Suffolk JFCOM workers say they, too, are shocked by closure

SUFFOLK

One of the hottest growth areas in Hampton Roads suddenly faces an uncertain future in light of the Pentagon's plans, announced Monday, to shut down the Joint Forces Command.

The 11-year-old military command known by its acronym JFCOM is based at Norfolk Naval Station, but its most visible public presence is in northern Suffolk, where its 640,000-square-foot complex has been the incubator for a thriving cluster of military contractors, retail businesses and homes.

State officials were "blindsided" by news of the planned closure, Terrie Suit, assistant to Gov. Bob McDonnell for commonwealth preparedness, said Tuesday.

Working with congressional partners, McDonnell will work to keep the command and protect those whose livelihoods are connected to its operation, Suit said.

Pentagon officials "obviously didn't appreciate all the people whose jobs are on the line," she said.

The plan to close JFCOM appears to have been as much of a surprise inside the command as it was among Virginia politicians.

"I don't think anyone knew this was coming," said one contract employee over lunch Tuesday at Firehouse Subs, just across College Drive from JFCOM's Suffolk complex.

As evidence, he pointed to an ongoing construction site at the JFCOM gate, where still-unoccupied security booths sport a fresh coat of white paint.

"We don't know any details," another contract worker said. "They're just telling us: 'What you're doing is important. Keep coming to work. Keep doing your job. When we get details, we'll pass them on.' "

The employees spoke on condition that they not be identified because they are not authorized to speak to the news media.

In a brief statement, the JFCOM public affairs office said employees "will receive the best professional career advice and placement assistance available." That process began with a visit Tuesday by Clifford Stanley, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, to talk with JFCOM's leadership.

Perhaps the biggest question mark is the fate of the 3,200 contract workers who account for more than half of the command's work force.

A spokesman for Lockheed Martin Corp., which operates a 65,000-square-foot technology lab near JFCOM's Suffolk campus, said it is "too soon to gauge the potential impact" of the planned closure.

Likewise, it's unclear what lies ahead for Old Dominion University's Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center, which has been a major recipient of JFCOM funding.

The center, located about a half-mile from JFCOM's Suffolk complex in its own $12 million facility, has two contracts with JFCOM that could bring in $52 million over six years.

Whether those contracts will be completed isn't known yet, said John Sokolowski, executive director of ODU's center.

In any event, he predicts that the military won't give up on the fledgling modeling and simulation technology that is a key element of JFCOM's work.

"The Department of Defense absolutely depends on modeling and simulation for readiness and training," he said. "It's not going to just go away. It will go on."

The question, however, is whether Hampton Roads will remain an epicenter of that technology.

James Koch, an economist at ODU, said it is unclear whether the local enterprises linked to JFCOM can survive and prosper without the military command providing funding and resources.

"I'm somewhat skeptical," he said. "We don't have strong enough roots. I would feel better if it wasn't so new here."

Of particular concern, he said, is that if the industry gravitates away from Hampton Roads, it will take a highly educated work force along with it.

Including the ripple effects of its operations on other businesses and services, Koch said, JFCOM contributes 10,000 jobs and about $1 billion annually to the regional economy. That's just over 1 percent of Hampton Roads' gross regional product.

If JFCOM closes, one of the first noticeable effects will be on the region's housing market, Koch said, particularly in northern Suffolk.

Businesses in the area also stand to take a hit.

Billy Lightsinger opened his first restaurant, YoYo Sushi, on Harbour View Boulevard just over a year ago. He picked the shopping center because it was in an up-and-coming spot, with new homes and businesses popping up all the time.

Lightsinger figures at least 10 percent of his lunch crowd comes from the military complex and nearby contractors.

At the Harbour View East shopping center, Panera Bread feeds JFCOM workers at breakfast and lunch.

"Obviously, we're going to miss them being here," General Manager Tracy Moore said. "Either way, we'll manage. I think this is a really good area."

Pilot writers Bill Bartel, Hattie Brown Garrow and Julian Walker contributed to this report.

Bill Sizemore, (757) 446-2276, bill.sizemore@pilotonline.com