Statement of Governor Sonny Perdue Regarding BRAC Decisions Affecting Fort Benning, Naval Air Station Atlanta and Navy Supply Corps School

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue issued the following statement today regarding decisions made by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) affecting Fort Benning , Naval Air Station Atlanta and the Naval Supply Corps School .

“The BRAC Commissioners voted today to add mission capacity at Fort Benning .  This is good news for Georgia .  It means a net gain of more than 4,000 military personnel for our state.  On Friday, the BRAC Commissioners will vote on additional capacity to Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Moody Air Force Base, Robins Air Force Base and the Savannah International Airport Air Guard Station.  Georgia has a long military tradition and we look forward to supporting these new missions and their personnel.

“Unfortunately, the BRAC Commissioners recommended closing the Naval Supply Corps School in Athens and the Naval Air Station in Marietta despite the state's best efforts to demonstrate that it was in the Pentagon's best interests, strategically and economically, to keep these installations operational. 

“In the case of Naval Air Station Atlanta, the BRAC analyst supported Georgia 's arguments and Commissioner Gehman offered a motion to keep NAS open.  His motion was defeated.  This was a particularly troubling vote.  Clearly, the state's arguments carried weight, but the Commissioners ultimately voted to close NAS.

 “As with Fort Gillem and Fort McPherson , we will move quickly on plans for the future use of these properties.  Our community teams in Marietta and Athens have been in place throughout the BRAC process and they stand ready to move forward with redevelopment.”