DOD Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation Director Patrick O’Brien will lead a town hall during ADC’s Installation Innovation Forum in San Antonio Oct. 28-30. On Base asked O’Brien what he’s looking forward to at the event and how recent developments on Capitol Hill, including a three-month continuing resolution, affect his office’s work.
ADC: What is the effect of the three-month stopgap spending bill on OLDCC?
O’Brien: OLDCC does not know what we will have for funding for each of our program lines, including installation resiliency and the Defense Community Infrastructure Program until a final appropriation for the fiscal year is enacted, often as part of a larger omnibus package.
This has unfortunately become the new normal. In recent times, CRs have lasted as long as over six months but more consistently four to five months. We are then expected to execute what would otherwise take 12 months in an orderly manner to a rushed seven months or less. That includes reduced times for communities to compete for DCIP and OLDCC to responsibly perform our due diligence, as well as delays in identifying the other support we can actually provide to Defense communities.
These shorter timelines present risks for inefficiencies and difficulties for execution, so our business lines have to always be aligned and updated to ensure we are responsible stewards of the tax dollar.
ADC: Beyond the CR, are you optimistic about lawmakers’ support for OLDCC and individual programs important to defense communities, including DCIP?
O’Brien: Congress recognizes the importance of an installation, its host communities, and state needing to function as “one community” to support our local defense missions, our military families and employees, often joining their state legislative colleagues in actively participating themselves in these partnerships.
OLDCC is an enabler, as are our programs of assistance, for these partnerships to carry out the necessary actions and enhancements to strengthen these missions and ensure their endurance regardless of whatever threat they may face.
We never take support for our organization or programs for granted and are always seeking to update our capabilities and program lines to remain responsive and relevant in supporting these efforts. Continually responding to the needs of these partnerships and letting the results of these efforts speak for themselves to Congress and other stakeholders.
ADC: What are you looking forward to at the ADC Installation Innovation Forum?
O’Brien: The Installation Innovation Forum is always a great opportunity for our team to meet with communities and installations from across the country. I personally look forward to meeting with our grantees, defense communities and states, and other stakeholders – including a town hall – to discuss where we are heading, what we can do to help them to succeed, and what I can do to improve our capabilities so we can continue to be a helpful partner. There is nothing like being able to communicate with people directly face to face.
The forum also provides our department to highlight emerging threats and challenges and promote initiatives that improve quality of life and the readiness of our military and our installations. I appreciate ADC’s stewardship of this important event and the importance of their presence on behalf of defense communities!
