RD78 - 2012 Annual Report on the Virginia Military Advisory Council


Executive Summary:
The Virginia Military Advisory Council (VMAC) was created as an advisory council to maintain a cooperative and constructive relationship between the Commonwealth and the leadership of the Armed Forces of the United States and the military commanders of such Armed Forces stationed in the Commonwealth, and to encourage regular communication on continued military facility viability, the exploration of privatization opportunities and issues affecting preparedness, public safety, and security.

The VMAC is composed of thirty-two (32) members representing military, legislators, private partners, and executive leadership from the Commonwealth. The Chairman is selected by the Council among its membership. The House of Delegates and Virginia Senate each appointed new members to serve on the VMAC during 2012. As a result of changes in the normal rotation of installation commanders, seven new members joined the VMAC in 2012. The Council added one legislative position and six military positions during 2012. These positions were:

Chair, Military Caucus, Virginia General Assembly
Commandant, Naval District Washington
Commander, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
Commander, Norfolk Naval Shipyard
Commander, Naval Station Norfolk
Commander, Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads
Commander, Norfolk District, US Army Corps of Engineers

The Council has two subcommittees, Quality of Life and Oceana/Fentress Advisory Council, which focus on major issues pertaining to the military. The Military - Civil Mutual Aid, which was created two years ago, was inactivated upon fulfilling its purpose.

Rear Admiral Townsend (Tim) G. Alexander, Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, continued to serve as the Chairman during 2012. Through his leadership, overall involvement by the commanders within the Commonwealth increased during the past year. This allowed for the Commonwealth to address several distinct and important issues which will be commented on in this report.

This year, the Council dedicated one of its meetings to giving installation commanders an opportunity to provide a status report on their installation as well as identify any issues which the Commonwealth may be able to address in order to better support the military. The commanders identified thirty-seven (37) unique issues for consideration. A total of eight (8) issues have been addressed throughout the year and ten (10) issues remain on the Council's agenda to be taken up in the future. The remaining issues are beyond the scope of the VMAC. Periodic updates are provided to the commanders during subsequent meetings.