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  September 15, 2011 has come and gone and one would think that BRAC has ended. However, as David Craig, Harford County Executive announced at a recent Town Hall meeting, “BRAC is on-time and under budget, and it is at the end of the beginning.” He compared it to a marriage –“There’s the wedding and then it begins”.
Craig, along with the Harford County Office of Economic Development and APG Officials hosted this final Town Hall Meeting that was held on Wed. Sept. 7, 2011 at Aberdeen High School.
“We just really started.”
One of the speakers at the Town Hall Meeting was J. Thomas Sadowski of the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore and BRAC Chair of the Planning Advisory Commission. Sadowski said he had always hoped to be there to the full implementation deadline and is proud and glad to have made it. He pointed out that “there’s still a lot of hard work, but only blue skies ahead. Now we have to stay on top of all the issues as we are moving forward. We have to keep coming up with creative ways to keep succeeding. Partnership is the key – public/private. We are the new tech on the Eastern Seabase. We are the symbol of true local leadership and ultimate preparedness.
We just really started.”
“This is what the country needs.”
Justin Hayes, representing Sen. Mikalski, mentioned that in the year 2000, five years before BRAC, Aberdeen was not poised for the changes. Over $200 million was invested in Aberdeen that hopefully would pay off later on. Aberdeen Proving Ground was looked at as a tremendous asset. Six years later there is job growth, new skills, new opportunities, highly skilled jobs, valuable STEM programs, a $1.5 million science and math academy at Aberdeen H.S. “We are in a good position nationwide.
This is what the country needs. Education and investment in APG means jobs.”
This is a celebration and we need to plan for tomorrow.”
The next speaker was Aberdeen Proving Ground Senior Installation Commander, MG Nickolas G. Justice. “The Transformation is very different. It’s the opposite of the typical. Young soldiers are moving out and the (civilian) workforce is moving in. They will be living in the surrounding Counties, permanently.  They will be raising their families here; children will be going to college. It’s a very unique workforce – the military will be the minority not the majority.” He praised Maryland saying, “We rarely find the kind of support that we found in Maryland. They always made themselves available.” Justice continued, “EUL is bringing businesses onto APG; education is coming out to support the economic engine -- already hiring school interns at the proving ground; APG’s whole focus is on higher education, basic research, delivery of products. We have a broader NE MD community coming together Young transient soldiers are just about gone and civilian population replaces them. That doesn’t include contractors coming in EUL facilities. We have partnerships right here. BRAC related construction. New technology to the sustainability phase. This doesn’t happen anywhere in the Army except for here. Renovation, building new buildings, infrastructure, keeping some barracks for historical purposes. We’re building not only the economy but a community.” He said, “C4ISR, a few months ago was a skeleton and now a massive complex – an international Hub of Science, Technology & Engineering – labs, high performance computers, prototype integration, clean room facilities, environmental chambers, test facilities. Leadership in this state had a vision way before BRAC. They wanted to make Maryland a high tech community. A decade later, here we go. What happens in 2015 and in 2025? Lots of transportation infrastructure being done. There are 8,000 new BRAC commuters, 4,000 plus EUL commuters to APG.”  He concluded, “This was the easiest BRAC in the Army despite the fact that it is the biggest.
This is a celebtration and we need to plan for tomorrow.”
“There will be profound challenges.”
BG (Ret.) Mike Hayes, MD Department of Business and Economic Development reported that “This community has absolutely better embraced this BRAC than anywhere else in the country, once the Army Alliance, Army and politicals got together.” He then talked about future BRAC -- full engagement when resources are very limited; need to focus on community traffic and transportation in particular; economic impact. “In analysis 2003” he said, “the economic impact was $l.8 billion. In 2008, it (was) $4.3 billion. There will be profound challenges. Defense will be impacted.” He went on, “We are very optimistic the APG will flourish and be in great shape up here no matter what happens nationwide.”
“APG is the newest economic power.”
Director of Harford County Office of Economic Development, James C. Richardson, gave the following information:  “APG is the newest economic power. The number of employees in Maryland is 8,300 on post (6,300 relocated with their positions); 61% live in Harford County; there are 7,500 – 10,000 off-post contractors. Milestone achieved: APG went to a $20 billion installation; 76 new defense contractors moved into Harford Co.; 17.8% to Cecil Co., and then New Castle. In 2010 there was a one year housing inventory and now 6 mos. 73.9% foreclosure rate is down; unemployment 2% less than national average, five new office parks, total demand for over 2 million more sq. ft., Water’s Edge and Hickory Ridge, some new office buildings, CSSC, the new Rt. 40 Swan Creek Village, scitech, new retail, home goods, Wegman’s. APG is the birthplace of cyber – ENIAC originated at APG. APG will be part of cyber security. Higher education is our next step, using universities’ models. Transformation issues: improve east/west travel; train stations – we need more train connectivity. The bids for Edgewood train station – Sept. 2011. A strong partnership is needed in cyber Maryland and APG.

