From Harford County government:
The Army Alliance, in partnership with the Chesapeake Science and Security Corridor (CSSC), hosted an information session and public forum on possible job losses at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), MD on Monday evening. A crowd of 250 attended the “Community Call to Action” at Aberdeen High School after learning over 4,300 military and civilian jobs could potentially be cut.
Harford County Executive David Craig and City of Aberdeen Mayor Michael Bennett welcomed citizens to the forum. “This is not just a big Proving Ground,” said County Executive Craig. “It’s a research and development center with the training and technology to equip our soldiers, sailors, and airmen in support of their mission while allowing us to enjoy the freedoms we have.”
Mayor Bennett also noted the strategic value and critical role APG brings to our nation’s defense. “We are fully committed to maintaining our partnership and continuing to keep APG strong and support its mission and its workforce,” said Bennett.
A panel of state and local leaders provided detailed information regarding the findings of the Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Assessment (SPEA) report that was released in late June, and discussed the possible impacts to the Greater APG community throughout the region.
Jim Richardson, Economic Development Director for Harford County and moderator for the evening’s panel stated, “This process is a marathon, not a sprint. We need your participation to tell APG’s story in response to this SPEA.” He also clarified by prefacing the context of these actions. “This is not a BRAC activity, but part of a formal process for troop reduction. Tonight is the beginning on an ongoing dialogue with the community.”
This event served as a “Community Call to Action” with business and political leaders along with concerned citizens attending to learn more about the potential impacts and to sign a “Declaration of Support” that is part of the formal response to the U.S. Army Environmental Command.
Jill McClune, Army Alliance President and panel member, reviewed the Department of the Army’s Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Army 2020 force structure realignment process, and the requirements the Army has at hand to make a significant reduction in troop numbers. The Supplemental (SPEA) has compounded the potential job loss by recommending additional cuts that could force impacts on the civilian workforce as well.
“Our military at APG has a very unique set of skills,” said Jill referring to the 20th CBRNE team, who is deployable to address chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive offenses. “We recognize that there will be cuts,” commented Army Alliance President Jill McClune. “APG has unique capabilities in research and development and the SPEA report doesn’t recognize that the typical military-civilian ratio is strongly reversed at APG. Thus the “cookie cutter” approach to proposed cuts could have an unintended adverse impact on developing the technology needs to keep the troops fighting effectively,” McClune said.
APG is one of nine Army installations selected for potential troop and personnel reductions in this supplemental round, joining a total of 30 identified installations. The potential cuts at APG represent nearly a third of existing staff levels.
Although the assessment focuses on environmental elements, socio-economic is one of the factors. “A significant socio-economic impact will result from this SPEA action,” said Eric McLauchlin, panel member and Chair of Harford County’s Economic Development Advisory Board. “Growth in our region didn’t happen by accident but rather by an organized, measured approach to expansion at APG. This regional economic momentum has resulted in economic prosperity during difficult times,” stated McLauchlin, who noted the influx of more than 110 defense contractors, a median household income more than twice the national average, income tax revenue that has grown by more than $38 million annually, and that APG is Maryland’s third largest workforce center by population. “A 4,000 position cut would reduce our progress by half,” he added.
Final decisions have not yet been made as to which installations will be selected for reductions in soldiers and Army civilians. This is a result of the current federal budget constraints and the resulting reduction of the Army’s active duty from 513,000 to 450,000 troop numbers. Sequestration could further reduce the number to 420,000. Fort Meade is the only other Maryland installation impacted by the current SPEA. They are the only two installations impacted on the East Coast.
“Maryland is blessed with a congressional delegation that is in tune with the SPEA process and works diligently to protect Maryland and its workforce,” said BGen Mike Hayes, Managing Director of the State’s Office of Military Affairs and a forum panel member. “Aberdeen Proving Ground is well represented within the Maryland Military Installation Council (MMIC) giving the region a voice in support of local defense efforts,” he added. He acknowledged the opportunity to take a look at the superb capabilities in the Edgewood chem-bio community and augment these aspects that could bring more to Aberdeen Proving Ground.
