Natick Site, Devens Key For U.S., Mass.
Murray
Collectively, military bases and defense and aerospace industries generate more than 120,000 jobs in the commonwealth. Defense contracts awarded to Massachusetts companies have almost tripled since 2000 because of our state’s strong, innovation-based economy and world-class education, research and engineering institutions. Recognizing the national security and economic implications of Massachusetts’ six military bases, Governor Patrick and I are taking steps to protect them.
On Feb. 27, I signed an executive order creating the Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force. As chair of the task force, I am engaging government, industry and community leaders to better position, promote, and protect Massachusetts’ military bases.
I recently completed a tour of the six bases, including visits to the U.S. Army’s Soldier Systems Center in Natick (NSSC) and to Fort Devens, joined by U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas and task force members. We met with base leaders and discussed the strategic importance of each base.
Spanning more than 5,000 acres, Fort Devens features training, operational military and homeland security assets imperative to New England and the country. Fort Devens includes the Base Camp Systems Integration Lab (SIL), a replica of combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Soldiers at Fort Devens also support the innovative technologies developed by civilian and military personnel at NSSC. Ranging from food to clothing, NSSC researches and develops the best protection, training and advantages for our servicemen and women on the battlefield. After NSSC develops the technology, soldiers at SIL test it. For example, Fort Devens may measure power usage through technology created at NSSC, which will increase energy efficiency and ultimately save the military money.
Both bases also have opportunities to expand. NSSC is creating a master plan to its mission and economic footprint beyond the 1,800 military and civilian employees on the base. NSSC contributed $1.7 billion to the local economy last year alone through wages, benefits and more than 700 contracts awarded to Massachusetts companies. Just northwest of NSSC, Fort Devens has plenty of available land and training facilities with infrastructure improvements and job creation expected this year. Reports of potential defense budget cuts to military bases in the U.S. elicited strong concerns, and rightfully so. This region remembers all too well previous Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) debates that impacted NSSC and Fort Devens. Our administration is working proactively with the state’s congressional delegation and partnering organizations to strategically prepare should a BRAC process occur. We’re prepared to promote the gains achieved over the last several years at NSSC and Fort Devens and make the case for why their missions and expansion plans are so valuable.
As the debate unfolds, Governor Patrick and I are committed to working with local, state, and federal leaders and businesses to showcase and support the vital missions of Massachusetts’ military bases. n
Timothy P. Murray is lieutenant governor
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and chairman
of its Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force.
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