  County Executive Craig closed the meeting with: “We salute the warfighters. BRAC ensures son and daughter warfighters come home safely.”

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Since its inception in 2005, the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) program continues to progress steadily at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG). In order to answer some pertinent questions for our readers regarding BRAC at APG, the Armed Forces Directory conducted a Q&A interview with the APG-Chesapeake Science & Security Corridor Regional BRAC Office, which serves as the resource for many BRAC-related activities and programs. The following is the result of that interview.

To date, how many people have relocated to APG and how many more are expected?

More than 1,860 personnel have transferred to APG as a result of BRAC. With new facility occupancy beginning in August, approximately 1,400 more jobs will transfer to APG through fall 2010. Following full BRAC implementation by September 2011- (including existing personnel transfers and new hires) - Aberdeen Proving Ground will grow by approximately 8,500 civilian DoD positions.

With the influx of the tremendous number of new workers into the area, it is understandable that one of the biggest challenges will be workforce mobility. What is being done to address this challenge?

Workforce mobility is an important issue for the region. In order to mitigate roadway congestion, efforts are underway to look at rail service and schedules, commuter bus usage, shuttle service on and off the installation, and encourage the use of carpools and vanpools. Coordination between Maryland and Delaware transportation agencies has occurred in applying for federal funding, and traffic demand management initiatives are being studied and implemented—from synchronized signalization to modified work schedules and telecommuting. Our focus continues to be on a multimodal transportation hub at the Aberdeen train station that coordinates rail, bus and shuttle services to mobilize our workforce in the northeastern corridor.

In addition to preparing for workforce mobility, what infrastructure improvements have already been made and what future infrastructure improvements/changes are planned?
The 715 Gate expansion was the first completed BRAC project in Maryland, increasing two lanes to seven lanes including both visitor and commercial access points. The intersection improvement for MD 715/US 40/MD 7 has been the region’s top priority because of its proximity to the base; groundbreaking for this project will take place in October. Harford County’s water treatment expansion has been increased by 10 million gallons per day and collaboration among municipalities and Harford County further water capacity reallocation efforts.

How is public safety expected to affect the area and what steps are being taken to help prevent and/or alleviate possible issues?
Early on CSSC studies looked at capital inventory and public facilities regarding hospitals, schools, detention centers and parks and recreation. A regional workforce study also conducted a gap analysis to determine personnel needs in healthcare, education, law enforcement and emergency services and how to address any shortages as opportunities for spousal employment related to BRAC relocation. The region can absorb and accommodate the BRAC-related growth. Continued coordination among jurisdictions (i.e. public safety/emergency services) is strengthened through best practices and joint application efforts for state and federal programs.

What impact has BRAC growth had on residents and businesses in the APG and surrounding communities and how are these communities expected to be impacted in the future?
BRAC is not–and was never anticipated to be – a tidal wave of growth to the surrounding communities. BRAC is here. Personnel moves came in consistently as phased moves and continue to do so. The results have been new neighbors, new companies, new students and more-frequently-spotted New Jersey and Virginia license plates in store parking lots. More than 36 defense contractor companies have moved to the APG area over the past 18 months; the housing market is seeing increased activity, commercial real estate is moving, and a Wegman’s is under construction! For many, the BRAC implementation deadline will come and go with only the recognition of new facilities and new amenities in support of the growth.

To help ensure a positive quality of life for the communities impacted by BRAC growth, what plans are in place to accommodate the new needs of these communities, such as housing, jobs for spouses, schools, higher education, child development, child and adult day care, medical care, health and human services, social life and events, faith and worship resources.
Planning for such growth has been underway now for several years, so no surprises are in store when addressing growth-related needs. Harford County, as home to APG will receive the majority of jobs and residents. An aggressive capital facilities program for schools has resulted in three new high schools and an elementary school is underway. Healthcare institutions are expanding with new wings, new services, and satellite offices. Higher education institutions are also working together with K-12 and employers as we look at the continuum of a growing professional and technical workforce. Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics (STEM) is critical now more than ever before; the reality of the importance of one’s financial and behavioral history when recognizing that most government jobs – nearly 85% will require a security clearance. Our young people will have new opportunities - compared with the pre-BRAC workforce where nearly 50% out-commute to work each day: they can live and work in their own community. The BRAC 2005 decision has been a catalyst of transformation for APG and its surrounding communities. Through partnerships, strategic planning and regional effort, we can all be proud of the quality of life our growing defense community offers.