BRAC votes package deal
Redstone decision could bring 1,755 new federal jobs
Friday, August 26, 2005
 |
 |
The majority of the nation's missile defense work will land in Huntsville if the recommendations of the nine-member Base Realignment and Closure Commission, or BRAC, panel passes muster at the White House and on Capitol Hill next month.
The bulk of the Missile Defense Agency's development and management work, along with the headquarters of the Army Space & Missile Defense Command, would move to Huntsville under a recommendation the BRAC panel passed Thursday.
On Wednesday, the BRAC panel also approved moving the headquarters of the Army Materiel Command to Redstone.
The moves will net at least 1,755 new federal jobs for the area, said Dave Hargrove, incoming president of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce. "That's the official number given by the Pentagon in May, and, although we are hopeful more contractor jobs will follow, I think that's the prudent figure," he said.
Bringing the headquarters of AMC and SMDC to Huntsville, which has long been the headquarters for the Army Aviation and Missile Command, would elevate Redstone's stature as a key site for the Army. It could also make Huntsville home to several more Army generals.
The Army Materiel Command, which is the parent command of Redstone's Aviation and Missile Command, is headed by four-star Gen. Benjamin Griffin. Griffin's command staff also includes a three-star general and a couple of two-star generals.
SMDC is helmed by Lt. Gen. Larry Dodgen, a three-star general who lived in Huntsville for two years as the commanding general of Army Aviation and Missile Command. AMCOM is headed by a two-star general, Maj. Gen. James Pillsbury.
"This is what we have been working for a number of years, and, of course, we are just ecstatic and very happy over these decisions," said Tennessee Valley BRAC Committee co-chair Joe Ritch. "It's been a very, very good week for Huntsville" and the Tennessee Valley.
Hargrove said the number of contractor jobs that would follow the federal work has not been verified. But unofficial estimates have ranged from 2,000 to 3,000 contractor jobs. Lt. Gen. Trey Obering, head of the Missile Defense Agency, said during a recent appearance in Huntsville that MDA alone could bring more than 2,000 workers here.
Hargrove said the "lion's share of the (BRAC) work is now complete," but Tennessee Valley BRAC Committee members will now monitor issues that might crop up while the official report is written and forwarded to the White House and Congress.
"I'm telling people that the real celebration will come later" in the year, Hargrove said. "We are very happy today, and we don't expect problems, but there are still two very important hurdles left to clear."
The BRAC panel will forward its complete report to President Bush by Sept 8. The president must accept or reject the recommendations as a whole.
By the end of September, the White House will forward the recommendations to Congress, which has 45 working days to accept or reject the recommendations. Congress cannot tamper with the recommendations and must vote on the whole report and not parts of it.
In addition to the major commands, the BRAC panel voted Wednesday to approve Pentagon plans for Redstone to gain a multiservice helicopter test center, pulled from Fort Rucker in southeast Alabama and Robins Air Force Base in Georgia, and to move the 2nd Recruiting Brigade from Fort Gillem in Atlanta to Redstone.
Redstone did lose some jobs, an ordnance and munitions school to Fort Lee, Va., and a robotics test center to Detroit Arsenal in Warren, Mich.
Huntsville's Washington delegation is pleased with Redstone's BRAC results so far.
"North Alabama presented an excellent proposal highlighting Redstone's strengths and the daily contributions people working there make to our national security," said U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Huntsville. "I am delighted that the BRAC Commission agreed and endorsed the recommendations made by the Department of Defense."
U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, said the BRAC panel showed good sense in approving the Redstone recommendations.
"I believe the decision makes perfect sense as Redstone is currently home to a majority of SMDC's missions and a number of MDA" jobs, Shelby said.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile, said moving the AMC and SMDC headquarters, along with MDA work, here allows government and defense industry the ability to capitalize on Huntsville's long experience in missiles. It also opens up more work in Army logistics - overseeing supply and military cargo - primarily an AMC job.
© 2005 The Huntsville Times
© 2005 al.com All Rights Reserved.