Sec. 32-58b. Office of Military Affairs established. Duties of executive director.
Sec. 32-58b. Office of Military Affairs established. Duties of executive director. (a) There is established an Office of Military Affairs within the Department of
Economic and Community Development for administrative purposes only. The Office
of Military Affairs shall promote and coordinate state-wide activities that enhance the
quality of life of all branches of military personnel and their families and to expand the
military and homeland security presence in this state.
(b) The Governor, in consultation with the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, shall appoint an executive director to manage the daily activities
and duties of the Office of Military Affairs. The executive director shall have the necessary qualifications to perform the duties of said office, including, but not limited to,
having prior military experience, and having attained the rank of an officer within a
branch of the armed forces. The Governor shall give preference to any person with the
necessary training and experience who has served in the Navy or who has knowledge
or prior experience with the federal Base Realignment and Closure or "BRAC" process.
Within available appropriations, the executive director shall: (1) Appoint, employ and
remove such assistants, employees and personnel as deemed necessary for the efficient
and effective administration of the activities of the office; (2) coordinate state and local
efforts to prevent the closure or downsizing of Connecticut military facilities, particularly United States Naval Submarine Base-New London, located in Groton; (3) maximize the state's input into the federal Base Realignment and Closure or "BRAC" process, including, but not limited to, (A) acting as liaison to the state's congressional
delegation on defense, military and BRAC issues, and (B) acting as liaison to consultant
lobbyists hired by the state to assist in monitoring activities related to BRAC; (4) encourage the relocation of military missions to the state; (5) coordinate state and local efforts
to enhance the quality of life of all branches of military personnel and their families living
or working in Connecticut; (6) review and make recommendations for state policies that
affect Connecticut's military facilities and defense and homeland security industries;
(7) coordinate state, regional and local efforts to encourage the growth of Connecticut's
defense and homeland security industry; (8) support the development of a Defense and
Homeland Security Industry Cluster; (9) establish and coordinate a Connecticut Military
and Defense Advisory Council to provide technical advice and assistance; (10) oversee
the implementation of recommendations of the Governor's Commission for the Economic Diversification of Southeastern Connecticut; and (11) prepare and submit a report
of activities, findings and recommendations annually to the Governor and the joint
standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to
commerce and public safety, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a.
(P.A. 07-205, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 22.)
History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4 amended Subsec. (b) by requiring Governor to give preference to any person who
has served in the military "or" has knowledge or prior experience with the BRAC process, rather than requiring military
service "and" knowledge or prior experience with such process.
See Sec. 4-38f for definition of "administrative purposes only".