FORT BELVOIR, Va. - Construction of the new U.S. Army Legal Services AgencyAca,!a,,cs administrative building officially began on Fort Belvoir Tuesday with a ceremonial groundbreaking on the future site of the 97,300 square foot facility.

Aca,!A"I am pleased to host todayAca,!a,,cs groundbreaking for what I know will be a world-class legal center,Aca,!A? said the Chief of the U.S. Army Legal Services Agency Maj. Gen. Clyde Aca,!A"ButchAca,!A? Tate at the ceremony. Aca,!A"It will also be the home for the Army Court of Criminal Appeals, the highest court in the U.S. Army. The structure will include a first-class courtroom and clerk of court facilities, both of which are paramount in supporting our time-honored, military justice mission.Aca,!A?

The new facility will accommodate more than 300 personnel, who now occupy leased space in Ballston, as part of BRAC 2005.

Aca,!A"My wife, Lynn, and I reside on Fort Belvoir. We like our landlord and his team, and, in return, we try to be good tenants,Aca,!A? Tate said. Aca,!A"I look forward to our agency becoming a Fort Belvoir tenant. This is a tremendous installation on which to work and to live.Aca,!A?

The realignment is part of BRAC Recommendation 132 that moves Army personnel from leased space in the National Capital Region to Belvoir. Included in this recommendation is the realignment of some Office of the Administrative Assistant personnel; the Office, Chief of the Army Reserves; and other Army personnel in leased space.

Aca,!A"My team and I are grateful for the tremendous support we have received leading up to this day. Aca,!A"Though I am not an engineer, I sense that it will be a challenge to construct our new facility in time for a September 2011 move-in date,Aca,!A? Tate said. Aca,!A"That said, based on what IAca,!a,,cve seen, I am confident that with the team of talented professionals we have working diligently on this project, we will be able to meet this deadline and proudly take possession of a first-class facility that serves the needs of U.S. Army Legal Services Agency and the Department of the Army.Aca,!A?

In addition to USALSA, the building will house the Army Court of Criminal Appeals; Army Trial Defense Service; Trial Judiciary; Judge Advocate Recruiting Office; and divisions of the Government Appellate; Defense Appellate; Litigation; Contract and Fiscal Law; Environmental Law; Regulatory Law and Intellectual Property.

Aca,!A"Fort Belvoir has a diverse and modern-day mission,Aca,!A? said Raymond McNeil. Aca,!A"And, this project continues that mission. (Baltimore District) is proud to be a member of this team.Aca,!A? McNeil is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District deputy chief of programs. The Baltimore District historically manages all of the military construction projects at Belvoir. Now, due to BRAC, they are joined by several other districts that are helping to manage the $4 billion BRAC program and dozens of major projects.

Michael DiNapoli, general manager of Suffolk Construction Company, the contractor charged with building the facility, explained, Aca,!A"Our team is passionate and prepared. We are up for the challenge of building this facility. Like our motto says, weAca,!a,,cll do it faster, less expensive, and with better quality. That is exactly what our customers deserve.Aca,!A?