Past JFCOM leaders could fight closure, Nye told

VIRGINIA BEACH

A military affairs group set up by U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye advised him Monday to seek out the testimony of past Joint Forces Command officers to help build a defense against closing the command.

The Hampton Roads Military Affairs Commission, which was started earlier this year by the Virginia Beach Democrat, met for the first time since Defense Secretary Robert Gates said last week that he was going to shut down the command, known as JFCOM, which provides 6,000 jobs and pumps hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy.

Nye and Hampton Roads' other federal lawmakers have criticized Gates, saying he has failed to provide any analysis to back up his action and should be consulting Congress before ordering such a significant closure.

Gates' response to requests from Virginia leaders for more details has been "very shallow," Nye told the panel.

Fred Metz, a retired rear admiral, said that while much of the early focus has been on the negative economic impact of a closure, officials need to make a case that JFCOM serves an important military function.

Phil Olson, also a retired rear admiral, suggested to Nye that he seek out the support of Marine Gen. James Mattis, who led JFCOM for three years until being tapped recently to head the U.S. command that oversees the Middle East.

Frank Roberts, director of the Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance, said local leaders need to research the previous congressional testimony of JFCOM commanders about the command's importance.

Joe Bouchard, a former state legislator and retired Navy captain, warned that Florida's congressmen may try to attract some of JFCOM's operations as they work to build up their state's military assets.

"Keep an eye on what Florida is up to," he said.

A larger meeting of Hampton Roads' political leaders is slated for Wednesday in Suffolk. Nye and fellow Hampton Roads Reps. Randy Forbes, R-Chesapeake; Bobby Scott, D-Newport News; and Rob Wittman, R-Westmoreland County, are hosting an organizing session with local mayors, county officials, state legislators and others to prepare a response to Gates' plans. The meeting, which is closed to the public, is at Old Dominion University's Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center.

U.S. Sen. Jim Webb is asking for a full Senate Committee on Armed Services hearing.

The Virginia Democrat wrote a letter to the leadership of the committee on Monday and said the recommendations are more properly addressed as part of Congress' normal budgeting. He also said the lack of prior consultation with Congress on the recommendations was deeply troubling.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com