JBA community holds inaugural State of the Base

  • Published
  • By 316th Wing Public Affairs

Military commanders across Joint Base Andrews and local, state and federal leaders across Maryland shared their top priorities, recent accomplishments and areas for improvement with the base community during the first-ever State of the Base Address at Joint Base Andrews, Md., April 12, 2022.

Military leaders in the room addressed four major topics: their people, aircraft, infrastructure and the economic impact of the base on the community. Col. Tyler Schaff, 316th Wing and installation commander, began by stating the importance of the base’s mission and the responsibility to the community within it.

“Here at Joint Base Andrews, we are focused and ready for whatever our nation needs,” said Schaff. “With 85 mission partners across this installation, I can proudly say we are synchronized, we are proud of our mission, and we are grateful to be part of this community.”

Schaff emphasized the base’s priority on small business contracts as the Department of Defense estimates that JBA “brings $3.4 billion to the local community every year.”

While listing out several Coronavirus 19-related projects involving service members at JBA, Schaff highlighted, “Our medical group deployed 98 personnel to Greenbelt, Maryland, to administer COVID vaccines and more than 100 deployed to work in civilian intensive care units across the U.S. to support COVID operations under the direction of [Federal Emergency Management Agency].”

After multiple mission partners on JBA spoke about their mission areas and impact on the local community, civilian leaders across Prince George’s County and the state of Maryland spoke of their commitment to support military members on JBA.

Calvin Hawkins, Prince George’s County council chair, echoed Schaff’s sentiment that connections in the community are vital.

“I am grateful for the partnerships that we have established,” said Hawkins. “We are coming together as a community to define our fiscal needs, identify our important resources. We have what it takes to make Prince George’s County better than the way we found it.”

Delegate Darryl Barnes of Maryland’s 25th Legislative District spoke of his commitment to improving the community for its residents.

“My job is to make sure when you drive off Joint Base Andrews, that you are safe, that the roads and bridges are what you expect them to be, that there is economic development and growth, and that there is a community waiting with open arms,” said Barnes. “That is our job at the state, federal and county level: to take care of you.”

U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland added that the community surrounding JBA plays an important role in supporting the base’s dynamic mission.

“At Joint Base Andrews, you are central to the success of our country’s efforts to defend the homeland. Protecting liberty, freedom, the rule of law and democracy around the world is in your hands,” said Van Hollen. “And as I listen to the [State of the Base] report with respect to Joint Base Andrews and those around the room, I know it is in good hands.”

Joint Base Andrews and community leaders reflected on the importance of working together in partnership, noting that investing in the community is also investing in its members.

Schaff concluded, “We want to say Maryland is Joint Base Andrews and Joint Base Andrews is Maryland.”