RD36 - Virginia Military Advisory Council 2014 Annual Report


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 was composed of thirty-seven (37) members representing military, legislators, private partners, and executive leadership from the Commonwealth. The Council was led by the Secretary of Veterans & Defense Affairs, John C. Harvey, Jr. The House of Delegates and Senate of Virginia each appointed members to serve on the VMAC during 2014. As a result of changes in the Administration Governor Terence R. McAuliffe appointed five (5) individuals which included the Secretary of Veterans & Defense Affairs, the Adjutant General, and three (3) appointments, all with significant backgrounds dealing with the military and the quality of life for military families. Through the normal rotation of installation commanders there were ten (10) new members in 2014. Additionally, there were two (2) new commands added to the VMAC, Fifth District US Coast Guard and Surface Combat Systems Center Wallops Island. Although these commands are not new to Virginia, these commanding officers chose to participate with the VMAC along with their peers.

Under the leadership of the Secretary of Veterans & Defense Affairs, the VMAC made changes in order to better focus the Commonwealth's support for the military, the service members and their families. In addition to Secretary Harvey there was another Secretary from Governor McAuliffe's cabinet attending each meeting. They made a presentation and listened to the concerns of the military community in an effort to determine what there Secretariat could do to support the military community. Their willingness to participate was a result of issues addressed to the Governor's Transition Team during the December 2013 VMAC meeting.