Gov. Patrick signs Executive Order renaming Massachusetts Military Reservation to Joint Base Cape Cod

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. James Sahady
  • Massachusetts National Guard Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Gov. Deval Patrick today signed an Executive Order to change the name of the Massachusetts Military Reservation to Joint Base Cape Cod to more accurately reflect the ongoing missions and joint partnerships taking place on the base.

"Joint Base Cape Cod supports and strengthens the Commonwealth's and our nation's security while at the same time boosting the local economy and creating jobs," said Patrick. "Renaming the base more accurately reflects the important ongoing work and opens up more opportunities for joint services and cost savings. Joint Base Cape Cod and Massachusetts' other five military bases are vital to fueling our innovation-based economy and will continue to have this administration's support through the Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force which I am now proud to serve as a Co-Chair," said Patrick.

Joint Base Cape Cod is the largest military installation in geographical size in the Commonwealth covering 22,000 acres on Upper Cape Cod and is a uniquely organized joint installation with components from the Army National Guard (Camp Edwards), Air National Guard (Otis Air National Guard Base), United States Coast Guard (Air Station Cape Cod), and United States Air Force (6th Space Warning Squadron Pave PAWS). In addition, there are close to 30 other tenants on JBCC with affiliation to DOD, DHS and other federal, state and county entities. JBCC employs nearly 4,000 full and part-time military, federal and state civilian employees and had an economic impact of $405 million in 2011.

Renaming the Massachusetts Military Reservation at this time will serve several important purposes to properly brand the base, more accurately reflect both the current and future joint relationships that exist, to support the base commanders' need and desire to link themselves more closely together, and to coordinate activities between the base commanders through the JBCC Executive Director and the base's Joint Oversight Group.

"As a proven and premier military installation in the Northeast region, the Massachusetts Military Reservation successfully prepared service members for worldwide deployments for nearly 100 years," said Maj. Gen. L. Scott Rice, The Adjutant General, Massachusetts National Guard. "Renaming the MMR to Joint Base Cape Cod will enhance awareness of the installation's joint operations and promote the current and future missions of the Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Coast Guard and Air Force," said Rice.

The multiple missions on Joint Base Cape Cod include:
  • Otis Air National Guard Base provides precision intelligence for worldwide combat support and Homeland Security;
  • Camp Edwards is the largest training area in the Northeast for service members from New England, civilian first responders, and law enforcement;
  • The U.S. Air Force's 6th Space Warning Squadron Pave PAWS provides accurate and timely missile warning and space surveillance while guarding the Commonwealth and country against ballistic missiles; and
  • The U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, is responsible for the waters stretching from New Jersey to the Canadian border, saving, on average, 50 lives each year in rescue missions.
The idea to rename the base was pursued by the Commonwealth's Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force as part of their ongoing efforts to position, promote, and enhance the people and missions at Massachusetts' six military bases.

In 2012 Gov. Patrick supported the Military Task Force's creation to assess each installation's military assets, infrastructure and growth opportunities. The six military bases include: Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee; Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield; Natick Soldier Systems Center; Fort Devens; Hanscom Air Force Base; and the newly renamed Joint Base Cape Cod. These installations account for a total economic impact of $14.2 billion and over 46,500 jobs for the Massachusetts economy.