Brian Simmons, Army Alliance Board Member and panel member stated, “This partial reduction at APG is incredibly difficult to quantify. It’s a given that the socioeconomic impact is significant, so our focus needs to be centered on helping the Army. What our community says does matter.”
“The Army has to go through this process and we want to help them with the facts about our defense community,” said Jill McClune in closing. “APG is the answer to a smaller Army when you consider the research, development, testing and evaluation (RDT&E) capacity and capabilities our installation has to offer.”
A Declaration Statement of Support for Aberdeen Proving Ground was signed by attendees as they left the public forum; a unified response will be drafted by the Army Alliance.
The SPEA public comment period will conclude on August 25, 2014. Declaration signing will continue through August 20th at four locations between 8AM-5PM: CSSC Office at 2021-E Pulaski Highway in Havre de Grace, Harford Business Innovation Center (HBIC) at 1362 Brass Mill Road in Belcamp; Harford County Economic Development Office at 220 S. Main St in Bel Air, and Cecil County Economic Development at the Cecil County Administrative Offices, 200 Chesapeake Blvd, Suite 2700 in Elkton.
Copies of the presentation materials are available at www.apg-cssc.com, under “spotlight.”
Strong rumours at APG that many of the jobs that came from NJ are headed to Huntsville, AL APG was just the first step in that long-planned end-state.
Good lord. Talk about out of place. I mean for the fact that hordes of former NJ residents would be moving to the bayou’s of Alabama.
Not many people interested in white Pickett fences there.
As long as we all can get a pork roll, egg and cheese on a hard roll breakfast sandwich, we’ll be ok. No grits please.
Good luck, they rarely even sell pork roll in the stores there, much less in restaurants. Its a NJ/Philly specialty. Same with birch beer, and the nearest Rita’s is over an hour away.
@EatingTacos Actually Huntsville Alabama has one of the largest concentration of Scientist and Engineers. Not to mention the overall degrees there for the industry. Try not to assume something of a town based on the entire state stereotype/generalization. Huntsville has a lot going on with regard to Science and Technology. Try visiting there before you pipe in with misinformation.
Not to mention take a look at Huntsville infrastructure when compared to Aberdeen… then say something
I’m right, you’re wrong.
Think about it, you’re taking people from a former state that micro manages the entire lifestyle of a person, then they are voluntarily going to move to polar opposite.
People wont know how to drive the interstate without tolls. I mean, yeah.
The south shall rise again!
I’m still trying to figure out exactly what the “it” is, when Charlie Daniels sings, “Be proud you’re a rebel, ’cause the South’s gonna do it again.”
“A Declaration Statement of Support for Aberdeen Proving Ground was signed by attendees as they left the public forum; a unified response will be drafted by the Army Alliance.” I’m sure this will make the Army, DOD and the U.S. Government rethink their decision. Folks, it all hinges around the failure of BRAC to bring the “projected” revenue (taxes) that OWE’Malley, Harford County elected officials and Aberdeen elected official’s sold to the citizens. All their projections were based on assumptions, hopes and fantasies. Not facts.
Short of building expensive office space that still lies vacant and refacing the jersey wall with stone, there’s not much that went into thoughtfully building the appropriate infrastructure to handle the influx of people and technology connected with BRAC. Shame on Harford County and if Huntsville has the necessary infrastructure and visionary leadership, then so be it. Can’t blame anyone but ourselves for a squandered opportunity.
When the Dagger started reporting this, it said nothing to do with BRAC. Now you say it does! NJ to AL and back everyday, they will drive it too. Stay off rte. 40.
Close Aberdeen permanently and clean up the toxic mess polluting the bay.
Smaller government and military is vital for this countries future, way too many hogs at the trough and the number of double dipper military retirees is sickening. Those 4000 jobs aren’t moving anywhere they are going to be eliminated, just hope the jersie transplants clear out, they stink.
Bill you sound like you tried to get a job there and they wouldn’t hire you. Sour Grapes.
If that’s what I sound like to you, I’d suggest you get your hearing checked.
Typical Tree Hugger / retard liberal rant, you Sir have no idea what you are talking about, maybe you should move.!!!!!!!!!!!