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News Index
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Hanscom Officials Celebrate Survival (Metrowest Daily News)
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By Maureen O'Connell / Daily News Staff
Saturday, August 27, 2005
The expansion may not be going forward, but Hanscom Air Force Base's continuing operation is a victory itself, area officials say.
Federal, state and town officials from Bedford, Concord, Lincoln and Lexington said yesterday they are disappointed, but not surprised that the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) rejected the Pentagon's plan to add 1,000 jobs and three new buildings to Hanscom Air Force Base.
"It's a little bit disappointing, of course. We obviously would have liked to have seen the mission and the base expand...But we kept saying, 'It ain't over until it's over,' and it wasn't," Bedford selectmen Chairman Gordon Feltman said.
"The important thing is that Hanscom survives," he said.
Hanscom employs 8,500 people. Approximately 3,000 are military personnel working directly for the base, 2,200 are employees of Lincoln Laboratories and more than 600 are civilians working at businesses on the base, according to Hanscom Air Force Base data.
The Air Force Base is said to contribute $3.1 billion to the Massachusetts economy. Maintaining that is the best news of all, said Concord Selectman Ann Shapiro.
"We're still looking forward to the Air Force Base remaining, and that's encouraging," said Shapiro, who is chairman of the Hanscom Area Towns Selectmen. "The expectation is the work that's done here will have strong support in the years to come."
About 200 jobs are expected to be lost under BRAC's recommendation, unwelcome news for a region that was expecting to add 1,100 jobs. Bedford Selectman Sheldon Moll said yesterday he hoped the 200 jobs could be found through retirements and attrition.
Lexington Selectman Jeanne Krieger said she chose not to focus on the possible loss of jobs, but instead the recognition of Hanscom's important role to the U.S. military.
"I attribute that to the strength of our workforce and our schools," she said.
State Rep. Thomas Stanley, D-Waltham, said although he was happy the base would remain open, he was disappointed in the politics of the BRAC process.
"I am very surprised that what is supposed to be a process void of politics, (that there were) all the surprises and changes the past couple of days (with) the BRAC voting."
Stanley covers the 9th Middlesex District, which includes Lexington.
U.S. Rep. Martin Meehan, D-5th, issued a statement Thursday, saying even though he would have preferred to see expansion at the base, "We are pleased that the BRAC Commission recognized Hanscom's unique military value."
He continued, "Hanscom is the pre-eminent development center for military communications and intelligence technology in the country...Hanscom is poised to play an essential role going forward as we modernize and transform our military."
Hanscom's role in the success of the military has been recognized by BRAC, said Meehan's colleague, U.S. Rep. Ed Markey, D-7th.
"Our installations are not closing and instead are now on third base with a lead as the BRAC process moves into the final stage," said Markey. "This is a testament to the great strength of our workforce, our schools, our companies and our knowledge-based economy."
Earlier this year, the Massachusetts Defense Technology Initiative developed a plan in cooperation with Gov. Mitt Romney and Sen. Edward Kennedy, to expand the base's scope, in hopes to show its importance to Pentagon officials and encourage its continued operation. In May, the Pentagon endorsed DTI's plan to keep Hanscom open and add jobs.
BRAC will send its report to the president on Sept. 8. By Sept. 23, the president must eit
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