Lt. Governor Cawley Says Pennsylvania Military Base Commission Must be Proactive

FT. INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa., Sept. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With an estimated $30 billion in economic impact and 200,000 jobs at stake, Lt. Governor Jim Cawley today challenged the members of the PA Military Base Protection Commission to be proactive in advocating on behalf of the 12 military installations in the state.

Governor Tom Corbett established the commission to monitor federal decision-making that impacts the state's bases and appointed Cawley to chair the effort.

"Gov. Corbett has challenged this commission to better understand our military assets and then to be proactive in telling the story of how important our bases are to the entire country," Cawley said.  "I am ready to take up that challenge. I know you are as well."

The commission heard a report from the state Department of Labor and Industry showing that military installations add nearly $30 billion to the state economy and account for more than 200,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly.

"We are here to continue the fight for our bases and to fight for the men and women, both military and civilian, who work at these bases – because they deserve it," Cawley said.  

"The need for fiscal responsibility must be weighed carefully against the need of critical services, like providing for the common defense. The bases in PA play a vital role in supporting our nation's military services and in ensuring our national security," Cawley said.

Commission members include:

• Lt. Governor Jim Cawley, Chairman
• Senator Richard Alloway
• Senator John Blake
• Rep. Garth Everett
• Rep. Harry Readshaw
• Lt. General Ronald Adams (ret.), Senior Military Advisor
• Maj. General Ronald Nelson (ret.), representing Naval Support Activity Philadelphia
• Two Star Admiral Nancy Lescavage (ret.), representing Philadelphia Naval Yard
• John Wiercinski, (USAF, ret.), Regional VP for Geisinger Northeast, representing Tobyhanna Army Depot
• Brig. General Carol Eggert, Assistant Adjutant General, PA National Guard
• Phyllis Campbell, former Deputy Commander, Defense Distribution Center in New Cumberland
• George Connolly, (USN, ret.), former Executive Director of Naval Support Activity Mechanicsburg
• Neal Delisanti, (US Army, ret.), Director of Veterans Affairs, Cumberland County, representing Carlisle Barracks and Army War College
• L. Michael Ross, President, Franklin County Area Development Corp., representing Letterkenny Army Depot
• Charles Holsworth, (USAF reserve), Chair, Military Affairs Council of Western PA, representing 911^th Airlift Wing
• Lt. Colonel William Pentecost, (US Army), representing 316^th Expeditionary Sustainment Command

For more information, visit www.pa.gov.

Media contact:  Chad Saylor, 717-787-3300

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Lieutenant Governor