MassDevelopment

Governor, Congressional Delegation Announce Addition of Major, Highly Technical Program Directorate at Hanscom

Expected to bring 80+ high-tech jobs and potential for future growth


March 4, 2016


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Kelsey Abbruzzese, MassDevelopment, 617-330-2086 & 617-448-9077
kabbruzzese@massdevelopment.com

The Massachusetts Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force, in partnership with Governor Charlie Baker and the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation, today announced the addition of another major, highly technical Department of Defense program directorate at Hanscom Air Force Base. The Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) Integration Directorate and Program Executive Officer (PEO) will be based at Hanscom Air Force Base.  The NC3 PEO will oversee the acquisition and integration of a complex system of land, air, and space technology programs that assures connectivity and communications between senior leaders and the U.S. nuclear forces; it will not house actual weapons. 

The addition of the NC3 Directorate to Hanscom will have immediate and long-term impacts. More than 40 positions will be added at Hanscom and another 40 positions with local contractors, along with the installation of a third high-ranking Program Executive Officer at Hanscom. This announcement acknowledges the importance of the Base's steadily growing mission and validates the unmatched technological expertise at Hanscom and throughout the surrounding region.

The Massachusetts Congressional Delegation and Governor Baker have strongly supported growing the mission at Hanscom due to its significant impact on the local economy and important role in providing U.S. service-members with cutting-edge resources. During the August 2015 visit from Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, the Governor, members of the Congressional delegation, and members of the Task Force all directly urged the Secretary to consider Hanscom AFB as the location for this new directorate. 

“Massachusetts’ military installations and local economies rely on the Commonwealth's ability to display our leadership in innovation and the latest technology, which the addition of NC3 to Hanscom Air Force Base reinforces,” said Governor Baker. “This decision demonstrates the Commonwealth's many strengths and in coordination with our federal delegation, the overwhelming support and recognition for the role our military facilities, service members and their families play in Massachusetts.”

“Hanscom Air Force Base plays a vital role in strengthening our national security,” Senator Elizabeth Warren said. “The Base's leadership in developing innovative defense technologies makes it the right choice to take on the NC3 mission.”

“Massachusetts is a national innovation incubator and our technological edge makes Hanscom the ideal place to establish a new nuclear command,” said Senator Edward J. Markey. “This new responsibility for Hanscom will create jobs in the Commonwealth and help protect our nation.”  

“Unlike any time in history, the military needs the best minds and talent to help them address modern threats. Massachusetts and Hanscom AFB in particular, undoubtedly has that expertise. It was shown firsthand to Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James when she visited last year at my invitation, and reinforced just last week when the DOD announced they were investing hundreds of millions of dollars to upgrade MIT's Lincoln Labs at Hanscom. Now, the establishment of the NC3 Directorate at Hanscom is even further evidence that the military, at its top levels, recognizes and appreciates what Hanscom and the Commonwealth have to offer: unmatched capabilities and benefits for our men and women in uniform that keep our military on the cutting edge of technical innovation.  By choosing Hanscom for this highly technical Directorate, the DOD is solidifying its commitment to seeing Hanscom's mission continue to grow; and ensuring that this base will continue to be an economic driver and job creator for years to come,” said Congresswoman Niki Tsongas.

“It’s no surprise that when it comes to a highly complex, technical portfolio like the NC3 Directorate’s, the Administration has placed its trust and confidence in the local talent and innovators at Hanscom Air Force Base,” said Congresswoman Katherine Clark. “Hanscom is a national example of the Commonwealth’s strength as a center for innovation and cutting edge technologies.”

“Hansom Air Force base is ideally suited to assist in managing the recapitalization of our nation’s nuclear command, control, and communications infrastructure,” said Congressman Seth Moulton. “Modern, effective communications technologies between the President and our military leaders are crucial to safely managing our nuclear capabilities. I look forward to continuing to work with Air Force leadership to ensure Massachusetts is a strong contributor to our national defense.”

Hanscom Air Force Base, the only active duty Air Force base in New England, is an 846-acre base located in Bedford, Lexington and Lincoln, bordering Concord.  At the base, a mix of active-duty military, civilian and contractor employees develop and acquire sophisticated radar, cyber and information technology-based systems that provide critical battlefield situational awareness to U.S. warfighters. Hanscom creates more than 6,000 direct and 10,000 indirect jobs for a total of more than 16,000 jobs, with a fiscal year 2013 economic impact of $6.1 billion for the Commonwealth’s economy. 

“We’re grateful the Air Force has recognized Hanscom’s leadership in advanced technology with this announcement,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Marty Jones. “The Task Force seeks to optimize the six Massachusetts military installations for increased missions such as the new NC3 command coming to Hanscom.” 

About the Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force
Housed within the Office of the Governor and supported by the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development and MassDevelopment, the Task Force coordinates among the Commonwealth’s six military facilities to maximize their efficiency. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is home to six military installations with more than $13 billion in total economic activity and support for nearly 58,000 jobs, including Hanscom Air Force Base, Natick Soldier Systems Center, Joint Base Cape Cod, Fort Devens, Westover Air Force Reserve Base and Barnes Air National Guard Base.