Gov’t, community leaders briefed in advance of Guam Flight Test
ASAN, Guam—John Bier, program director for the Guam Defense System for the Missile Defense Agency; Rear Adm. Greg Huffman, commander, Joint Task Force-Micronesia; Rear Adm. Brent DeVore, commander, Joint Region Marianas; and Brig. Gen. Thomas Palenske, commander, 36th Wing, Andersen Air Force Base, met with Government of Guam and community leaders in a series of briefings, July 23-24. The briefings provided an overview of the Proposed Final Guam Flight Test Environmental Assessment/Overseas Environmental Assessment that is currently available for public comment.
Gov. Lourdes Leon Guerrero and her cabinet, Guam Congressional Delegate James Moylan (R-GU), members of the 37th Guam Legislature, the Mayors Council of Guam, and the Guam Chamber of Commerce were provided the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback to subject matter experts from the MDA. Topics of discussion ranged from the proposed missile defense flight test or target tracking exercises conducted from Anderson Air Force Base, in Guam, or at sea from a Navy ship in the western Pacific Ocean (Proposed Action).
The Proposed Action includes conducting up to two flight tests or tracking exercises per year over a 10-year period from AAFB. The purpose of the Proposed Action is to validate the interoperability of multiple sensors and interceptor systems that could become part of a missile defense system developed to protect Guam. Access to select private properties on the boundary of AAFB would need to be restricted during flight test events to ensure public safety.
Additionally, MDA will host an open house on Thursday, July 25, from 5pm to 8pm at the Dededo Community Senior Center. This open house will provide the public with an opportunity to provide comments and receive additional information and ask questions to members of the Missile Defense Agency, Joint Region Marianas and other cooperating agencies.
“This will be an important flight test to validate the interoperability of multiple sensors and interceptor systems from MDA, Army and Navy that could become part of a missile defense system to protect Guam,” said Bier. “Public safety and environmental health are vital considerations to MDA, and we are happy to share our assessments for both with the people of Guam.”
The Proposed Final EA/OEA and Proposed Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is available for download at https://www.mda.mil/global/documents/pdf/GuamFlightTestProposedFinalEAMay2024PublicRelease.pdf or visit the Dededo or Nieves M. Flores Memorial public library to view a printed copy. Public comments may be submitted at the open house, by email to info@GFT-EA.com, or by postal mail to: ManTech International ATTN: Guam Flight Test EA Project Support, PMB 403, 1270 N. Marine Corps Dr., Suite 101, Tamuning, Guam 96913-4331. Comments should be submitted by Aug. 2, 2024.
Imagery of the meetings can be found at https://www.dvidshub.net/image/8548787/missile-defense-agency-military-leaders-brief-government-and-community-leaders-advance-guam-flight-test. Additionally, more information about the Enhanced Integrated Air and Missile Defense (EIAMD) System on Guam is available at https://www.mda.mil/system/eiamd/. (PR)
Missile Defense Agency
