Executive Order

Executive Order  No. 541: Establishing the Commonwealth's Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force

Date: 02/27/2012
Issuer: Timothy P. Murray, Acting Governor
Mass Register: No. 1204

Table of Contents

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth is extremely proud of its men and women who have continued to answer the nation’s call to arms to preserve and defend its freedom and liberties;

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth has always been committed to providing benefits and services for veterans and military families, while advancing and expanding opportunities for them in the areas of education, workforce development, employment, housing, and healthcare;

WHEREAS, the national security mission and value to America at each of the Commonwealth’s military installations is key to public safety and regional economic development, as they serve as hubs and generators for local defense and aerospace related expenditures, jobs and investments;

WHEREAS, defense related contracts from the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Homeland Security annually generate significant funds into the Commonwealth’s manufacturing and business industries, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions to provide essential equipment, supplies and technical services in support of national defense operations;  

WHEREAS, the defense industry is a vitally important component of the Commonwealth’s economy;

WHEREAS, the most crucial and visible interactions between military installations and citizens occur locally in the base communities; and

WHEREAS, we must continue to build on what has historically made the Commonwealth an economic and societal leader by protecting and expanding our military installations and their missions by harnessing our intellectual capital, our tradition of innovation, the courage of entrepreneurship, the work-ethic of our people, and our commitment to public education;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Timothy P. Murray, Acting Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution, Part 2, c. 2, § 2, Art. III and Part 2, c. 2, § I, Art. I, do hereby order as follows:

Section 1.  There is hereby established the Commonwealth’s Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force (hereinafter referred to as the “Task Force”).  The purpose of the Task Force is to protect and expand missions, jobs and economic investments at and surrounding Massachusetts’ federal and state military installations by:

  1. Engaging with industry, nonprofit, municipal officials, and community members surrounding each installation in order to enhance, expand, add or otherwise improve missions, programs, facilities, and operations on or affecting the military installations in the Commonwealth.  The Task Force shall participate in dialogue with community partners in the vicinity of each military installation to create and expand upon the community impact each installation has in the municipality and surrounding cities and towns.  These partners include but are not restricted to: chambers of commerce, business associations, education officials, workforce development officials, municipal officials, elected officials, and veteran and military family support agencies.
  2. Developing, coordinating, and implementing actions in the areas of workforce training, infrastructure improvements, environmental and utility savings, housing, and transportation to support the missions at military installations in the Commonwealth.
  3. Identifying steps the Commonwealth can take to remedy problem areas before preliminary recommendations from the federal government are adopted and missions are implemented.
  4. Advising the Governor and Executive and Legislative Branch officials regarding the ongoing efforts by the U.S. Department of Defense to close, realign, restructure, streamline, or otherwise take actions that would impact military installations located within the Commonwealth.

Section 2. The Task Force shall be chaired by the Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth and shall consist of the following members or their designees:

The Secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security; the Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard; the Commander of the Massachusetts Air National Guard; the Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development; the Secretary of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development; the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs; the Secretary of the Executive Office of Education; the Secretary of Administration and Finance; the Secretary of the Department of Transportation; the Chief Executive Officer of the Massachusetts Port Authority; the Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Services; the President and Chief Executive Officer of MassDevelopment; One (1) member from the Massachusetts State Senate, recommended by the Senate President; and One (1) member from the Massachusetts House of Representatives, recommended by the Speaker of the House.

To the extent permitted by law, every agency within the Executive Branch shall make all reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Task Force and to furnish all information and assistance requested by the Task Force.

Section 3.  The Lieutenant Governor and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall serve as the point of contact with federal, state, and local elected and non-elected officials to coordinate with government and the public and private sectors on this work.  

Section 4.  The Task Force shall meet at times and places to be determined by the Chair and shall establish working groups, meetings, forums and any other activity deemed necessary to carry out its mandate.

Section 5.  The Task Force may call upon the University of Massachusetts to supply statistical data, program reports, and other information and assistance necessary to perform its work.

Section 6.  This Executive Order shall take effect immediately and shall continue in effect until amended, superseded, or revoked by subsequent Executive Order.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this twenty-seventh day of February in the year two thousand and twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America two hundred and thirty-five.


TIMOTHY P. MURRAY
ACTING GOVERNOR
Commonwealth of Massachusetts


WILLIAM FRANCIS GALVIN
Secretary of the Commonwealth

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