Acting Governor Guadagno Signs Executive Order Creating Military and Defense Economic Ombudsman

On Nov 11, 2015

Acting Governor Kim Guadagno recently signed Executive Order No. 192, which creates the appointed position of Military and Defense Economic Ombudsman and extends the New Jersey Military Installation Growth and Development Task Force until the end of Governor Christie’s term.

“New Jersey’s military installations are essential components of our State’s integrated economy and social fabric, contributing economic and societal benefits to communities all across the state,” said Acting Governor Kim Guadagno, who chairs the Task Force. “To best preserve our state’s critically important military installations and ensure their stability and growth, State policymakers must make every effort to attract new missions and economic development on and near those installations. It is important to demonstrate New Jersey’s commitment to preserving and strengthening our military installations by continuing the important work of the Task Force and appointing an Ombudsman to oversee the state’s path forward.”

The Task Force was created to protect the state’s military installations – its largest single employer – from sequestration and the looming possibility of future Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process. Together, New Jersey’s military installations and activities directly and indirectly support more than 73,000 jobs and add $6.5 billion to the Gross Domestic Product.

Extending the Task Force and creating the role of the Ombudsman were recommendations made by the Task Force in its July 2015 report.

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