WATERVLIET, N.Y. -- The Watervliet Arsenal remains a critical aspect of our nation's defense, churning out the barrels for the nation's tanks and ground-based guns and mortars. The Arsenal has served in that role since the War of 1812, and is now one of just three Army-owned manufacturing bases left.

Friday, it played host to the highest-ranking civilian in the Army.

"Watervliet plays a critical role, because we will be looking to the Arsenal to provide the tubes, the cannons to improve the readiness of the current fleet and prepare for the future," said Esper, secretary of the United States Army.

"The U.S. Army is a maneuver-based, indirect fire-based fighting force. Cannon artillery is a critical part of that."

Sworn into office in November 2017, Esper toured the Arsenal on Friday. Esper serves under the Secretary of Defense and is responsible for all the Army, including recruiting, training and equipping the 1.4 million members of the Army and reserves. He says a modernization and expansion of the Arsenal can only be a good thing for the Army.

"We're looking at infrastructure improvements, particually recapitialzation of some of the equipment that will help us as we improve," said Esper.

Although the Arsenal is owned by the Army, it has to bid for contracts against companies like Lockheed Martin. With the recently passed omnibus bill in Congress, there are a lot of defense contracts up for bid right now.

When you have these large numbers introduced into an omnibus bill, you always hope that you get a slice, because that means jobs and opportunities for work," said Congressman Paul Tonko.