffs throughout the region.
Participants worked through realistic emergency scenarios designed to identify vulnerabilities, improve coordination among agencies and strengthen long-term regional resilience. Lessons learned from the exercise will help guide future planning efforts involving local governments, utility providers and military leadership.
“We do not serve alone. We serve with our community partners,” said Amee Howard, Director of Installation Sustainment and Community Partnership at the March Air Reserve Base.
The exercise was facilitated by Converge Strategies, LLC, through a project funded by the Department of War's Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC), which supports partnerships between military installations and the communities that surround them. Target Corporation hosted the event.
# # #
About March Inland Port Airport Authority
The March Inland Port Airport Authority (MIPAA) owns and operates the civilian facilities at March Inland Port Airport (RIV), Southern California's strategic gateway for corporate and general aviation. As one of the nation's premier joint-use airports, RIV combines military heritage, regional partnership and modern aviation infrastructure to serve businesses, travelers, tenants and investors throughout the Inland Empire and beyond. Featuring access to a 13,300-foot runway, development-ready property, competitive operating costs and a full-service fixed-base operator, March Inland Port is positioned to support the region’s continued economic growth while providing reliable, accessible aviation services in one of the country's most dynamic business corridors.
