Members of the Military Affairs Council’s board of directors met with U.S. Congressman Robert Wittman and U.S. Senator James Webb on February 8 to advocate for continued support for various needs relative to the region’s military bases. (left to right: Joe Grzeika, MAC vice-chairman; Ted Hontz, MAC past chairman; Bob Hagan, Chamber president; Congressman Wittman; Ty Schieber, MAC chairman; Susan Spears, MAC Executive Director; & Cord Sterling, MAC Legislative chair.)

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The Military Affairs Council was prominently featured on the front page of the November 2007 ChamberLink newsletter. Ty Schieber, Vice President of Apogen Technologies and Chairman of the MAC, wrote the following article:

 
Ty Schieber

Military Affairs Council serves Fredericksburg - area community

Economic studies show that 30% of the overall economy in theFredericksburg region is directly or indirectly the product of the three military bases in the region—Quantico in North Stafford Co., Dahlgren in King George Co, and Fort A. P. Hill in Caroline County adjacent to Spotsylvania Co. 

 

These bases all employee government civilians and government contractors who work on or near the bases and most of these people who work directly for the bases are long term residents of the region.  Each base also has a military commander and various military components with soldiers, sailors and marines. 

 

All those who directly support the bases and their components and their spouses and families, be they military or civilian, live, work and play in the community.  You see them at church on Sunday, at the movies on Friday night, at the bank and at the grocery store.  They also coach soccer and little league and volunteer at the food bank.

 

As a result, the Chamber’s aggressive program to support the retention of “our” three bases in the period leading up to the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) was a community service that went well beyond simply saving jobs.  It certainly did that, but it also was protecting our community’s values and our way of life.

 

After the Chamber’s success in 2005, Chamber leaders felt that the community would be well served if they maintained a continuing program to support the bases, energize the community and work locally, in Richmond and on Capital Hill to keep our three bases on the map and in the minds of those who can influence the future of the bases.  Accordingly, the Chamber established the Military Affairs Council (MAC) in 2006.   

 

Our Mission Statement is simple and to the point:

 

“The Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Council advocates for and promotes the military and national defense bases, commands and installations in the region, and in doing so, supports the interests in the military, military families, the local defense industry and the region as a whole.”

 

The MAC is run by its own Board of Directors.  The makeup of the Board was carefully considered to ensure we could actually carry out our mission.  The new MAC has made a significant impact for the region during its first year. Highlights include: 

 

· MAC Membership enrollment over 100 at this time

· Instrumental role in successfully gaining the Governor’s and the General Assembly’s support for the Dahlgren Education and Research Center—a new University of Mary Washington graduate education center to support the engineering and general education requirements for the work force at Dahlgren.

· Successful in efforts to influence the Navy to relocate the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Program office and its 300 jobs from Crystal City to Dahlgren. 

· Lobbied with the Army and on Capital Hill to have the headquarters unit for the Army’s Asymmetric Warfare training organization transferred to Fort A. P. Hill where the asymmetric warfare is conducted.  The Army decision is still pending in this case.

· Met with the Secretary of Transportation to discuss pressing transportation issues facing Quantico resulting from the 2005 BRAC decision to transfer over 3000 jobs to that base. 

· Established a committee which focuses on military family support

· Conducted MAC roundtable meetings and tours at each of “our” bases

 

As an organization, we are proactively working with all stakeholders towards developing and shaping a long-term defense-oriented vision and plan for the region. Further, the MAC efforts are important, rewarding, and enjoyable.

 

Read more about the MAC in this issue.  Please consider joining the MAC and helping us address the full spectrum of challenges our region faces in support of the military, the bases and the community at large. You have a great opportunity to make a difference!!

 

 

 

The following message was sent via email to the full MAC and Chamber membership on Tuesday, October 9, 2007:

The Chamber would like to extend its deepest condolences to the family of U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Davis., particularly her son Charles, an active Chamber member and the Government Affairs Director at the Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors.

 

Rep. Davis was a staunch advocate of the U.S. military as evidenced during the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process. Thanks to her hard work, Fredericksburg-area military installations gained rather than lost jobs.

 

Earlier this year, the House Armed Services Committee approved the National Defense Authorization Act (HR 1585), which includes funding requests for the expansion of the Rail Gun development facility at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren. The Military Affairs Council thanked and congratulated Congresswoman Davis for her tremendous effort win passage of the bill and ultimately provide the Navy with the ability to develop weapons systems necessary to meet the threats of the 21^st Century.

 

Rep. Davis was a true friend to Virginia’s business community, and the Chamber will be forever grateful for her efforts to boost the economy and expand business opportunity for all. Virginia's public life will be much poorer due to her passing.