Thanks to a grant from the U.S. Dept. of War, Alaska now has a state office that is focused on advancing the state’s role as a strategic location for national defense.
Announced on July 30 by Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Major General Torrence Saxe, the new Alaska Military Affairs Office seeks to strengthen partnerships among military installations, communities, industry and government.
The new office will serve as the State of Alaska’s central coordinating entity for military affairs, in an effort to ensure Alaska remains the nation’s most capable and competitive location for current and future defense missions.
“Alaska has never been more strategically important to our nation’s security than it is today,” Dunleavy said in announcing the new office. “This office will strengthen coordination across state government and help position Alaska for continued military investment and economic growth.”
The announcement notes that Alaska’s unique geographic position, at the crossroads of the Arctic, Indo-Pacific, and North American homeland, has made the state increasingly vital to national defense.
The office, with support through a grant from the Department of War will collaborate with military partners, federal agencies, local governments, Alaska Native organizations, economic development organizations, educational institutions, and private-sector partners to advance statewide military priorities and serve as the primary state liaison for supporting the Alaska Military Affairs Commission.
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The office will lead statewide efforts to:
— Advise the governor and state agencies on military affairs and defense-related economic development.
— Coordinate long-range planning for infrastructure that supports defense operations and military resilience.
— Strengthen partnerships among military installations, local governments, Tribal organizations, industry, educational institutions and community organizations.
— Develop and maintain a statewide strategic plan for protecting existing military missions while positioning Alaska for future growth.
— Coordinate closely with Alaska’s congressional delegation and federal partners on military priorities affecting the state.
— Support collaborative initiatives that improve quality of life for service members and families while enhancing community resilience and economic development.
“Alaska’s future is inseparable from America’s security,” Dunleavy said. “This office ensures that our state is organized, proactive, and united in supporting the service members, families, installations, and communities that make Alaska indispensable to our nation’s defense.”
6 Comments
It’s still officially called the Department of Defense, Pete Hegseth’s hyper-masculine posturing notwithstanding.
Sounds like Pete hurt your feelings.. Could you show us where Pete hurt you…? /s
Yes, Department of War.
Go USA Military
So, does this mean that Alaska will ave Israeli soldiers on Alaskan soil per the NDAA?
Someone in Military Affairs was smart enough to put in for that grant money and that effort can be the opening to critical development for the Alaska National Guard and the federal defense which is badly needed within Alaska and internationally. We have been treated like a third world country in defense development. Our Congressional people have been slow to push for needed bases, manpower and defense material critical to defend the extensive coastline and arctic circle adjacent to the enemy countries like China and Russia. But the worst problem could be the parallel society growing within Alaska as it also is growing and expanding beyond the borders of Alaska. Islam is as much a problem for us as it is for the rest of the USA but a good internal defense will make all the difference for many problems. We need the Navy and the Marines in Alaska and have the land and water to sustain both along with extensive geography and ocean mass.
“Strengthen partnerships among military installations, local governments, Tribal organizations, industry, educational institutions and community organizations.” The last time they had tight relationships was when Marston was working with the villages as the Alaskan Territorial Guard. Things change. The Russian bear went into hibernation. Coastal village armory’s were closed up to “save money” (money redirected and consolidated in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau). Part of what killed those armory’s was modern technology. Back in the old days, usually the village chief was the commander. Part of the initiation of being a man in native culture, was to be a warrior. Young men enlisted under the encouragement of the chief. Today, internet and X-box has whittled away that ethos. Enlistments dropped off as the internet became more popular. Enlistments drive armories. Low enlistments equates to armory closures.