BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker is headed to Washington to make the case for the state’s six military installations.
The governor is scheduled to meet Tuesday with a Pentagon official and two U.S. senators from New England who could play a role in any future military base closings process.
Baker says the military bases support more than 60,000 jobs and generate more than $13 billion in overall economic activity for the Bay State.
He’ll meet on Capitol Hill with U.S. Sens. Kelly Ayotte, a New Hampshire Republican, and Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat. Both serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The governor also is scheduled to meet with John Conger, the acting assistant secretary of defense for energy, installations and environment, and with U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, a Boston Democrat.
And Baker yesterday named Christopher Willenborg to serve as Executive Director of the Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force, created in 2012, to promote and strengthen the Commonwealth’s six military installations and their impact on local communities and economies at the federal, state and local level.
“Massachusetts’ military installations are highly regarded here at home and throughout the ranks of the U.S. Armed Services,” said Baker. “From the Natick Soldier Systems Center to advances in cybersecurity at Hanscom Air Force Base, the Commonwealth and its service members are critical to both our local economies and communities and our national defense, and will remain a priority for the Lt. Governor and I throughout our administration. I look forward to Chris Willenborg’s service in this important role as one of the Commonwealth’s chief advocates for our military families.”
“The Commonwealth’s six military installations serve as critical defense infrastructure, and generate substantial economic activity in the surrounding region,” said Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED) Secretary Jay Ash. “Mr. Willenborg’s management experience in the airport industry will be an asset to the administration as we work to retain a robust defense and an expanding economy.”
Housed within the Office of the Governor and supported by EOHED and MassDevelopment, the Task Force coordinates among the Commonwealth’s six military facilities to maximize their efficiency.
“I am excited to work with the Baker-Polito administration to leverage the unique military assets Massachusetts has to offer,” said Willenborg. “I look forward to working with the military leadership; federal, state, and local legislative delegations; and industry stakeholders to ensure that our bases maximize their national security and economic impact to the Commonwealth.”
Willenborg has been an active member of the Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force since 2012, representing the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). He has worked in MassDOT’s Aeronautics Division since 2009, where he developed and implemented the first MassDOT Strategic Plan and Operations Plan. Prior to joining MassDOT, Chris was the airport manager of Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport for over nine years and has been involved in airport management and aviation for over 20 years. He serves as a member of the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Corporation Infrastructure Committee, Westfield Technical Academy Aviation Advisory Committee and has served as a board member of the Westfield Rotary Club and the Westfield Chamber of Commerce. He lives with his wife and two children in Southwick.
