Governor Reacts to Proposed Joint Forces Command Closure
Photo Courtesy of Chuck Thomas, Old Dominion University
Governor Bob McDonnell today released the following statement after U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced a proposal to close the United States Joint Forces Command in Norfolk and Suffolk.
“I am deeply disappointed by U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ proposal to close the United States Joint Forces Command. We are at war abroad in multiple countries and closing the command where components from multiple branches of the military come together to provide intelligence and protection is the wrong decision. We live in a high-tech, interconnected world where collaboration and communication is key—the Joint Forces Command is vital to keep our homeland safe. The multiple joint operations and the modeling and simulations programs conducted by the Joint Forces Command is a long-term key to America’s national security and saves tremendous resources by using technology in lieu of expensive field exercise. Most experts acknowledge that the concepts of inter-operability and jointness are absolutely key to victory in modern warfare.”
“The Joint Forces Command has been in operation since 1947 and continues to serve as a major employer of Virginians. As one of 10 full combatant commands, the Joint Forces Command employs nearly 5000 civilians and service members. This decision will cost good quality, high paying jobs for thousands of Virginians and could not come at a worse time. This decision appears to have been made in private with no recommendation or support in the recent Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) and completed outside of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) process. It appears as though this administration is cutting investments in national defense in order to pay for massive new social programs. I will continue to work with members of Virginia’s Congressional delegation to do all that we can to keep the Joint Forces Command open in Norfolk and Suffolk.”
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