Lincoln Journal
Wednesday, May 5, 2004

Group to lobby for Hanscom's survival

By Stephen Hagan / Staff Writer

One of the interests currently keeping a close watch on the federal
government's Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process is working to
maintain, and possibly enhance operations at Hanscom Air Force Base.

But Chris Anderson, president of Massachusetts Defense Initiative, admits
having an impact on leaders in the nation's capital will be no easy task.

The MassDTI, a public/private partnership created to "preserve and enhance"
the state's two largest defense technology centers, Hanscom Air Force Base
and Natick's U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center, is supported by Sen. Ted
Kennedy and Gov. Mitt Romney. Each serves as co-chairmen of the group.

"They've been working terrifically in that capacity, with joint appearances
in Washington with key high-level Department of Defense officials arguing
for the importance of the base to the nation's military mission." said
Anderson. "I think you'll see a lot more of both the governor and the
senator and other members of the state's Congressional delegation."

Anderson sees Air Force operations at Hanscom as not only vital to the
area's economy, but essential to the nation's defense system. The federal
government plans to announce its list of recommended base closures in the
nation in 2005.

But MassDTI feels the system now in place to consider the base closures is
not working. The group's chief concern is that BRAC reviews have failed to
fully consider the contribution technical facilities at Hanscom and Natick
have to offer to the U.S. military.

"The old rules should not apply to Hanscom Air Force Base," said Anderson.
"Unfortunately, in prior BRAC missions, the technology missions have not
been evaluated. Our challenge is to make a compelling case for expanding the
technology missions at Hanscom and take advantage of our intellectual
capacity, which is unmatched anywhere else in the country."

Alan Macdonald, the executive director of the Massachusetts Defense
Technology Initiative, said the BRAC process is not seen in the private
sector.

"We need to make the pitch," he said. "The process specifically says to
every military official 'You can not affect the BRAC process.' The state has
to go out and make the pitch for the installation."

Macdonald said while the outcome of the process is difficult to predict, he
feels the initiative has a good argument to make.

"I feel very good about the case we're making," he said.

He said the BRAC process does a very good job at evaluating such assets as
the length of runway and the number of acres available at a military
facility, it fails to give enough weight to such non-tangible matters as
technology development.

"The mission at the base is about developing and implementing the highest
quality technology ability for the war fighter," he said. "Hanscom's
technology separates us from any other military base in the world."

- Jobs and Revenue

MassDTI claims that having both Hanscom and Natick Labs as centerpieces of
the state's defense technology cluster is a must, pointing to approximately
30,000 jobs created by base operations and $3.5 billion that is pumped each
year into the state's economy

"...MassDTI is working to ensure that these bases' unique characteristics
and their contribution to military value are fully recognized and carefully
assessed during the BRAC 2005 process, according to MassDTI's Web site -
Massdti.com.

In March, the state Legislature approved a $500,000 appropriation for the
initiative, which was assembled by the Massachusetts High Technology
Council. The council is leading the state's effort to keep the bases open.

MassDTI's annual budget amounts to $1.5 million, according to Anderson, with
much of that coming from the private sector. The leadership on the
organization's Steering Committee includes representatives from the
Massachusetts Institute for Technology, Bedford's MITRE Corp., Dynamics
Research Corp., EMC Corp., Massport and the Lahey Clinic.

"They all sit on the leadership committee and provide input and guidance for
strategic decisions," said Anderson. "We are broadly represented by the
state's academic, scientific and political institutions.

So far, MassDTI has urged federal officials to reconsider changes to the
BRAC process, so that technology missions are given more weight than in the
past. Anderson said that under the old BRAC process, base closures focused
mostly on runway length and its capacity for expanded operations.

No more. Now, members of the BRAC Commission will also weigh the
technological capital each base can provide, as it develops its list of
bases to be recommended for closure.

"The message we have to business owners and residents in nearby communities
is we have an uphill battle," said Anderson. "It's extremely important to
the community to express support for the Air Force Base. We have an uphill
battle."

To help that effort, MassDTI plans to communicate with not only the
selectmen in the four town's that make up Hanscom Field, Lincoln, Lexington,
Concord and Bedford, but also with officials in most eastern Massachusetts
towns.

Anderson said the Base Realignment and Closure Commission will be appointed
in March of 2005, with the Department of Defense to submit its list of base
closures in May, 2005. Final action on the recommendations could take place
in September 2005, which will need the approval of the House of
Representatives, the U.S. Senate and the signature of the president.

However, Anderson said the 2005 schedule could be delayed up to two years,
now that legislation has been offered on Capitol Hill to push back the
schedule.

"With or without a delay, we are going to continue to make a compelling case
that our Massachusetts defense technology cluster can and should attract
additional (business) currently being conducted in different parts of the
country," said Anderson.

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