MESSAGE FROM FMERA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BRUCE STEADMAN

Countdown to Closure

Bruce Steadman
FMERA Executive Director

September 12, 2011

The closure of a military facility is a complex and painful process. Complex because it includes myriad stakeholders, competing initiatives, limited resources, difficult-to-achieve timelines, and the uniqueness of each affected community. Painful because jobs are lost, futures clouded, and the social fabric of the community is changed forever as the active duty service men and women relocate to another facility.

When Fort Monmouth was selected for closure by the federal Base Realignment and Closure Commission in 2005, the decision was met with grave concern and considerable apprehension. After all, Fort Monmouth has been a major presence in Monmouth County and New Jersey for over 94 years, serving as a source of local pride and community investment. Fort Monmouth was the lead command for the Army in C4ISR development, acquisition and sustainment, and boasted 5, 500 highly skilled employees, one third of which were engineers and scientists. Further, reports show that an estimated 22,000 jobs were supported by the Fort statewide, a concern that was particularly pronounced in the affected communities of Eatontown, Oceanport and Tinton Falls. This is the challenging environment into which FMERA was born.

When the flag comes down on September 15, the Army’s mission at Fort Monmouth officially will end. However, FMERA’s mission will just be beginning, and as we move forward, the FMERA team is committed to the highest level of integrity, responsiveness, and professionalism. We are enthusiastic about the potential that the future holds, and about the many opportunities that await us.

To all of our stakeholders and partners, we give our continued thanks and appreciation for your help and support. To the residents and businesses of Monmouth County and the State of New Jersey, we give our resolve to achieve the successful reuse and redevelopment of Fort Monmouth. To the universe of prospective employers, investors, and developers, we give our promise of an exciting and sustainable project within which to create jobs and investment for years to come.