Rep. MacArthur Invites New Defense Secretary To See Joint Base's 'Critical Missions'

(Defense Secretary Ashton Carter‘s nomination was approved by Congress last week. Credit: U.S. Dept. of Defense)

With the Defense Department talking about another round of base closures, U.S. Rep. Tom MacArthur announced Tuesday he has invited Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter to tour Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

MacArthur, who represents the House’s 3rd District, which encompasses the base and parts of Ocean and Burlington counties, said in a news release that he issued the invitation so Carter, a Philadelphia native who was confirmed as the new Secretary of Defense last week by Congress, can see the many operations of the base firsthand. The base is the state’s second largest employer, state Sen. Stephen Sweeney has said.

“Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is an integral part of our national security apparatus, making it a prime location for Secretary Carter to visit as he begins his responsibilities as Secretary of Defense,” MacArthur said. “Keeping our country safe in a volatile and changing world comes with serious demands on our military. As the nation’s only tri-service installation, the Joint Base is uniquely equipped to meet many of those needs.”

Read the full letter to Secretary Carter here.

Last spring, the Defense Department asked Congress to authorize another round of base closures, according to the American Forces Press Service, which the department says it needs so it can shift funding to troop readinesss.

Congress rejected the request in December, when it approved the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, according to the Military Times.

The last round of base closures in 2005, which resulted in the shuttering of Fort Monmouth in Eatontown, cost the defense department $35 billion, according to the deparment, which says the closures save it $5 billion per year.

This is the fourth time Congress has rejected a request for further base closures, that report said.

In his letter, MacArthur details the critical missions tasked to McGuire Air Force Base, Fort Dix, and Lakehurst Naval Air Station and explains why the geographical location offers an additional advantage to the installation. He also advocates for future missions at the Joint Base, including the assignment of new KC-46 refueling tankers.

According to Carter’s biography on the Department of Defense website, he had responsibility for the department’s procurement reform and innovation agenda and successful completion of key procurements like the KC-46 tanker while he served as the department’s Undersecretary for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics from 2009 to 2011.

“The convenience and efficiency provided by having a tri-service military installation, supported additionally by the Marine Corps and Coast Guard, is unparalleled,” the letter reads. “On top of the benefits to our local community, southern New Jersey is also a competitive location for this installation due to our well-educated workforce, excellent infrastructure, and proximity to major metropolitan hubs like Philadelphia and New York City.”