By John Bell, Office of the DCS, G-9
AUSTIN, Texas -- Army leaders, including from the office of the DCS, G-9, joined Texas Gov. Greg Abbott along with state and military officials Jan. 25 for the signing of the largest-ever statewide intergovernmental support agreement (IGSA) between a state and the Department of Defense.
"There’s an old saying ... ‘Everything is bigger in Texas,’” Abbott said as he signed the agreement. “And today we’re going to add to that list. We are signing the biggest-ever statewide [IGSA] between the United States military and our country.”
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations, Energy and Environment) Rachel Jacobson signed the agreement on behalf of the Army.
The IGSA “allows military departments to tap into the significant expertise of the agencies of the state and local governments—expertise that we don’t necessarily have in-house and that is very expensive for us to procure,” she said.
“It’s also important that [installations] have these kinds of partnerships with our states, where we train, live and recreate,” Jacobson added. “You’re our neighbors; we are part of your communities.”
The IGSA will help Army installations save about $4 million every year by obtaining roadway maintenance and repair via a public-private partnership. It’s also expected to decrease project lead time and reduce civilian staff burden at installations.
The Navy and Air Force also signed the agreement, which brought the total number of included installations to 15 installations from the three military services.
The G-9 Partnerships Office over the past three years supported the state’s successful effort to pass a bill amending the state transportation code, giving the Texas Department of Transportation authority to provide road services on federal military property.
The partnership will “ensure that road projects at Texas bases will be built faster and cheaper,” Abbott said.
Also representing the Army at the ceremony were J. Randall Robinson, executive deputy to the commanding general of Installation Management Command (IMCOM); Sgt. Major Michael J. Perry III, senior enlisted advisor to the DCS, G-9; and G-9 Partnerships Program Manager David Leinberger.
Social Sharing