Definition of BRAC
"BRAC" is an acronym for "base realignment and closure." The United States federal government, specifically the Department of Defense and Congress, uses the BRAC process to realign and close military installations in order to cut costs and achieve efficiencies.
What BRAC Means Locally for MCB Quantico
In 2005, the federal BRAC Commission directed 5 military investigative agencies to co-locate to Marine Corps Base (MCB) Quantico no later than 15 September 2011. The relocating agencies and estimated jobs included:
745 --Counterintelligence Field Activity (CIFA) [CIFA is now part of
DIA - Defense Intelligence Agency]
743 --Headquarters Naval Criminal Investigative Service (HQ NCIS)
519 --Headquarters Air Force Office of Special Investigations (HQ AFOSI)
469 --Defense Security Service (DSS) [not including post-BRAC growth
of approx. 200 addtl. employees]
291 --Headquarters US Army Criminal Investigation Command (HQ USACIDC)
2,767 --TOTAL New Jobs [351 military, 1861 civilians, and 555 contractors, plus
approximately 200 students in two training academies.]
BRAC Updates
2,000 Employees Now Relocated
The new Russell-Knox building houses five investigative and counter-intelligence agencies. As of August 2011, the 2,767 employees relocated to the building, which is now completely occupied.
NEW Quantico regional planning group
In light of the ever-increasing need to form a better relationship between the Base and the Community to deal with pressing growth issues, Colonel Dan Choike (Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Base Quantico—MCBQ) called for the creation of a regional executive level planning group. This group, called the Quantico Regional Executive Steering Committee (QRESC), and its staff support group known as the Quantico Regional Planning Committee (QRPC), have begun meeting to identify, define, and prioritize activities which promote regional partnership and mutual benefits for the Base and surrounding communities. Currently, the QRESC and QRPC meet separately to discuss the implications of continued growth and to seek ways in which a regional partnership can benefit the Base and surrounding counties.
The wide-ranging regional approach of the QRESC and the QRPC expands the limited focus of the Quantico Growth Management Committee, created by Prince William and Stafford Counties in 2007 to address BRAC-related impacts on the community. To date, a combination of Federal and local funding obtained through the QGMC has enabled the Federal Highway Administration to initiate engineering work for the widening of U.S. Route 1 between the Triangle area of Prince William County and the Boswell’s Corner area of Stafford County - which includes both main entrances to the Base. This work will be completed in approximately one year. Russell Road west of I-95 has been widened as part of the BRAC program, and further widening and interchange improvement at Russell Road and U.S. Route 1 are being prioritized by MCBQ leaders for budgeting in 2015. A $4 million Defense Access Roads project at the intersection of Telegraph Road and U.S. 1 is anticipated to improve access to the Russell-Knox facility. Construction on this project is pending formal Congressional approval.
QGMC Final Meeting & Report
In response to the BRAC action, the Quantico Growth Management Committee (QGMC) was established in late 2005 by Prince William and Stafford Counties with support from the Department of Defense (DOD) Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA). The mission of the QGMC was to identify issues and opportunities related to Defense-associated growth, and develop growth management plans and strategies for implementation by local governing bodies. On October 3, 2011, the QGMC held its last meeting and issued its final report on the activity related to BRAC and its impacts on Marine Corps Base Quantico and the adjacent communities. However, the above-mentioned QRESC and QRPC will continue to meet and discuss the development of Quantico and the adjacent communities.
Read two news articles below about the final QGMC meeting, or click on the QGMC's former website for project history.
For more information regarding BRAC impacts on Quantico and Stafford County, please contact:
Tim Baroody
Deputy County Administrator
Director, Economic Development
1300 Courthouse Road
P.O. Box 339
Stafford, VA 22555
(540) 658-8681
tbaroody@staffordcountyva.gov