Overview
The Department of Defense released its Base Realignment and Closure recommendations on May 13, 2005, and the recommendations became federal law on Nov. 9, 2005. Under BRAC law, Fort Belvoir will gain approximately 22,000 military and civilian employees, the largest gain of any DoD installation.

BRAC 2005 will essentially double the size of Fort Belvoir’s workforce by 2011. With approximately 23,000 employees already here, Fort Belvoir’s workforce will number approximately 45,000 by September 2011 — the federally mandated date by which BRAC must be complete.

BRAC realigns Fort Belvoir, adding administrative, medical and special/intelligence missions, and creates the requirement for:

• Roads, utilities, communications and base support facilities
• New multi-model transportation infrastructure
• Reconfiguration of the installation
• New mission facilities
• Structured parking
• Renovation of existing space

Losses/Gains
As the data regarding BRAC changes, Fort Belvoir updates the leaders of the local community so they, too, have access to the most current information while planning on behalf of their constituents.

Fort Belvoir will lose and gain the following organizations:

• BRAC Losses
  • U.S. Army Materiel Command Headquarters and U.S. Army Security Assistance Command to Redstone Arsenal, Ala.
  • Prime Power School to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
  • U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command Headquarters to Quantico Marine Corps Base, Va.
  • Soldiers Magazine to Fort Meade, Md.
  • Chemical Biological Defense Research Component of Defense Threat Reduction Agency to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.
  • DTRA conventional armaments research to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
  • Information Systems, research, development and acquisition to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.
  
  
• BRAC Gains
  • Medical functions from Walter Reed Army Medical Center
  • Army and DoD organizations from NCR leased space
  • National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency units from Bethesda
  • Program Manager Acquisition, Logistics, Technology Enterprise Systems Support from NCR leased space
  • Executive Office, Information Systems from Fort Monmouth, N.J.
  • Inventory Control Point functions from Mechanicsburg, Pa. and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
  • Selected Defense Intelligence Agency activities to Rivanna Station (Charlottesville), Va.

Timeline
From now until 2008 Fort Belvoir undergoes a rigorous planning process. In 2008, the Prime Power School is scheduled to move to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Also in 2008, Fort Belvoir is scheduled to gain Defense Logistics Agency Inventory Control Point functions from Mechanicsburg, Pa. and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

In 2009, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s conventional armaments research is scheduled to move to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. and DTRA’s chemical biological defense research component is scheduled to move to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. Program Executive Office, Enterprise Information Systems is slated to move from Fort Monmouth, N.J. to Fort Belvoir. Also in 2009, Program Executive Office, Enterprise Information Systems is scheduled to move from Fort Monmouth, N.J. to Fort Belvoir.

In 2010, the following organizations are scheduled to leave Fort Belvoir:

• The U.S. Army Materiel Command Headquarters and U.S. Army Security Assistance Command to Redstone Arsenal, Ala.
• U.S. Army CID Headquarters to Quantico Marine Corps Base, Va.
• Soldiers Magazine to Fort Meade, Md.
• Information Systems, research, development and acquisition to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.

Also in 2010, Headquarters, Missile Defense Agency is scheduled to move to Fort Belvoir.

No organizations are scheduled to depart in 2011; however it will be a big year for incoming tenants. In 2011, Fort Belvoir is scheduled to gain Army and DoD organizations from National Capital Region leased space, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency units from Bethesda and Program Manager Acquisition, Logistics, Technology Enterprise Systems Support from National Capital Region leased space. Medical functions from Walter Reed Army Medical Center will also come to Fort Belvoir in 2011.

Approach
The contracting agent for BRAC Master Planning at Fort Belvoir is the Belvoir New Vision Planners, a team of experienced planners, managers, engineers, architects, environmental and transportation experts from the firms of Post, Buckley, Shuh & Jernigan, Inc., and Skidmore Owings & Merrill. The BNVP is to validate construction requirements, evaluate opportunities/constraints to assess community benefits, develop innovative and achievable solutions, support outreach activities and a sustainable vision and develop the best in class optimal outcome master plan.

Goals
The Belvoir New Vision goals are:

• Create an achievable vision
• Provide a model for all installations
• Create a responsible and sustainable strategy
• Foster community benefits

Outreach
Fort Belvoir has utilized various opportunities to keep its workforce, the community, stakeholders, business leaders and the media informed of BRAC developments. At the end of 2006, installation leadership had participated in almost 50 speaking engagements since the BRAC announcement in May 2005, each coordinated through the Fort Belvoir Speaker’s Bureau program.

Through the Speaker’s Bureau, Fort Belvoir has informed various community groups, civic organizations, chambers of commerce, and local government committees on BRAC’s projected impact, allowing community decision-makers to anticipate the change at Fort Belvoir and to aggressively plan on behalf of their communities.

In addition, the BRAC Board of Advisors was formed, which provides an opportunity to update local, state and national elected officials, community leaders about the most current BRAC initiatives. The BRAC BOA affords stakeholders opportunity to raise issues, concerns, provide comment, advice on development initiatives, planning and implementation; recommend further actions on projects impacting stakeholder areas, and recommend solutions to stakeholder problem areas and concerns about BRAC implementation at Fort Belvoir.

The installation also hosts an annual Community Update Breakfast, quarterly senior leadership meetings, and garrison workforce and resident town halls to keep its servicemembers, civilians and their families informed about Fort Belvoir’s mission.

Fort Belvoir has remained committed to keeping its workforce and its community neighbors informed as the installation moves forward. The six-year BRAC implementation period requires an ambitious timeline and constant coordination with all of the post’s stakeholders. More information about BRAC implementation at Fort Belvoir is available online at: www.belvoir.army.mil and www.belvoirnewvision.com

"As members of the communities surrounding Fort Belvoir, you no doubt have many questions and concerns regarding future development of the installation in light of the 2005 base realignment and closure (BRAC) recommendations.
Our intent is to ensure that Fort Belvoir continues to be a good neighbor as we provide world-class services to the Soldiers and agencies that call the installation home today and those who will come here in the future."
— Installation Commander
Col. Brian W. Lauritzen

"Those who aren't familiar with the BRAC process may not realize that it’s a dynamic process requiring the continuous refinement of data. Fort Belvoir and the organizations identified to move here are constantly revising plans and planning assumptions based on the most current data available."
— Installation Commander
Col. Brian W. Lauritzen

"Belvoir New Vision is the planning and development program by which Fort Belvoir will not only continue its tradition of excellent and innovative service, but will be developed into a world-class urban federal center; a flagship installation in America’s national security structure. Belvoir New Vision is also the program by which Fort Belvoir will work with the people and political representatives of surrounding communities to most effectively implement change – to get it right the first time."
—Excerpt from BNVP Web site.

"The realignment of Fort Belvoir will result in a world-class installation that will strengthen our nation's military, provide unparalleled amenities to the people who live and work there, and safeguard the many natural and historic resources that are vital to the community. Our team is committed to innovative design solutions. We will work collaboratively with members of the surrounding community to ensure that this challenging and exciting process is successful."
—Excerpt from BNVP Web site.

"Immediately following the release of the BRAC recommendations in May, Fort Belvoir made a commitment to keep the local community informed. We have steadfastly maintained that commitment in a wide range of venues. "
— Installation Commander Col. Brian W. Lauritzen

"Through continuous communication, synchronization and coordination, we will find solutions that allow Fort Belvoir to excel at its mission of providing world-class services in support of the national defense while remaining a valued neighbor in the Northern Virginia landscape."
— Installation Commander Col. Brian W. Lauritzen