Here are some of the moments you may have missed during the closing day of ADC Reconnect:

• The Army’s installation strategy, released in December, will help prepare installations for an “information-age strategy” that recognizes adversaries have found ways to bring the fight to the U.S., said Jack Susah, who is performing the duties of the assistant Army secretary for installations. “With respect to installations, it’s very, very different than 20 or 25 years ago. It’s no longer an away game. The homeland is no longer secure.”
• Supporting military families continues to be a priority for the Army, Lt. Gen. Jason Evans, deputy chief of staff for installations, said, encouraging all states to provide professional licensure reciprocity opportunities for military spouses, who are often the deciders in whether to stay in military service, Evans said.
• DOD has already started implementing some of the items in its climate adaptation plan, which is set to be released in September, according to Paul Cramer, the principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for installations. The plan sets out a collaborative approach that engages every aspect of DOD, he said.
• Cramer also said the department is looking for safe, effective replacements for firefighting chemicals that do not contain PFAS. “We will never meet congressional intent to stop using it by 2024 if we don’t have a drop-in replacement.” He said he is “cautiously optimistic” DOD will identify such a solution.
• “We can’t afford the infrastructure we have now,” Jennifer Miller, acting assistant Air Force secretary for installations, said. In addition to reducing its footprint, the Air Force will “rely on communities to provide some of those services” the service can no longer provide on base, she said.
• Miller also encouraged defense community leaders to engage with their local commanders as soon as they take command. She said community partnerships are one of the first things she discusses when talking with new wing commanders.

ADC photo by Chris Duyos