WASHINGTON - As business, political and community leaders are looking for ways to preserve jobs at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, one elected leader is also lobbying in Washington for another option that could change the current mission at the Air Base.

Senator Sherrod Brown says he met with Dr. Ashton Carter, the nominee to be the U.S. Secretary of Defense. During the meeting Brown said he pressed Carter on his support for the modernization of Ohio's C-130H fleet and communications updates to meet federal and international standards by 2020.

The Youngstown Air Reserve Station has already lost four of the twelve aircraft it once had, lessening the economic impact that the base has on the Valley. Community leaders are hoping to develop ways to avoid becoming a victim of further military downsizing.

Senator Brown says he also spoke with Dr. Carter about supporting the Youngstown Air Reserve Station and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as locations for a dozen new KC-46A aerial tankers being developed to replace the aging fleet of Air Force refueling aircraft.

According to Brown's office, both Ohio installations are among 20 around the country being considered as bases for the KC-46A.

The final decision on where to locate the Pegasus aerial tankers will be based on factors that include how close the base is to Air Force aircraft that would be served by the tankers, hangar, runway and ramp space, and the ability to accommodate active duty personnel.

The Air Force will conduct site surveys at each base being considered. Teams will evaluate each location for operational and training requirements, potential impacts to existing missions, housing, manpower and costs.

A decision on the final selection isn't expected until 2016.

Robert Barko Jr., Air Force Reserve master sergeant and superintendent of the 910th public affairs office says that the Air Force hasn't yet scheduled a site survey at the Youngstown base.

Currently the Youngstown, the Air Reserve Base is home to the only fixed-wing aerial spray mission in the Defense Department.