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Defense ties help keep Mass. strong
The article ("Mass. firms snaring more US work," Nov. 25, view article) asserts that "The Massachusetts economy has become increasingly reliant on Uncle Sam in recent years."
Though the numbers speak for themselves in terms of the direct linkage ($11.8 billion in contracts to Bay State companies in fiscal 2007), it may be more accurate to say that Uncle Sam is becoming more reliant on Massachusetts.
The prevailing theme during my work as president of the Massachusetts High Technology Council and Defense Technology Initiative's successful Base Realignment and Closing effort in 2005 was that proximity to our tech sector, educated workforce, and academic and research centers is crucial to the Department of Defense mission. With federal investment having doubled since 2000, it is fair to say that the region's research and development and tech base is the first place DOD thinks of when developing cutting-edge warfighting technologies. This steadily increasing reliance on this region's tech base will continue to be the driving force behind the Defense Technology Initiative's focus as we head toward any future BRAC process.
Christopher R. Anderson
Westford
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