UNITED States military officials updated CNMI leaders on ongoing military construction and other projects during a quarterly stakeholder briefing at Crowne Plaza Resort’s Hibiscus Hall on Wednesday.
The military officials included Joint Task Force Micronesia Commander Rear Adm. Gregory Huffman, Joint Region Marianas Commander Rear Adm. Michael B. DeVore and Guam Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Christopher K. Faurot.
The CNMI officials who participated in the briefing were Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero, Saipan Mayor Ramon Blas “RB” Camacho, Tinian Mayor Edwin P. Aldan, executive branch officials, and other lawmakers.
DeVore told reporters that the quarterly meeting allows the military and CNMI officials to exchange ideas and keep each other informed of all the activities that are going on in the Marianas.
He said the military and CNMI leaders “are working together with an open and transparent dialogue with each other on activities that are going on and how they fit together.”
He said they talked a lot about the construction activities on Tinian.
“We have to be together [with an] economically viable plan where everybody is working together so those opportunities continue to exist and be leveraged for the people here in the CNMI,” he added.
For his part, the governor said they brought up a lot of issues with the ongoing military projects on Tinian such as the divert airfield and the runway rehabilitation at North Field.
Palacios said there are environmental issues that need to be addressed, along with the socio-economic impact of the military buildup on the CNMI.
He said they talked about how the Commonwealth and the military are going to work together to fulfill their mission.
At the same time, he said, the CNMI must see the economic benefits of the buildup “to the greater Commonwealth community and how that is going to work. And so the plan is being laid out,” he added.
Palacios said they also listed the responsibilities of both parties. “These are the ongoing discussions that we have,” he added.
Huffman said the military projects are at different stages in planning and execution. The divert airfield on Tinian, in particular, is “progressing very well,” he added. The project includes the construction of parking apron, fuel storage and fuel pipelines.
Huffman said they also discussed manpower, and how the military projects can benefit the people of the CNMI.
He said the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command will hold an “Industry Day” to bring in businesses and contractors and inform them about ongoing projects.
This will allow them to “see where they can leverage an economic benefit for the businesses in the CNMI and where they can leverage personnel and workforce to go after the projects,” he added.
From left, Joint Task Force Micronesia Commander Rear Adm. Gregory Huffman, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, Joint Region Marianas Commander Rear Adm. Michael B. DeVore and Guam Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Christopher K. Faurot at Crowne Plaza Resort on Wednesday.
As part of the CNMI’s recurring engagement with the U.S. Department of Defense, Gov. Arnold Palacios, Lt. Gov. David Apatang, along with other CNMI officials, met on Wednesday with senior military leaders who provided top level overview of military projects and activities that are planned or are taking place throughout the CNMI. The executive briefing, which is held quarterly, was led by Adm. Greg Huffman, commander, Joint Task Force Micronesia; Adm. Brent DeVore, commander, Joint Region Marianas; and Brig. Gen. Christopher K. Faurot, commander, Guam Air National Guard. The items discussed included the military training outlook, updates on the Tinian Divert Airfield, Tinian port development activities, the updated Environmental Impact Statement on Tinian, contracting opportunities for CNMI businesses, and other topics. The governor and lt. governor were joined by Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero, House and Senate members, Tinian Mayor Edwin Aldan, Saipan Mayor Ramon Camacho, and other members of the governor’s cabinet.
