DOD, CNMI talk about military activities, impacts

The U.S. Department of Defense and the CNMI government held the first of a series of stakeholders’ meetings this week to address some of the concerns of the CNMI community about military activities affecting the region.

Representing the DOD during the two-day conference are Brig. Gen. Christopher K. Faurot, commander of the Guam Air National Guard; Rear Adm. Gregory Huffman, U.S Indo-Pacific Command representative; Maj. Gen. Mark Hashimoto, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, U.S Indo-Pacific Command; and Maj. Gen. Reginal G. A. Neal, deputy commanding general for the U.S. Army Pacific.

Hashimoto said in an interview during a break that the stakeholders’ meetings aim make sure that the Department of Defense and its CNMI partners understand what the department is doing in the Marianas across a wide variety of functional areas.

“This is the latest in a series of quarterly stakeholders’ meetings that we’ve been having in several years. To me, what this represents is mutual respect where we meet as equal partners, making sure we are aligned as to details about activities that are coming up—some short term, some in the medium term, and some are in the long term. The last and most important thing is making sure that we continue the momentum for all of these projects,” he said.

For Hashimoto, the highlight of the meeting was getting CNMI stakeholders to open up about some of their concerns.

“The highlight was how we opened up and how most of the time was spent on concerns of the CNMI. How the people of the CNMI, the businesses here, can find ways into some of the advantages that come with large military projects so that could be through the Federal Acquisition process, or it could be jobs that are coming up as a result of our activities,” he said.

Other things discussed, Hashimoto said, was the rehabilitation of the World War II-era North Field on Tinian, the environmental impact of the Divert Airfield project, upcoming trainings, and the area development plan for the Tinian Port.

“Construction continues, equipment has been delivered to North Field. The progress continues and we are moving into the execution phase,” he said.

Gov. Arnold I. Palacios said these kinds of meetings ensure that CNMI stakeholders can take advantage of the benefits that come with the DOD partnering with the CNMI, and for them to be aware of community activities the DOD may have in the future.

“This is the second of a series of stakeholders’ meetings and executive briefing meetings that I have attended and, in our meetings, the mayors of the three municipalities [and] members of the Legislature were involved. Now we are trying our best to get everybody involved in the discussions so that we can maximize benefits the Commonwealth can have and maximize the awareness we have as a community on the activities of the DOD in our communities,” he said.