The Army and the University of Georgia have signed a Regional Intergovernmental Support Agreement to enhance the Army’s resilience against climate hazards on installations in the Southeast. The July 2 signing ceremony at Fort Moore, Georgia, was opened by Col. Colin P. Mahle, the Fort Moore garrison commander.
“IGSAs are only bound by your creativity, your collaboration with the community, really the sky’s the limit,” said Mahle. “I believe we have a special connection to this event as the only installation to be named for a husband-and-wife couple. Hal and Julie Moore were not only great role models and inspirational leaders, they were also big members of the community. The IGSAs are all about community cooperation and partnership, so I think they would be proud of Fort Moore for hosting this today.”
The Honorable Rachel Jacobson, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy, and Environment was joined by Randy Robinson, Executive Deputy to the Commanding General of the Installation Management Command, and Jere Morehead, the 22nd President of the University of Georgia, for the signing.
“Climate change is a national security threat, and it is already putting our people, installations, and mission at risk. The Army must maintain ready and resilient installations so we can train and deploy forces regardless of the effects of climate change,” Jacobson said.
IGSAs are public-public partnerships designed to support the Army mission by allowing state and local public entities to partner with installations to receive, share, or provide installation support services. Forts Eisenhower, Moore, Stewart, Jackson, Liberty, Novosel, Johnson, and Redstone Arsenal, along with their surrounding communities, are expected to benefit from this RIGSA. The partnership will expand to other installations across the continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico as capacity allows.
The agreement leverages UGA’s expertise to evaluate climate hazards and develop nature-based solutions. It also highlights the Army’s attention to future threats posed by climate change to the installations.
“This new agreement will allow the Army to harness UGA’s experts on nature-based engineering, resilient infrastructure, and community development,” said Jacobson. “Our installations can engage in deliberative planning efforts that will strengthen their resilience against climate hazards while also contributing to the economic, recreational, and environmental needs of the community.”
Administered through UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, this RIGSA streamlines the ability of Army installations to obtain services from UGA and its partners. It allows the Army to better understand current and future climate hazards that could impact mission-critical infrastructure on and off the installation, potentially disrupting training or the ability to effectively deploy forces.
“Universities provide the Army with innovative ideas and technologies in environmental management, energy and climate resilience, and architectural and engineering services that are mutually beneficial,” Robinson said.
Robinson added that IMCOM currently has 33 IGSAs with universities nationwide, four of which are available to all installations leveraging environmental services. These agreements identify cost efficiencies, reduce installation service response times, improve communication, and contribute to Army readiness, modernization, and reform.
Fort Moore is a leader in the development and execution of IGSAs, accounting for approximately 10% of the Army’s and more than 5% of the Department of Defense’s portfolio.
Recent IGSAs have expanded access to child care for expanded access to child care for Reserve and National Guard soldiers, flexible and efficient procurement alternatives, and workforce augmentation.
“Since 2015, IMCOM has been the Army’s leader in community partnerships via Intergovernmental Support Agreements with state and local government entities, including universities,” Robinson said. “These partnerships are vitally important to IMCOM’s and the Army’s mission success.”
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