Schlossberg, BRAC Expert, to Speak in Lex Park
George R. Schlossberg, author of “How Congress Cleared the Bases: A Legislative History of BRAC”
Posted for The Patuxent Partnership
Communities that surround military bases can sometimes become uneasy at the mention of BRAC, or Base Realignment and Closure. Southern Maryland’s residents and businesses have come to depend on Patuxent River Naval Air Station in many ways.
The Patuxent Partnership, Southern Maryland Navy Alliance and the St. Mary’s County Chamber of Commerce are making plans to get out in front of a potential BRAC, starting with an event at 8 am Nov. 10, 2015, at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center called “Preparing for BRAC.”
George Schlossberg, BRAC expert, partner at Kutak Rock, LLP’s Washington, D.C. office, and author of “How Congress Cleared the Bases: A Legislative History of BRAC,” will deliver an hour-long presentation, covering criteria used to determine which bases will be on a BRAC list and what citizens can do ahead of time to avert a potential BRAC in their community.
BRAC is a process through which the Federal Government reorganizes its base structure to more efficiently support its force structure, increase operational readiness and facilitate new ways of doing business.
Earlier this year, the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations and Environment addressed the possibility of a future BRAC, indicating that the Department of Defense, Defense Secretary Ash Carter was requesting authority to conduct another BRAC.
More than 350 installations have been closed in five BRAC rounds: 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995, and 2005.
The 2005 Commission recommended that Congress authorize another BRAC round in 2015, and then every eight years thereafter. In 2012, the House Armed Services Committee rejected Pentagon calls for base closures outside of the 2015 round by a 44 to 18 vote. In 2014, attempts to fund another round of BRAC failed when funding was not approved in a May 2014 vote.
Mr. Schlossberg serves as Chair of Kutak Rock LLP’s Federal Practice and National Security Law Group and represents a number of state and local governments, federal departments and agencies, and private entities in connection with the reuse of military installations, government and commercial property transactions, government contracts, and financing government and commercial facilities.
Prior to joining Kutak Rock LLP, Mr. Schlossberg served for 10 years in various positions in the Pentagon, including Senior Counsel in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. While with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Mr. Schlossberg was instrumental in the drafting and policy implementation of the original 1988 Base Closure Act, the Defense Authorization Amendments and the Base Closure and Realignment Act.
There is no cost to attend this program. Advance registration is requested. To register, please visit www.paxpartnership.org.
