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President's Corner
Meigs Ranch Developement Easment
After a number of years a work, a development easement on the NW corner of the Fort is in place. This provide direct encroachment protection to the Black Tower UAS/UAV training complex. Special thanks to Tom Finnegan who has been a driving force in seeing this to completion. A thanks to the Country Board of Supervisors and the Nature Conservancy.
8/4/2010 10:59:39 PM
Electronic Range Bill Signing
Governor Janet Napolitano signed SB 1387, designating the boundaries of an electronic test range at Ft Huachuca. This is an historic step in the protection of very resource that lead the the reopening of Fort Huachuca in 1954- namely the electromagnetic (radio) environment. This is also the first recognition of a non-projectile range in law. We encourage the Departments of Defense and the Army to follow suit and further codify the existence of this range and it`s importance to the National Defense.
6/3/2010 12:32:43 PM
Funding of the MIF in the State Budget
Senator John Nelson has secured $5M of funding for the Military Installation Fund in the closing days of the developing a budget for the State of Arizona. This is the program that funded a development easement on the NW corner of Fort Huachuca providing some protection for UAV operations at Black Tower. Given the current fiscal crisis, not only will this money be seen as easy pickings by some as the budget comes to closure, but it is doubly important in addressing encroachment around our military installations. Defense budget cuts are on the horizon as early as next fiscal year. These pending cuts will cause the Army to make stationing and force structure decisions that could affect Fort Huachuca. They already have announced some changes—three new brigade combat teams (BCT) were canceled this week impacting Forts Stewart, Carson and Bliss.
Please take a few moment today to call or write Senator Nelson and express your support for his effort to fund the MIF.
Web Page: click the title above , Email: jnelson@azleg.gov and phone: 305-926-5872
-Larry Portouw
6/3/2010 12:31:23 PM
Board Changes
I would like to welcome COL(R) Thomas Roxberry to the board. He was voted onto the board at our last meeting to fill a long time vacancy. I also want to wish Terri Metzger all the best as she leaves the Board to serve overseas for a year. Thank you for your service, Terri.
6/3/2010 12:30:23 PM
86th Signal Battalion to Move to Ft Bliss
The announcement Tuesday of the relocation of the 86th Signal Battalion to Ft Bliss caught folks by surprise, not in that it is going to happen, but in the timing. There was no indication that the announcement was imminent. The relocation of the 86th had been rumored for over a year. Business decisions like this are made by the Army to better support its missions. While relocation of the 86th is disappointing and it has some short term economic impact, we should also consider that there has been slow, but steady growth in other mission areas on the Fort that are likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
6/3/2010 12:30:00 PM
New Board Members
I would like to extend a welcome and congratulations to our newest board members, Jon Hitchcock from JITC, and Steve Pedigo, from Northrup Grumman. Both were elected at our annual meeting on the 16th. Jon will be seated immediately to fill a vacancy, and Steve this summer to fill a pending vacancy.
6/3/2010 12:24:58 PM
State Lands Exchange Amendment
I am pleased to report that SB1410 passed the House yesterday, 60-0 and was sent to the Senate. This constitutional amendment is important to the prevention of encroachment around the States military installations. We expect to now see this on the November ballot. Thank you to the DM50 and the Fighter Country Partnership for the support and partnership with the Fort Huachuca 50 on this measure. The easement was funded by the State of Arizona Military Installation Fund (MIF), not the Army.
6/2/2010 11:36:08 PM
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