WBAY-TV Green Bay-Fox Cities-Northeast Wisconsin News: Oshkosh Corporation Ready to Welcome Defense Secretary Gates

Oshkosh Corporation Ready to Welcome Defense Secretary Gates

By Jason Zimmerman

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates will tour Oshkosh Corporation on Thursday morning to see where the new M-ATV is being built.

It's a visit that comes as the company continues to excel at production of the medium ATV designed specifically for use in Afghanistan.

There's no shortage of excitement at Oshkosh Corporation as it prepares to host the defense secretary at the Harrison Plant and show off the MATV.

"This has to be the first time the Secretary of Defense has ever visited our company, and it could be the first time they've ever visited a truck company. Usually trucks are somewhat of an afterthought. This particular one is the Department of Defense's number-one acquisition," Oshkosh Corporation president Charles Szews said.

The Oshkosh Corporation has a contract with the military after developing the M-ATV and continues to exceed its goals on its delivery schedule, which is why the defense secretary is taking notice.

"This vehicle can take the heavy mine blast, but even better yet it's got the mobility to go where the enemy doesn't expect it to be," Szews said.

Secretary Gates is expected to arrive around 11:30 Thursday morning and stay about 90 minutes. He plans to tour the plant, meet with employees, and then hold a news conference.

The company also plans to provide a demonstration of how the M-ATV works on a test course.

"We want him to understand, we view this not as a business, not as a contract to make money. This is a mission really to make sure our men and women come back from Afghanistan safely," the company president said.