On Monday, April 25, 2005, the Maryland Military Installations Strategic Planning Council (MISPC) met in Crownsville, Maryland, to focus on local and state collaborative efforts to prepare for the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission process.
Thomas F. McKay, President, St. Mary's County Board of Commissioners and Thomas A. Mattingly, Sr., St. Mary's County Commissioner, joined Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. and other community stakeholders to discuss the impending BRAC process.
"I am confident that the Pentagon views Maryland as a key partner in the defense of the nation. We're extremely proud to host some of the nation's most critical missions and we are ready to do our part to make sure Maryland remains relevant to the military," said Governor Ehrlich. "We are optimistic about what may happen, and we are also encouraging the Pentagon to consider the years of investment and planning to consolidate some of the most complex and intellectually challenging missions in Maryland, particularly those related to Navy energetics and Navy aviation test and evaluation."
Also attending today's MISPC meeting from St. Mary's County were MISPC member Todd Morgan, vice president, EMA, Inc., and president, Southern Maryland Navy Alliance, and John Savich, Director, Department of Economic and Community Development.
"It was a positive meeting and I believe our community is well-prepared for the BRAC Process," said Thomas F. McKay, President, St. Mary's County Board of Commissioners. "I look forward to reviewing the Department of Defense's recommendations on May 16th. As a community, we will respond to the recommendations by continuing to emphasize our key message that St. Mary's County is the right site for the current and any expanded operations at NAS Patuxent River."