May 2005

Volume 28, Number 3
May 2005

“A Great Day for Massachusetts”
Hanscom, Natick Winners in Base Closing Process
Council-led MassDTI Praised for Campaign, New Tech Jobs to MA

One of the most critical economic victories in the 28-year history of the Council came to pass on Friday, May 13 when the Department of Defense recommended the expansion of Hanscom Air Force Base and the retention of the entire core mission of the Natick Soldier Systems Center. This decision came 18 months after the Council board of directors voted to accept the private sector leadership role for the state’s efforts to preserve and expand the bases through the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process.

Friday the 13th Turns Lucky for Massachusetts

Despite years of prognostications that Hanscom and Natick were vulnerable to closure and in the face of predictions of difficult challenges ahead for military installations in the Northeast, the state’s two technical military facilities have emerged from the process stronger than ever.  The May 13 victory is a result of the hard work, creativity and cooperation from dozens of people from all levels of government, academia and the business technology community.  “We were able to flip the negative perception that’s widely held in Washington about our ability to expand and accommodate new mission at Hanscom and Natick,” said Massachusetts High Technology Council President Christopher Anderson, who also serves as president of the affiliated Massachusetts Defense Technology Initiative (MassDTI).

At a press conference on the State House steps, MassDTI co-chairs, Senator Edward Kennedy and Governor Mitt Romney were joined by Congressmen Ed Markey, Marty Meehan, John Tierney and William Delahunt, and Council President Christopher Anderson to address the BRAC results for Massachusetts.  The state leaders trumpeted the efforts in support of the defense technology community and called the decision a tribute to the technological excellence of the state.

"Today is a reaffirmation that here in Massachusetts, we have the best technology for our national security and for our leadership for the future.”
– Senator Edward M. Kennedy

“Thanks to the work of this extraordinary team, Hanscom is going to grow, Massachusetts is going to see literally hundreds of new direct military jobs, and potentially thousands more jobs in the private sector.”
– Governor Mitt Romney

"While (today's) announcement by Secretary Rumsfeld will be a significant step in this process, it is important to remember that it is not the final step. If, as we hope, Natick and Hanscom are not on the Secretary's list of recommended realignments or closures, our team is prepared to carefully analyze the data and ensure that the decision stands."
– Congressman Ed Markey

“The case we made for Hanscom worked. Without the hard work of the local community and Massachusetts businesses it would not have been possible to propose such a comprehensive expansion plan.”
– Congressman Marty Meehan