More missile workers will relocate

Saturday, June 02, 2007

By SHELBY G. SPIRES

Times Aerospace Writer shelby.spires@htimes.com

Director likes new BRAC figures but frets over office space

More key Missile Defense Agency workers are committing to move to Huntsville because of the 2005 BRAC decisions, but providing office space remains a concern, according to the agency's director, U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Trey Obering.

Obering doesn't have exact figures of how many of the MDA's more than 2,200 employees will move to North Alabama by 2011, but he said more key people are saying they'll transfer.

"I've seen those numbers go up, and I'm happy about that," Obering said Thursday. "Given that we are relocating, we have managed to keep key people who are in very critical jobs at this agency.

"They have indicated they are going to come to Huntsville, and that's good for our mission."

In early March, Obering said the MDA was on track compared with previous Defense Department moves from the Washington, D.C., area, with about 15 percent of people holding 2,246 positions, or 337 jobs, expected to transfer.

"We've seen those numbers go up now. I'm not going into the percentages, because they are not right in front of me, but the numbers are going up in the key areas," Obering said. "I see no reason why qualified people cannot be recruited (in Huntsville) and around the nation."

The biggest challenge for the MDA's move to Redstone Arsenal, Obering said, "is going to be continuing to keep the construction dollars flowing from Capitol Hill."

"Right now we are on track with the BRAC move, but we have to have a place to work."

U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, and U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Huntsville, agree that federal dollars are tight, but they say they will work to keep the BRAC construction money flowing until the buildings open.

The MDA needs about $220 million to build office space on Redstone. Overall, more than $500 million is needed to construct office buildings and laboratories and improve roads on Redstone because of the 2005 BRAC plan.

The BRAC building money was slashed from the Pentagon budget early this year but was restored in a supplemental bill that Congress and the White House agreed on last week.

Shelby said Friday that the federal budget is always a fight but promised that Redstone projects would have the needed construction dollars.

He said one of his highest priorities was getting $3.1 billion for BRAC in the supplemental bill, which included $9.4 million for construction of the Recruiting Brigade Operations Building at Redstone this budget year.

Cramer said that BRAC is on track for 2011 and that the MDA construction money would be available in time to meet the 2008 and 2009 construction deadlines.

Obering said construction is progressing well on Redstone's $44 million Von Braun Office Complex phase two, where about 900 MDA employees will work. "That will meet needs that came about through a reorganization put in place before the 2005 (BRAC) decisions," he said. "We will still need a third Von Braun phase, and that's where future construction money will go."

The Army is bringing three major command headquarters to Redstone as part of the BRAC decisions: the Army Assistance and Security Command, the Army Materiel Command and the Space & Missile Defense Command.

The majority of the MDA, which serves all branches of the armed forces, is also being moved to Redstone. Along with those major agencies, helicopter work is being relocated from Fort Rucker and from Robins Air Force Base, Ga. The Army 2nd Recruiting Brigade is also coming from Fort Gillem in Atlanta. The moves, slated by law to be completed by 2011, are predicted to bring at least 4,500 federal jobs to Redstone.



More missile workers will relocate Saturday, June 02, 2007 By SHELBY G. SPIRES Times Aerospace Writer shelby.spires@htimes.com Director likes new BRAC figures but frets over office space More key Missile Defense Agency workers are committing to move to Huntsville because of the 2005 BRAC decisions, but providing office space remains a concern, according to the agency's director, U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Trey Obering. Obering doesn't have exact figures of how many of the MDA's more than 2,200 employees will move to North Alabama by 2011, but he said more key people are saying they'll transfer. "I've seen those numbers go up, and I'm happy about that," Obering said Thursday. "Given that we are relocating, we have managed to keep key people who are in very critical jobs at this agency. "They have indicated they are going to come to Huntsville, and that's good for our mission." In early March, Obering said the MDA was on track compared with previous Defense Department moves from the Washington, D.C., area, with about 15 percent of people holding 2,246 positions, or 337 jobs, expected to transfer. "We've seen those numbers go up now. I'm not going into the percentages, because they are not right in front of me, but the numbers are going up in the key areas," Obering said. "I see no reason why qualified people cannot be recruited (in Huntsville) and around the nation." The biggest challenge for the MDA's move to Redstone Arsenal, Obering said, "is going to be continuing to keep the construction dollars flowing from Capitol Hill." "Right now we are on track with the BRAC move, but we have to have a place to work." U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, and U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Huntsville, agree that federal dollars are tight, but they say they will work to keep the BRAC construction money flowing until the buildings open. The MDA needs about $220 million to build office space on Redstone. Overall, more than $500 million is needed to construct office buildings and laboratories and improve roads on Redstone because of the 2005 BRAC plan. The BRAC building money was slashed from the Pentagon budget early this year but was restored in a supplemental bill that Congress and the White House agreed on last week. Shelby said Friday that the federal budget is always a fight but promised that Redstone projects would have the needed construction dollars. He said one of his highest priorities was getting $3.1 billion for BRAC in the supplemental bill, which included $9.4 million for construction of the Recruiting Brigade Operations Building at Redstone this budget year. Cramer said that BRAC is on track for 2011 and that the MDA construction money would be available in time to meet the 2008 and 2009 construction deadlines. Obering said construction is progressing well on Redstone's $44 million Von Braun Office Complex phase two, where about 900 MDA employees will work. "That will meet needs that came about through a reorganization put in place before the 2005 (BRAC) decisions," he said. "We will still need a third Von Braun phase, and that's where future construction money will go." The Army is bringing three major command headquarters to Redstone as part of the BRAC decisions: the Army Assistance and Security Command, the Army Materiel Command and the Space & Missile Defense Command. The majority of the MDA, which serves all branches of the armed forces, is also being moved to Redstone. Along with those major agencies, helicopter work is being relocated from Fort Rucker and from Robins Air Force Base, Ga. The Army 2nd Recruiting Brigade is also coming from Fort Gillem in Atlanta. The moves, slated by law to be completed by 2011, are predicted to bring at least 4,500 federal jobs to Redstone. © 2007 The Huntsville Times © 2007 al.com All Rights Reserved.