Ceremony Signals End to BRAC

BRAC officially ended on Thursday, and officials involved gave the process a seal of approval.

A ceremony was held introducing the final additions to what was referred to throughout the morning as “The APG Family,” and doling out accolades for what Maj. Gen. Nick Justice called “a perfect BRAC.”

Base Realignment and Closure—or BRAC—involved the relocation of military and civilian positions from Ft. Monmouth, NJ to Aberdeen Proving Ground. The process began in 2005.

All mandated relocations to APG have been completed, and new BRAC facilities have been occupied, according to an APG statement.

“All those immediate, operational needs from the field will come through this command,” it said. “We may farm them out to other special centers, but the solutions are managed through here. That’s the short-term, but here’s also where the long-term, future modernization of the Army is planned and set into motion.”

Of the approximately 22,000 in the APG workforce at the conclusion of BRAC, 8,200 are new positions. Some 4,400 positions departed Aberdeen, leaving a net gain of 6,500.

Among the incoming organizations are the following:

• Army Team C4ISR—including: CECOM, CERDEC, Army Contracting Center, PEO-C3T, PEO-IEW&S
• JPEO-CBD
• ATEC
• ARL-VTD
• ARI
• WRAIR

Flags from each organization were unveiled on stage to represent their inclusion in “The APG Family.”

Since BRAC began in 2005, outgoing organizations include the Ordnance Center and School, and the Army Environmental Command.

The impact on the surrounding neighborhoods has been gradual, but noticeable.

New business and retail centers have been developed along the Route 40 corridor, and development has continued into the heart of Harford County.

Harford County Executive pointed to the opening of the new Wegmans store in Abingdon—with its set for this weekend—as a physical sign that BRAC has made an impact locally.

“It is going to be affecting the economy of Harford County, easily, for the next 10 years, in a positive way,” Craig told Patch following the ceremony.

The transformation of Aberdeen Proving Ground will continue, too, including new housing and the renovation of historic homes on post, in order to create communities, Col. Andrew Nelson said.

Justice presented Nelson with a meritorious service medal for overseeing the transformation of APG.