MassDTI Sees Bright Future for Mass. Technical Military Bases

For Immediate release
August 25, 2005
Contact:

Kennedy – Melissa Wagoner
(202) 224-2633

Romney – Julie Teer
(617) 725-4025

Kerry – Setti Warren
(617) 565-8519

Markey – Mark Bayer
(202) 225-2836

Meehan – Matt Vogel
(202) 225-0772

Tierney – Brooke McNally
(202) 256-7671

MassDTI – Cort Boulanger
(339) 222-2442


The Massachusetts Defense Technology Initiative (MassDTI) – co-chaired by Senator Edward Kennedy and Governor Mitt Romney, and with the leadership of Senator John Kerry, and Congressmen Ed Markey, Marty Meehan and John Tierney – today celebrated the preservation of Hanscom Air Force Base and the Soldier Systems Center – Natick through the independent review of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRACC).

The preservation of Hanscom and Natick ensures that more than 33,000 technology-focused jobs will remain in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts leaders expressed concern over the Commission’s decision to overturn the Pentagon’s recommendations to realign new mission and jobs to Hanscom. However, Hanscom has emerged from the process as the nation’s preeminent Center of Excellence for C4ISR technology, which makes the base attractive to future military growth.

MassDTI Co-Chair, Senator Kennedy, said, “We won this battle on May 13, when the Pentagon decided not to close Hanscom, saving 30,000 jobs in Massachusetts, and instead saw the immense potential for growth. The Pentagon’s proposal was a confirmation of the value of our technology intellectual capital. It’s unfortunate that the Pentagon misclassifed the jobs in their recommendation, making it difficult for the commissioners to endorse additional new jobs at Hanscom. Even though the commission did not approve the additional new jobs at Hanscom, they did recognize that it would be appropriate to send additional research and development jobs to Hanscom, and would allow the Defense Department to do so outside of the BRAC process.”

MassDTI Co-Chair, Governor Romney, said, "The Commission's actions today reaffirm what we have always known, Hanscom and Massachusetts are a premier high tech center for research and development. I am pleased our team successfully made the case to keep Hanscom open and viable for years to come. I am disappointed we are not adding new jobs at Hanscom today, but our expectation is that as military spending and research grows, so will Hanscom."

Senator Kerry said, "Hanscom will remain a vital part of our country's defense and the region's economy, something we've been fighting for since the BRAC process began more than two years ago. The BRAC Commission made the wrong decision today by not giving Hanscom more mission. Our war fighters need the cutting-edge technologies developed by the hard working men and women at Hanscom."

Congressman Markey said, “While we are disappointed that the BRAC Commission has voted to overturn the Pentagon recommendation to expand Hanscom, this is still another important victory for Natick SSC and Hanscom AFB. Our installations are not closing and instead are now on third base with a lead as the BRAC process moves into the final stage. The Commission vote today confirms what our team has always known and what the Pentagon reaffirmed in May: the Natick and Hanscom missions are high technology missions and they cannot be done better anywhere else in the country - that is a testament to the great strength of our workforce, our schools, our companies, and our knowledge-based economy."

Congressman Meehan said, “We're obviously disappointed by this change in the original recommendations, but are<